#1461 - Chapter 1471: The Battle of Marineford (Part 83)

"When thunder rolls across the dark clouds, when lightning illuminates the earth, I come with the storm, bringing the wrath of the gods!"

Suddenly, an incredibly familiar and chilling voice seemed to echo from beyond the highest heavens, a voice like a resounding bell, shaking everyone's eardrums.

Everyone looked up, only to see that the once clear sky had been covered by thick, inky clouds, making the entire sky gloomy and oppressive.

The many experts present almost simultaneously turned their gazes towards the sky, each with a deep look of gravity on their faces, as if sensing that something earth-shattering was about to happen.

Just then, with a loud "crack," a dazzling bolt of lightning, like a silver serpent dancing wildly, struck straight down from the sky.

Immediately afterward, a faint, flickering figure appeared out of nowhere in the thick clouds.

Kizaru stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the mysterious figure in the sky, his face unusually grave, with even a layer of fine sweat appearing on his forehead.

At this critical moment, another figure, as swift as the wind, rapidly swept across the ground.

Seeing this, Kizaru frowned, and without hesitation, lifted his foot and rushed towards the approaching figure.

In an instant, with a loud "boom," like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting, a huge explosion resounded through the clouds.

At the same time, billowing smoke, like a ferocious beast, spread rapidly with bared fangs and claws.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden change, their eyes wide, staring intently at the smoke-filled center, their hearts filled with tension and curiosity.

As time passed, second by second, finally, as the thick smoke gradually dissipated, people were surprised to find that Kizaru's right foot was firmly planted on the back of a sharp blade.

And opposite him stood an old man with snow-white hair but a hale and hearty spirit.

"Dark King, Rayleigh!"

Seeing this familiar figure, even Whitebeard, who was always as steady as Mount Tai, couldn't help but have his pupils shrink suddenly, exclaiming in shock.

At the same time, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, not far away, also underwent a drastic change in expression; he clearly hadn't expected the legendary "Dark King, Rayleigh" to suddenly appear at this moment.

"The Pirate King's right-hand man!"

Even Hawkeye Mihawk, who was always cold and ruthless, found it difficult to maintain his composure at this moment; his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of imperceptible excitement and eagerness to try, and his whole body involuntarily exuded a strong desire for battle.

Kizaru stared at Rayleigh with a casual and disdainful look, muttering lazily, "Oh, look who it is? Why is it you again, you old geezer who's been retired for so many years! There's no place for you here, go cool off somewhere else!"

His tone was full of laziness and casualness, as if he didn't care about this legendary figure at all.

Hearing Kizaru's words, Rayleigh simply smiled slightly, the corners of his mouth curving upwards, revealing a faint smile.

He calmly replied, "Hehe, I can't help it either. After all, how can I stand by and watch those young lives, just beginning to bud, be so easily destroyed and cut short?"

Hearing this, Kizaru curled his lip in disapproval, retorting with a suspicious look, "Humph, do you think I'll believe that nonsense of yours? Stop pretending!"

Regarding Kizaru's questioning, Rayleigh appeared very calm, simply shaking his head gently, answering indifferently, "Believe it or not, it's up to you; anyway, that's the way it is."

Just then, as if Kizaru had suddenly thought of something interesting, a hint of curiosity appeared on his face, his gaze falling directly on Rayleigh, and he asked, "Say, Rayleigh, the one kneeling up there is your former captain Roger's biological son, why haven't you gone up to save him? Could it be… hehe, you don't actually care about whether he lives or dies?"

After speaking, Kizaru even chuckled deliberately, seeming to want to provoke Rayleigh.

Hearing these words, Rayleigh's originally calm eyes slowly became profound.

He slowly raised his head, turning his gaze towards the execution platform high above.

He saw Ace kneeling with both knees, his head drooping, looking like a lamb to the slaughter.

Rayleigh stared at Ace for a long time, and finally shook his head helplessly, sighing, "Alas, the path that child walks is his own choice, what can we, as bystanders, do? I really can't help him!"

Then, he turned his head to look at Kizaru again, continuing, "Moreover, everyone has their own trajectory of fate, even if he is Roger's son, he cannot change that."

Seeing this, Kizaru couldn't help but let out another contemptuous laugh: "Hahahaha, to think you were once a companion who roamed the seas with Roger, and now you're so cold-blooded and ruthless! Aren't you afraid that after a hundred years, when you get to the underworld, you won't be able to explain yourself to Roger?"

Rayleigh fell silent upon hearing this, no longer answering.

Just then.

Sengoku on the execution platform widened his eyes.

"No, it's not just him!"

Sengoku's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly came back to his senses, his eyes like torches, looking towards the gloomy and oppressive sky.

However, apart from the billowing, thick, inky black clouds, his field of vision was completely empty.

Sengoku did not dare to take it lightly, and immediately unleashed his powerful Observation Haki, wanting to detect whether there were any other hidden threats nearby.

But after a scan, he still gained nothing, not even discovering a single figure.

Noticing this, Sengoku's expression couldn't help but change slightly.

At the same time, on the wide plaza below, a thrilling scene was unfolding.

Doflamingo's hairs stood on end, as if sensing an extremely dangerous aura approaching.

He was standing on the already dying Law, sweat dripping down his back.

Just then, a figure descended silently like a ghost, enveloping Doflamingo completely.

Accompanying the appearance of this figure, a faint voice slowly rang out: "What do you want to do to him?"

"I…!"

Doflamingo was frightened by this sudden change, his mouth slightly open, just about to explain something.

However, before he could get the words out, with a loud "crack," a dazzling thunder light suddenly exploded.

Immediately afterward, a deafening "boom" sounded, like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting, resounding through the clouds.