Chapter 163: Each One's Own Path
BOOM!
Flames and thunder intertwined, erupting in dazzling brilliance, as if the sun itself were exploding.
The Thunder Dragon's power was incredibly concentrated, its quality superior, but Ace's Enjomo possessed boundless magnitude—a supreme technique rivaling Admiral Aokiji's Ice Pheasant Beak. The raging flames seemed capable of engulfing everything.
Amidst the clash of thunder and fire, Rhodes and Ace weren't idle either.
They engaged in fierce close combat, clashing repeatedly. In the blinding light, only silhouettes could be seen—like two gods battling.
Whoosh!
After dozens, hundreds of exchanges, the two suddenly separated at lightning speed, each retreating dozens of meters to face each other across scorched earth.
Rhodes's face was flushed red, sweat dripping from the intense heat of the flames. Though he bore no injuries, his stamina had been considerably taxed.
A bloody streak ran down Ace's chest where he'd failed to dodge and been grazed by Rhodes's blade.
The ground was completely devastated, littered with rubble and debris. The surface looked as if struck by a meteorite, bearing a deep crater and dense web of cracks.
From afar, Nami and the others watched in amazement. So this was what true sea warriors were capable of. This was merely a sparring match—if they truly fought with killing intent, wouldn't even islands be destroyed?
"Let's stop here."
Ace said, catching his breath.
Rhodes nodded, halting the battle.
If the fight continued, Ace would unleash his Dai Enkai Entei or go for a lethal strike—it would become a life-or-death struggle. For a simple sparring match, that was unnecessary.
"As expected of the man who defeated Sabo . You're formidable."
Ace approached with wonder on his face, his heart trembling. He'd always prided himself on exceptional talent, surpassing his peers, never meeting anyone who could match him at his age.
But at this moment, he felt genuine pressure from Rhodes—a man two years his junior. He simply couldn't pin down the swift Dragon Slayer.
Rhodes sheathed his sword and smiled:
"Even you're this difficult to handle. Seems I'm still far from challenging the Yonko."
His tone was casual, but mentally he was assessing the battle.
The fight wasn't long—just under two hours. Rhodes hadn't used his ultimate techniques, and Ace hadn't struck with killing intent either.
Rhodes estimated that if they continued fighting seriously, he'd only have about a thirty percent chance of victory at best.
First, the intense heat of the flames was too stamina-consuming, preventing Rhodes from fully utilizing his physical advantage over Ace.
Second, Rhodes lacked a decisive trump card against Ace. While his Iai techniques could instantly kill opponents like Don Chinjao and Corazon, they had limited effectiveness against a Logia user like Ace.
Armament Haki could indeed strike a Logia user's true form.
However, Logia users could also evade damage by transforming the affected area into their element—fire, ice, or other forms—at the moment of impact.
If Corazon could have reacted to Rhodes's Iai slash, Ace probably could as well.
Of course, such calculations were just that—calculations. In actual combat, factors like environment and mental state influenced the final outcome. Even the slightest mistake could mean the difference between life and death.
This was the edge of a swordsman's path. Unlike Luffy, who could take devastating blows and keep fighting for several more rounds, a swordsman's battle ended in an instant.
However, from this battle, Rhodes gained a rough understanding of his current strength.
Ace, still developing, was probably comparable to Doflamingo—a step below the Admirals.
And Rhodes's ability to fight him to this degree placed him solidly in the upper-middle tier of the "Admiral candidate" rank!
If his physical conditioning and Haki could be further enhanced, he could definitely reach Doflamingo's level.
While he pondered this, Ace suddenly burst out laughing:
"Challenge the Yonko?"
Perhaps because of Sabo, or perhaps due to the bond formed through battle, Ace had developed a favorable impression of Rhodes.
He patted Rhodes's shoulder and said:
"I'm not sure about the other three, but don't come challenging Pops."
After that, Ace sighed and shook his head, his face carrying an expression of "the past is too painful to recall," before walking toward Luffy and the others. He was about to say goodbye.
Though Ace was overjoyed to reunite with Luffy and Sabo, he would never forget the purpose of his journey.
Some transgressions were absolutely intolerable!
At the port.
Luffy and his brothers were saying their goodbyes.
Rhodes, Nami, and the others watched from a distance.
"Oh, right."
Suddenly, Nami turned to Rhodes and said: "There was one fishman who survived last time in Cocoyasi Village."
"Hatchan?"
Rhodes recalled after a moment and spoke casually.
"Huh? How did you know?!"
Nami was startled.
Logically, these two had never even met.
"My eyes can see through everything."
Rhodes smiled.
Though he hadn't paid much attention at the time, it was easy to remember with a moment's reflection.
Perhaps Hatchan had just sent Captain Nezumi away and hadn't returned to Arlong Park yet, narrowly escaping the slaughter.
"That's impossible."
Nami said, clearly unconvinced.
Unexpectedly, Rhodes casually rattled off three numbers:
"95, 55, 85."
"You—you—!"
Nami blushed crimson, pointing at Rhodes with trembling fingers, her pretty face filled with embarrassment and indignation.
Chopper asked innocently:
"What do those numbers mean?"
"Nami's secret."
Rhodes said with a half-smile.
Meanwhile, Ace had already finished his farewells, boarded his Striker, and sailed off swiftly.
"Next time, we'll meet at the summit."
Rhodes's eyes flickered. He wondered what Rayleigh and the other former Roger Pirates were thinking, and whether they would participate in the Battle of Marineford.
"Perhaps I should pay them a visit."
Meanwhile, after a brief discussion, Luffy and the others decided to set sail for the next island, finding Alabasta too peaceful—seemingly unworthy of a proper adventure.
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others were all filled with fighting spirit.
While their trip to Alabasta hadn't offered thrilling adventures, witnessing the battle between powerful warriors like Rhodes and Ace had been incredibly meaningful. It had broadened the Straw Hats' horizons,
showing them how high the mountains reached and how deep the seas ran.
Of course, Luffy was an exception.
"Let's go, let's go! I can't wait!"
Sanji urged, carrying supplies.
"..."
Zoro glanced over, probably sensing something was off with Nami.
Nami stood before Rhodes, her fair face etched with conflict and hesitation.
Rhodes could see through the girl's turbulent thoughts. He reached out and ruffled Nami's bright orange hair, smiling gently:
"Go realize your dream, little thief."
Nami was momentarily startled by those words. She tilted her head back, looking at the smiling face she'd often remembered since setting out to sea. Her expression gradually calmed, but then she huffed:
"You're the little one!"
"I'm the same age as you!"
She crossed her arms, annoyed that Rhodes always treated her like a kid sister.
"Of course, of course. Miss Nami is all grown up."
"Hmph!"
Nami turned her face away.
(End of Chapter)
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