Chapter 329: An Unprecedented Brilliant Battle
"This defense is terrifying! It can't even be scratched by the Thunder God Swordsman's sword energy."
"Right, it's unbelievable. I've seen the Thunder God Swordsman cleave the earth in two with a single strike, leaving cracks hundreds of meters long. It's not that the Thunder God is weak—it's just that Kaido of the Beasts is too monstrous."
The spectators on the shore were in awe of Kaido of the Beasts' ultimate physique.
Rhodes's sword energy was indeed powerful and sharp. Even from such a distance, its all-cutting sharpness caused a stinging sensation on their skin.
But Kaido of the Beasts was even more absurd. His towering figure resembled an ancient demon god, sweeping aside everything in his path, impervious to harm.
"Kaido of the Beasts has developed his Mythical Zoan Dragon-Dragon Fruit to an unbelievable level, constantly strengthening and amplifying his physique. Don't be fooled by his lack of Armament Haki in that exchange—his skin itself is practically armor. Even cannon fire would be nothing to him. If I were in Rhodes's position, I wouldn't fare much better."
Sengoku, standing at the warship's bow, shook his head in admiration.
The spectators all nodded in agreement.
The stronger a person became, the more they understood. Most elite fighters had honed their physiques to extremely powerful levels.
But someone like Kaido of the Beasts, who could ignore such devastating attacks, was on an entirely different plane.
The new generation of powerful pirates watched in a daze, because the sheer scale of the battle between these two titans was astonishing.
Even from half an island away, it sounded like thunder exploding in their ears, and many had already retreated to their ships.
"Boss, Rhodes's swordsmanship seems a bit..."
Lucky Roux hesitated before continuing, "A bit lacking?"
He was one of the elite fighters of the Red Hair Pirates and often witnessed Mihawk and Shanks sparring. He wasn't as ignorant as the average person about the realm of Great Swordsmen.
In his eyes, Rhodes's sword energy was indeed incredibly sharp, capable of easily cleaving mountains and splitting seas.
But compared to Shanks and Mihawk, it lacked a certain quality—it didn't have that terrifying feeling of a Great Swordsman who could split heaven and earth.
"If I'm not mistaken, he should still be... a supreme swordsman who hasn't crossed the threshold?"
First Mate Ben Beckman said, puffing on his cigar, quite incredulously.
"Seems I'm not the only one who noticed. This Thunder God Swordsman hasn't truly reached the level of a Great Swordsman yet."
Shanks concluded. The three exchanged glances, all seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.
The world-renowned Thunder God Swordsman, whose lightning-infused blade struck fear into even the mightiest pirates, but what no one knew—what no one would dare believe—was that the legendary Thunder God Swordsman hadn't even become a Great Swordsman yet?!
If someone had told Shanks before today that the Thunder God Swordsman wasn't a Great Swordsman, he would have taken it as a joke.
But now, he had no choice but to believe it.
"However, his swordsmanship is incredibly refined, and he's achieved near-perfect unity with his blade. Becoming a Great Swordsman is probably just a matter of moments..."
Shanks said, unable to suppress a laugh.
"That Kaido probably doesn't realize Rhodes is using him as a stepping stone to breakthrough."
"That's remarkably bold—using a Yonko as a whetstone, and challenging the strongest Yonko for a duel at that..."
Beckman also couldn't help but chuckle while expressing amazement.
Such audacity wasn't something ordinary people possessed.
The other members of the Red Hair Pirates also caught on, finding it quite amusing that Kaido of the Beasts had become a stepping stone.
"But he needs to actually achieve the breakthrough. If he can't, Rhodes will undoubtedly lose this battle."
Shanks, speaking as a Yonko himself, made his assessment, and everyone nearby nodded in agreement.
Everyone could see that Rhodes's current attack power was absolutely insufficient to defeat Kaido of the Beasts.
And it should be noted that what made Kaido of the Beasts most formidable and terrifying wasn't even his defense, but his near-immortal vitality!
Meanwhile, Kaido of the Beasts, having weathered Rhodes's sword strike, began accelerating, charging toward Rhodes with a thunderous roar.
"Is this guy even human..."
Rhodes sighed inwardly.
He'd fought Garp the Fist before, but it hadn't been this extreme.
Garp's strength lay in his unparalleled martial arts and incredible Armament Haki. In terms of pure physical defense alone, he was formidable but not unprecedented.
At this moment, Kaido had already closed the distance, and seeing that Rhodes seemed momentarily distracted, he roared furiously:
"You're asking for death!"
Thunder Bagua!
He gripped his kanabo with both hands, gathering all his strength, then swung it at Rhodes with blinding speed.
The kanabo was coated with an enormous amount of Armament Haki, far more intense than Rhodes's own.
"..."
Faced with this onslaught, Rhodes quickly refocused, his eyes becoming serious.
Electromagnetic Lightning Slash!
Surging lightning power gathered along his blade, and Rhodes gripped his sword with both hands, delivering a powerful vertical slash.
BOOM!
Sword and kanabo clashed like a thunderclap from the heavens.
The immense residual force exploded outward like a typhoon, sending rocks flying and shattering mid-air.
The clash between the two resembled a collision of heaven and earth, its sound reverberating for miles around—a truly earth-shattering event.
Crackling electricity filled the air!
After a brief two-second stalemate, no matter how much lightning Rhodes unleashed, it couldn't affect Kaido's demonic figure.
Rhodes shook his head inwardly, deciding not to continue the deadlock. A direct confrontation with an enemy like Kaido was extremely unwise. He used the momentum to propel himself backward.
As he flew back, watching Kaido quickly recover and pursue, Rhodes took a deep breath, gripped his sword with both hands, and unleashed a devastating strike.
One-Sword Style: Heavenly Thunder Slash!
At this point, Rhodes's control over lightning and sword energy was nearly unparalleled, the two perfectly integrated.
A sword slash tens of meters long, shimmering with radiance more intense than the sun itself, burst forth instantly, tearing through space.
Wherever it passed, a vacuum formed in the air—a scar that wouldn't heal.
"Hmm?"
Faced with this attack, Kaido showed mild interest, but his movements remained arrogant, even contemptuous.
He planted his massive kanabo on the ground, then clenched his fist, coating it with Armament Haki. A simple straight punch contained unimaginable power.
BOOM!
When fist collided with sword energy, a booming sound erupted first, then space itself trembled as shockwaves rippled outward.
How devastating was the sword energy Rhodes unleashed with his full might? It could easily part seas and cleave mountains.
Under that razor-sharp edge, even Kaido's Armament Haki was constantly being cut and fractured.
"Hmph!"
Kaido sneered at the sight, took a step forward, twisted his waist, and suddenly exerted his full strength.
CRASH!
Though Kaido's size wasn't as large as a true giant's, the power he contained far exceeded any giant—enough to easily battle Sea Kings. With the force of his punch, he actually shattered the Heavenly Thunder Slash to pieces.
Arcs of electricity and sword energy aftershocks tore through the earth, creating dark craters, but when they struck Kaido, they exploded harmlessly in mid-air—very strange.
"Why did they explode?"
Rhodes frowned. The attacks were being stopped before even reaching his skin—it shouldn't be possible.
He activated his Observation Haki, carefully sensing his surroundings, and finally realized what was wrong.
(End of Chapter)
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