One piece :Nox ( Before Dawn)

In Rayleigh's eyes, the giant's attack seemed slow, like in slow motion. Casually glancing to the side, he whispered:

"How can I let you attack our captain from the start?"

Swiftly drawing a long sword from his belt, Rayleigh launched a lightning-fast blue flash. Blood spurted from the chest of the giant Vice Admiral, and the deep wound, revealing bone, rendered him unable to fight.

The enormous body crashed onto the already cracked ice with a thundering noise, and Rayleigh's blade drew attention to this strange yet familiar figure. The sudden appearance of these two stunned Sengoku, who had just noticed them. Two eerily familiar faces made him momentarily forget that the Den Den Mushi was still broadcasting. In disbelief, he breathed out:

"Is that... Rayleigh and Roger? How is this possible? Roger is supposed to be dead."

The sound of the Den Den Mushi, amplified by loudspeakers, echoed across the battlefield and reached those following the broadcast.

Sengoku instantly realized he had made a mistake. Even if it truly was Roger, the Marshal shouldn't have mentioned it. His words were akin to an official confirmation that could undermine the morale of the Marines.

Talking about the Pirate King Roger being alive was absurd. If it's true, the fleet would become a laughingstock.

Regardless of whether Sengoku regretted his words, the question amplified by the Den Den Mushi froze the entire battlefield for a moment. Countless gazes turned to Sal and his companion, their faces even appearing on the large broadcast screen.

"The Pirate King Roger and his first mate?"

"Impossible, too young. Roger should be about 70 years old by now."

Countless questions raced through people's minds: Who is the person next to the legendary pirate Pluto Rayleigh? Could it really be the Pirate King Roger?

Ace, kneeling on the execution platform, looked at the distant figure with dim eyes. His mind was in chaos. How could a person resembling Roger appear? Could it be that he came to save him?

At this moment, Sal paid no attention to the reaction around him, as the most anticipated event was about to unfold.

When it comes to organizations capable of broadcasting globally, only the World Government or its main military organization—the fleet—could do it. Thanks to this worldwide broadcast, the system could truly work, and his identity would shock the world.

Even though everyone is discussing it, his identity is still not confirmed. But the effectiveness of the Fleet Marshal in raising this question is dozens of times greater than his own performance.

A moment after their appearance, as expected, a system prompt arrived.

[SS-level character Whitebeard feels normal emotions towards the host, moderate surprise, and increases experience by 20,000]

[SS-level characters feel normal emotions towards the host, basic surprise, increasing experience by 10,000 X 6]

[S-level characters feel normal emotions towards the host, basic surprise, increasing experience by 1,000 X 31]

[A-level characters feel normal emotions towards the host, basic surprise, increasing experience by 100 X 487]

[Characters of levels B, C, D feel normal emotions towards the host, basic surprise, increasing experience by 20 X 7,823; 5 X 136,833; 1 X 1,036,157]

[Total Experience: 1.7 million]

[Level Up: Level 71 (36,702/450,000)]

The emotions caused by millions of people, an astonishing power. And this number is less than 1% of the pirate world's population.

At the same time, the system template changed again.

[Host: August D. Sal]

[Age: 26]

[Level: 71 (36,702/450,000)]

[Strength: Top (Seven Warlords of the Sea)]

[Physical Conditioning: Highest level (Seven Warlords of the Sea)]

[Agility: Top (Shichibukai)]

[Devil Fruit: None]

[Skills: Top]

[Internal Haki: Advanced]

[Perception Haki: Top (Sound of All Things)]

[Conqueror's Haki: Peak]

[Weapon: Ace]

[Points: 83,879]

The immense enhancement of his physical attributes made Sal feel as if his body was on fire. His three-dimensional attributes had finally reached the minimum standard of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and his Internal Haki had reached the peak of the advanced level, ready to ascend to the highest level at any moment.

This sudden gift made Sal look at Sengoku with kindness...

—

The two black grids of "Hina" constricted, capturing more than a dozen pirates. Hina, who was fighting in a distant part of the battlefield, was always cautious when confronting different enemies. But Sengoku's words made her recognize a figure she would never forget, and hatred immediately ignited in her heart.

The pink figure no longer cared about the alliance made with Smoker and rushed towards Sal without hesitation. She was not concerned whether it was Roger or not. Her mind was fixated on one thought: killing the man who took her innocence.

On the battlefield, Hina was not the only one fixated on Sal. There was also the Shichibukai standing atop the tower, not participating in the battle.

Hancock covered her face and happily watched Sal. She didn't care whether he was Roger or not; the important thing was that he was Sal, and their reunion was sweet in every way.

Initially, Whitebeard's mood was grim due to the unknown fate of Oz. However, the appearance of two unexpected individuals greatly surprised him.

Since the new young man truly resembled Roger, then what was happening? Being straightforward, he asked the question on many people's minds.

"Rayleigh, who is he?"

Rayleigh could not answer this question, as he himself did not have a precise answer.

"Sorry, Newgate, I don't have the answer." You should ask him yourself.

Sal replied calmly.

—" Whitebeard, nice to meet you. I am August D. Sal."

These acquaintances of Roger were shocked, as their attention in recent days had been entirely consumed by the war. People like Sengoku and Whitebeard had no time to check the bounty posters, so naturally, they didn't know what Sal looked like.

Some acquaintances recognized Sal's appearance, but they had a more convincing version.

From the Den Den Mushi came the voice of fleet staff officer Tsuru.

— Sengoku, don't be deceived. August D. Sal is not Roger. He's his clone. Roger is definitely dead. We saw with our own eyes how he was executed.

Tsuru's words made Sengoku, Whitebeard, and the entire world feel as if they had woken from a dream. Yes, Roger's execution was broadcast live across the world. Everyone watched it, heard his words, and saw him pierced by two long swords.

Moreover, if Roger, who opened the Great Pirate Era, were still alive, it would be terrible both for the World Government and ordinary citizens.

—.... Is that so?

Whitebeard seemed to feel both relief and emptiness.

Sengoku and Whitebeard came to terms with the fact that a clone of Roger stood before them, as it was true there were two clones in the world: Whitebeard II and CPO Stussy.

Whitebeard II appears to be a clone of Whitebeard, possessing his youthful physical attributes and potential. And Stussy, the queen of Pleasure Street, is a clone of Baggins.

It's worth mentioning Baggins, who claims she was Whitebeard's lover. In her youth, she was dazzlingly beautiful, but in old age, she turned into an ugly dwarf crone, hated by everyone.

The saying "time is a woman's knife" rings even truer in this world.

And as the Pirate King, Roger could very well have been cloned deliberately.

Among all of Roger's acquaintances, only Rayleigh knows that Sal is not a clone because clones cannot possess the memory of the original, and even the nature of his Conqueror's Haki exactly matches that of the original.

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