"Armament Haki..."
Realizing the power Neru had just displayed, Qasim Finney's expression shifted, a hint of seriousness crossing his face.
The intelligence they had received previously only stated that this "Black Gun Neru" was suspected of having Observation Haki, but there was no mention of him also possessing Armament Haki.
He was just a pirate who had recently emerged, yet he had directly challenged one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea's agents and defeated elite Marine Headquarters officers. Now, he had even mastered two types of Haki.
More importantly, was the Armament Haki the opponent just displayed something he already possessed, or was it something he acquired after fighting with Rear Admiral Bastille and the others?
Regardless of the situation, they were undeniably monstrous individuals!
Qasim Finney's eyes grew more serious.
Compared to his opponent's gravitas, Neru was undoubtedly far more relaxed. A brief exchange was all it took for him to reach his conclusion.
The other party was no match for him!
Rhodes wasn't in much trouble either.
Glancing at Rhodes, who was locked in combat with Onigumo, Neru relaxed slightly.
We can try wrapping the Haki around the bullet.
With this thought flashing through his mind, Neru used Soru again to put more distance between himself and his opponent. He then raised the black gun in his hand, attempting to wrap his still-unskilled Armament Haki around the bullet.
Thump!
Genos kicked away a Marine who charged at him, a helpless expression on his face.
"I already told you, I haven't officially joined their crew yet."
"If you say that, you plan to join them and become a pirate, right?"
Marine Captain Ruan Yakubu, his face crisscrossed with scars and bearing a fierce demeanor, gripped his large knife tightly. He eyed the black-haired man before him cautiously.
They had already exchanged a few blows, and the man in front of him was incredibly strange. Even when struck by their blades, he recovered in a remarkably short time.
If the opponent hadn't been so concerned about the white puppy cradled in his arms and had unleashed his full combat potential, they might already be dead, given his terrifying regenerative abilities.
He must be some kind of strange individual with special abilities.
With this thought, Ruan Yakubu's fingers subtly shifted, making a signal. The Marines following him instantly understood.
As elite troops from Marine Headquarters, they naturally carried specialized equipment for dealing with Devil Fruit users—Seastone weapons.
"If you're a pirate, die!"
With a roar, Ruan Yakubu lunged forward again, brandishing his weapon. The Marines behind him also roared, rushing towards Genos, swinging their weapons.
"Really!"
Gazing at the Marines who were determined to kill him indiscriminately, Genos couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
He finally understood what Rhodes had said to persuade him earlier. There was no truly safe place in this vast ocean. No matter where you were, living a stable and peaceful life was never easy.
He had even seriously considered whether he should indeed set sail with Rhodes and the others.
Only...
"Even if I were to become a pirate, I never intended to go to sea in this manner!"
Genos pulled up his trench coat and tied it in front of his chest to form a small bundle, carefully placing the still-sleeping Sissi within. He then snatched two scattered weapons from the ground, his eyes hardening with resolve.
"But let's fight!"
Clang!
Rhodes raised Hanasu to block Onigumo's attack, but the sheer force transferred through his arm caused Rhodes's expression to subtly change.
What incredible strength!
This was the first time someone had made him feel pressured since he completed his basic training, and his physical strength had reached its plateau.
"You're quite capable. No wonder Bastille lost to you." Onigumo spoke, the cigar still in his mouth, the wafting smoke making Rhodes frown slightly.
"But I'm not a one-sword swordsman."
As soon as he finished speaking, Onigumo drew the long sword from his other hip, swinging it towards Rhodes.
Soru!
Rhodes's body instantly retreated, dodging Onigumo's attack. He glanced at his torn clothes, a smile gracing his lips.
There's pressure, but we won't lose!
This was precisely the kind of battle he needed now—one that would allow him to quickly absorb experience and fully convert his accumulated potential into raw combat strength!
He pushed off the ground suddenly, and the moment he landed, his body sprang forward again, rushing towards Onigumo with an indomitable momentum, swinging Hanasu fiercely towards the Vice Admiral's head.
Clang!
Raising his hand, Onigumo blocked Rhodes's attack with one sword, his expression shifting slightly. He then brought his other long sword to bear, blocking Rhodes's relentless assault with both blades.
This kid has such immense strength!
It took two hands for him to parry the opponent's slashes.
Rhodes was undeterred by the initial missed attack. He swung Hanasu with blinding speed, unleashing a series of powerful and heavy slashes at Onigumo.
Boom!
Onigumo dodged, and Rhodes's sword slammed into the ground, leaving a massive, deep crater.
This isn't a slash...
An intelligence broker, who hadn't yet managed to retreat, stared at Rhodes's attack, his mouth twitching slightly.
This isn't how a swordsman fights!
Rhodes, oblivious to the thoughts of the fleeing bystanders, savored the rare opportunity to face a strong opponent. He simply put his various ideas and insights into practice, little by little, throughout the battle.
Clang!
After blocking Rhodes's attack once more, Onigumo suddenly smirked.
"I'll send you off right here, little devil!"
"I've said this before, I'm not a one-sword swordsman, but I'm also not a two-sword swordsman either."
As he spoke, Onigumo's black hair seemed to stir with a life of its own, and he drew several more long swords from his back.
"I am the Eight-Swordsman!"
His dancing black hair resembled six additional hands, each wielding a long sword. As Rhodes and Onigumo's blades were locked in a stalemate, these additional swords slashed or stabbed at Rhodes from multiple directions.
Rhodes looked up, a wild, unrestrained smile on his face.
"Battle isn't about who has more weapons!"
As he spoke, a surge of power erupted from Rhodes's body, instantly enveloping his entire form.
Clang!Clang!Clang!Clang!Clang!Clang!
Six long swords attacked from different directions, landing on Rhodes's body with the resounding clang of metal on metal.
"Why don't you imbue your weapon with Haki?"
Rhodes's entire body was now encased in a pitch-black coating of Armament Haki. Onigumo's slashes fell upon him, but could not inflict any damage whatsoever.
"Is it because you don't like it?"
"Little devil!"
Onigumo laughed in furious exasperation, a dark Armament Haki now also enveloping his own body.
"While it's commendable that you've mastered Haki while still in the Four Blues, if you think mastering Haki means you can escape from me, you are utterly mistaken!"
The flying hair on Onigumo's head became more and more solidified, as if he had truly grown six more arms. And unlike before, each sword was now coated with Armament Haki.
"In the name of Justice, I will kill all of you here!"