Chapter 225: The World Shakes
After watching the Whitebeard Pirates depart, Rhodes turned to look at Marine Headquarters.
Marine Headquarters was bustling with activity, with numerous medics rushing to provide aid.
Aokiji and Kizaru were relatively unharmed, but Akainu was in dire straits. Rhodes had only been caught in the aftershock of Whitebeard's punch, yet he had already suffered significant injuries. If not for Crocus's potion, he would have been relegated to a mere spectator after that battle.
Akainu, having taken a full-force punch from Whitebeard, was already severely injured, and his subsequent relentless pursuit of Jozu and the others only exacerbated his already serious wounds.
Therefore, as soon as the pirates retreated, he collapsed to the ground and was carried away on a stretcher by the medics.
At this moment, Hawkeye passed by and said to Rhodes:
"Let's spar sometime."
With that, he turned and left, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
"That guy is pretty strong."
Hancock murmured.
The world's greatest swordsman, someone who could spar with Shanks—how could his strength be weak?
Rhodes nodded casually, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
Everywhere he looked, there were corpses of pirates and Marines, rivers of blood, countless craters, and cracks everywhere—ruins of collapsed buildings, the result of battles fought by powerful figures.
Of course, most of them came from Whitebeard.
After Ace was rescued, Whitebeard, completely unrestrained, had almost single-handedly ravaged Marine Headquarters, no less than Shiki in his prime.
"My strength is still far from sufficient."
Rhodes murmured, his consciousness drifting into his soul space.
There he discovered that the Book of Knowledge was emitting a hazy light, entering an advanced state once again.
"This time it shouldn't take long."
Rhodes' eyes flickered, and he and Hancock arrived at the port, boarded a warship, and slowly left Marine Headquarters.
"Where are you going?"
Hancock looked at Rhodes, intending to have the warship take him back first, so she could spend more time with him.
After all, she was the Empress of Amazon Lily, and it was unlikely she could stay by Rhodes' side forever, so Hancock cherished every second she spent with him.
"Let's go to Amazon Lily and rest."
Rhodes said with a smile, seeing through Hancock's thoughts, before heading into the cabin to rest.
The numerous high-intensity battles had left him somewhat fatigued, and the internal injuries inflicted by Whitebeard required careful tending to ensure no lingering problems.
Several days later.
This top-tier battle—the largest and most influential since the Great Pirate Era began—finally spread throughout the world.
Whitebeard was dead!
This was undoubtedly the most shocking news of the battle.
The death of this elder who had protected the Great Pirate Era, the universally acknowledged strongest man in the world, spread almost overnight, alarming countless reclusive powerhouses.
Besides him, several other names also became widely known through this battle:
Straw Hat Luffy, the various division commanders of the great pirates, the rising power of Blackbeard, and more...
But these were secondary, mere supporting characters.
Everyone's brilliance was overshadowed by one person:
The Dragon Slayer Swordsman.
This man defeated numerous division commanders, including Vista and Diamond Jozu.
Later, he even single-handedly fought Whitebeard, holding his own.
He slaughtered countless enemies, his swordsmanship inspiring fear in all who heard of him.
Finally, he fought the entire Blackbeard Pirates alone, leaving a deep scar on Blackbeard's face.
All of this made this Dragon Slayer Swordsman one of the most dazzling figures in this war, second only to the demon-like Whitebeard!
A massive upheaval swept across the vast world, from the Four Blues to the Grand Line, and even the New World.
The world trembled!
Everyone knew that a new pirate era was about to begin.
The seas were about to undergo a dramatic change.
Alabasta, the Royal Capital, Baroque Works Headquarters.
Robin, Vivi, Perona, and others stared in disbelief at the intelligence report before them.
"It's only been a little over a month, and he's already reached this level."
Robin murmured, somewhat shocked.
She was a professional intelligence officer, possessing encyclopedic knowledge of information worldwide.
Who was Whitebeard?
The world's strongest man, known as a "living legend," described in children's songs around the world as more terrifying than a monster.
And yet, Rhodes was able to fight him one-on-one, reportedly holding his own in the battle.
Robin's strongest opponent had been Admiral Aokiji, but Rhodes had undoubtedly shattered her perception of the strongest.
Vivi was equally shocked.
Perona, on the other hand, wore a look of reverence as she gazed at the white-clad figure standing with a sword in hand, bathed in lightning, on the newspaper, her eyes burning with fervent light, like a believer seeing a god.
Revolutionary Army Headquarters, the Highest Level of the Castle.
Dragon, Koala, Ivankov, Inazuma, and others were watching a recording of the Marineford War.
After watching it, the meeting room fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were filled with deep shock.
Dragon was no exception.
"It seems you've taken another step closer to your dream."
Dragon thought calmly, his emotions slowly settling.
He hadn't believed Rhodes when he said he would become the strongest—strong enough to change the world with a wave of his hand—and he still didn't.
Yet he admitted that Rhodes might truly have the potential to become a Yonko-level figure, or even someone like Whitebeard.
"Human strength has its limits. I wonder what your next path will be like."
He could think calmly because he was strong enough.
Koala and the others were all stunned.
"That bastard, he's already this powerful."
Koala clenched her fist.
The fish-man Hack was shocked but also proud, because this was a disciple who had trained under his guidance, and he shared in this glory.
"Alright, let's not think about these things anymore."
Dragon said in a deep voice. "Next, we should discuss how to deal with the new situation after Whitebeard's death."
"A new era is about to begin, and we must keep up with the times."
G-5 Branch in the New World.
"That Rhodes guy..."
Lieutenant Isuka looked at the intelligence in her hand, still unable to believe it.
Gion crossed her long, shapely legs and propped them on the table, her beautiful face showing some melancholy.
Because she discovered that Rhodes' strength was probably no less than hers now.
This made her, as his teacher, feel somewhat embarrassed.
Not only those forces and people related to Rhodes—
Even Big Mom, one of the Yonko reigning supreme in the New World, and Kaido of the Beasts finally heard of the title "Dragon Slayer Swordsman."
"He dared to challenge Whitebeard one-on-one? He's got guts. Just my type!"
Kaido, after watching the recording, gulped down a large mouthful of sake and ordered his subordinates:
"If this kid comes to the New World, use my name to recruit him!"
This scene wasn't just happening with the Beasts Pirates; it was also occurring with the Big Mom Pirates, though this time it was about recruiting Rhodes as a potential son-in-law...
These two were truly powerful figures standing at the pinnacle of the seas, and naturally, they could see Rhodes' true strength, so they wouldn't praise him blindly like ordinary people would.
Although strong, he was still far inferior to them.
Meanwhile, Rhodes had been recuperating on Amazon Lily for half a month, his injuries fully healed.
The Book of Knowledge had finally absorbed the reputation and fame gained from the Marineford War and was about to advance.
(End of Chapter)
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