Chapter 23: Beheading Their Leader
"Is this the strength of a pirate with a bounty of over 80 million?"
Rhodes slowly descended from the sky, his tone neutral.
Honestly, he was somewhat disappointed.
Pirate bounties were originally a mechanism implemented by the World Government to encourage bounty hunters to pursue pirates.
But now, bounties had become a symbol of status and power. An 80 million berry bounty was quite impressive on these seas.
If placed in the Four Blues, it would be enough to become a dominant force.
Even in the first half of the Grand Line, one could achieve a respectable position. With a little effort, one could become a Supernova!
Remember, even after Luffy defeated Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, his bounty was only 100 million berries.
"Damn brat, do you think you've won?!"
Hearing this, Slott erupted in fury.
He roared, veins bulging all over his body as his skin instantly turned as dark as steel, and he expanded to become a massive three-meter-tall figure.
His afro hair made him look rather comical.
"Look! He's gone full black!"
"That's the 'Black Fist' technique that even the captain praised. I've only seen it twice before, but I didn't expect he'd use it against a young punk like this."
"If the captain can use that, this battle's probably over."
The pirates drawn by the nearby commotion were awed by Slott's transformed appearance.
On the battlefield—
Slott unleashed his technique, roaring furiously as he struck.
This time, his speed was slower than before, but the force of his punch was like a mountain collapsing—the power was incredible.
Shanuo, who prided himself on being the strongest among the trainees, paled even further upon seeing this. If Slott had used that technique from the start, he wouldn't have been able to withstand even a single blow.
On the field, Rhodes stood expressionless, neither blocking nor dodging. He waited until the fist drew close before gripping his sword's hilt and striking.
Lightning flashed along the blade, imbuing this ordinary katana with the sharpness of a supreme grade sword.
BOOM!
The pale blue blade and the black fist collided.
The battlefield erupted like thunder, a massive shockwave radiating outward in all directions, sending gravel, tents, and debris flying from the ground. The sound was deafening, the scene terrifying.
Those nearby were forced to retreat, halting their own fights to gaze upon the clash in awe.
"What?!"
Slott's expression shifted, and he involuntarily took a step back, while Rhodes merely staggered slightly.
The head-on collision between the two clearly determined the outcome.
While Slott's physique had been honed to perfection, Rhodes had also reached a similar level of physical prowess. Combined with his swordsmanship and lightning power, Slott was no match for him in direct confrontation!
"How is this possible?!"
Slott exclaimed in shock.
He was incredibly confident in his own strength, especially after unleashing his secret technique. He was certain he could even take on pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million.
And now, a young man barely sixteen or seventeen could rival him.
It was a truly devastating blow to his pride.
"I don't believe it!"
Slott roared. When his first punch failed to connect decisively, he followed with another, then with his arms and knees—a torrential barrage.
Each punch and kick was incredibly powerful, laced with Busoshoku Haki, effortlessly crushing boulders and cracking the earth beneath their feet.
The mighty wind pressure from his strikes raged, sending sand and rocks flying.
"..."
Rhodes' face remained expressionless, his eyes steady and focused.
His enhanced intelligence not only granted him exceptional learning speed but also enabled him to process information with remarkable efficiency.
This manifested as superior battlefield awareness.
His reaction speed surpassed that of ordinary humans, allowing him to respond with composure to any situation, instantly devising countermeasures.
"RAAAAAAHHH!"
Slott was like a madman, pushing all the martial arts techniques he had learned throughout his life to their absolute limits. Every part of his body became a killing weapon as he tried to defeat Rhodes and tear him apart.
This flurry of rapid strikes was indeed continuous, but the force dispersed among each blow was inevitably much weaker.
With his lightning-enhanced nerve reaction speed and bodily acceleration, Rhodes could handle it with relative ease.
"Is that all?"
Rhodes said coolly.
He no longer planned to use Slott for combat experience.
"Raikō!"
Dazzling lightning exploded outward. The sudden brilliant flash made Slott squint slightly and instinctively swing his fist to block his vision.
Rhodes cut through his defenses with a single sword strike. He stepped forward with the fluid grace of a hunting cat, and with the speed of lightning itself, thrust his blade toward Slott's heart.
The height difference prevented a clean decapitation, forcing him to aim for vital organs instead.
"Busoshoku!"
Slott remained undaunted, confident that his Armament Haki could withstand the blow.
However, the next instant, his sneer froze as the sword tip, crackling with the force of thunder, forcibly pierced through his Armament Haki's defense and penetrated his heart!
The battle abruptly ceased.
The two men stood motionless.
"You..."
Slott had barely uttered a single word when his vision went black. His brain, deprived of blood supply, grew dizzy, and he collapsed to his knees.
A swordsman's battle was brutal and decisive. Breaking through defenses meant a single strike could be fatal, unlike hand-to-hand combat where even battered and bloodied, one could continue fighting for several more rounds.
After being stabbed through the heart, Slott wasn't immediately dead. He fell to his knees, his left hand pressed against his heart, but he couldn't stop the blood from gushing out. His face was filled with terror and despair.
"Busoshoku Haki... that's all it amounts to."
Rhodes said calmly, sheathing his sword.
Slott raised his head, blood foaming from his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The secret technique he was maintaining could no longer be sustained, and his body returned to normal size.
Then, with a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground as blood quickly pooled beneath him.
"Dead... he's dead?! The captain is dead!"
"How is this possible?!"
"After making it all the way to the New World, he dies in a place like this..."
The setting sun still cast its glow, and in that light, the pirates witnessed the outcome of the battle, gasping in shock.
"Finish them all!" The trainees raised their weapons and shouted loudly, their morale soaring sky-high.
In an instant, the pirates fell into complete panic. They were too demoralized to dare face the enemy head-on and only wanted to flee. The few who occasionally put up desperate resistance were quickly overwhelmed by the combined forces and couldn't make any meaningful impact.
"Incredible... you're stronger than me."
Shanuo, the captain of Squad One and a fellow swordsman, approached with genuine respect in his tone. Then he changed his expression, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "But once I master dual-type Haki, I'll definitely defeat you!"
"Sure."
Rhodes responded indifferently and turned to join the pursuit of the fleeing pirates.
Although these ordinary pirates provided minimal energy, every little bit counted, and Rhodes had no habit of wasting opportunities.
(End of Chapter)
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