Doflamingo proved through action that he wasn't just making empty promises.
The next morning, Abel and Law were rudely awakened and dragged to a specially cleared training ground outside.
Their first instructor, smirking coldly, was none other than Diamante!
Though Doflamingo's orders prevented him from harming the two brats, since Doflamingo had personally assigned him to teach swordsmanship, Diamante had no intention of holding back. He would make sure these kids suffered.
"Pick up your weapons. From today onward, I, Diamante, will teach you how to wield a sword."
"If you fail to satisfy me, your fate will be no different from this rock."
Boom!
With a casual flick of his wrist, Diamante's longsword shot out like a striking serpent, shattering a nearby boulder into dust.
Abel and Law exchanged glances, knowing that any objection would only give Diamante an excuse to make things worse. But...
Law glanced at Abel's still-bandaged arm and immediately realized Diamante's malicious intent!
Just as Law was about to speak, Abel suddenly stopped him, then vigorously moved his arms twice.
Right before their eyes, he removed the bandages and splint from his arm.
"Abel, don't push yourself. Your arm injury..."
"It's already healed."
Abel casually tossed the removed items aside.
Law froze, but Abel's demeanor didn't seem feigned. He instinctively asked, "How could it heal so quickly?"
Abel immediately met someone's icy gaze without flinching. "Probably because the injury wasn't severe to begin with. It felt like a mosquito bite at the time. Who could have imagined you'd make such a fuss about it later?"
This remark left Law speechless, and even Diamante's initially amused expression froze on his face, clearly stung by the implication.
"A mosquito bite? Very well, boy. You're the first to dare provoke me like this. Let's see if you maintain this insolent attitude an hour from now."
"Now, everyone, pick up your swords!"
Diamante suppressed his fury, determined to thoroughly discipline Abel within the upcoming rules.
Having vented his anger and indulged in his sharp tongue, Abel wasn't about to give Diamante an easy opportunity to retaliate. He acted "obedient and compliant," silently picking up the weapon from the ground.
"Hmm? This weight..."
The sword in Abel's hand was an unsharpened iron blade of medium length, perfectly suitable for their needs. However, it was unexpectedly heavy.
Even Abel, whose Gourmet Cells had already undergone their first evolution, found it somewhat difficult to lift. Law, who was far less capable in every respect, fared even worse.
"So heavy!"
Law's face flushed crimson as he struggled to lift the sword with both hands.
"Raise your swords. Watch my movements carefully. I'll only demonstrate once."
"Sheathe..."
"Thrust!"
Diamante's swordsmanship was undeniably impressive. Even a simple thrust of his rapier created the illusion of lightning-fast speed.
Though still a considerable distance away, Law and Abel both felt an overwhelming sense of impending death—a certainty that they would die if they didn't evade the strike, yet they were utterly paralyzed, unable to move.
Only when Diamante retracted his sword and released his murderous aura did the two men break free from that suffocating dread.
As they regained their senses, they discovered their backs drenched in cold sweat.
It was only when Diamante became serious that they truly grasped the terrifying extent of his power.
Had he adopted this attitude from the start, Abel would never have had a chance to act recklessly.
"Mimic my movements. Begin by practicing the thrust a hundred times."
"A word of warning: don't even think about slacking off or cutting corners. If I catch you performing a single substandard movement, you'll face punishment."
"Trust me, if you die during this training, even Doflamingo won't say a word."
"Worthless trash deserves only to be discarded and burned!"
Diamante's words were cold, mocking, and brutally harsh.
Yet at the same time, it felt so real!
For in this place, those deemed worthless truly didn't deserve to live.
Abel remained silent, calmly gripping his sword with one hand. Mimicking Diamante's earlier movements, he drew it back... then thrust it forward with force!
Fortunately, his body had already been enhanced, his physical capabilities greatly improved. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to execute the technique so flawlessly.
In fact, even Diamante, who was waiting to continue his mockery, was inwardly surprised.
'I didn't expect this kid's strength to be better than I thought. But this is just the beginning. Heh.'
Even a simple sword thrust, when performed perfectly a hundred times, is no easy feat. The difficulty increases exponentially as fatigue sets in, especially with a heavier weapon.
Seeing Abel successfully begin his training, Law gritted his teeth and began practicing one-handed sword grips as well.
Law managed to thrust his sword forward, but his technique was far from standard. The awkward, crooked motion nearly threw him off balance.
Seeing this, Diamante seized the opportunity to mock him. "Are you trying to make your enemies laugh to death with that ridiculous move? Do it again!"
At the same moment, Diamante's longsword struck Law's back with the precision of a striking snake.
What does it feel like to be struck by a steel whip?
Law gasped sharply, every muscle in his face twitching. His face flushed crimson with pain, yet he clenched his jaw, refusing to make a sound.
"Don't worry, I'll control my strength," Diamante grinned, his wide mouth splitting into a satisfied sneer.
Abel narrowed his eyes as he watched. Even with controlled force, repeated punishment could easily lead to death—either from the beating itself or the sheer agony.
Indeed, choosing to seek protection didn't guarantee safety.
However, this "whipping" served as a rude awakening for Law, forcing him to acknowledge the gap in physical talent between himself and Abel.
Having recovered, Abel finally stopped trying to be stubborn and honestly switched to gripping the sword with both hands before resuming his training.
This time, his movements were finally correct.
The combined strength of both hands ultimately provided greater stability.
This had been Diamante's initial plan all along.
He was waiting to see the spectacle, convinced that Abel couldn't complete a hundred sword thrusts using only one hand.
Soon, twenty repetitions had passed.
Abel maintained a steady pace, executing each movement with meticulous precision.
Retract...
Thrust!
Simultaneously, the cells within his body began to synchronize with his repeated motions, becoming increasingly vibrant with each set.