Ron could resist the Dream Fruit's Dream Invasion because he remained in a constant state of Awakening. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, developed to a level beyond human limits, ruthlessly drove out every Devil Fruit particle fluctuation that tried to invade his body.
Only Awakening could counter Awakening!
Unless an opponent had mastered Awakening on a higher level than his, or possessed an Awakening born of a countering ability like Luffy's Rubber-Rubber Fruit, this power was invincible.
The Hobby-Hobby Fruit?
The Slow-Slow Fruit?
It made no difference.
No matter how bizarre an ability was, if it failed to meet those conditions, it could not interfere with his true body.
But the moment he completely transformed his body through Elementalization, he could no longer maintain that state.
As soon as Imu realized the figure was a decoy, he caught on to that opening. His shock and fury did not slow him down.
He ordered the Dream Fruit to activate its power.
Buzz!!
The world suddenly changed color, but Ron noticed nothing amiss in the outside world.
To his senses, everything felt real: the tearing force transmitted through the Thunder Halberd, the thin air high above, the screams ringing in his ears. It all seemed real.
But then...
"This is especially obvious with these shadows... Hm?!!!"
Whoosh!
As if jolted awake from a dream, Ron's pupils contracted. He sprang backward as though electrocuted, opening the distance.
He stared at the Dream Fruit shadow, which had stopped moving, and tightened his grip on the Thunder Halberd.
"Damn it!"
"Heh... Hahahahaha!!"
"You let your guard down, Azure Dragon!"
Imu glared at him, naked malice covering his face. "It's the strong swimmers who drown. You're so used to seizing the advantage in battle that you took it for granted... and that is your greatest weakness!"
Even a