'One Piece' Anime Explains Why Rayleigh Was the Right Hand of the Pirate King

Ladies and Gentlemen. Pirates and members of the navy. Tenryubitos and devil fruit carriers. Stand up and show some respect for Silver Rayleigh. That’s practically what it says in episode 1088 of the ‘One Piece’ anime, where the one known as “Dark King” made his appearance more than 200 episodes later. The last time we saw him was during Luffy’s fight against Katakuri, when we had a (precious) scene where he talked to Shakky about his disciple, Straw Hat.

On this occasion, Rayleigh appeared before Blackbeard. And what an entrance and performance he had. After killing one of Shanks’ best moments in “One Piece”, the anime has taken note and shown how to portray the haki of someone like the Dark King well.

Ranked sixth in the list of the strongest characters of ‘One Piece’, our Rayleigh saved Boa Hancock (already consolidated with her reward as the strongest pirate of the series) and Coby, pushing back Kurohige, whom he made clear his opinion about. A “dick-measuring contest” that will surely be taken for a ride in the echelons of power from now on.

It was already clear in both Sabaody and Wano’s flashback, but this chapter has once again rehabilitated a character for whom there are no adjectives left. Kizaru admitted on Gyojin Island that he was unable to catch him (Kizaru himself!), Oda compared his haki to Shanks’ (and Shanks’ is the strongest haki in the Grand Line), and now he has one of the New Emperors of the Sea retire after 24 years of retirement.

Another demonstration that Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King’s crew was more than a match for their captain and especially his right hand man. We leave you with one last detail as an example: his dealings with Boa Hancock, for whom Rayleigh is the only man who can touch him (aside from Luffy, who she would like to touch, of course). If that’s not respect...