Chapter 121: No Threats Accepted
The situation changed so rapidly that everyone felt overwhelmed.
From the moment Rhodes entered the arena and destroyed the dominant Gotti with a single punch, to severely injuring the West Blue Godfather Capone Bege with one punch and one sword slash, and now openly defying the guardian deity of the Kano Country—the Vice-Commander of the Happo Navy himself!
Yuffie and the others in the VIP section were stunned, completely bewildered.
We're all civilized people here—why all this talk of war and killing?
The people of the Kano Country, who had enjoyed prolonged peace, simply couldn't comprehend Rhodes's way of thinking.
Every place had rules. If you didn't follow them, you'd be ostracized and targeted by everyone. No one could exist above society itself.
In this world where strength commanded respect, the Happo Navy essentially was the law of the Kano Country and could not be challenged.
Capone Bege was initially stunned, then secretly delighted. He hadn't expected Rhodes to be so stubborn—actually confronting the Vice-Commander of the Happo Navy in full view of everyone.
In such a situation, Abu represented the entire reputation of the Happo Navy. To provoke him was to provoke the Happo Navy itself, and by extension, the entire Kano Country. Surely Rhodes would be crushed to dust by the might of an entire nation!
Larry, desperate and disregarding his injuries, leaped to Rhodes's side and whispered urgently: "Stop this! You can't afford to offend the Happo Navy in the Kano Country!"
Before Rhodes could respond, Abu on the platform sneered coldly: "The Dragon Slayer swordsman truly lives up to his reputation!"
"I'm warning you right now—if you dare kill Capone Be—"
He hadn't finished his threat when an even swifter, sharper silver-white sword slash suddenly tore through the air, instantly cleaving through Capone Bege.
This time, Bege wasn't spared.
He slowly staggered backward, attempting to escape, but suddenly froze mid-step. His upper and lower body separated cleanly, and he collapsed in pieces, intestines and organs spilling across the arena floor.
"So... what exactly do you plan to do about it?"
Rhodes said calmly, his expression as indifferent as if he'd merely swatted a fly.
He never accepted threats. Period.
Locked by that cold gaze, Abu—a man over two meters tall—felt a deep chill run down his spine and unconsciously took half a step backward.
But he was still a pillar of the Happo Navy. He took a deep breath and quickly recovered his composure, shouting coldly:
"You will die here today—I guarantee it!"
He drew two battle axes from his back and leaped directly from the platform, landing in the arena with a thunderous BOOM that sent out an invisible shockwave.
Simultaneously, Happo Navy soldiers stationed throughout the valley moved into formation, raising their weapons and training them on the arena. If Abu fell in combat, they would open fire and obliterate Rhodes instantly.
No one in the Kano Country dared provoke the Happo Navy—because all who had tried were dead.
This valley was packed with over a thousand elite Happo Navy troops, each one well-equipped. Dozens of snipers were even positioned on the high ground, ready to fire.
This overwhelming force was the Happo Navy's key to maintaining order at the tournament.
The firepower of over a thousand elite soldiers far exceeded Capone Bege's so-called one-man army!
"Do you really think you can control any situation just by having superior numbers?"
"I'm sorry... but you understand nothing of my power."
Rhodes glanced around, his expression as calm as still water.
Larry, standing behind him, trembled slightly—not from fear of death, but from the involuntary response to having so many gun barrels pointed directly at him.
"And what about me?"
Abu's expression was stern and determined.
Against truly overwhelming opponents, simple human wave tactics were admittedly ineffective. However, if a sufficiently powerful combatant could hold them in place, allowing his forces to find openings for coordinated strikes, the effect could still be devastating.
This was precisely the role of elite marksmen.
A sniper of Yasopp's caliber could even be effective on the highest-level battlefields, delivering that one decisive shot.
And Abu himself was undoubtedly exceptionally skilled and confident in his abilities.
As the current Vice-Commander of the Happo Navy, he was a master who had once fought across the Grand Line alongside Chinjao himself.
In Rhodes's knowledge of this world's future, Abu even participated in the great events at Dressrosa.
Abu was at least Marine Branch Vice Admiral level and had mastered the special martial art known as Hasshoken—the Eight Impact Fist.
"Armament!"
A gleaming black aura of Armament Haki emerged, coating his battle axes and radiating an aura of indestructible metallic might.
"Did you really think... there were no strong warriors in the West Blue?"
Abu gripped his pitch-black battle axes, his tall and imposing figure exuding commanding presence that made distant observers shudder.
"It was truly worth coming today—I actually get to see Lord Abu in action!"
"But who is this Dragon Slayer swordsman? Why have we never heard of him in the West Blue?"
"He seems to be some famous figure from Paradise. I'm not sure exactly, but there's no way he could defeat Lord Abu. He's a master who ranks among the absolute best in the entire Kano Country!"
Amid the excited discussion, people retreated to safer distances, watching the impending battle from afar.
Even the wealthy, powerful figures, and VIP guests like Yuffie abandoned their seats, fearing they might be caught in the devastating crossfire.
Whoosh!
Abu suddenly moved, wind pressure emanating from his charge as he closed the distance in an instant, his battle axes descending with furious intent.
Shrieeeek!
A tearing sound ripped through the air.
Before the axes even connected, a surge of sharp wind pressure preceded them, blowing Rhodes's black hair backward slightly.
At this sight, Rhodes's lips curled in a slight arc of disdain. He stood perfectly still, neither blocking nor dodging, waiting until the axes were nearly upon him before—
He suddenly struck upward with his sword.
His movement was utterly silent, yet his blade arrived first.
CLANG!
When sword met axes, Abu—charging forward with tremendous momentum—could advance no further.
His face flushed crimson as he exerted his full strength, attempting to overpower Rhodes through sheer force.
But Rhodes's unwavering stance was like an immovable sacred mountain, eternally unshakable. No matter how desperately Abu strained, he couldn't budge his opponent even a single inch.
"Is this... the power you're so proud of?"
Rhodes asked calmly, then slowly took a step forward.
As he advanced, Abu was forced backward, his arm muscles trembling violently and sweat dripping from his forehead, yet he remained powerless to halt Rhodes's casual advance.
This sight amazed everyone watching.
From outward appearances, Abu was a massive figure—strong as an ox, over two meters tall, his body bulging with prominent muscles that testified to his tremendous physical power.
Rhodes, by contrast, was of average height and build. Aside from his striking good looks, he appeared no different from an ordinary person.
Yet in this pure contest of raw strength, it was the "ordinary-looking" Rhodes who absolutely dominated the burly Abu!
"No wonder this guy eats so much..." Yuffie gasped in realization.
CLANG!
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Rhodes casually flicked his sword.
Abu could no longer maintain his grip—his battle axes flew from his hands and clattered to the ground in the distance with a crisp, metallic ring.
"Where's your Hasshoken?"
"Let me see it."
Rhodes didn't pursue. He placed one hand behind his back and held his sword loosely in the other, its tip pointing diagonally toward the ground.
Given the current situation, it was almost inevitable that he would eventually confront Sai, Chinjao, and the other Happo Navy leaders. In that case, it made perfect sense to understand his enemies' trump card beforehand.
(End of Chapter)
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01