Rhodes’s voice resounded across the open field, leaving all present stunned and motionless.

If Rhodes had killed Talon before Diamante’s arrival, it would have been a mere collision, not worthy of much attention.

However, with Diamante, the highest-ranking member of the Donquixote Family, present, Rhodes’s slaying of Talon was a blatant and outright affront.

The atmosphere grew heavy with a sense of foreboding as a cold killing intent and malevolent aura permeated the air. Diamante’s face darkened to the color of a pot bottom, his eyes flickering with a bloodthirsty gleam.

“This is it,” said some.

“We’re in for it now,” said others.

“This young man is too disrespectful,” added a few.

In the back, Soros’ face changed dramatically. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and sighed before retreating.

Clearly, with his status and position, he had no right to speak in front of Diamante. All he could do now was hope for the best.

The field fell into a tense silence, the oppressive feeling of suffocation reminiscent of the calm before a storm.

“Quick, let’s get out of here!”

The onlookers retreated, leaving a wide open space.

In a flash, only Rhodes and the members of the Donquixote Family, including Diamante, remained on the open field.

Although he was vastly outnumbered, Rhodes stood tall with his sword, his expression remaining serene as his eyes shone with a sharp edge.

He was not one to back down from a fight, and if he couldn’t even stand up to someone like Diamante, one of a Shichibukai’s subordinates, how could he ever hope to reach the pinnacle and go head-to-head with legendary figures like the Four Emperors and their top commanders?

What was the point of training without meeting formidable opponents to challenge him?

Under the scrutiny of all present, Diamante surprisingly didn’t attack right away. He looked at Rhodes and felt a sense of familiarity as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Suddenly, realization dawned on his face as he sneered, “So it’s you, the little brat who caused Lao G’s capture. You should have stayed hidden in Gion’s lap, yet you dared to show your face on the sea again.”

“You truly have no fear of death!”

He spoke coldly.

Lao G held a high position in the Donquixote Family, and his arrest had caused quite a stir.

While the Donquixote Family was busy trying to rescue Lao G from prison, they also conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and learned about the existence of a man named Rhodes.

He was rumored to be a sword genius with an extremely powerful thunder sword intention.

“To torture and kill a genius, what a delightful pastime,” Diamante licked his lips, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

“Half Moon… Glaive!”

Diamante slowly unsheathed his sword, the blade glowing with a cold light.

Rhodes’s eyes narrowed as he prepared for battle.

As Diamante’s sword descended, a dazzling green-blue sword aura shot forth, slicing through the earth as if it were tofu and exuding an aura of invincibility as it roared toward Rhodes.

This was pure swordsmanship at its finest, and Diamante was clearly a formidable swordsman.

Though Diamante doesn’t have a prominent role in the original story, as the highest-ranking member of the Donquixote Family and a master of swordsmanship and Devil Fruit abilities, he is at least a Vice-Admiral-level presence, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to maintain control on Dressrosa.

“Oh, Diamante-Sama is going all out from the start, leaving no room for error,” some remarked.

“It’s a shame, really. A young man like this, who was able to defeat Loa G, would likely have become a big shot in a few years. It’s a pity he had to meet Diamante-Sama now, or he probably would have had a bright future,” said others.

“It’s better for him to die quickly rather than suffer a worse fate if he lives,” added a few.

The Donquixote followers who had come with Diamante all wore expressions of bloodthirst and excitement as if they had already witnessed the scene of Rhodes being split into two by this sword aura.

Whoosh!

Before the sword aura even reached him, the wild wind it stirred rushed towards Rhodes, blowing his black hair backward and revealing his shining, pitch-black eyes.

“This level of swordsmanship…”

Rhodes shook his head lightly as he gazed upon the seemingly grand green-blue sword aura.

He grasped the sword handle and waved a light and effortless slash.

Lightning!

As the sword swung down, the dazzling silver-white sword energy was like a bright silver moon soaring through the sky, rippling with a tingling sharpness.

In an instant, two completely different sword energies collided, producing an earth-shaking hum.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

The two sword energies cut and grappled with each other, the sound of clashing and bursting constantly ringing out. Finally, they exploded and burst out, releasing a circle of terrifying waves that swept out.

This astonishing phenomenon even caused the nearby houses to make creaking noises as if they were about to collapse.

It also made the spectators’ hair stand on end, and they quickly retreated, with some of the more timid ones no longer daring to watch the battle.

Almost in the next moment, the collision produced a result.

To everyone’s amazement, a weak silver-white sword energy suddenly burst out of the aftermath and continued to slash toward Diamante.

It was Rhodes who had come out on top!

“What?!”

Diamante’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the scene.

He had never expected that his full-strength slash would be blocked by Rhodes!

“Blocked, blocked it?”

The members of the Donquixote Family in the back all had looks of disbelief on their faces.

Although Diamante’s swordsmanship was not considered a core technique, combined with his almost honed to extreme physical strength, it was not a stretch to say that he could cut a Marines warship in half with one sword strike!

“As expected of a disciple of the Great Sword Master, Gion, I admit I underestimated you,” Diamante remarked as he crushed the remaining sword qi with his blade and fixed a cold gaze on Rhodes, his voice dripping with malevolence.

“So this is all there is to the so-called highest member,” Rhodes replied, his sword still in hand and his expression remaining undisturbed.

But all present could detect a hint of pride emanating from him, and rightfully so.

To stand against the highest member of the Donquixote Family, Diamante, and withstand a full-force attack while even gaining the upper hand, was a level of strength that not even this year’s new sensation, “White Horse” Cavendish, could boast.

Not to mention, Rhodes was clearly much younger than Cavendish, meaning he had even more potential.

If Cavendish has the potential to become a renowned pirate in the future, then Rhodes has the potential to become a legendary figure standing at the peak!

All present felt that this trip was worth it, to witness the emergence of such a stunning character.

“Oh, is this the young man that Shakky spoke of? Not bad at all,” a silver-haired old man remarked from atop a rooftop, taking a sip of his wine.

“That little kid, Gion, actually took on a disciple. I’m a bit envious,” he continued.

There are very few Great Sword Masters who have reached the peak of swordsmanship, and most of them have a lonely and cold feeling of inadequacy. Even if they don’t know each other, he couldn’t help but feel envious that he wasn’t the one encountering such a disciple.

“But Diamante’s strength is far from just this,” Rayleigh said, his eyes shining with a sharp light — Let this old man taste more the true power of your lightning sword intent.