Chapter 16: Sincerity

As Diamante's sword energy bore down on Duke, he stood firm, unable to evade the attack despite his Outlaw Armor and Crystal Bracers aiding in vitality restoration. His month-long training wasn't enough to face such a formidable foe.

However, Duke's inability to stop the attack didn't mean others couldn't. Ahri swiftly deployed her deception orb, a powerful defensive tool, which clashed with Diamante's sword energy, dispersing it. The orb then surged towards Diamante, its power undiminished.

Ahri, with her S+ potential and recent power gains, was Duke's strongest protector. Her combat prowess was nearing that of an A-level Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral.

Diamante, initially sneering in arrogance, was taken aback by the unexpected resistance. He hadn't anticipated such strength from a small mafia family in West Blue.

As they approached the dock using Moonwalk, Diamante and his cohorts—Lao.G and Maha—were determined not to be defeated without a proper confrontation this time.

"This time, we won't fail at sea without even facing them!" Diamante declared, driven by Dover's orders and his own resolve to succeed.

In the world of West Blue, finding a powerful individual within a mafia family was already rare, let alone multiple formidable fighters emerging. Diamante wasn't fighting alone; he had Maha and Lao.G, both possessing b+ combat power comparable to Navy Headquarters Rear Admirals. The Donquixote Family prided itself on having no weak members.

On the other side, Duke's Vinsmoke family cadre appeared to be equally strong. However, Duke didn't intend to bury Diamante and his crew at sea. If he had, Gangplank's Abyss would have made quick work of them.

Graves, a seasoned fighter who had swiftly dealt with several neighboring mafia families, now faced Lao.G head-on. Having risen to level nine and boasting a combat rating of a-, Graves was akin to a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral in strength.

Seto, though relatively new, embraced combat eagerly. After a severe beating from Graves and Ahri, Seto's potential began to surface. In a showdown with the hefty Maha, Seto's strength proved superior. Despite Maha's Ton Ya fruit abilities, Seto's raw power overwhelmed him, showcasing the growth potential heroes could achieve through battle.

This narrative unfolded in Sea Circle Calendar 1517, not long after the events in Dressrosa involving Luffy and his crew. The notion of leveling up through battle wasn't exclusive to protagonists; heroes with untapped potential could rapidly evolve during combat as well.

Seto's victory over Maha and Lao.G's defeat under Graves's relentless assault were decisive. Lao.G, despite restoring his peak combat power with the fighting fist, couldn't bridge the gap against Graves' formidable strength at level nine.

Diamante, witnessing his comrades' quick downfall, grew enraged. His swordsmanship, enhanced by his flying fruit ability, caused the dock to tremble like the sea. However, Ahri's speed and prowess made Diamante's efforts futile.

Ahri's fox fire and soul attacks, combined with her deceptive tactics, overwhelmed Diamante. Even with Duke and Gangplank poised to intervene, they held back as Ahri swiftly incapacitated Diamante and his comrades.

Despite being seriously injured, Diamante remained defiant, warning that the Donquixote Family and Dover would seek retribution.

While Duke and his allies displayed formidable power, Diamante's unwavering faith in Doflamingo's might persisted.

Most of the Donquixote Family's cadres held unwavering loyalty to Doflamingo, seeing him as a natural ruler of the seas and the destined Pirate King. Doflamingo, in turn, showed great tolerance and care towards his family members, considering them his only family after the tragic loss of Corazon.

Duke, recognizing the power and influence of the Donquixote Family and Doflamingo, spoke softly to the collapsed Diamante, assuring him that he had no intention of becoming their enemy. He explained that past events were misunderstandings, citing the consequences suffered by the Green family, including the death of their godfather, Mr. Greene Hansen, as evidence of his sincerity.

However, Diamante couldn't help but feel skeptical. The Donquixote Family's intelligence network was formidable, and they knew that Duke was the one who truly robbed their merchant ship. Moreover, the destruction of the Green family by the Vinsmoke family, led by Duke, was a clear indication of their capabilities.

Diamante's thoughts were interrupted by a subtle brubru sound from his pocket, hinting at a possible incoming message or notification.

------------

You can read the advance chapters here : https://www.patreon.com/Vigilante04