One Piece Episode 1088: Intense Excitement as Legendary Rayleigh Terrifies Yonko Blackbeard

Episode 1088 of One Piece, titled Luffy's Dream, centers on the young pirate sharing his ultimate wish with his friends. While the episode only hints at Luffy's longing, it is clear that it surpasses his desire to become the Pirate King. Prior to Luffy's moment, the episode wraps up the narration of the siege on Amazon Lily, as the Marines attempt to arrest Boa Hancock and Blackbeard attacks to steal her Love-Love Fruit.

As Blackbeard was poised to execute the "Pirate Empress," Silvers Rayleigh's sudden appearance turned the tables. Instead of clashing with Gol D. Roger's former right-hand man, Blackbeard opted to free Hancock and depart from Amazon Lily without any loot.

Even as an old man, Rayleigh is a Yonko level threat, and One Piece episode 1088 proves it

Rayleigh intimidated Blackbeard, saving Hancock's life

In One Piece episode 1088, Rayleigh makes his dramatic entrance (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Using the unique abilities of the Love-Love Fruit, Boa Hancock was able to incapacitate several Marines, as well as Vasco Shot and Catalina Devon, both high-ranking officers of the Blackbeard Pirates who had joined Teach on Amazon Lily.

Before Hancock could strike Koby with her Perfume Femuru move, Blackbeard intercepted her with the Dark-Dark’s Black Vortex, effectively nullifying her Devil Fruit powers. He then seized Hancock by the throat, causing her to bleed.

With no chance of fighting back, Hancock warned Blackbeard that if he killed her, the people she had turned into stone, such as Vasco and Catalina, would remain petrified forever. Despite this, Blackbeard was unwavering in his determination to claim the Love-Love Fruit and proceeded to attempt to kill Hancock.

The situation appeared grim, but then Silvers Rayleigh unexpectedly emerged. Radiating Conqueror’s Haki from his body, the “Dark King” brandished his sword, sending a menacing command for everyone to heed his demands.

Even Blackbeard didn't dare to defy Rayleigh (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Rayleigh instructed Boa to reverse the effects on her victims and, in return, the invaders would leave the island. No one dared to challenge Rayleigh's authority, as even Blackbeard felt intimidated by Gol D. Roger's former second-in-command, leading to a peaceful resolution.

Reflecting on the events, Hancock expressed heartfelt gratitude to the "Dark King" for saving Amazon Lily and her life. Rayleigh had come to her aid because his wife, Shakuyaku, also known as "Shakky", had previously been the leader of Amazon Lily and the captain of the Kuja Pirates.

Blackbeard knows what Rayleigh is capable of

Ultimately, Rayleigh acknowledged that, although his reputation for strength was sufficient to intimidate Blackbeard, he likely wouldn't have been able to defeat him in a fight in his current aged condition.

Silvers Rayleigh, the Pirate King's most formidable ally, is a true living legend. The events at Amazon Lily only served to further highlight his incredible strength. Even at 78 years old, well past his prime, Rayleigh's reputation alone was enough to strike fear in the heart of Blackbeard, a notorious and formidable Yonko.

Before Rayleigh’s arrival, Blackbeard was willing to go to great lengths to obtain Hancock’s Love-Love Fruit, even at the cost of sacrificing his own officers. However, upon realizing the formidable opponent he faced in Rayleigh, Blackbeard ultimately conceded and agreed to leave Amazon Lily without the coveted Devil Fruit.

Despite his formidable strength as a Yonko-level pirate capable of wielding both the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit simultaneously, Blackbeard chose to forsake his original objective and depart without engaging in a confrontation with the aging Rayleigh, who was nearly 80 years old.

Blackbeard saw a battle against Rayleigh as too risky, even in his older form. He would not have backed down if he thought he could easily win, showing that the "Dark King" still posed a formidable threat.

Rayleigh acknowledged that in his advanced age, he probably wouldn't have been able to defeat Blackbeard in a fight. This suggests that an older Rayleigh is somewhat weaker than Blackbeard, but the outcome could have been different if Rayleigh were younger.

Rayleigh is truly exceptional, standing out as a formidable figure who, in his heyday, exceeds the level of the Yonko, and, even in his later years, retains his status as a top-notch fighter capable of holding his own against anyone.

From the very beginning, One Piece depicted Rayleigh as a monster

The image depicts the intense battle between Kizaru and Rayleigh, as seen in Toei Animation's One Piece.

Prior to the current events in One Piece, Kizaru caused chaos on Sabaody Archipelago. He went on a rampage, defeating numerous members of the Eleven Supernovas. The Admiral was on the verge of crushing the Straw Hat crew when Rayleigh intervened and confronted him.

Despite being rusty and past his prime at 76 years old, Rayleigh effortlessly fended off Kizaru. Rayleigh’s only struggle was his stamina, diminished by his inactivity and old age, but otherwise he was able to keep up with all of Kizaru’s moves.

The Admiral was unable to surpass Rayleigh's defenses, as he matched him blow for blow, remaining unscathed and even inflicting a minor wound. It is worth mentioning that even characters as powerful as Marco and Whitebeard were unable to harm Kizaru at all.

Rayleigh, who is 76 years old, faced off against Kizaru (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Kizaru's failure to capture the Straw Hats left him so incensed that he took out his frustration on 500 pirates. It was clear that if he could have avoided the debacle by defeating Rayleigh, he would have. But it was evident that he just couldn't. Sentomaru, who witnessed the battle, acknowledged that Rayleigh managed to stop Kizaru.

If they had gone all-out, Kizaru would have used the hidden abilities of his Glint-Glint Fruit, but Rayleigh could counter with his Advanced Conqueror’s Haki. The result would have been the same. However, if prime Rayleigh had replaced his older self at Sabaody, he wouldn't have just matched Kizaru, but would have completely beaten him.

The recent One Piece chapters revealed that Kizaru is strong enough to hold his own against a Yonko-level Luffy, overpowering the latter’s Gear 4 state and forcing him to use his Gear 5 form until exhaustion. This makes the 76-year-old Rayleigh's performance against the Admiral even more remarkable.

The "Dark King", a living legend of the One Piece world

Silvers Rayleigh and Gol D. Roger (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Rayleigh is a historical figure, known as the "Dark King" for his significant role as Roger’s right-hand man and the crew’s shadow captain. This is also indicated by the original names of Roger and Rayleigh, Gol D. and Silvers, in contrast to Scopper Gaban’s name.

The use of gold and silver as a reference distinguishes the members of the Roger Pirates’ “Metal Trio”, likely paralleling the Straw Hat crew’s “Monster Trio”, further highlighting the comparison between Rayleigh and his present-day counterpart, Roronoa Zoro.

Zoro and Rayleigh are like two peas in a pod (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Rayleigh’s “Dark King” does not simply refer to darkness, but, in its original Japanese meaning, it evokes the ruler of the underworld. Zoro wields a sword named Enma, which is the Japanese name for Yama, the deity who rules over the underworld in Buddhism, known as the “King of Hell”. This title is now also attributed to Zoro.

These titles, derived from a common origin, suggest that Zoro and Rayleigh are formidable individuals on par with their captains. To Luffy and Roger, they are not just followers, but, as explicitly stated in the manga, true partners, akin to brothers-in-arms.

As natural-born Conqueror’s Haki users, both the “Dark King” and the “King of Hell” possessed the potential to rise as legendary captains in their own right. However, out of spontaneous sympathy, they chose to place their trust in Roger and Luffy, becoming their loyal right-hand men respectively.

Prime Rayleigh might be above Yonko level (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Rayleigh was held in such high regard by Monkey D. Garp that he was considered a legend on the same level as the powerful Whitebeard. Jinbe couldn't help but feel both fear and astonishment in Rayleigh's presence, in contrast to his calm demeanor in the presence of Big Mom. In the world of One Piece, Haki is the ultimate power, surpassing even Devil Fruits, and Rayleigh embodies this idea with his exceptional combat skills. He is a master of all three types of Haki, which he seamlessly combines with his swordsmanship.

Most notably, he has mastered the advanced versions of both Haoshoku and Busoshoku. It is important to highlight that his Conqueror’s Haki was directly compared to that of “Red Hair” Shanks, and, unlike other types of Haki, the strength of one’s Haoshoku depends on the user's overall power.

Rayleigh training Luffy (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)

Therefore, the statement found in Volume 65 of SBS suggests that Rayleigh is on par with Shanks in terms of power. It's no surprise that Rayleigh has earned the respect and admiration of Luffy, as he was one of the few to do so. He even acted as Luffy's teacher, personally instructing him on how to use Haki and aiding in the development of his Gear 4 transformation.

The anticipation of seeing more of Rayleigh only solidifies his legendary status. Despite being weakened by old age and inactivity, he still possessed enough power to rival formidable foes like Kizaru and Blackbeard. Fans can only speculate about Rayleigh's capabilities in his prime, but it's highly likely that he was one of the strongest characters in the One Piece series.

Be sure to keep up with all One Piece anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2023 progresses.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am thrilled to witness the epic showdown between the legendary Silvers Rayleigh and the fearsome Yonko Blackbeard in One Piece episode 1088. Rayleigh's awe-inspiring presence and immense power truly live up to his reputation as the 'Dark King' of the One Piece universe. It's amazing to see how he effortlessly commands respect and obedience from even the most formidable pirates, including Blackbeard himself.

Rayleigh's dramatic entrance and the subsequent turn of events left me in awe. His Conqueror's Haki radiated with such intensity that it sent shivers down my spine. The fact that he was able to intimidate Blackbeard, a Yonko known for his ruthlessness and ambition, speaks volumes about Rayleigh's legendary status. It's clear that even in his old age, Rayleigh remains a force to be reckoned with, and his reputation alone is enough to deter even the most powerful pirates from engaging in a fight with him.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.