Pirates: Dangerous Options in My Brain

"Larvin, you look a bit worse for wear."

A familiar voice sounded from behind. Vivian instinctively turned around to see an old man with white hair, wearing white-framed glasses and flip-flops, standing behind him.

Despite his age, the old man's muscular upper body contrasted sharply with the wrinkles on his face.

"Uncle Rayleigh?" Vivian's eyes widened in shock.

The Dark King Rayleigh had actually appeared on the battlefield at Marineford?

A hint of joy appeared on Vivian's face.

Vivian had met Rayleigh once at the auction house, and before escaping, he had whispered Ace's true identity to him.

Initially, upon learning that Ace was the son of his former captain, Rayleigh had hesitated for a long time about whether to go to Marineford to rescue him.

After all, their era had long passed, and people of their generation were not supposed to join the current battles.

Moreover, Rayleigh had grown accustomed to his current life and had decided to spend his remaining years peacefully on Sabaody Archipelago. Hearing such news had thrown him into deep conflict.

He had already broken his promise by saving the Straw Hat crew. If he appeared on the battlefield at Marineford, the Marines would not let it go easily.

The news of the Dark King Rayleigh's return would likely be reported by major newspapers, and he would face the World Government's bounty again, returning to the life of a pirate.

This meant his peaceful life would be over.

But this was Roger's child.

The son of his best friend.

Even if it meant risking his life, Rayleigh had to do it for Roger's peace in the afterlife.

So he came, ready to die.

"How did you get here?!" Vivian asked in surprise.

"I swam from Sabaody Archipelago for four days," Rayleigh said nonchalantly.

Four days ago, wearing only shorts and flip-flops, Rayleigh had swum from Sabaody Archipelago to Marineford, encountering countless sea kings along the way but never stopping.

Vivian's expression grew even more astonished. "What about eating and drinking?"

"When I was hungry, I ate raw fish. The sea is full of fish."

"And what about… you know, other needs? People can't just not go to the bathroom," Vivian asked.

"Just pee in the sea." Rayleigh's voice grew sharper, seemingly annoyed by Vivian's questioning. "As for the other, you can hold it. Once on the island, you can find a place to take care of it."

"I see!" Vivian had a look of sudden realization.

But…

Having just swum from the sea, the old man probably didn't have any paper, right?

Vivian grew curious again but wisely chose not to ask further.

People need a bit of emotional intelligence, after all. He wasn't Luffy and didn't have that unique "main character charm."

"Back to the point, if we take down the two on the execution platform, we can rescue Ace, right?" Rayleigh asked, looking at Ace kneeling on the platform.

"Yes," Vivian nodded, "but those two are tough."

"Of course, I know those two old guys are tough."

Rayleigh couldn't help but laugh.

They were from the same era, after all. Sengoku and Garp had fought them countless times on the sea. Seeing these familiar faces again, Rayleigh felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

But nostalgia aside, on the battlefield, pirates and marines were still enemies.

"I'll help you hold them off," he said.

"Those are two Admiral-level marines. Can you really handle them alone?"

Honestly, Vivian believed Rayleigh could hold off Garp, but adding Sengoku made him doubtful.

Even peak Roger would struggle against two at once, right?

"That's why I said I'll hold them both off."

Rayleigh put away his smile, his expression becoming slightly serious. "I'll try to hold them off for five minutes. Can you rescue Ace in that time?"

"I should be able to," Vivian nodded. "Provided you can really hold them off."

"Don't underestimate these old bones of mine."

As Rayleigh spoke, his already muscular body seemed to grow even larger with a slight exertion.

"Hey, Larvin… that's not your real name, is it? I've seen that perverted kid. Even though I'm old and my eyesight isn't what it used to be, I can still tell."

"My name is Vivian," he replied. "I'm a marine."

"A marine?"

Rayleigh was slightly surprised, then smiled again. "You're quite an interesting kid."

A marine who dares to kill a Celestial Dragon really exists in this world.

"Nice to meet you, Vivian."

"Likewise, Uncle Rayleigh." With that, Rayleigh's figure vanished from Vivian's sight like a ghost.

…

"An old friend has arrived." Garp, rarely seen smiling on the battlefield, grinned.

Behind him, Sengoku's face grew even more grim.

"Why is Rayleigh showing up now?"

"Has he forgotten the agreement he made with us marines?"

Back when Roger was executed, his pirate crew disbanded on the spot. The marines made a deal with Rayleigh and the others: as long as they stayed off the seas from that night on, their bounties would be revoked one by one.

At that time, almost everyone on Roger's ship, except Douglas Bullet, agreed to the terms.

But now?

"Are you going to break your promise, Silvers Rayleigh?" Sengoku shouted angrily.

In response, Rayleigh delivered a flying kick, faster than any of Vivian's slashes.

Boom!

A fist and a leg collided, creating a shockwave that shook all of Marineford.

The powerful Armament Haki sparked fiercely.

"I didn't expect you to come, Rayleigh," Garp said excitedly.

"I didn't expect to face you again after all these years, Garp," Rayleigh replied with a smile.

As their words fell.

Whoosh!

Using Thunder Breathing and cloaking himself with the "Silent" card, Vivian climbed back onto the execution platform. With Ace looking extremely shocked, he grabbed Ace's right ankle and leaped down.