Chapter 219: Rayleigh Makes His Move
Rhodes was certainly not as powerful as ordinary civilians imagined.
Top-tier fighters each had their strengths; Rhodes excelled in speed—specifically, extreme agility—which allowed him to gain an advantage, or rather, the initiative, against Whitebeard.
Rhodes was observing the battle when a chaotic commotion suddenly erupted nearby.
"He's shown an opening! The Dragon Slayer Swordsman!"
"Kill the Dragon Slayer Swordsman! He just injured Pops!"
Accompanied by battle cries, five elite pirates who had awakened Busoshoku Haki rushed forward the moment Rhodes' gaze was fixed on the distant battlefield, their swords slashing through the air with lethal intent.
"Isn't it better to stay alive?"
Rhodes shook his head and lightly stamped his foot.
Raiko Rinne.
A bolt of lightning suddenly erupted from his body, transforming into a pale silver ring that rippled outward, instantly engulfing the pirates rushing in from all directions.
In an instant, these pirates coughed up black smoke, convulsed violently, and collapsed to the ground.
Rhodes' lightning power was devastating, far beyond what these pirates could withstand.
He glanced at the pirate corpses scattered on the ground and was about to turn back to continue watching the battle when Vista, the Flower Sword, suddenly rushed over from the side.
"Dragon Slayer Swordsman, you won't kill any more members of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"..."
Rhodes was speechless, but a fighting spirit ignited within him. After all, Vista was a Great Swordsman, and fighting him would greatly benefit Rhodes, who was still a swordsman himself.
CLANG!
The swords clashed, producing a thunderous boom, and several petals and lightning bolts scattered into the air.
Vista raised an eyebrow, keenly noticing that Rhodes didn't seem seriously injured, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Because he had clearly seen the Dragon Slayer Swordsman being punched by Pops and sent flying—how could he still be in relatively good condition?
Bara Dance!
Vista's technique was quite spectacular. With this sword strike, countless petal-shaped sword energies instantly pierced through the air, gorgeous yet exuding sharp killing intent.
"The swordsmanship of a Great Swordsman is truly overwhelming."
Thinking this, Rhodes' movements were swift, unleashing a slash.
SWOOSH!
A pale silver sword aura, crackling with lightning, collided with the rose-colored sword energy, producing a series of crisp, ringing sounds.
The lightning and the roses clashed, cutting, shattering, and finally exploding together, transforming into an invisible shockwave that swept in all directions.
Cracks tore open the earth, the impact covering a vast area—the aftershocks of clashing sword auras.
BANG!
Both figures retreated, then launched an even more terrifying exchange.
Amidst the blazing lightning, the two fighters fiercely clashed, moving at incredible speeds. People retreated in terror, not daring to approach.
That area had become a death zone; anyone who came near would be torn apart by the fierce sword aura and lightning—a horrifying sight.
Bara no Ibara!
Vista crossed his twin swords and then thrust them forward, a rose formed from sword aura tearing through the void, hurtling toward Rhodes.
Rhodes remained unfazed, his blade crackling with pale silver lightning, shattering the rose-colored sword energy.
Sword energy was ultimately a ranged attack, far less powerful than a direct blade strike.
"Still difficult to deal with."
Having fought Rhodes once before, Vista was somewhat accustomed to Rhodes' speed, yet he still felt immense pressure—the speed was simply too fast.
He couldn't imagine what a terrifying enemy Rhodes would become if he achieved the rank of Great Swordsman.
A Great Swordsman with the most formidable offensive power, combined with incredible speed—it was a nightmare scenario.
WHOOSH!
Rhodes' figure flashed, instantly traversing dozens of meters to arrive before Vista, slashing with his blade.
CLANG!
Large sparks flew as Vista blocked the attack once more.
Rhodes remained calm; this was all part of his plan.
Raiko Rinne!
He lightly stamped his foot, and a ring of lightning spread out rapidly, instantly engulfing Vista.
"Damn it!"
Vista felt a slight numbness in his body—not serious, and he would recover in a fraction of a second. But against an opponent like Rhodes, even a fraction of a second could be fatal!
Rhodes' expression was indifferent as he swiftly slashed at Vista with his blade. This strike would surely kill Vista!
He held nothing back; in a battle like this, one must risk their life.
He didn't believe that Vista, who currently held the advantage, would show mercy either.
But at that moment—
The earth suddenly trembled violently. The tremor came so suddenly, like a magnitude twelve earthquake, that it caused Rhodes to lose his balance. His sword, originally aimed at Vista's neck, missed slightly, only piercing Vista's chest.
Blood flowed freely, the wound deep enough to expose bone, but for someone of this level, it wasn't a fatal injury.
WHOOSH!
Vista reacted extremely quickly, using the momentum to retreat without hesitation, disappearing into the pirate ranks.
He knew very well that, already suppressed, if he continued to fight with his severely injured body, he would likely be killed by Rhodes.
Rhodes ignored his retreat, instead looking toward the source of the tremor.
In that direction, Whitebeard maintained his fist-to-the-ground posture, unleashing terrifyingly powerful shockwaves like a real earthquake, shaking heaven and earth, shattering the vast plaza.
A deep crack spread from his fist, spanning the entire plaza, and the execution platform collapsed with a deafening roar.
"Men, go and bring your brother back!"
"YEAH!"
Luffy, Sabo, and the members of the Whitebeard Pirates roared and charged forward, greatly encouraged.
But at that moment, a giant Buddha radiating brilliant golden light suddenly appeared before everyone, unleashing both palms in a violent shockwave that sent the pirates flying.
"It's Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has made his move!"
The Marines' demoralized spirits were instantly boosted, and they clashed with the pirates again.
At this moment, taking advantage of Whitebeard unleashing his ultimate attack and the inevitable moment of vulnerability afterward, Akainu's eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity, and he moved swiftly.
SWOOSH!
Akainu's normal speed couldn't match Kizaru's, but his simulated volcanic eruption technique granted him incredible burst speed, and in the blink of an eye, he was upon Whitebeard.
His fist, wreathed in crimson magma, slammed toward Whitebeard's head.
"Die, Whitebeard!"
"You little brat who plays with candles!"
Whitebeard, with his vast combat experience, had already anticipated an attack. As he rose, his bisento slashed down fiercely.
BOOM!
The shockwave erupted, clashing with Akainu's magma fist.
Unfortunately, the side effects of repeatedly unleashing the power of the Gura Gura no Mi, triggered by the thigh injury Rhodes had inflicted, caused all the hidden injuries within him to erupt at once, inevitably causing Whitebeard's body to momentarily freeze.
Akainu, also a world-class fighter, naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity. He dodged the blade to the side and unleashed an Inugami Guren attack on Whitebeard's head.
BOOM!
At the last second, Whitebeard barely managed to turn his head.
Scorching magma grazed Whitebeard's head, burning away half of his beard and melting the flesh and skull on the left side of his head!
A normal person suffering such a brain injury would undoubtedly die.
But Akainu didn't even have time to rejoice.
He felt a powerful hand suddenly grab his neck, followed by a violent jolt that nearly knocked him unconscious. Then Akainu felt himself being thrown into the air.
During his fall, he could only watch helplessly as a fist flashing with terrifying white light slammed into his abdomen.
BOOM!
The extremely powerful shockwave shattered the air into fragments, and Akainu coughed up a mouthful of blood, flying backward.
Whitebeard was about to give chase when he suddenly sensed sharp movement from the side.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aokiji, who had broken free from Jozu's grasp and was charging toward him wielding an ice saber.
"One brat after another!"
Whitebeard clenched his fist, ready to attack, but his battered body felt weak, and Aokiji pierced his chest with a single strike.
Aokiji showed no mercy; the instant the ice blade pierced Whitebeard's chest, he twisted it sharply, widening the wound and infusing it with freezing power.
Brilliant Punk!
But that was all he could do, as Diamond Jozu had already sent Aokiji flying with a streak of brilliant light.
Meanwhile, while Whitebeard caused the massive earthquake that destroyed the execution platform, Luffy, with Sabo's assistance, had already broken through the Marine formation, knocked away the uncooperative Garp, and rushed to Ace.
"Ace, I'll unlock it for you!"
Luffy held a key in his hand, given to him by Rayleigh.
Unfortunately, the key was destroyed by a laser attack from Kizaru, who had noticed their presence.
"Ahhhh!"
Luffy exclaimed in surprise, unaware of the powerful punch that silently approached from behind.
"An equally wicked bloodline..."
Sengoku's expression was icy. He was first and foremost the Fleet Admiral, and only then Garp's comrade, so he didn't hold back with this punch.
But in that instant—
With a sharp whoosh, a white-haired figure suddenly appeared from the side, sword in hand, meeting the attack head-on.
(End of Chapter)
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