Coming Out, You Still Have to Rely on Your Background

Kuro's cruel, sneering smile froze on his face.

In its place was an endless, absurd look of disbelief.

His claws were less than three centimeters from Ronan's neck.

But Ronan's fist had already landed squarely on his stomach!

This long-planned "Collapsing Fist" pushed Ronan's Strength attribute of 12 points and the essence of National Martial Arts' "Manifested Strength" to its limit!

The terrifying force penetrated Kuro's suit and vibrated his internal organs.

"Pfft--!!"

Kuro, who had been in a forward-charging attacking posture and on the verge of success, was hit head-on like a battering ram.

He was sent flying backward in mid-air, curled up like a cooked shrimp, at an even faster speed than he had arrived!

A crimson arrow of blood, mixed with stomach fluid, sprayed violently from his mouth into the air, tracing a miserable arc.

"Bang!!"

Kuro was sent flying back seven or eight meters, smashing through Kaya's meticulously cared-for flowerbed!

Wood chips, soil, and red and yellow petals exploded into the air, like a messy downpour.

Kuro fell miserably into the ruins of the garden, his ten-fingered claws digging deep into the soil, his body twitching violently.

Silence fell over the entire scene.

Luffy and Zoro were utterly dumbfounded.

Their minds completely failed to process what had just happened.

An enemy so fast that even Zoro couldn't see him clearly, a Pirate with a bounty of sixteen million Belly... just like that... sent flying by Ronan's punch?

Luffy's mouth formed an "O" shape, his eyes nearly popping out.

Zoro's hand, gripping the hilt of his sword, trembled slightly from the excessive force.

He wasn't scared, but shocked.

He muttered in a low voice, "...He, he saw it? No... he didn't see... How did he do it?"

And in Ronan's mind, that cold, familiar mechanical voice sounded right on time:

[Host has entered Deathmatch State, Cultivation Multiplier *5]

Instantly, a massive surge of heat, far exceeding that of the Horse Stance, coursed through Ronan's limbs and bones.

He could feel his muscles, bones, and even his nerve reaction speed strengthening again at a visible rate!

"Cough... cough cough..."

Several meters away, in the shattered flowerbed, Kuro propped himself up.

He wiped the blood from his mouth, clutching his stomach, which still throbbed as if hammered by iron, with his other hand.

He looked at Ronan in disbelief, one lens of his glasses long gone from the impact, revealing bloodshot, shocked eyes.

"How... is this possible..."

His voice was hoarse and distorted with pain and rage.

"You brat... how could you dodge my 'Silent Step'?!"

"No... you didn't dodge!" Kuro finally reacted, becoming even more enraged. "You bastard! You predicted my position!!"

Ronan slowly exhaled, the recoil from that punch leaving his arm slightly numb.

He looked at the furious Kuro and said calmly:

"Your killing intent was too heavy, Kuro. As obvious as a firefly in the night."

Ronan could now clearly feel that with the fivefold boost from the "Perseverance" panel.

His arm, which had been slightly numb from the charged attack, was recovering at a visible rate, even becoming tougher.

His entire muscle fibers trembled, tore, and reformed.

He slowly exhaled a puff of white breath, which hung in the bright sunlight without dissipating, like a miniature white dragon.

Ronan's gaze locked onto Kuro, struggling in the flowerbed ruins, like a hawk.

"You don't seem," Ronan's voice was calm, yet carried a predator's coldness as he dissected his prey, "to be a Pirate whose strength lies in his physical body."

While experiencing the growing power within his body, he continued to apply pressure with his words:

"The toughness of your body is even inferior to that of the Pirate Captain I encountered before, with a bounty of three million Belly."

"However..." Ronan's tone shifted, "Given your high bounty, it seems your value lies entirely in your speed and that pair of claws you wield."

"Cough... Cough!"

Kuro, clutching his aching stomach, scrambled to his feet from the shattered petals and damp soil.

The cracks on his glasses resembled a spiderweb, reflecting his distorted, disbelieving face.

Ronan's "Collapsing Fist" had nearly dislodged his internal organs.

"I see..."

Kuro glared venomously at Ronan, enduring the intense pain as he tried to regain control of the situation.

"A... strategist type? I never expected that I, Kuro of the Hundred Schemes, would fall for a trick from a brat like you!"

He adjusted his broken glasses with his wrist, his eyes behind the cracked lenses gleaming with a viper's malice.

"However, brat, out on this sea, brains alone aren't enough! You need strength too!"

His voice became sharp, strained by anger and agony.

"With me prepared, can you dodge my second move? No, you won't even see it coming! And I... I won't be hit by you again!"

"You're right, Kuro."

Ronan actually nodded in agreement. "In this world, brains are indeed less important than strength."

Kuro blinked in surprise.

"But," Ronan's lips curved into a mocking smile, "you forgot one other thing."

"What?" Kuro asked instinctively.

"Companions and background."

Ronan's gaze slowly shifted to his two companions beside him, who were already brimming with fighting spirit.

"Don't you agree?"

Bang!

Luffy punched his own palm, producing a crisp crack.

The innocence and curiosity on his face were long gone, replaced by an undeniable seriousness.

"Yeah! Ronan's my nakama! How could I let you hurt him!"

Meanwhile, Zoro held the white Wado Ichimonji in front of his mouth.

Clang... Clang...

His other two swords were drawn simultaneously!

Three Sword Style!

A swordsman's spirit, purer and more dominant than Kuro's cold killing intent, swept through the entire backyard like a storm!

Zoro pointed the blades of all three swords at Kuro.

"Fighting one against many isn't my style,"

Zoro's voice was slightly muffled by the sword handle in his mouth, but his fighting spirit was crystal clear.

"but your Speed is indeed tricky. To prevent you from doing anything you shouldn't, I'll finish you here!"

Before he finished speaking, Zoro moved!

He stomped his front foot down, the force instantly creating a deep pit in the lawn beneath him!

"Three Sword Style: Oni-giri--!!"

Zoro launched himself like a cannonball, leaping forward and transforming into a whirlwind as he lunged at Kuro!

Three streams of slashes crisscrossed in the air, cutting off all of Kuro's escape routes!

"Damn brat!"

Kuro's pupils constricted. He hadn't expected this swordsman's explosive power to be so astonishing.

He didn't have time to use Silent Step and could only cross the ten sharp claws on his hands tightly in front of his chest to block the powerful attack!

Clang--!!!

A deafening, ear-splitting screech of metal on metal erupted above the entire courtyard!

The three swords fiercely collided with the ten claws! Sparks flew like a grand fireworks display!

A visible shockwave blasted outwards from the two of them!

Hum--!

The shockwave swept across the grass, making the broken stick Ronan had just dropped jump;

It made Luffy's red vest flap wildly;

It even caused the windows on the second floor of the distant villa to creak under the strain.

Zoro and Kuro were locked in a stalemate.

This was a contest of the purest Strength!