Chapter 156: Nothing Special
At that moment, on the battlefield.
Accompanied by a thunderous crash,
Hurt suddenly burst from the damaged wall and, using downward momentum, kicked toward Rhodes.
Rhodes showed no fear, meeting the attack with an upward sword slash.
Unexpectedly, Hurt suddenly exerted force mid-air, his body twisting flexibly as he dodged to Rhodes's opposite side, then launched a punch.
Such rapid changes in technique were worthy of a master proficient in Rokushiki.
However, Rhodes's current Observation Haki mastery was far beyond what it once was, and his physical and mental reactions surpassed ordinary people by orders of magnitude. Hurt's flashy mid-combat adjustment not only failed to work—it exposed an opening Rhodes immediately exploited.
Dodge, side slash!
He capitalized on the momentum and slashed toward Hurt's exposed flank.
"Not good!"
Hurt hadn't expected Rhodes's reaction speed. In that moment of crisis, he barely managed to activate Geppo, using the air-stepping technique to adjust his position while contorting his body into an unnatural posture, narrowly avoiding Rhodes's blade.
"Seimei Kikan?"
Rhodes's strike missed, surprise flickering across his face.
This was an advanced Rokushiki technique—by channeling consciousness through the body, one could freely control any body part.
Hurt had just manipulated his abdominal muscles to indent inward, dodging the sharp blade.
"Good eye! I didn't expect the Revolutionary Army to have a master like you."
Hurt's eyes flashed with wariness. As he spoke, the wound on his abdomen shifted—as if forcibly fusing back together through life return.
Simultaneously, he suddenly shouted:
"Blessing!"
A peculiar power suddenly surged through his body. The source of this power was mysterious, but it quickly merged with the Armament Haki radiating from his form.
Buzz!
His Armament Haki—originally a deep black—became incomparably darker under this power's influence, exuding an aura of absolute indestructibility.
Meanwhile, Hurt's entire body swelled, growing approximately twenty centimeters taller.
"Devil Fruit power?"
Rhodes narrowed his eyes slightly.
It appeared to be a fruit ability that could combine with Armament Haki—similar to how Enel enhanced his Observation Haki with lightning. Hurt's fruit power had intensified his Armament Haki dramatically.
Unleashing this power, Hurt's presence instantly surged. He glared down at Rhodes with commanding intensity, declaring:
"I will kill you!"
With that, Hurt stomped the ground and launched forward with unstoppable momentum, throwing a devastating punch.
The very air shattered!
Hurt was confident this punch could obliterate a small warship!
Watching this, Rhodes's expression remained unchanged as he casually struck downward with his sword.
BOOM!
As fist and blade collided,
the ground exploded with thunderous force. Massive residual energy surged in all directions, tearing deep fissures across the earth and even toppling distant sections of the base's walls.
The clash between these two powerhouses was like a meteorite collision—earth-shaking and resonating. The roar echoed across the entire island, causing everyone on the other battlefield to pause momentarily.
"What?!"
Hurt's expression shifted slightly as he involuntarily stepped backward, while Rhodes merely swayed slightly.
"Impossible!"
In disbelief, Hurt launched a fierce barrage at Rhodes, his fists raining down like a storm—but Rhodes firmly deflected each blow, even forcing Hurt to lose stability from the onslaught.
Ittoryu: Iai!
Amidst dazzling lightning,
Rhodes mobilized all his strength and slashed with his blade.
A violent impact erupted.
Hurt flew backward again, carving a long furrow through the ground. A deep, bloody gash opened across his fist—but under Seimei Kikan's control, the muscles on either side quickly moved and sealed together.
"..."
Rhodes watched the scene expressionlessly. After catching his breath briefly, he stepped forward and in a flash appeared before Hurt, striking with his sword.
Compared to Pillar Don Chinjao,
Hurt's overall physical capabilities were superior in every aspect. He maneuvered more agilely, and his Armament Haki—due to his special Devil Fruit ability—was even stronger than Don Chinjao's had been.
In short, he was a great pirate-level combatant in peak condition—far more formidable than Pillar Don Chinjao, who'd been forced to rely on drugs for temporary recovery.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Rhodes and Hurt clashed repeatedly, his figure flashing constantly. In terms of speed alone, he surpassed almost all great pirates, leaving them with nothing but defensive reactions.
Swish!
Another sword strike connected with Hurt, carving a deep, bloody gash across his powerful physique.
"AAAHHH!"
"Damn it!"
Rhodes's accumulating wounds continued to drain his stamina. Even with Seimei Kikan's regeneration, Hurt could feel his condition noticeably declining.
He felt like a black bear targeted by a hunter—his blood drained sword strike by sword strike, ultimately doomed.
The sensation was unbearable.
Hurt roared furiously, clenching his fists and striking out desperately.
Rokuogan—Six King Gun!
BOOM!
The concentrated force transformed into a devastating shockwave, surging toward Rhodes with overwhelming power.
However, this technique was essentially a close-range attack that could only be executed when grappling an opponent.
Throughout this entire battle, Rhodes had maintained complete control. With his speed and reflexes, he easily dodged this dying counterattack.
Moreover, using this ultimate technique inevitably left Hurt momentarily paralyzed—
giving Rhodes the perfect opening for a finishing blow.
"Die."
RUMBLE!
Thunder seemed to echo through the void itself.
The transparent, invisible air—like water's surface—burst apart, transforming into white vapor that dispersed in all directions. Surrounding grass and debris swirled within the white shockwave.
Before Rhodes even finished speaking, he'd already crossed dozens of meters and appeared before Hurt.
Hurt was far stronger than Yorick, so naturally he wasn't completely caught off guard. He released a desperate roar and suddenly grasped at the air with both hands, attempting to seize Rhodes.
His fingers—sharp as Shigan finger guns—were sharp enough to easily pierce through steel.
Unfortunately, Hurt was too slow.
The speed of sound is 340 meters per second, and Rhodes's velocity exceeded it. He appeared before Hurt in barely a tenth of a second—and before Hurt could even close his hands, the blade had already slashed through his neck.
The unparalleled sharpness, combined with extreme velocity, seemed capable of cutting through anything.
Hurt's Armament Haki and physical durability were both slightly superior to Pillar Don Chinjao's—but Rhodes was also significantly stronger now.
His enhanced mental processing allowed him to control his sword strikes with superior precision, channeling his physical strength into even greater destructive power.
"..."
Hurt's roar abruptly ceased.
Rhodes's strike had completely severed halfway through his neck!
"So-called CP agent—nothing special."
Rhodes said lightly, exerting force through his arm as the blade completed its arc.
SPLURT!
A head flew upward,
and blood splattered across the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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