As Kuro's body, twisted by sharp pain, finally went limp in the dust, the blazing sensation that had surrounded Ronan and made his blood surge slowly faded like a receding tide.
[Deathmatch Mode ended. Current multiplier restored to normal.]
The mechanical prompt rang out in his mind. Ronan let out a long breath of turbid air, still wanting more.
That breath condensed into a white stream in the cool morning air and lingered for a long while.
The hollow feeling of falling from peak state back to normal made him clench his fists.
He immediately checked his attribute panel.
Sure enough, exactly what he expected had happened.
His Strength, Speed, and Physique remained completely unchanged, still at 12 points.
Has the growth slowed down? Ronan wondered.
As his physical condition improved, battles of this intensity alone could no longer bring explosive growth like they had in the beginning.
Just like leveling up in a game, the further one progressed, the more astronomical the required experience became.
Still, a satisfied smile curled at the corner of the mouth.
His gaze fell on the new line in the skill column:
[Observation Haki: Beginner (7/100)]
My attributes may not have increased, but this is Observation Haki...
Ronan looked at the unconscious Kuro and actually felt a trace of regret.
Too bad this guy was so fragile. He lasted too short a time. If he could have sparred with me for another half hour, I might have farmed it past 10 points.
If Kuro had been awake to hear that, he probably would have coughed up another mouthful of blood in fury.
At that moment, the terrace door on the second floor of the villa was pushed open. Nami and Usopp helped Kaya, whose face was pale but whose expression remained resolute, walk outside.
Nami glanced at Kuro, who lay amid the ruins of the flowerbed, dead or alive unknown.
Though she had prepared herself mentally, seeing this Great Sea pirate with a sixteen-million-berry bounty lying there like a dead dog still made her suck in a sharp breath.
There was a little more scrutiny in the way she looked at Ronan and the others before she put on her trademark confident smile.
"You took care of him? Not bad!"
Zoro, who was sitting on the ground wiping down Wado Ichimonji, glanced up at Nami and snorted. "Easy for you to say. That maniac nearly sliced us into pieces."
Luffy showed none of the fatigue that should have followed a fierce battle. He squatted curiously beside Kuro, poked Kuro's face with a finger, then turned to Kaya.
"Hey, what are we doing with this bad guy in glasses?"
Kaya looked at the butler who had stayed by her side for three years, the man she had once considered family. A complicated sorrow flashed through her eyes, but it finally hardened into resolve.
"Tie him up and hand him over to the Marines. He killed my parents and wanted to take this home from me... The law will judge him."
Just as the atmosphere began to ease, Usopp suddenly seemed to remember something terrifying. His legs started shaking as he cried out, his face turning pale.
"W-Wait! It's not over yet! When I was upstairs taking care of Kaya, I heard Kuro say something..."
"He said he has a subordinate force called the Black Cat Pirates! According to the plan, they'll attack our village first thing tomorrow morning!"
"What?!" Nami cried. "There's an entire pirate crew?"
Usopp clutched his head in terror. "It's over, it's over! Kuro may be down, but his men definitely don't know that! If they charge into the village, everyone will be killed!"
Just as Usopp sank into his despairing fantasies, a stretched arm suddenly hooked around his neck.
Luffy leaned his grinning face close, his tone as relaxed as if they were discussing where to picnic tomorrow. "Leave it to us!"
"Huh?" Usopp froze.
Luffy grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. "Since we ate your food, we'll just send them all flying!"
Ronan stepped forward as well and patted Usopp on the shoulder, his gaze calm as still water.
"Perfect. I haven't had enough of that last fight. I'll take these remaining 'experience packs.'"
Usopp looked at these people who were as strong as monsters. The fear in his eyes gradually gave way to gratitude, and at last he nodded hard.
"Th-Then... thank you so much!"
That night, both to thank Ronan and the others for saving their lives and to prepare for the coming battle, Kaya brought out the best ingredients in the house.
The spacious dining room of the villa was brightly lit.
The long dining table was covered with roast chicken, ham, fruit, and exquisite soups.
Luffy once again displayed an appetite like a black hole, using both hands as he swept through the food on the table like a whirlwind.
Zoro hugged a bottle of aged liquor and drank with a look of utter satisfaction.
Though Ronan ate elegantly, he ate at an astonishing pace.
National Martial Arts emphasized "nourishing the body through food." The depletion of one's blood and vitality required a great deal of energy to replenish.
As he chewed high-calorie meat, he replayed the battle with Kuro in his mind and considered the possibilities that might arise tomorrow.
That night, the villa was filled with laughter and cheerful voices, temporarily dispersing the dark clouds before the battle.
Early the next morning, the sky had only just begun to brighten.
Mornings in the East Blue carried a damp chill. The sea breeze rustled through the treetops.
On the broad grassy lawn behind the villa, three figures had already begun a new day of training.
Ronan was still holding that standard stance, his breathing long and deep as he blended into the surrounding environment.
Beside him, Luffy and Zoro were also holding Horse Stances.
After Ronan's training over the past few days, their postures were no longer as loose as before. Though they had yet to grasp the use of force, the stability of their lower bodies was already beginning to show results.
"Breathe—in—out—"
The synchronized sound of their breathing was especially clear in the quiet morning.
"Hey! You guys! Stop training!"
Usopp came running over with a huge backpack on his back, panting as he shattered the peace.
"The Black Cat Pirates could come ashore at any moment! We need to set up traps!"
Ronan slowly stopped practicing and exhaled a breath of turbid air. He opened his eyes, which shone sharply.
"Let's go." Ronan rose to his feet and looked at Luffy and Zoro. "Warm-up's over. Time to get my weapon."
Syrup Village, Blacksmith's shop.
When Ronan pushed open that crude wooden door again, the honest Blacksmith was sitting before a long object wrapped in cloth. He looked somewhat exhausted, but his eyes held a craftsman's pride.
"You're here, lad."
The Blacksmith stood and pointed at the long object on the table. "The thing you wanted is finished."
"I worked through the night on it. I even melted down the best iron I had at home to make it."
Ronan stepped forward and yanked away the rough cloth.
Hummm—
A chill rushed toward them.
What appeared before everyone was a pitch-black Zhangba Iron Spear that radiated a cold metallic sheen!
The spear shaft measured one zhang and eight cun long, roughly 3.6 meters, and was as thick as a child's arm. Its surface was not mirror-smooth, retaining instead the fine hammer marks left from forging.
This rough texture instead increased the friction against the palm, making it less likely to slip free.
The spearhead was long, sharp, and diamond-shaped. Its icy gleam carried a fierce aura of slaughter.
It was not made from mystical metal or refined gold, only ordinary steel cast as one piece. Without proper care, it would even rust quickly in the rain.
But in that moment, the weight and wildness it displayed were enough to make any enemy tremble at the sight of it.
Before you continue