Titled “The Revelation of Luffy’s Deepest Desire” in One Piece Episode 1088, the focus is on the young pirate, Luffy, confiding his ultimate wish to his companions. Although Luffy’s longing isn’t explicitly disclosed, the episode hints that it surpasses his ambition of becoming the Pirate King.
Before delving into Luffy’s profound moment, the episode wraps up the narrative of the siege on Amazon Lily. The Marines’ invasion aimed at apprehending Boa Hancock, while Marshall D. Teach, also known as “Blackbeard,” targeted Hancock to seize her Love-Love Fruit.
Blackbeard’s attempt to eliminate the “Pirate Empress” was halted by the unexpected arrival of Silvers Rayleigh. Instead of engaging in combat with Gol D. Roger’s former right-hand man, Blackbeard opted to release Hancock and depart Amazon Lily empty-handed.
Please note: This article contains significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1102.
Rayleigh, even in his elderly state, demonstrates his formidable threat level in One Piece Episode 1088.
Rayleigh’s intervention saves Hancock’s life by intimidating Blackbeard.
Boa Hancock effectively neutralized numerous Marines, including Vasco Shot and Catalina Devon, two officers from Blackbeard’s crew who accompanied him to Amazon Lily, utilizing the extraordinary powers of the Love-Love Fruit.
However, Blackbeard countered Hancock’s abilities with the Dark-Dark Fruit’s Black Vortex, nullifying her Devil Fruit powers and causing her injury. Despite Hancock’s plea that the people turned to stone by her powers, including Vasco and Catalina, would remain petrified indefinitely if she were killed, Blackbeard remained determined to seize the Love-Love Fruit.
Rayleigh appeared suddenly, exuding Conqueror’s Haki, and brandished his sword, compelling everyone to heed his commands.
Rayleigh instructed Hancock to restore her victims while demanding that all invaders depart the island. Even Blackbeard, intimidated by Gol D. Roger’s former right-hand man, acquiesced to de-escalate the situation.
Reflecting on the incident, Hancock earnestly expressed gratitude to the “Dark King” for safeguarding Amazon Lily and her life. Rayleigh intervened because his wife, Shakuyaku, known as “Shakky,” was previously the leader of Amazon Lily and captain of the Kuja Pirates.
Ultimately, Rayleigh acknowledged that while his reputation was enough to deter Blackbeard, in his aged state, he likely wouldn’t have prevailed in a fight against him.
Blackbeard acknowledges Rayleigh’s capabilities
As the closest comrade to the Pirate King, Silvers Rayleigh remains a living legend, a fact highlighted in the events on Amazon Lily. Rayleigh’s strength, even as a 78-year-old past his prime, was sufficient to intimidate Blackbeard, a formidable Yonko.
For Blackbeard, facing off against Rayleigh posed an extreme threat, prompting him to abandon his pursuit of Hancock’s Devil Fruit. Despite his status as a Yonko-level pirate possessing both the Dark-Dark and Tremor-Tremor Fruits, Blackbeard chose to retreat rather than confront an almost 80-year-old Rayleigh.
Blackbeard deemed a confrontation with Rayleigh as too perilous, a risk not worth taking, even in Rayleigh’s aged state. This decision underscores Rayleigh’s proximity in power to Blackbeard, as Blackbeard would not have withdrawn if victory seemed assured without much effort.
Rayleigh admitted that in his current aged condition, he probably wouldn’t have emerged victorious against Blackbeard in combat. This declaration hints that while an elderly Rayleigh might be slightly inferior in power to Blackbeard, a younger Rayleigh could have presented a vastly different scenario.
In summary, Rayleigh emerges as an exceptional figure who, in his prime, surpassed Yonko-level strength and, even in retirement, remains a top-tier fighter capable of exerting pressure on anyone.
Right from the start, One Piece portrayed Rayleigh as an extraordinary force.
Two years before the current events in One Piece, Kizaru caused chaos at Sabaody Archipelago. After overwhelming several of the Eleven Supernovas, the Admiral was poised to crush the Straw Hat Pirates until Rayleigh intervened.
Despite being rusty and past his prime at 76 years old, Rayleigh effortlessly held his ground against Kizaru. Rayleigh’s sole hindrance was his stamina due to inactivity and age, but he otherwise matched Kizaru’s moves flawlessly.
Although the Admiral couldn’t breach Rayleigh’s defenses, Rayleigh managed to wound him, albeit minimally. Notably, individuals like Marco and Whitebeard hadn’t been able to harm Kizaru at all.
Kizaru’s fury after failing to capture the Straw Hats and subsequently beating 500 pirates suggests that defeating Rayleigh wasn’t a feasible alternative for him. Sentomaru, a witness to the battle, acknowledged Rayleigh’s role in halting Kizaru.
Had they engaged in a full-fledged battle, Kizaru might have unleashed the hidden potential of his Glint-Glint Fruit, but Rayleigh could have countered with his Advanced Conqueror’s Haki. The outcome would likely have remained unchanged. However, if the prime version of Rayleigh faced Kizaru at Sabaody, he would have not merely matched but potentially triumphed over him.
Recent One Piece chapters highlighted Kizaru’s strength, showcasing his ability to contend with a Yonko-level Luffy. This emphasizes the impressive nature of the 76-year-old Rayleigh’s standoff against the Admiral.
The “Dark King,” a living legend in the world of One Piece
Rayleigh stands as a historical figure in the One Piece universe, characterized by his title as Roger’s right-hand man and the crew’s shadow captain. This distinction is reflected in the original names of Roger and Rayleigh, Gol D. and Silvers, compared to Scopper Gaban.
The use of precious metals in their names marks a distinction among the members of the Roger Pirates’ “Metal Trio,” likely paralleling the Straw Hat crew’s “Monster Trio,” further underscoring the comparison between Rayleigh and his counterpart, Roronoa Zoro.
Much like Rayleigh was the right-hand man to the former Pirate King, Zoro is envisioned as the right-hand man to the future Pirate King. From their status and combat styles to their remarkably similar scars, attire, demeanor, and monikers, Rayleigh and Zoro exhibit striking resemblances.
Rayleigh’s designation as the “Dark King” isn’t solely a reference to darkness but, in its original Japanese context, evokes the ruler of the underworld. One of Zoro’s swords, Enma, is named after Yama in Buddhism, the ruler of the underworld or the “King of Hell,” aligning with Zoro’s new moniker.
These titles, derived from a shared root, imply that Zoro and Rayleigh are potent individuals akin to their captains. To Luffy and Roger, they aren’t merely subordinates but, as the manga explicitly states, genuine partners and brothers-in-arms.
As natural wielders of Conqueror’s Haki, both the “Dark King” and the “King of Hell” possessed the potential to become legendary captains in their own right. However, out of genuine camaraderie, they chose to place their trust in Roger and, respectively, Luffy, becoming loyal right-hand men.
As a testament to Rayleigh