Ron knew full well that Lirisk understood him very well.
Their relationship had gone from superior and subordinate, to rivals and close friends, and now enemies. They knew each other better than anyone.
Once he showed himself, exposure was inevitable. Even with a disguise, it was only a matter of time.
But the Straw Hat Pirates were no match for Lirisk. Anyone could die, but dying here for nothing would be far too wasteful.
So, all things considered...
"Tie him up!"
The other party was, after all, an awakened Zoan user. He could not be killed in a short time.
To prevent word of his existence from getting out, Ron decisively made a plan: use the Straw Hat Pirates as bait to draw the enemy's attention, while he waited for an opening.
Judging by the result, it had worked rather well.
Boom!!
Lirisk crashed into the ground like a cannonball. The terrifying impact instantly ripped apart the earth within a circular area dozens of meters wide, sending grass and dirt flying everywhere.
Under that tremendous force, Lirisk rebounded upward in the opposite direction and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Puh... hgh!"
But he never closed his eyes, because he knew Ron's greatest specialty was pursuit—striking when his enemy was down and finishing them off. Closing his eyes now would be the same as suicide!
But why was he here?
When had he arrived?
With a trace of confusion and doubt in his eyes, Lirisk's ears suddenly twitched. He turned and swung his fist down.
Whoosh!
Ron appeared at almost the same moment on Lirisk's right. Facing the incoming fist, he neither dodged nor retreated, instead driving a straight punch at Lirisk's jaw.
"No, this is fake!"
Green-maned lizards could hunt by using their tongues to detect pheromones lingering in