chapter 8
"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.