Chapter 75: Victory
Rhodes had been exploring the fusion of lightning power and swordsmanship.
Tenraikiri was a spreading attack, channeling vast electrical energy through swordsmanship, with an immense attack range capable of sweeping across an entire battlefield.
Thunder Dragon, on the other hand, was a concentrated attack, using swordsmanship to gather and compress raging thunder. With a single strike, he had sent the powerful Ryuji flying, shocking the entire crowd.
"This guy Rhodes is actually this strong?"
Sabo smiled wryly, his eyes filled with amazement.
His premonition had indeed come true, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Even Sabo, known for his composure, found it difficult to accept.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept being surpassed—with Rhodes' demonstrated talent and potential, surpassing him was almost inevitable. Despite some discomfort, Sabo could accept it.
But he had never imagined that this day would come so quickly...
As for Kuro, Morley, and the others who had graduated alongside Rhodes, they were completely speechless, stunned into silence, their minds blank and dumbfounded.
This... It seemed like Rhodes wasn't just competing with them, but was preparing to take on the entire world!
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
Ryuji had taken Rhodes' Thunder Dragon strike head-on. His sword grip was trembling, his knuckles cracked with blood trickling out.
"Such incredible swordsmanship..."
Ryuji's eyes were grave. If he were at his peak condition, he might have been able to withstand it, but at this moment, he felt a sense of overwhelming pressure.
Whoosh!
The next moment, Rhodes suddenly moved. In a flash, he instantly crossed nearly a hundred meters, leaving behind a streak of light—his speed rivaling Ryuji's own!
Ryuji didn't hesitate and raised his sword to meet the attack.
Clang!
The blades collided, sending forth massive sparks. The ringing of steel against steel rippled outward like sound waves, piercing everyone's eardrums.
"His raw strength isn't quite equal to mine!"
This thought flashed through Ryuji's mind as they clashed, but then violent lightning pierced the air like a silver serpent, roaring toward him.
Seeing this, Ryuji's expression suddenly changed. Without hesitation, he stepped back, swinging his sword to deflect and scatter the electricity.
Even so, the powerful electrical current transmitted through the metal blade still affected his battle-hardened physique, causing subtle tremors.
Though the effect was slight, in a battle of this magnitude, any mistake could lead to a loss of advantage.
Rhodes' eyes flashed with electric light, and without hesitation, he pressed forward, slashing with his sword. Leveraging his lightning advantage, he gradually seized control of the battle's rhythm and began suppressing Ryuji's momentum.
Momentum is a mysterious force, often possessed only by the strongest fighters.
And Rhodes, at this moment, clearly possessed his own overwhelming presence.
This momentum, like his swordsmanship, was unstoppable—cutting through everything in its path.
Clang clang clang!
The blades clashed continuously, lightning crackling wildly with each exchange.
Even though Ryuji tried his best to reverse the situation, he seemed powerless against Rhodes' relentless assault.
He was a swordsman whose greatest strength lay in his devastating striking power.
Often, a single decisive blow was enough to overwhelm his opponent, allowing him to control the battle's rhythm.
But now, Rhodes had suppressed his strongest point, completely disrupting the flow of combat.
When he tried to unleash an all-out attack, he was instantly countered by Rhodes' Thunder Dragon technique.
When he attempted to use his speed to maneuver and find an opening, Rhodes' velocity was equally impressive. Both his physical reflexes and mental processing were incredibly sharp, completely dominating this contest of speed.
In the end, a swordsman renowned for attacking was forced into pure defense.
As they say, defending for too long leads to defeat, and the constant lightning currents continuously sapped his strength.
The longer the battle continued, the greater Rhodes' advantage became!
Boom boom boom!
Brilliant sword energies collided, exploding into a sky-high electrical storm that raged across heaven and earth.
The deafening roar even drew curious glances from those in the castle headquarters, their faces filled with wonder. Why was there thunder coming from the ground over there?
By this point in the battle, even fighters like Kuro and Morley could no longer comprehend this level of power. They felt utterly insignificant.
These forces were so overwhelming that a single sword strike would be enough to kill them, and even a single bolt of lightning could severely wound them.
Led by fish-man Hack and his companions, they retreated a considerable distance, yet they could still feel the relentless clash of razor-sharp blades cutting through the air toward them.
Even the terrifying thunder made their scalps tingle, causing their hair to stand on end despite the distance. Bepo and Koala retreated in terror.
This was absolutely terrifying.
Finally,
with a resonant sword cry, a renowned dark green blade suddenly flew from its wielder's hand, embedding itself in the ground far away.
Ryuji stared blankly at his trembling right hand.
Remembering his previous defeat at the hands of that man—after losing his arm, he had diligently practiced one-handed swordsmanship, vowing never to lose his beloved sword in battle again.
For a swordsman, losing their blade in combat means absolute defeat.
Ever since leaving Wano Country and venturing into the New World, this oath had remained unbroken. Yet he never expected to be defeated by such a young swordsman today.
A long moment passed
before he regained his composure. With a complex expression, he looked at the calm young man before him. With a bitter smile, he shook his head and said,
"I lost."
His tone held a sense of relief, as if he had gained insight into something, released something. His entire aura gradually underwent a profound transformation.
This startled Rhodes, surprise flickering across his face, though he quickly regained his composure.
Was it really so easy to achieve the mindset of a great swordsman?
Even if Ryuji had grasped that glimmer of enlightenment, truly becoming one would likely take several more years.
By then, Rhodes would already be incredibly powerful.
"You're truly remarkable! It seems the world will soon witness the rise of another great swordsman,"
Ryuji said calmly. His cutting edge had subsided, and he seemed transformed. His expression remained stern, but less aggressive—more like that of a true master.
"Thank you for your encouragement. I'll continue working hard."
Rhodes wasn't being modest. A swordsman who didn't aspire to become great wasn't worthy of the title.
He even dreamed of defeating Dracule Mihawk and claiming the title of World's Greatest Swordsman.
As for Zoro... well, let him challenge me when that time comes.
Ryuji said nothing more, simply giving Rhodes a profound look.
Even with this shift in his mindset, he remained genuinely surprised—even shocked—by Rhodes' victory.
He'd heard Kuro mention Rhodes before and knew the young man wasn't even twenty years old, perhaps only seventeen.
To possess the power to defeat him at such an age was truly incredible.
Ryuji could be said to be well-traveled and experienced. In the years since joining the Revolutionary Army, he had journeyed extensively, witnessed countless battles, and encountered many young and powerful individuals, but he had never seen such a monster.
This was no longer something that could be achieved through simple talent alone. Willpower, dedication, opportunity, and countless other factors were all indispensable!
End of Chapter 75
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