Chapter 86

"Huh? That pirate ship is attacking us!" Nami exclaimed worriedly, her eyes also fixed on Ron.

"Don't worry," Ron reassured her with a wave of his hand. "It's only a pirate crew. What do we have to fear?"

"Yeah, you're more scary than anyone!" Nami nodded in agreement.

The corner of Ron's mouth couldn't help but twitch at Nami's comment. More terrifying than anyone? Am I some kind of monster? Hmm...

"Brother Ron is the strongest!" Kaya chimed in with a smile. "Those on the pirate ship will be scared to death when they see Brother Ron!"

"Absolutely true!" Apis agreed, then turned to the bewildered Miss Golden Week and said, "You see? Brother Ron is incredibly powerful!"

"Incredibly powerful..." Marianne replied somewhat absentmindedly, looking at Kaya and Apis as if they were fools.

As the two pirate ships approached, they were on the verge of colliding.

"Hahaha! Look at these fools who think they can sail the seas!" sneered the sailors aboard Wapol's ship. "They're as good as dead!"

"Those bastards! Laughing at us like that!" Tashigi gritted her teeth.

"Let's teach them a lesson!" Nami said angrily.

"These guys... They're disgusting!" Kaya remarked, clinging to Ron's arm.

"Don't worry, they're just small fry," Ron assured her.

"Captain Ron, they seem to be well armed. Look at all those cannons!" Princess Vivi pointed out.

"So what?" Ron shrugged nonchalantly.

Just as Ron finished speaking, the pirate ship opposite them opened fire, unleashing a barrage of cannonballs at the Going Merry.

"Are they looking for death?" Ron sighed. Swift as a phantom, he moved to deflect the incoming shells. With a sweep of his foot, he redirected the shells back toward the enemy ship, though he refrained from causing any deaths.

"What?"

The sailors on Wapol's ship stared in disbelief. "He... he kicked the cannonballs back? With his foot?"

"He's... he's terrifying!"

"What a monster!"

" Blasted idiots!" Wapol, witnessing his men's terror, seethed with rage. "All of you, arm yourselves! Charge over there and kill them all!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The sailors, spurred on by Wapol's command, steeled themselves against their fear of Ron and prepared to attack the Going Merry.

"Alas, with just a little more Armament Haki, I could have easily dispatched these small fries," Ron lamented as he watched the swarm of soldiers rush toward them.

Swoosh!

The sword gleamed as Ron drew Sandai Kitetsu and unleashed a sword beam (Air Slash). Beneath his blade, the soldiers were mowed down, their bodies falling to the deck or plunging into the sea, none of them able to reach the Going Merry.

"Incredible!" Marianne watched in awe as Ron effortlessly killed the attackers. Earlier, she had doubted Kaya and Apis' boasts about Ron, but now she understood the extent of Ron's power.

"What?" Wapol's eyes widened in shock at the carnage. How could this guy be so powerful? So many of his men were dead with just a casual swing of his sword?

"Your Majesty, what shall we do now?" Wapol's followers asked nervously.

"You idiots! We fight back together!" Wapol roared angrily. "They've exhausted their strength; now's our chance to strike! Let's kill him!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two subordinates dared not disobey Wapol's orders and prepared to attack alongside him.

"Attack!" Wapol charged at the Going Merry with his two companions.

"Sigh..." Ron shook his head in frustration. Dealing with these minions was hardly a challenge for a swordsman of his caliber. But despite his disdain for Wapol's incompetence, Ron couldn't ignore the potential of the Devil Fruit in his possession.

Ron watched the soldiers surrounding Wapol. Their attacks had proven ineffective against him. Holding Sandai Kitetsu, Ron quickly dispatched all but Wapol, leaving the Pirate King (Pun intended) as the sole survivor on his ship.

"Tashigi, bind him," Ron ordered Tashigi, gesturing to Wapol.

"You... Who are you?" Wapol asked in horror.

"Do you not recognize me?" Ron shook his head in disbelief. His reputation should have preceded him. Although Wapol's ignorance was understandable, considering his escape from Drum Island, it was still disappointing.

"You... You..." Wapol hesitated before swallowing his pride and pleading, "Please spare me!"

Though he begged for mercy, Wapol's eyes flashed with malice. And with Ron distracted, Wapol saw an opportunity to activate his Devil Fruit ability. If he could get close enough, he could swallow Ron whole with ease.

As Wapol approached, his mouth open in anticipation, Ron remained unfazed. Through observation Haki, Ron had foreseen Wapol's intentions before he even acted.

"Careful, Brother Ron!" Kaya shouted, noticing the sudden change.

"Get out of the way!" Nami shouted urgently.

"Captain Ron!" Vivi added to the voices of concern. The other girls watched in horror, unable to intervene.

Marianne was stunned, her heart racing as she watched the dangerous scene unfold.

Meanwhile, Mikita watched with glee, hoping for Ron's demise. With Ron out of the way, she and Marianne could take control of the ship.