One Piece: Start by Saving Roger, I Was Invited to Join the Crew

"Reid."

"Huh?" Reid snapped out of his daze, his mind momentarily blank.

Looking down, he realized that Rayleigh had somehow appeared beside him.

"Brother Rayleigh? When did you get here?"

"Reid, you were just under a spell. You must keep your mind clear at all times—otherwise, you won't be able to solve anything."

"A spell?" Reid was stunned. He knew exactly what that meant.

"Brother Rayleigh, are you sure? I didn't feel anything strange. I was just attacking those pirate ships."

"Yes, you were attacking them—but your consciousness had shifted. Reid, have you forgotten your training? You must feel the breath."

Rayleigh looked at him with steady eyes, still holding deep respect for Reid. He didn't want to see him lose his way.

"Training... breath…"

Reid looked down at his own hands, lost in thought.

"You're right, Rayleigh. Now that you mention it, something did feel off. I couldn't think straight. All I could focus on was destroying them with the Buddha's Hand Shockwave."

"It's good that you realized it—that means there's still hope."

Rayleigh grinned, approving of Reid's awareness.

"But why did it happen?"

Before Rayleigh could answer, the pirates' jeers erupted.

"He stopped attacking! He's scared! Full speed ahead—we'll capture him!"

"Hahaha! If we capture Reid, we'll get the big secret and treasure. He's helpless now!"

"The legendary treasure, just like the One Piece! If I take down the Pirate King too, I'll be rich beyond belief!"

The pirates shouted madly, their faces twisted with greed. None of them considered whether they had the strength or right to take on Reid.

Rayleigh smirked and drew his sword.

"Reid, treat these fools as your training. Watch closely—I'll demonstrate."

He stepped forward and said, "Focus, feel the enemy's breath, then match your attack with that sensation. When done right, your strikes will naturally connect."

"Feel the breath…" Reid repeated to himself, recalling Rayleigh's past teachings.

Rayleigh raised his sword and swung it in one smooth motion. A wave of black and red energy surged forward, striking a pirate ship with precision. Screams rang out as the ship was devastated.

"Incredible! That's Rayleigh for you—he wiped out those ships effortlessly!"

Reid's eyes lit up. The calm, precise strikes were far more effective than the wild fury he'd unleashed earlier. Rayleigh's technique was both powerful and completely controlled.

"Rayleigh's teaching during battle… I almost feel sorry for those pirates," Marco muttered, leaning casually against a tree with a smirk.

Roger laughed. "It's not a bad idea to guide someone in the heat of combat."

Whitebeard watched with admiration. "This is the first time I've seen someone teach like this in the middle of a fight."

Roger smiled. "The stronger Reid becomes, the better for all of us. Mastery of Haki takes time. Rayleigh has pride, and if Reid fails, he'll blame himself."

"I'm looking forward to it," Whitebeard grinned. "Hahahahahaha!"

Meanwhile, panic erupted among the pirates.

"Damn it! Reinforcements just arrived!"

"That's Rayleigh—the Pirate King's right hand! He's a monster!"

"Don't stop—aim all cannons at Rayleigh and Reid! We'll cover the landing with firepower!"

All ships turned their cannons toward them.

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed sharply. "If you point your guns at me… be prepared to die."

A powerful wave of Haki exploded from him. Reid, standing nearby, felt it clearly and was stunned.

"This pressure… is this Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki?!"

He stared wide-eyed as a wave of white aura radiated out from Rayleigh, reaching one of the ships.

In moments, the pirates aboard collapsed, unconscious. On each ship, only about half of the crew remained standing.

Rayleigh turned back to Reid. "Did you see it?"

"Yes. Just like in training—I could see the breath you projected reaching each ship."

"Exactly. Control your breath. Keep your mind calm and focused. Only then can you strike with precision. I used Conqueror's Haki just now. The same principle applies to Armament and Observation Haki," Rayleigh explained.

He looked Reid in the eye. "Earlier, your Buddha's Hand Shockwave was fast—but your aura was unstable. You couldn't lock onto your target. That's likely what caused you to lose yourself."

"Thank you, Rayleigh. I understand now," Reid said with conviction.

Rayleigh smiled. "I've left the other half of them for you. Try it out."

"Alright, I'll give it my all."

Reid looked out at the hundreds of ships in the distance, closed his eyes, and focused.

"I need to sense the breath of each person on those boats first…"

Rayleigh observed silently, thinking, Domineering power doesn't always come from experience—it can come from raw talent. Reid has that talent. If the pirates or World Government learn about his extraordinary healing abilities, they'll stop at nothing to capture him.

"Yes… I can feel it," Reid whispered. "So many white auras… and they're moving. The breath and the ships are one."

Meanwhile, panic spread among the pirates.

"This is insane! Are we really going to land with Rayleigh there?!"

"We're doomed! Rayleigh alone can kill us all—and the island is full of Roger's elite crew! Turn back, retreat!"

"Run for your lives!"

But then—"It's no use! Our helmsmen were knocked out!"

A terrified pirate shouted in despair. The ships were now adrift, no one steering them.

Rayleigh smirked. He had foreseen their reaction. From the start, he had used Observation Haki to pinpoint each ship's helmsman and knocked them out with his Conqueror's Haki, leaving only the rest for Reid to practice on.

Stay calm, Reid reminded himself. Rayleigh said to stay relaxed. Whether it's Haki or fighting, tension ruins everything… like in high jump—your body needs to be loose to perform well.

As his body and mind relaxed, Reid's senses sharpened. The once-blurry auras became clear.

He felt confidence return—and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

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