9

Mr. 5, wielding the powers of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, launched a grotesque attack. He plucked his nose, shaping a small explosive booger, which he flicked toward Ryō with a twisted grin.

"Boom!"

The explosion kicked up a storm of sand, creating a powerful shockwave. However, despite the force, Ryō stood completely unfazed. His Akatsuki cloak flapped dramatically in the wind, his expression cold and indifferent.

"How revolting..." Ryō muttered, his voice low and filled with disgust. Though the attack had caused him no harm, the nature of the assault, relying on bodily fluids, was enough to irritate him. The sheer vulgarity of Mr. 5's ability made Ryō's expression darken.

Determined to end this farce, Ryō's eyes glinted with killing intent. Unaware of the danger, Mr. 5 continued his assault, mocking his opponent.

"Oops! Missed! Let me try again!" Mr. 5 chuckled as he dug into his nose again, launching another snot bomb with the same disgusting flair.

But this time, before the bomb even reached him, Ryō raised his hand.

"Shinra Tensei!"

With a simple motion, a wave of repulsive force surged out from Ryō. The sheer power of it sent Mr. 5 flying backward with incredible speed. He had no time to react, and before his body even hit the ground, Asura Path, one of the Six Paths of Pain, launched into action.

"Five-Finger Missile."

The missile shot from Asura Path's mechanical arm with deadly precision, hitting Mr. 5 in mid-air. The resulting explosion was massive, completely obliterating him. Mr. 5 didn't even have time to scream; his body was reduced to nothing more than scattered particles in the wind.

Miss Valentine, witnessing the annihilation of her partner, gasped in horror. She had been partnered with Mr. 5 for years and knew his strength well. And yet, this man—no, this god—had destroyed him within seconds.

"W-Who are you?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper as fear overtook her.

"We are members of Baroque Works… You can't just kill us! Our president won't let you get away with this!" she tried to sound threatening, but the trembling in her voice betrayed her fear.

Ryō turned his gaze toward her, his eyes cold and devoid of mercy.

"I am Pain, leader of the Akatsuki," he said calmly, his voice filled with authority.

"Akatsuki? Pain?" Miss Valentine's eyes widened with terror as the pieces fell into place. She remembered the rumors that had been circulating not long ago—rumors about a pirate who had killed a Celestial Dragon, destroyed the Sabaody Archipelago, and defeated an Admiral. A pirate with a bounty of 5 billion berries.

The man standing before her was none other than Pain. The figure from the wanted poster. The one who dwarfed even their president, Crocodile, in power.

Realizing the gravity of her situation, Miss Valentine didn't waste any time. She turned on her heels and fled, hoping to escape with her life.

"Do you really think you can run?" Ryō's voice echoed ominously.

"Banshō Ten'in..."

With a flick of his wrist, Ryō unleashed a powerful gravitational pull. Miss Valentine's scream filled the air as she was forcibly dragged back toward him, her body flying helplessly through the sky.

Before she could even beg for mercy, the Human Path moved swiftly.

"Soul Extraction"

In an instant, the Human Path grabbed her by the head, and with a swift motion, her soul was torn from her body. Ryō read through her memories, uncovering everything he needed to know about the Baroque Works and its operations.

Her lifeless body dropped to the sand, dead and empty.

"Dead?" Princess Vivi, who had been watching the scene from a distance, stared in disbelief. Neither she nor Igaram had been able to even lay a finger on Mr. 5, and yet, these two dangerous agents had been dealt with in mere moments by this mysterious figure.

"The strength of this man… it's unbelievable… Who is he?" Vivi thought, her heart racing in fear.

Igaram, trembling in shock, recognized the figure standing before them. "Princess Vivi..." he muttered, his voice weak and trembling.

"I've seen this man's wanted poster… He's not just anyone… He's a pirate with a 5 billion berry bounty. He is the one who destroyed the Sabaody Archipelago and defeated an Admiral… He's Pain!"

"Bounty… of 5 billion?" Vivi's heart sank. The mere thought of a Royal Shichibukai like Crocodile, with his bounty of 81 million berries, was already enough to cause havoc in the kingdom of Alabasta. But now, a man with a bounty of 5 billion berries had arrived. His power was unimaginable.

Ryō shifted his gaze toward the two of them. Feeling his eyes on them, both Princess Vivi and Igaram froze in fear.

"What... what are you planning to do?" Vivi stammered, her voice filled with desperation. "Are you here to destroy Alabasta too?"

"Destroy?" Ryō repeated, his lips curling into a cold smile. "No. I am here to end the chaos in Alabasta. It is my mission as a god to bring order to this land. Under the rule of the Akatsuki, Alabasta will be reborn."

His words, filled with the conviction of his godly mission, left Vivi and Igaram stunned, their minds reeling from the overwhelming power and purpose behind this man named Pain.