Chapter 258: Prologue
Meanwhile, on Lover's Avenue, a slightly sinister laugh broke the oppressive silence.
"Fufufufu..."
"Jinbe, Knight of the Sea... I never expected you to pledge allegiance to Rhodes."
Doflamingo's gaze swept from Rhodes to Jinbe—who stood half a step behind Rhodes in a clearly subordinate position. Both corners of Doflamingo's mouth curled upward simultaneously, creating a rather eerie expression.
He genuinely hadn't anticipated Jinbe siding with Rhodes.
No wonder the Thunder God Swordsman felt confident enough to challenge him directly.
With two such formidable fighters joining forces, if Doflamingo were truly alone, he might not be able to escape alive.
Unfortunately for Rhodes... he wasn't alone.
Doflamingo sneered internally.
"I've wanted to kill you for a long time, Doflamingo."
Jinbe clenched his fist, his tone cold with accumulated hatred.
Doflamingo served as the underworld's cornerstone, commanding a vast network of slave traders who'd captured countless merfolk and fish-men over the years.
Only his insufficient strength and numerous other concerns had prevented Jinbe from already storming Dressrosa years ago.
"Want to kill me?"
"Then you'll have to get in line. Fufufufu."
Doflamingo's expression remained unchanged as he shifted his calculating gaze toward Law.
"Law, you persistent brat... you've finally returned home. The position of Third Generation Red Heart of the Donquixote Family has been reserved specifically for you."
Doflamingo had no genuine desire to kill Law. The Ope Ope no Mi's capabilities were simply too strategically valuable.
If he could control Law, it would elevate the Donquixote Family's influence to an entirely new echelon—impact no less significant than Sugar's Hobi Hobi no Mi.
Hearing Doflamingo's audacious words, Law abruptly raised his head, staring with barely contained fury at the Heavenly Yaksha, and spoke with icy resolve:
"Doflamingo!"
"From the moment Corazon died by your hand, my entire purpose in life has been singular—to avenge him!"
"You will undoubtedly die today. Go to hell and repent for your sins!"
He radiated a terrifying killing intent, completely different from his usual calm, composed demeanor.
This made Robin glance at him with newfound understanding. It seemed this young surgeon's past had been considerably more tragic than she'd realized.
Considering this, Robin's gaze drifted slightly toward Rhodes, who stood calmly nearby, observing silently.
Rhodes' greatest enemy here was Doflamingo, and she could assist in that vengeance.
But her enemy was the World Government itself!
Was revenge even remotely possible against such overwhelming power?
Perhaps? Perhaps not?
Robin shook her head, dismissing the futile thought. No matter how powerful Rhodes became, at best he might equal Whitebeard's strength. How could anyone possibly shake the World Government, which stood so far above the world?
"Fufufufu..."
Doflamingo began speaking again, but Rhodes interrupted him, his tone carrying obvious impatience.
"Enough stalling, Doflamingo. Call out whoever else is hiding. These few aren't nearly enough to satisfy me."
Interrupted so dismissively, Doflamingo surprisingly wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled with predatory satisfaction:
"As expected of the strongest rookie—quite domineering indeed."
"Come out, Kalos."
Before the words fully concluded, three figures of varying heights—all wearing pristine white cloaks—slowly emerged from the shadows.
Leading them was none other than Kalos, the CP0 captain Rhodes had encountered once before at Mary Geoise.
"Who are these people?" distant reporters whispered in confusion and surprise.
CP existed as a venomous serpent lurking in shadows—the World Government's highest-level intelligence agency. Ordinary citizens had absolutely no clearance to even know of their existence.
"CP..."
Robin stared at the three approaching figures, her eyes widening with recognition as beads of nervous sweat involuntarily formed on her forehead.
She handled intelligence operations, so naturally she recognized this group of terrifyingly powerful operatives.
Jinbe also displayed a grave expression.
Although he didn't know these specific individuals, he could sense their overwhelming power—especially the central figure, whose aura registered distinctly stronger than his own!
"Tch."
Witnessing Kalos' arrival, Rhodes felt genuinely surprised. He'd met this particular captain before—definitely ranked among CP's top three operatives.
However, Rhodes' expression and tone remained perfectly calm:
"The World Government really does think highly of me."
"Your existence threatens the world's delicate balance."
"Thunder God Swordsman, you have no escape route today."
Kalos' tone was arctic cold, like chilling winter wind silently spreading across the battlefield.
"Threatens the world's balance? Tsk... those Five Elders certainly think highly of me..."
Rhodes clicked his tongue, genuinely not expecting those five ancient authority figures to assess him so seriously.
Ordinary top-tier fighters could at most influence regional situations at sea. Only someone of Whitebeard's legendary caliber could genuinely affect the entire world's fundamental balance!
Such individuals were also known as era-defining figures who shaped history itself.
Pirate King Gol D. Roger, who ushered in the Great Pirate Era through his execution...
Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, who maintained that era and through his death at Marineford ushered in the New Pirate Era...
Such epoch-shaping figures appeared only rarely throughout history.
Even Shanks, Kaido, and Big Mom still ranked one full tier below that transcendent level!
"But do you genuinely believe you can stop me?"
Rhodes asked with obvious amusement in his voice.
"Enough talk!"
Kalos snorted coldly, his voice reverberating through the empty air. Simultaneously, an invisible yet tangible terrifying force suddenly erupted, tearing through space and striking toward Rhodes.
The atmosphere itself detonated, whipping up violent gales!
"A mere parlor trick."
Rhodes remained utterly expressionless, instantly perceiving the attack's fundamental nature, then unleashed a devastating bolt of silver lightning.
BOOOOOM!
When the lightning collided with the invisible psychic force, a catastrophic explosion erupted—shaking the void itself, ripping the earth apart, and sending shockwaves carrying clouds of debris sweeping in all directions.
"The battle's begun already? Just an opening exchange, and the aftershocks are already this terrifying!"
The distant reporters all displayed expressions of profound astonishment.
A veteran correspondent whispered urgently: "Don't panic yet. This is merely a probing exchange. The real battle is still to come."
"Even more intense than this?"
The reporters, completely heedless of danger, were filled with electrified excitement.
They'd come here fully prepared to risk their lives for this story.
When the dust clouds finally settled, the scene revealed itself.
The once-immaculate Lover's Avenue now lay shattered—a massive crater exceeding ten meters in diameter dominated the center, surrounded by numerous smaller impact craters, as if bombarded by sustained artillery fire.
"Nen?"
Rhodes' eyes flickered with analytical interest.
Kalos' attack had essentially been a specialized form of psychic energy—not pure mental force, but something more refined.
"Strength is adequate, attack speed is acceptable... marginally inferior to Admirals like Akainu."
"Moreover, this ability doesn't seem optimized for devastating attacks, but rather for battlefield control and opponent restraint."
Though merely a probing exchange, it provided Rhodes sufficient tactical information.
"Jinbe, can you restrain him later?"
Rhodes glanced at his most powerful subordinate.
Jinbe hesitated momentarily, then nodded firmly: "Understood!"
"Though I suspect his two companions won't allow that to proceed smoothly."
"Doesn't matter. Just do your best. I'll eliminate Doflamingo as quickly as possible, then come assist you."
Rhodes nodded with confidence.
Simultaneously, enormous numbers of Donquixote Family members surged forward rapidly, creating a densely packed formation.
The front ranks consisted entirely of renowned Donquixote Family executive officers:
Gladius the Explosive Man, Machvise the Ton-Press Man, Diamante the Flag Man...
There were also mercenaries hired specifically by Doflamingo, plus recruited assassins—all powerful pirates carrying bounties exceeding one or even two hundred million berries.
These forces formed intimidating battle lines, and with Kalos and Doflamingo commanding from the front, they created overwhelming psychological pressure—like dark storm clouds bearing down upon a doomed city.
At this critical moment, the civilians who'd been evacuated to the island's opposite side also sensed the escalating commotion and looked over with mounting shock.
They'd never witnessed the Donquixote Family facing an enemy with such grave seriousness.
"Is this some powerful pirate alliance attacking?"
"Lord Doflamingo, Lord Pica... to mobilize everyone like this, there must be at least three, maybe even five pirates working together, right?"
"Wait—there don't seem to be many people on the opposing side at all. Hold on... that's the Thunder God Swordsman!"
The Dressrosa citizens witnessing this scene were filled with solemnity and mounting fear.
This was clearly going to be a decisive battle of epic proportions!
However, seeing the Donquixote Family's massive forces and the presence of commanding figures like Doflamingo himself, their worries eased somewhat.
But what differed dramatically from surface appearances was this:
All the people who'd been transformed into living toys gazed toward the battlefield with shock mixed with an entirely different emotion—desperate hope.
These individuals had been converted into toys by Sugar's Hobi Hobi no Mi abilities.
They were forced to labor for the Donquixote Family every single day, unable to recognize their own families, with even their very existence erased from the world's collective memory.
What they longed for most desperately was for Doflamingo to be defeated—to reclaim their human forms and expose this kingdom's hidden darkness!
Now, the Thunder God Swordsman's appearance seemed to crack open a sliver of sunlight through these oppressive dark clouds.
"Quickly report to Captain Kyros! Something monumental is happening!"
"Can Rhodes actually win?"
"Win or lose, this represents our greatest chance for freedom!"
While Dressrosa's human citizens remained immersed in manufactured peace and tranquility, the toys—upon receiving this earth-shaking news—secretly began organizing and preparing.
A sense of revolutionary unease and intrigue swept through Dressrosa's hidden underbelly.
(End of Chapter)
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