Chapter 504 - 343

Chapter 345: Thunder Destruction Sword!The northwestern outskirts of Dressrosa, the Sunflower Field.This place was originally supposed to be one of the kingdom's most beautiful sights.Across dozens of hectares, millions of sunflowers stood neatly facing east under the sun, like a golden ocean.But now, Kyros was sprinting.With his single leg stepping into the soil, his speed wasn't fast, but every step was so firm it seemed as if he would crush the ground.He was charging along the path in the middle of the flower field toward the Kings Plateau.Until—"My, my, isn't this the legendary hero of our Dressrosa?"A frivolous and somewhat teasing voice drifted over from the right side of the flower field.Kyros's footsteps came to a halt.From within the flower field, a person strolled out leisurely.He wore a white noble's robe, a feathered top hat on his head, and a slender rapier at his waist.A playful smile hung on his face, as if the person before him wasn't an angry madman, but rather a fun play.One of the top officers of the Donquixote Family—"Diamante."Kyros's teeth ground together with a clatter.It's been ten years.For ten whole years, this damn face appeared in his nightmares every single night! That hatred was etched into his very bones!!!"Oh? You still remember me? I'm truly honored."Diamante gave an elegant bow, his movements so flamboyant they were nauseating."So, esteemed Mr. Kyros, where are you heading in such a hurry?"Kyros didn't give him the time of day.His hand pressed onto the hilt of the sword at his waist."Move."Kyros's voice was incredibly raspy."Move?"Diamante raised an eyebrow, his smile becoming even more sarcastic."Why? Could it be... you're going to the Kings Plateau to seek revenge against Young Master Doffy?"He walked forward slowly, his leather shoes making a soft "rustling" sound on the soil."Let me guess... is it because ten years ago, I killed that lovely wife of yours, Scarlett?"Kyros's pupils constricted sharply."Oh, don't look at me like that."Diamante spread his hands, looking quite helpless."That was just an accident!""Who told her she had to resist? Wouldn't it have been over if she'd just handed over the royal treasure? She just had to stand in front of my sword—""Shut up."Kyros's voice was very soft, yet it seemed to make the surrounding air drop several degrees.Diamante, on the contrary, laughed even more excitedly."What, did I hit a sore spot?"He drew the rapier from his waist, the blade glinting coldly under the overcast sky."Speaking of which, I still remember it very clearly.""That day was also overcast like this, with torrential rain. Your wife lay in a pool of blood, while you—"He paused intentionally, looking Kyros's prosthetic leg up and down."And you, the undefeated legend of our DressrosaColosseum with three thousand wins, the kingdom's strongest Captain of the Guard, couldn't even hold a sword steady, helplessly watching your own wife die."Every word was like a knife, stabbing violently into Kyros's heart.His body was trembling.Those images he had forcibly suppressed for ten years now surged like a bursting flood, instantly overwhelming his defenses of reason.A rainy night! Fresh blood! Scarlett's body slowly turning cold!!! ~~~Kyros lowered his head.Rain had begun to fall at some unknown point.The pattering raindrops fell on the sunflower heads, on the soil, and on his shoulder armor.The icy sensation seeped through his clothes into his skin, yet it couldn't extinguish the fire that had been burning in his chest for ten years."What's wrong, gone quiet?"Diamante tilted his head with a cruel smile."Admit it, Kyros. You're just a piece of trash!""You couldn't protect the King, you couldn't protect your wife, and you don't even dare to acknowledge your own daughter!!!!""For ten years, you could only hide inside the shell of a Toy Soldier, secretly watching Rebeccastruggle to survive in the Colosseum."He raised his sword, the tip pointing at Kyros."In your pathetic state, what right do you have to stand before me?"Kyros didn't respond.He just slowly raised his head.Rainwater flowed down his cheeks; it was impossible to tell if it was rain or tears.In those eyes, ten years of accumulated despair, guilt, and self-reproach completely exploded at this moment."You're right."Kyros spoke, his voice terrifyingly calm."I am a piece of trash."Diamante was stunned for a moment."I didn't protect King Riku, I didn't protect Scarlett, and I didn't even protect Rebecca."Kyros said every word deliberately, his grip on his sword tightening with each one."For these ten years, I've dreamed every night of the scene of Scarlett dying, of Rebecca getting hurt and crying in the Colosseum, while I... could do nothing."He took a step forward."But—"Kyros's eyes snapped open, golden flames burning in his pupils."Today, you must die."The moment the words fell, Kyros moved.Diamante's pupils constricted; he couldn't see Kyros's movements at all!He only felt a blur before his eyes as that single-legged figure flashed three meters to the left, the longsword horizontal and slashing toward his waist with a whistle that tore the air!"Wha—?!"Diamante instinctively leaned back, the longsword grazing past the clothes on his chest.The wind from the blade brushed against his skin, actually leaving a trail of blood!"How is that possible?!!"Diamante retreated in a panic, the playfulness on his face completely gone, replaced by utter bewilderment."Your speed... it's impossible! You only have one leg!"Kyros didn't answer.He landed, and the moment he stepped on the ground, the soil exploded into a small pit.Using the momentum to spin his body, the second strike was already swung out. The tip of the sword pointed straight at Diamante's throat, its trajectory simple but incredibly fast.Diamante finally didn't dare to act tough anymore."Flutter-Flutter Fruit—Corrida Cape!!!"The white robe on his body suddenly softened and expanded, turning into a massive cape.The cape unfurled in the air, its edges hardening into sharp serrations as it swept toward Kyros's sword.This was Diamante's ability—the Flutter-Flutter Fruit, which could turn anything touched into a light piece of cloth and freely control its shape and hardness.The serrated cape collided with the longsword.Clang—!!!The sound of metal clashing exploded.Kyros's sword was entangled by the cape, but with a flick of his wrist, the blade spun, forcibly pulling itself out from the cloth's wrap.At the same time, his left fist blasted out!Thud!The fist smashed into Diamante's forearm, which he had hurriedly raised to block."Ugh!"Diamante was sent sliding back three steps by this punch, a sharp pain like a bone fracture coming from his forearm.He looked at Kyros in horror!"This cripple's strength is actually this great?!""You..."Diamante gritted his teeth."During these ten years, you..."Kyros interrupted him, his voice still just as calm."Every day, every hour, I've been thinking... if one day I could hold a sword again, how I would kill you."He raised his sword, the tip pointing at Diamante."I've thought of three thousand ways.""Now, I'm going to... show them to you, one by one."In the next second, Kyros disappeared again."Don't be too arrogant!!!"Diamante roared, the rapier in his hand suddenly softening and elongating, turning into a cloth viper that coiled toward Kyros."Snake Sword: Strangle!"The cloth snake twisted nimbly in the air, sealing off all of Kyros's evasion routes.But Kyros didn't intend to dodge at all; he charged toward the cloth snake, and just as it was about to wrap around his neck, he spun like a top.The longsword slashed out along with the rotation.Swish swish swish swish swish—!!!The cloth snake was cut into dozens of segments, falling limp to the ground.Diamante's face changed drastically as he hurriedly retreated, waving both hands at the same time:"Fluttering Sword Mountain!!!"The soil and gravel on the ground softened and deformed under the influence of the fruit ability, turning into countless cloth spikes that stabbed at Kyros from all directions.This was an attack with no blind spots!!Kyros closed his eyes.The rain fell harder and harder.Rainwater hit his face and his sword.His life in the Colosseum had long since honed his perception to a level beyond sight!!The sound of wind, the sound of rain, the sound of soil being pierced, the sound of the enemy's breathing... all the information gathered in his mind, sketching a complete picture of the battlefield.Then—He moved.In the forest of cloth spikes, Kyros's figure flitted in and out like a ghost.Every turn of his body, every step, every lowering of his head precisely avoided the incoming spikes.At their closest, those spikes were only a centimeter from his skin, yet they simply couldn't touch him."Impossible... Impossible!!!!"Diamante waved his hands frantically as more soil and debris were turned into cloth spikes."Die, die, die!!!!"But Kyros was still advancing.Step by step, steady as a mountain.Finally, he passed through the forest of cloth spikes and arrived three meters in front of Diamante."It's my turn."Kyros raised his sword.Rainwater flowed down the blade, gathering at the tip and dripping off.Diamante's pupils dilated to their limit!!!And Kyros himself shot toward Diamante like a cannonball from a barrel.Sword in front.Man behind.Man and sword became one at this moment."Thunder Destruction Sword—!!!"Kyros's voice exploded in the rain, every word carrying ten years of blood and hatred.Golden electrical sparks exploded on the blade.This wasn't a fruit ability, but pure swordsmanship!!!The golden thunder light tore through the curtain of rain.In Diamante's eyes, only that closer and closer golden lightning remained.He wanted to dodge, but his body was so stiff he couldn't move.He wanted to defend, but the cloth shield created by the Flutter-Flutter Fruit was as fragile as paper before that thunderbolt."No... Don't... Young Master Doffy, sav—"The voice cut off abruptly.The thunderbolt pierced directly through his chest.Diamante looked down at the bowl-sized hole in his chest, the light in his pupils rapidly fading.He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.But in the end, he just fell straight down.Thud.His body hit the muddy flower field, splashing up murky water.The rain was still falling.Kyros knelt on one knee, his longsword stuck in the ground to support his body.He breathed heavily, white mist puffing out with every breath. That last move had exhausted all his physical strength, Haki, and the hatred accumulated over ten years.But—It's over.Scarlett, I... "Father!!!"A young girl's shout came from the distance.Kyros looked up sharply.At the edge of the flower field, Rebecca was running this way. Behind her, Sabo followed closely, a look of worry on his face."Rebecca..."Kyros wanted to stand up, but his body would no longer obey him.Rebecca rushed in front of him, and seeing him covered in wounds with blood and mud mixed together, her tears fell instantly:"Father! Are you all right?! I...""I'm fine."Kyros forced a smile and reached out to pat Rebecca's head."Don't cry! Diamante... is already dead!"Rebecca nodded vigorously, yet her tears wouldn't stop.Sabo walked to Diamante's body, checked it, and after confirming his death, looked at Kyros:"A very impressive strike! Truly worthy of the legendary warrior of Dressrosa!"Kyros shook his head and didn't speak.He looked toward the Kings Plateau."Mr. Sabo!"Kyros supported himself with his sword and slowly stood up."Could I ask a favor of you?""Please, go ahead.""Take Rebecca away from here."Kyros looked at his daughter, his gaze gentle yet firm."The coming battle is too dangerous. I don't want her to...""Father! I want to fight with you!"Rebecca grabbed Kyros's arm."I am a warrior too! I also want to—""Be good."Kyros interrupted her, his voice soft but beyond dispute."If Scarlett were still here, she would certainly want you to live on. So—"He looked at Sabo.Sabo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded:"I understand. I will protect Rebecca.""Thank you."After Kyros finished speaking, he turned and limped toward the Palace.That back in the rain looked lonely, yet it was as upright as a sword.