Chapter 213: Challenging Whitebeard
Faced with these accusations, Whitebeard simply stared directly at Squard:
"You know what you've done, Squard—turning your blade against your old man. What an incredibly foolish son you are."
With that declaration, Whitebeard reached out and pulled Squard close.
Squard, expecting death, unexpectedly found himself leaning against a broad chest, some bloodstains still visible on the skin.
Whitebeard was old—his recovery ability greatly diminished. Even after considerable time, the superficial wound Squard had nearly inflicted hadn't completely healed from where Sabo had grazed him during the interception.
"Even if you're a foolish son, I still love you."
"Don't joke around! You're going to sacrifice our lives—"
Squard's words were cut off by Whitebeard: "Who poisoned your mind with such thoughts?"
"Akainu told me that if we assassinated Whitebeard, we'd be spared..."
Hearing Akainu's name, Whitebeard understood immediately. It seemed the Navy still excelled at tactics and manipulation.
"Is this what Akainu told you? I understand deeply how much you hate Roger. But Squard, what a ridiculous notion it is to believe that children should pay for their fathers' sins. What did Ace ever do to you?
You and Ace shared joys and sorrows, fought side-by-side countless times. It doesn't matter whose child Ace is.
We met on this vast sea.
Not just you two—everyone under my command is my son. Squard, get along well with the others. Ace isn't special. You're all my family."
Hearing these words, Squard's longsword clattered to the deck, filled with remorse—but there was no undoing what he'd done.
He had indeed launched a sneak attack, and even if Whitebeard chose to forgive him, he couldn't forgive himself.
After releasing Squard, Whitebeard slowly stepped forward, planted his bisento on the deck, crossed his arms, and slammed them outward through the air beside him.
CRACK! CRACK!
A terrifying shockwave swept through the area instantly, shattering the atmosphere itself and causing the two towering ice walls to crumble and collapse.
He didn't answer his subordinates' questions with words—instead, he showed them his stance through actions.
Witnessing this, the pirates who'd been wavering instantly regained their resolve. The bonds of trust Whitebeard had built over decades couldn't be shaken by a few manipulative words.
"As pirates, it's up to you to decide what to believe!"
Upon hearing this, Whitebeard's pirates roared and launched an even more ferocious charge, as if venting all their accumulated frustration.
"Those who want to follow me, stake your lives and come!"
With that battle cry, Whitebeard leaped from the deck, his bisento pointing directly toward the execution platform.
Seeing this, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates roared with excitement, their morale soaring as if they'd been injected with pure adrenaline.
Sengoku felt anxious about this development—because although he'd issued orders, the encirclement wall hadn't yet risen.
If the Whitebeard Pirates advanced into the plaza, it would inevitably lead to devastating losses for the Navy.
Rhodes had already returned to Hancock's side, handed her the Den Den Mushi, whispered something in her ear, then leaped down from the platform, slowly walking toward Whitebeard.
"Live broadcast?"
Watching Rhodes's retreating figure, Hancock's beautiful eyebrows arched slightly as she glanced at the Den Den Mushi in her hands.
Then her stunning face appeared on the large screens throughout Sabaody Archipelago.
"Wow, the Empress!"
"The world's most beautiful woman!"
Everyone's eyes lit up with hearts.
But the next moment, the scene shifted, focusing on a white-clad figure slowly advancing into the distance.
"Eh, that's the Dragon Slayer Swordsman, isn't it?"
"The Den Den Mushi is in the Empress's hands. Could it be that Boa Hancock is live-streaming the Dragon Slayer Swordsman right now? What's their relationship...?" Some observers noticed this juicy gossip.
Others displayed expressions of horror: "Look! The Dragon Slayer Swordsman is walking straight toward Whitebeard! Is he actually going to challenge Whitebeard?!"
These words caused a stir throughout the entire viewing audience worldwide.
Whitebeard, though he'd only made a few moves thus far, had already proven his title as the World's Strongest Man with overwhelming power.
No one expected this young Dragon Slayer Swordsman would actually dare challenge the World's Strongest Man directly.
"Quick, breaking news! This is absolutely explosive!" a reporter exclaimed frantically.
Meanwhile, Rhodes's body began shimmering with faint silver luminescence. He was undergoing profound physical activation, because he was about to face what might be the strongest enemy he'd ever encountered.
The lightning enhancement, pushed beyond its limits, even caused slight stinging pain throughout Rhodes's body.
He ignored it completely—only burning fighting spirit filled his heart.
Arriving in the world of One Piece without ever facing the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard, would constitute a genuine shame.
He slowly drew his sword, Yubashiri, and with a focused thought, strange power surged from the blade.
This power—like blood energy and vague, ethereal intent—quickly spread and permeated every corner of Rhodes's body upon entering.
The outward change wasn't dramatic; it merely altered Rhodes's originally masculine and handsome aura, making him appear somewhat otherworldly—like a grim reaper emerging from the underworld.
"This state..."
Rhodes took a deep breath. This form didn't possess any special abilities—it merely enhanced his strength, speed, defense, and regeneration simultaneously.
Formidable power, but it would significantly deplete Rhodes's stamina.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard noticed Rhodes's approach and, with his keen Observation Haki, sensed the transformation in Rhodes. A slight smirk played across his lips.
"Trying to challenge me?"
"What an arrogant brat! Let me teach you what a true powerhouse is!"
Whitebeard finished speaking, slamming his bisento to the ground, then stretching out both hands and pulling at the air itself—as if grasping and lifting the entire world.
Witnessing Whitebeard's action, Rhodes paused momentarily, then felt the ground beneath his feet begin tilting.
No—not just the ground, but the entire island, and even the surrounding sea, all tilted under Whitebeard's devastating pull.
Faced with this situation, Rhodes remained composed, simply plunging his sword into the ice to stabilize himself.
He then stared intently at Whitebeard. In this state, his movements were hampered, his balance compromised, and his agile speed advantage rendered useless.
After all, under Whitebeard's power, not only the ground but even the atmosphere itself tilted, making it nearly impossible to use Geppo effectively.
However, Whitebeard had used almost his full strength to unleash such a powerful, wide-range attack, and had no intention of specifically targeting Rhodes.
Or rather, he wasn't using this technique against Rhodes at all—he merely wanted to disrupt the Marines' formation.
Because under this assault, numerous buildings throughout vast Marineford collapsed. Except for the most magnificent structure at Marine Headquarters, every building showed severe cracks.
It was difficult to imagine whether, in his prime, Whitebeard could have shattered the entire Marine Headquarters with a single pull.
A moment later, Rhodes regained his balance, then moved with explosive speed, charging directly at Whitebeard without wasted words.
"Gurarara!"
"Let me see what you're made of, strongest brat of the new era!"
Witnessing Rhodes's astonishing speed, Whitebeard remained utterly unfazed. Gripping his bisento in one hand, he laughed heartily—his laughter bold, domineering, and arrogant, displaying the charisma befitting the World's Strongest.
(End of Chapter)
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