Rayleigh: Ron, Calm Down. You're Not Our Target This Time

Ron did not pay him any attention at all. The moment Ochoku finished his last word, Ron had already leaped into the air.

Long sword in hand, golden chakra arms extended from both sides and spread out behind him. A Tailed Beast Bomb condensed in their palms, hanging behind him like an ornament.

Ochoku's pupils abruptly contracted. He could not scare off a madman like Ron, so he could only fight.

"Boom!"

A Haki-infused fist collided violently with a Haki-infused long sword.

A dull, thunderous blast erupted, and the shockwave instantly swept outward. Rubble on the ground seemed to be brushed aside by an invisible giant hand, surging to both sides.

"Whoosh!"

In the gap between the energy impacts, new chakra arms extended from Ron's sides again. Like two golden pythons, they reached for Ochoku's shoulders.

Ochoku reacted quickly as well. He almost instinctively withdrew his strength and leaped backward, barely dodging the reaching arms.

"Boom!"

Ron's slash missed, and his blade struck the ruined ground, instantly carving out a massive sword scar. Thick smoke poured from the crack.

"Whoosh!"

Without the slightest pause, Ron leaped up again.

Bolstered by the Sage Body and Nine-Tails Mode, his speed far exceeded Ochoku's expectations.

"So fast!" Ochoku's body trembled, and a flash of fear passed through his pupils.

Especially since he was still in midair, where he could not maneuver as flexibly as he could on the ground.

"Boom!"

Ochoku had no choice but to stomp through the air. Ripples like water rings exploded beneath his foot, launching him even higher as he tried to widen the distance.

Unfortunately, Ron was faster.

In just the span of a breath, Ron had already arrived before him.

The extended chakra arms instantly seized Ochoku by both shoulders, gripping him tightly like iron pincers.

"Bastard, don't think this is enough to restrain me!" Ochoku cursed, swinging both fists at once. His Haki-infused fists slammed hard into the two chakra arms.

"Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, the chakra arms holding him were blasted apart, and golden energy fragments scattered through the air like fireflies.

"Hehehehe..."

Ochoku panted, tugging his lips into an ugly smile. "That's all you've got, Ron."

The expression on Ron's face barely changed. His gaze fell on Ochoku's fists. This guy seemed to be a Devil Fruit user too.

The burst of strength from that instant clearly exceeded the limits of normal Haki.

"You seem pretty pleased with yourself. If you've got the guts, stop dodging." Ron's voice was flat.

Before he finished speaking, the chakra arm hidden behind him suddenly swung forward. A fully condensed Tailed Beast Bomb floated in its palm.

Ochoku was startled. Damn it, he had thought it was just an ornament. It had only needed time to condense?

You call me underhanded? You're no better yourself!

He was not stupid. Ron had told him not to dodge, but anyone who did not dodge was an idiot.

But just as he was about to evade, he suddenly discovered new chakra arms extending from Ron's sides, seizing both of his shoulders again.

Ochoku's face darkened.

He now faced two choices.

First, blast apart the chakra arms and take the Tailed Beast Bomb head-on.

Second, ignore the chakra arms and directly contend with the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Obviously, any normal person would choose the second option.

"Crackle!!"

Having made his choice, Ochoku almost instinctively began throwing punches wildly.

Every punch unleashed a powerful shockwave that smashed toward the Tailed Beast Bomb.

"Explode."

Ron gave a soft shout. His body suddenly expanded, and golden chakra burst from his surface, instantly transforming into a Nine-Tails Giant Fox that blotted out the sky.

"Buzz!"

An incomparably dazzling light bloomed from the center of the Tailed Beast Bomb, like a tiny sun born between them.

What followed was an earth-shaking explosion that rang across the entire island.

The terrifying aftermath surged like a tsunami, swallowing everything in every direction.

The ground was peeled away layer by layer. Everything was swept into the air, then fell like raindrops.

Thick dust and smoke filled the surroundings, severely limiting visibility.

"Rustle, rustle..."

A moment later, a sound came from deep within the smoke on the ground.

Ron could not see anyone, but his Malice Perception clearly told him that Ochoku was still alive.

And that malice was even stronger than before.

Damn? I really underestimated you, Ochoku.

You didn't die even after taking one of those.

Looks like next time, transforming into the Nine-Tails first will let me condense one faster and make it stronger.

"Ron!!!"

A furious roar exploded from the ground, and a gust of air violently blew away the surrounding smoke.

After the smoke cleared, Ochoku's current appearance entered Ron's sight.

Almost all his clothes had been shredded, exposing a body covered in wounds.

Only a few scattered strands of hair remained on his head, stubbornly sticking up.

Blood sizzled from his head, body, and limbs. The edges of his wounds were charred and curled, making for a horrifying sight.

"You just want to know the whereabouts of that woman named Annika, don't you? I'll tell you."

"Let me make this clear first, it had nothing to do with me. I only saw her being kidnapped."

With a single sentence, he had thoroughly absolved himself.

Ron looked down at him without any emotion on his face.

Do I look like an idiot to you?

You think I'll believe whatever you say?

Still... being a pirate was nice.

Being a pirate really let you learn a lot.

The Roger Pirates had just taught him that as a pirate, there was no need to reason with anyone when doing anything.

And Ochoku was showing him through practical action that before communicating, feeding the other party a Tailed Beast Bomb could greatly improve the efficiency of communication.

Ron snorted coldly, his voice emerging from the giant fox's mouth. "I already gave you a chance."

Ochoku's body stiffened, and his voice rose several notches. "The person who kidnapped Annika is already dead by my hand! If you attack me again, you'll never find her!"

"Hehehe."

Ron suddenly laughed. "What makes you think I absolutely have to save her?"

Ochoku froze.

He could tell from Ron's tone that it was genuine.

Unlike himself, Ron was not probing or playing psychological games. Ron truly did not care.

"What do you want? Treasure? Legendary Devil Fruits? I have them all." Ochoku spoke in a deep voice. As long as he could clear up this misunderstanding and wait for Rocks to return, no matter how insane Ron was, he would not dare kill him in front of Rocks.

Ron said nothing, while Ochoku continued, "The location of the treasure is beneath the graveyard on Cocosi Island. I hid it there many years ago. Dig anywhere you like, and it'll be enough to last you a lifetime."

Of course, Ochoku was lying. Cocosi Island was in the first half of the Grand Line in the New World, far too distant from here. By the time Ron found out, Ochoku would have no idea where he had fled to.

"Whoosh."

The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon slowly opened its mouth.

Ochoku's heart sank. He thought Ron had seen through his lie, but he could not admit it directly, or he would lose even his last bargaining chip for survival.

"There are two Devil Fruits aboard the Saber of Xebec! They may not be top-grade, but selling them would still get you several hundred million Beli!"

Two.

Ron's movements paused slightly.

He was sure Ron was tempted.

"Where is Annika?" Ron asked again.

Ochoku was stunned. Didn't you say you didn't care whether she lived or died?

But this question was much easier to answer than the fake treasure on Cocosi Island, because this time, he was telling the truth.

"She's in a cave on the mountain behind the town. I sealed the entrance with a large boulder and planted a small sapling in the stone as a marker."

"Good." Ron's voice was calm. "Any last words you'd like to add?"

Ochoku abruptly raised his head, his pupils shrinking.

Last words? What last words? When the hell did I say these were my last words?!

Once he realized what was happening, he nearly howled as he cursed, "Bastard, you dare toy with me?!"

Ochoku's voice had barely faded through the ruins when another voice suddenly exploded from afar.

"Ochoku!! You bastard, you dared to toy with me!!!"

Ron was slightly startled and turned his head.

At the distant horizon, a figure was charging toward them.

Roger?

Ron's gaze darkened. This bastard really was impossible to get rid of.

On the other side of the ruins, Rayleigh also slowly stepped out from behind a broken wall, holding a Den Den Mushi in his hand.

Ochoku's face went completely pale at that moment. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that not a single complete sound could leave his throat.

His eyes darted between Ron and Roger, like a rat driven into a corner with death waiting on both sides.

Ron, transformed into the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, showed no courtesy. He opened his mouth and began condensing an enormous Tailed Beast Bomb.

Come on, then?

All of you, come on!

"Hey, Ron, calm down. This time, you're not our target." Seeing the enormous energy sphere take shape, Rayleigh immediately called out.