[~ Words]
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The cluster of lightning seemed to possess a mind of its own. In an instant, it unleashed several bolts of white lightning that snaked through the air from tricky, unpredictable angles. Each bolt targeted those who had just provoked James, piercing straight through their bodies with deadly precision.
Lightning exploded on impact. Flesh tore apart.
The victims stared down at the smoking holes in their chests, their vision flooded with blinding white. Only regret and burning resentment remained in their eyes.
Their screams lasted mere seconds before the rest of the spectators erupted in shocked gasps.
"How dare he attack the spectators?! Isn't he afraid of the Donquixote Family's retaliation…?"
The same terrifying question flashed through everyone's minds, but no one dared voice it openly now. Those who had talked too much had already been reduced to charred corpses in the previous lightning storm.
"I'm talking to you people! How dare you ignore me?!"
Diamanti's eyes flashed with sharp anger. He leaped down from the high viewing platform straight into the center of the Bullfighting Arena.
As the self-proclaimed defender and hero of the arena, he loved making grand entrances to uphold order while showing off his power.
Seeing this, Violet spoke up helpfully, "He is one of the top executives of the Donquixote Family—Diamanti."
James gave a small nod. This guy actually had the guts to come down. He glanced at Diamanti with clear contempt and said casually,
"So, you're pretty brave, huh?"
"Since you said so, I'll take that as a compliment!" Diamanti grinned widely, completely missing the sarcasm. He subconsciously blurted out his usual catchphrase, sounding almost proud.
James's mouth twitched. He said nothing more.
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the remaining lightning straight at Diamanti.
ZZZT-BOOM!
The bolts twisted through the air, weaving together into a magnificent, blooming flower of pure electricity.
Diamanti chuckled mockingly. "Useless!"
He yanked his cape forward. Empowered by his Devil Fruit, the fabric fluttered dramatically in the wind, covering his front and swaying erratically before hardening into an indestructible steel barrier.
The dazzling white lightning struck the cape as if it had found its way home.
It flowed freely across the metal surface and instantly transferred into Diamanti's body, making him groan in agony.
"Ugh!"
Diamanti's face twisted in bitterness. He was so used to relying on his steel cape for defense that he had completely forgotten one crucial fact—steel conducts electricity perfectly.
"Tsk tsk tsk~ Using steel to defend against lightning… Are you serious…?" James shook his head in mock disappointment.
In a flash of white lightning, James instantly appeared directly above Diamanti's head. A large foot, crackling with electricity, slammed down mercilessly.
"Diamanti, your favorite lightning is here!"
Diamanti endured the violent spasms wracking his body and looked up in panic. He tried desperately to roll aside, but his massive five-meter-tall frame refused to obey under the paralyzing current.
He could only watch helplessly as the pulsating white lightning grew larger and larger in his vision until the blinding glare forced his eyes shut.
But the moment he closed his eyes, he might never open them again.
**Bang—!**
James's lightning-enhanced kick landed with perfect precision and terrifying force, smashing straight into Diamanti's head.
The top executive was violently driven into the arena floor, his body embedding deeply into the ground. His fate was unknown.
Diamanti had been defeated in an instant. Was James simply too strong… or was Diamanti far weaker than everyone assumed?
Normally, as one of the Donquixote Family's top executives and leader of the fighting group, Diamanti was expected to be a formidable powerhouse.
In reality, just like Trebol, he was a weakling.
Well… slightly stronger than Trebol, perhaps.
It was hard to believe that the arrogant, domineering Diamanti couldn't even use two types of Haki properly.
[His Life Card did mention he could use two types of Haki, but what's the difference if he never actually uses them?]
If his Haki was useless, then surely his Devil Fruit ability made up for it, right?
The Flutter-Flutter Fruit? Turning iron objects into weapons for offense and defense?
Zoro would probably just shake his head—too easy to cut through.
Even Kyros, a former ruffian with a severed leg, had managed to defeat him.
Don't overestimate Kyros either; he was also a weakling who couldn't use Armament Haki. He might have known Observation Haki, since Rebecca had recently awakened it in the arena, but overall he was nothing special.
A record of three thousand undefeated matches in the Bullfighting Arena sounded impressive… until you remembered Dressrosa was just a small country with fewer than a hundred thousand people. Defeating local opponents thousands of times wasn't exactly a legendary feat.
Still, for a small-time hoodlum with no master and no proper guidance, it was impressive that Kyros had grown so strong through sheer stubborn effort.
James leaned down and made a scooping motion. White lightning surged greedily into Diamanti's body, roaming through every inch and plundering the power of the Flutter-Flutter Fruit.
*Now, how should the Flutter-Flutter Fruit be developed…?*
The faint, mouth-watering scent of grilled fighting fish drifted through the air at the worst possible moment, while the entire arena remained frozen in terror.
"Diamanti… Did he really just die like that…?"
"Doflamingo won't let us off! We have to leave Dressrosa right now!"
Panic erupted throughout the stands, but no one dared openly accuse or insult James anymore. The fresh corpses of those who had spoken too boldly were a brutal reminder.
James swept his indifferent gaze across the crowd. Instant silence fell once more.
No one dared lift their heads. They only stole fearful glances at his feet from the corners of their eyes, desperately hoping he would leave soon.
The announcer, Gatz, had hunched over behind the broadcasting stand, his large buttocks sticking out comically as he tried to hide. He was shaking with fear, terrified of drawing the attention of this god of slaughter.
Violet, still holding Sugar in her arms, walked slowly up to James. Her gentle smile grew increasingly natural and relaxed.
With Diamanti defeated so easily, she had already mentally accepted the inevitable fall of the Donquixote Family's rule over Dressrosa.
Baby-5 mimicked her, staring with wide, sparkling eyes as she clung to James's other side. She reached up with her small hand to adjust his collar delicately.
James nodded and asked, "Violet, is Doflamingo still at the port?"
With such a useful tool by his side, he didn't need to waste energy blanketing the area with Observation Haki.
Violet activated her Glare-Glare Fruit and peered toward the port. It was completely empty.
She continued scanning inward. After a few moments, she finally located Doflamingo and let out a soft "Oh~"
"Found him. He's no longer at the port—he's in the commercial district now."
"And a group of Fish-Men are chasing him relentlessly. But Doflamingo is holding civilians hostage, so the Fish-Men seem hesitant to attack~"
"Oh? Fish-Men… That must be Jinbe and the others. I didn't expect them to actually start fighting," James mused.
He thought for a moment and decided it would be best to send the three girls to safety first before dealing with Doflamingo.
If that maniac went berserk and hurt someone important, it would be troublesome.
James scooped up Violet and Sugar into his arms. Just as he was about to grab Baby-5, a clever idea suddenly struck him.
"Baby-5, I need you to turn into a whip and wrap tightly around my waist~"
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