Swordsmanship Training (Please Follow! Please Follow!)

Doflamingo proved through his actions that he hadn't just been talking.

Early the next morning, Abel and Luo were roughly awakened and brought to the training ground that had been cleared out for them.

The one responsible for teaching their first lesson was none other than Diamante, sneering coldly!

Although Doflamingo's orders meant he wouldn't do anything to the two brats, Doflamingo had personally assigned him to teach them swordsmanship. Naturally, he wouldn't go easy on them. He was sure to make them suffer.

"Pick up your weapons. Starting today, I, Diamante, will teach you how to use a sword."

"If you can't satisfy me, you'll end up just like this rock."

Bang!

Diamante casually swung his sword. It shot out like a snake and smashed a large rock nearby to pieces!

Abel and Luo exchanged a glance. They knew that raising any objections now would only give him an excuse to make trouble, but...

Luo looked at Abel's arm, still wrapped in bandages, and immediately realized how malicious Diamante's intentions were!

Just as Luo was about to speak, Abel suddenly stopped him, then vigorously flexed both arms a couple of times.

Right in front of them, he removed the bandages and splint from his arm.

"Abel, don't push yourself. The injury to your arm—"

"It's already healed."

Abel casually tossed the things he'd taken off to one side.

Luo froze. But Abel didn't look like he was faking it, so he couldn't help asking, "How could it heal so quickly?"

Abel immediately met someone's icy gaze and replied without fear, "I guess it wasn't that bad to begin with. At the time, it felt like a mosquito had bitten me. Who knew you'd make such a big fuss over it?"

Not only had this left Luo, who'd bandaged him up, at a loss for words, it had also frozen the mocking look on Diamante's face. He'd clearly been hit where it hurt.

"A mosquito bite? Very well, brat. You're the first person who's dared to provoke me like this. I hope you'll still be so insolent an hour from now."

"Now, pick up your swords!"

Diamante suppressed his anger, ready to teach Abel a proper lesson within the limits of the rules.

Having vented his spite and gotten in a few words, Abel didn't give Diamante the chance to fly off the handle. He obediently picked up the weapon on the ground without saying a word.

"Hm? This is heavy."

The sword in Abel's hand was an iron blade of moderate length, with no edge. Its length was perfectly suitable for them, but it was unexpectedly heavy.

Even Abel, whose Gourmet Cells had already undergone one evolution, found it difficult to lift. Luo, who was terrible in every respect, had it even worse.

"It's so heavy!"

The guy's face turned red as he managed to lift the sword with both hands.

"Raise your sword and watch my movements. I'll only demonstrate this once."

"Ready—"

"Thrust!"

Diamante was certainly skilled with a sword. Even a simple thrust created the illusion that his blade was as swift as a startled swan.

They were still far away, yet both Luo and Abel felt that they'd die if they didn't dodge—and that they couldn't move or get out of the way.

Only when Diamante withdrew his sword and released them from the grip of his killing intent did the two escape that awful feeling.

When they came to their senses, they found their backs drenched in sweat.

Only when someone got serious did they truly understand how terrifying his strength was!

If Diamante had acted like this from the start that day, Abel wouldn't have stood a chance to cause trouble.

"Copy the movement I just showed you. Start by practicing one hundred thrusts."

"A word of warning: don't even think about slacking off or cutting corners. If I catch you making even one improper move, you'll be punished."

"Believe me, if you die during this exercise, even Doflamingo won't have much to say."

"Worthless trash has only one fate: to be thrown away and burned!"

Diamante's words were cold, mocking, and painfully harsh.

But at the same time, they were all too true!

Because here, people without value didn't deserve to live.

Abel said nothing. He calmly held the sword in one hand, copied Diamante's movement, drew it back, then thrust hard!

Fortunately, his body had already been strengthened, greatly improving his physical abilities. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to perform the move so precisely.

In fact, even Diamante, who'd been waiting to keep mocking him, was a little surprised.

I didn't expect this brat to be stronger than I thought. But this is only the beginning. Heh.

Even a simple thrust was difficult to perform properly a hundred times. It became harder with each repetition, especially with such a heavy weapon.

Seeing that Abel had started training, Luo gritted his teeth and tried holding the sword in one hand too.

He managed to thrust, but his form was all wrong—wobbling so badly he nearly toppled over.

Seeing this, Diamante finally got his chance. He sneered. "Are you trying to make your enemies laugh themselves to death with that ridiculous form? Again!"

At the same time, his sword lashed out like a snake, striking Luo precisely across the back.

What did it feel like to be whipped with an 'iron whip'?

Luo sucked in a sharp breath. The muscles in his face twitched. His face was red with pain, but he still clenched his teeth and didn't make a sound.

"Don't worry. I'll control my strength," Diamante said with a wide grin, baring his teeth in satisfaction.

After watching all this, Abel narrowed his eyes. No matter how much Diamante held back, enough punishments could easily beat someone to death—or make them die from the pain.

Sure enough, even choosing to find himself a protector didn't mean he was truly safe.

But that 'whip' had also jolted Luo into realizing there was a gap between him and Abel in terms of physical talent!

Once he'd recovered, he finally stopped trying to prove himself. He obediently switched to holding the sword with both hands and continued training.

This time, his form was finally correct.

The combined strength of both hands was ultimately more stable.

That was what Diamante had intended from the start.

So he waited for the show. He didn't believe Abel could complete one hundred thrusts using just one hand.

Soon, twenty repetitions had passed.

Abel maintained a steady pace, performing each movement meticulously.

Draw back—

Thrust!

At the same time, the cells within him began to grow more and more vigorous with each set of movements he completed.