"Flying Slash?! A Great Swordsman?!"
Kyle's jaw dropped as he witnessed Rhodes unleash a devastating slash. His entire body froze in disbelief. As a prominent gangster in the North Sea, Kyle had enough experience to understand what he was seeing.
Even in the New World, where the strongest roam, a Great Swordsman was a rare force to be reckoned with. What was such a figure doing here, involving himself in the petty affairs of a gangster family?
"This isn't a flying slash, and I wouldn't call myself a Great Swordsman," Rhodes calmly explained. "It's just raw strength and the pressure of the blade."
As he spoke, Rhodes surged forward, swinging his sword with ease.
"I survived the Great Swordsman's attack!" one of the gangsters shouted, standing shakily after being knocked down by the earlier slash.
For a brief moment, he thought he was invincible. His chest swelled with pride until he saw a flash of light—the blade cutting through him.
"No, you've just earned the privilege to die a different way," Rhodes muttered, continuing his relentless assault. Each swing of his sword left another gangster lifeless.
The weaklings before him offered no real challenge. A faint red glow shimmered in Rhodes' eyes as he sidestepped incoming bullets, appearing before the gunmen in a blur. One swift motion ended them all.
---
Kyle's Desperation
"These people... they're monsters!" Kyle's hands trembled as he witnessed his men fall like leaves in a storm.
Turning to Jason, his most trusted subordinate, he barked orders. "You stay here and delay them while I gather reinforcements!"
Without waiting for Jason's response, Kyle fled through a hidden side door, leaving his subordinate to face the slaughter alone. Jason stared at the approaching Rhodes, his face pale with despair.
---
Kyle's Last Resort
"Push out the cannons! Destroy the entire building!" Kyle screamed as he emerged outside.
"But, Boss Kyle, our men are still inside!" protested one of his subordinates.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed as Kyle executed the dissenter without hesitation.
"This is the Felke Family! I am Felke Kyle! Obey me or die!" he roared, glaring at the others.
The gangsters scrambled to obey, dragging out cannons and positioning them to fire. Moments later, the deafening roar of cannon fire tore through the air. The manor's main building crumbled under the barrage, flames engulfing the ruins.
"It's over now," Kyle muttered, lighting a fresh cigar as he surveyed the destruction.
Although the loss of Gray, the scientist, was regrettable, Kyle consoled himself with the thought of salvaging Gray's designs from the rubble.
---
The Black Cat Emerges
"You really thought it would be that easy?"
A voice echoed through the smoke and debris, sending shivers down Kyle's spine. A black cat emerged from the ruins, leaping onto the fountain in the garden. Its piercing gaze locked onto Kyle.
"A Devil Fruit user?" Kyle muttered, recognizing the transformation.
"But it's just a cat!"
He waved dismissively, signaling his men to open fire. A hail of bullets followed, but the cat darted through them with supernatural speed.
In an instant, the black cat grew, morphing into a humanoid figure. Standing among the stunned gangsters was Nia, her black cat ears twitching and her tail flicking.
"Using your men as bait? How despicable," Nia growled, her eyes cold and wild.
---
Kyle's Last Stand
Kyle clenched his fists, his cigar falling to the ground. "You're meddling in my business for no reason!"
"Your business?" Nia sneered, her voice laced with contempt. "You tried to kill us and refused to pay what you owe!"
With a burst of speed, she closed the gap between them. Kyle raised his arm just in time to block her powerful kick, the impact sending shockwaves through the air.
"Fine! I'll pay you double—five million extra! Just leave now!" Kyle offered desperately, trying to end the fight.
Nia smirked, her sharp fangs glinting in the light. "As long as I kill you, everything you own will be mine!"
Her transformation advanced, black fur spreading over her body as her claws extended. "I'm the user of the Cat-Cat Fruit: Model Black Cat. When I fight in this form, I might get... a little carried away. If I'm too cruel, I'll apologize later."
Before Kyle could react, a sharp pain erupted in his chest. Blood splattered as Nia's claws slashed across him.
"That's it, meow~" Nia purred, licking the blood from her claws, her predatory eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
The Felke Family had underestimated their foes. What began as an ambush turned into their utter downfall, leaving only a single truth in its wake: they had crossed the wrong people.
"Ahem... Is this it for me? Am I really going to die now?" Gray muttered, lying amidst the rubble of the destroyed building. His frail body coughed up blood as he gazed blankly at the sky. "What a pity. I haven't even fulfilled my dream yet. Forget the dream battleship—I haven't even built a decent ship. Twenty years… what have I been doing all this time?"
Gray's lament echoed faintly in the ruins, his words making Rhodes, who stood nearby, feel a twinge of frustration.
"Is this kid okay?" Rhodes asked Neru, glancing at the injured Gray, who was still rambling despite his condition.
Neru crouched and inspected him, then nodded. "Four broken bones, but nothing life-threatening."
Rhodes sighed. "Do we really want this guy as a companion? His skills are certified by you, sure, but this chatterbox attitude… it makes me want to gag him."
---
Kyle's Treachery and its Fallout
The sudden bombardment ordered by Kyle had left the building in ruins. The gangsters who survived by luck were pale with disbelief, realizing their boss had been willing to sacrifice them all without hesitation.
Weapons slipped from their trembling hands. Their will to fight, once fueled by loyalty to Kyle, evaporated in an instant.
Rhodes glanced at the group of defeated gangsters, his expression calm. They've lost the will to fight. Killing them now feels pointless.
Pushing aside debris, he stepped into the open courtyard. His eyes landed on Kyle's lifeless, bloodied body.
Nia stood over the corpse, her purple hair swaying in the breeze. The gangsters stared at her in terror, unable to move. The brutal way she had killed their leader left them paralyzed with fear.
"What a mess," Nia muttered, her voice tinged with disdain. She glanced at her own claws, still stained with blood. As a user of the Cat-Cat Fruit: Black Cat Model, her devil fruit powers gave her immense strength but often led her to act more cruelly than intended.
"This form is such a hassle," she murmured, shaking off her disgust.
Looking around, Rhodes addressed the remaining gangsters. "You're free to leave. I'm not interested in weaklings."
The surviving thugs exhaled in relief and began to retreat, but Nia's sharp voice cut through the air.
"Wait!"
The group froze in place, trembling.
"Pay up!" Nia snapped. "The agreed reward—don't even think about running off without it!"
All eyes turned to Jason, the only high-ranking member left. Jason hesitated before nodding. "I'll get the payment. Please wait here," he said, heading deeper into the manor with a few others.
---
Bellamy's Arrival
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of screams. From the shadows of the manor, dozens of figures emerged. They were young and wild-looking, their faces filled with sadistic glee.
Leading them was a man with short, golden hair and a cruel smile. He tossed a bloodied Jason aside like garbage.
"A gangster family daring to meddle in Lord Doflamingo's business? Pathetic," the man sneered. "The arms trade in the North Sea belongs to the Donquixote Family."
The golden-haired man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I am Bellamy, and I'll clean up this mess in the name of Lord Doflamingo!"
"Don't hog all the fun, Bellamy!" one of his subordinates jeered, eager to join the fray.
Bellamy's gang attacked without mercy, tearing through the remaining gangsters. Their youth belied their ruthlessness.
---
Rhodes vs. Bellamy
Bellamy's eyes locked onto Rhodes. Among the group, the red-haired man stood out as the strongest.
"So, you're the leader of this pathetic bunch?" Bellamy sneered. "You've just been through a fight, but I'll show you what a real battle looks like."
As he spoke, his legs transformed, the muscles twisting into coiled springs. The sound of compressed energy echoed as Bellamy prepared his attack.
"A Devil Fruit user?" Nia muttered, startled by the transformation.
With a burst of speed, Bellamy launched himself forward, his spring-loaded legs propelling him like a cannonball. His fist aimed straight for Rhodes, a feral grin plastered across his face.
Fast! Nia thought, barely able to track his movement.
But Rhodes didn't flinch. He sidestepped the incoming attack with ease, his eyes calm and focused. As Bellamy sailed past him, Rhodes reached out, grabbing Bellamy's face with one hand.
"What?!" Bellamy gasped, his momentum abruptly halted.
Rhodes twisted his waist, slamming Bellamy's head into the ground with a deafening boom. The impact left a crater, and Bellamy lay unconscious, defeated in a single move.
---
Aftermath
"Brother Bellamy!" Bellamy's companions froze in shock. Their leader—armed with the power of the Spring-Spring Fruit—had been taken down effortlessly.
Who was this red-haired man?
Rhodes dusted off his hands, his expression unchanged. He looked at the stunned group and said calmly, "So… care to explain why you're here?"
Nia, watching from the side, couldn't hide her excitement. This guy is really strong!
The battle had ended before it truly began, leaving only silence and the lingering question of what role these intruders played in the grander scheme.
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