Chapter 260: The Power of Thunder
That wasn't the end of it.
Before the massive lightning pillar had completely dissipated, a colossal thunder dragon—formed entirely from crackling electrical energy—roared forth with a deafening boom, slamming directly into Pica, the highest-ranking Donquixote Family officer, and sending him flying backward violently.
Even with full Armament Haki protection, Pica was left charred and severely injured from the devastating impact.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
The destructive power of a fully developed Logia-type ability was simply absurd.
The thick bolts of divine lightning—like judgment from heaven itself—swept outward relentlessly, annihilating hundreds of Donquixote Family soldiers almost instantaneously, including numerous elite combatants.
Even several Donquixote Family officers, caught completely off-guard, were struck directly. Despite deploying Armament Haki defensively, they still sustained serious injuries, coughing up black smoke and displaying expressions of genuine terror.
"Who the hell is that?!"
Experiencing this heavenly devastation firsthand, everyone felt profound shock, their gazes turning toward the lightning strike's origin point.
A relatively tall figure stood silently atop a building, holding a golden staff—appearing like a thunder god descended directly from the heavens themselves.
He was bathed in crackling electricity, and bullets fired from concealed positions passed harmlessly through his elemental body without causing the slightest injury.
"A Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi user?"
Doflamingo's brow furrowed deeply as he observed this development from his position.
The two CP operatives also registered this threat, their eyes flashing with calculation—but they deliberately ignored it, instead rushing toward Rhodes from left and right flanks, each launching coordinated attacks.
"Rankyaku: Aotori—Storm Leg: Blue Bird!"
"Shigan: Bachi—Flying Finger Gun!"
Both were pure martial arts masters, their Rokushiki techniques absolutely extraordinary—far surpassing even Headquarters Vice Admirals in execution.
"Tch."
Rhodes simply unleashed a distant slash in response.
It was no longer purely sword energy, but rather a silver slash thoroughly infused with lightning—transforming into a brilliant white arc that swept toward Doflamingo and his two companions simultaneously.
These two CP operatives were individually weaker than Doflamingo, and Doflamingo himself—without activating his Devil Fruit Awakening—ranked one full tier below Rhodes' capabilities.
BANG-BANG-BANG!
Despite their combined coordinated efforts, Doflamingo and his two companions couldn't withstand Rhodes' electrified slash. All three were knocked backward violently, blood rushing to their heads, their faces flushing crimson.
While Rhodes engaged three opponents simultaneously, the distant battlefield had already reached fever pitch intensity.
Enel, participating in his first genuine combat in the Blue Sea, displayed power that genuinely terrified those witnessing it.
His incomprehensibly violent lightning attacks, his elemental transformation that completely ignored ordinary physical strikes, and his speed that surpassed virtually everything—all combined into utterly despair-inducing combat capability.
The people of the Grand Line were experiencing firsthand the absolute terror of a Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi user.
He alone had effectively routed the entire Donquixote Family's forces.
All the faction leaders observing this battle through various broadcast methods displayed expressions of profound astonishment.
The Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi—it truly represented one of the ocean's most overwhelmingly powerful fruits.
The previous user had made a legendary name for himself, dominating vast territories, but ultimately provoked the World Government's wrath and was hunted down to extinction.
And now such a terrifying individual had appeared on this battlefield, fighting under Rhodes' banner.
What did this signify? Everyone understood perfectly!
"The Thunder God Swordsman genuinely possesses the potential to become one of the Four Emperors!" someone murmured with dawning realization.
Before this revelation, most everyone had believed Blackbeard was significantly more likely than Rhodes to replace Whitebeard as the new Fourth Emperor.
Becoming a Sea Emperor required not merely overwhelming personal strength, but also powerful subordinate commanders—like Kaido's Three All-Stars, Big Mom's Sweet Commanders, and the legendary pirates Blackbeard had systematically recruited.
"Jinbe, Knight of the Sea... the Goro Goro no Mi user... the Thunder God Swordsman himself... truly a monstrous force."
The Five Elders all frowned deeply, revealing obvious apprehension.
Such military strength genuinely deserved consideration for Yonko status!
"Contact Kizaru immediately! Tell him to accelerate his approach at maximum speed! The Thunder God Swordsman must not escape!"
One of the Five Elders commanded with grave intensity.
Once Kizaru joined the battle, it wouldn't represent merely one Marine Admiral, but also three large warships—a force only marginally weaker than a full Buster Call deployment.
Such overwhelming reinforcements were sufficient to decisively alter the battle's outcome!
Meanwhile, on the battlefield itself...
After using lightning techniques to eliminate massive numbers of Donquixote Family members with his dramatic entrance, Enel also became a priority target.
The battlefield had grown too chaotic, and his Observation Haki was being actively interfered with by multiple sources.
Moreover, among the assassins and mercenaries hired by Doflamingo were several formidable snipers capable of utilizing Observation Haki to disrupt Enel's sensory abilities, successfully landing hits on him.
"So these are the Blue Sea's elite warriors..."
Enel chuckled darkly, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with casual disdain.
After his rigorous mental tempering under Rhodes' tutelage, his personality had undergone dramatic transformation. He remained remarkably calm, fully utilizing his overwhelming advantages to battle against numerous powerful opponents simultaneously.
"Nothing particularly special, really."
Enel felt genuine pride swelling within. Except for that man—no, that wasn't merely human, that was genuinely divine—everyone else was essentially trash in comparison.
"The Goro Goro no Mi..."
Kalos caught a glimpse of this scene peripherally, strange recognition flashing through his tactical mind. He hadn't expected Rhodes to successfully recruit such a devastating subordinate.
"You should focus on your own survival!"
Jinbe declared, attempting to disrupt his opponent's concentration.
"Heh..."
Kalos sneered dismissively. His analytical eyesight was sharp enough to perceive Enel's fundamental weaknesses.
Although his Devil Fruit development was exceptional, his physical foundation remained too weak, and his Armament Haki was pathetically underdeveloped. If he didn't retreat strategically, he would eventually be surrounded and eliminated.
Enel's spectacular appearance disturbed the minds of everyone observing the battle, while simultaneously plunging the Dressrosa battlefield into absolute chaos—causing catastrophic casualties throughout the Donquixote Family's ranks.
"Damn that Goro Goro no Mi bastard!"
Pica's distinctive high-pitched voice rang out, his eyes bloodshot as he surveyed the Donquixote Family members left charred black by devastating lightning strikes.
He suddenly plunged underground, activating his Ishi Ishi no Mi abilities to their fullest extent.
RUMMMMMBLE!
The earth itself shook violently.
The next moment, a massive stone giant exceeding several hundred meters in height suddenly rose from the ground—towering enough to blot out the very sky itself.
"DIE!"
Pica, controlling the colossal rock giant, threw a devastating punch toward Enel—intending to obliterate everything in his attack path, including nearby allies caught in the blast radius.
WHOOOOOOOM!
Before the titanic fist even arrived, terrifying wind pressure swept forward, whipping up hurricane-force gales.
But Enel remained utterly unfazed. Under Rhodes' personal training, he'd undergone complete transformation in combat philosophy—fully utilizing his overwhelming speed advantage. With a single lightning-flash movement, he vanished entirely from the punch's impact zone.
BOOOOOM!
Pica's devastating punch landed—striking nothing but empty ground.
The indiscriminate attack probably killed dozens of his own elite warriors, including numerous skilled assassins and mercenaries caught in the shockwave.
"Damn it! He's too fast!"
Pica roared with mounting fury. His Observation Haki detected Enel's reappearance elsewhere and immediately threw another crushing punch.
Enel snorted coldly, vanishing again in the distance with casual contempt.
But in that precise instant, a black, illusory projectile suddenly pierced through the atmospheric distortion—striking his right arm and splattering blood dramatically.
Enel grunted in pain, then immediately flashed away again, disappearing from that vulnerable position.
Although his absolute combat strength didn't quite match Admiral-tier opponents, he functioned like a devastating wildcard—throwing the entire Dressrosa battlefield into complete disarray and dramatically relieving pressure on Robin and the other crew members.
Doflamingo registered the distant chaos, turned his cold gaze back to Rhodes, and declared icily:
"I underestimated your preparations, I'll admit."
"However, in two hours precisely, it will become your death day!"
After this declaration, he and both CP operatives charged forward together with renewed coordination.
At their elite tier, combat instincts were extraordinarily honed, and their teamwork bordered on telepathic precision.
"Is that so?"
Rhodes smiled faintly, refusing to let Enel steal all the spotlight.
(End of Chapter)
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