Ch.36 Sending You Off with My Youth

At this moment, Ronan was incredibly thankful that he had put two points into meditation.

Back then, when he made that decision, he had listened to the Ancient One, who said that while mental strength might not seem that useful, it was the foundation of a sorcerer's power.

You never know when it might save your life.

Ronan had believed the Ancient One, so he invested those two points into meditation. Of course, all those things he had said about regretting it? Forget he ever said them.

From now on, if anyone dares say meditation is useless, Ronan would be the first to fight them over it!

Skr!

"You—you—what kind of monster are you?"

"No! This can't be possible!"

Ebony Maw pointed at Ronan's head, his earlier confident demeanor now completely shattered.

And the pie chart-like expression on his face was now reduced to just one category: Shock!

If Ebony Maw had some knowledge of novels, he could sum up Ronan's current state in one line: This kid is terrifying!

"Ah, even though I usually hate playing the weakling who turns the tables," Ronan shrugged, "I now understand why it's so enjoyable when you're strong enough to make your opponents underestimate you."

"When they look down on you because they don't realize your strength and then you crush them... well, I finally see why playing dumb is so popular."

Ronan mimicked Ebony Maw's earlier posture, sticking his hands into his pockets.

And, he had to admit, this feeling of showing off was pretty satisfying. No wonder there were so many over-the-top protagonists in TV dramas back in his previous life—showing off is addictive!

"You... you..."

Ebony Maw was left speechless for a moment.

But Ronan wasn't one to let him catch his breath.

Boom!

With a muffled sound, Ebony Maw felt a sharp pain in his left cheek as his entire body was sent flying.

Somehow, Ronan had appeared in front of him, still holding his fist in a punch.

Ronan shook his right hand. His middle school physics teacher had taught him that force is mutual, and punching someone hurts both ways.

So, Ronan decided to switch tactics.

"But I have to thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have found such a fun place."

"So, as a token of gratitude, I've decided to use every move I've ever learned to thoroughly beat you up."

Ronan smiled, and his body began to change, just like Ebony Maw's earlier transformation.

His hair turned into short, spiky yellow strands, and his clothes morphed into a black kimono. Two black lines crossed his chest.

And to make things more confusing for Ebony Maw, Ronan pulled out a black long sword from nowhere and rested it on his shoulder. The blade's reflection showed Ebony Maw's terrified face.

"First, a gift from the Soul Reapers."

A burst of blue energy surged out of Ronan's body, so intense that it made Ebony Maw struggle to breathe.

He wanted to run but couldn't. He knew this move well—once it was used, there would only be one outcome.

One of them would die and turn into a puppet, while the other survived.

And judging by the current situation...

Boom!

The blue energy shot straight into the sky, seeming to pierce through the very heavens.

Ronan wasn't about to give Ebony Maw a chance to reflect. He gripped the sword in his right hand, drawing it back, with his left hand resting on the back of the blade.

"Getsuga..."

"Tensho!"

A massive surge of energy erupted, and the black sword, carrying that force, blasted Ebony Maw away.

On this day, Ebony Maw finally understood the meaning of "launched into the air like a rocket."

The blue blade light sliced through the sky, and with Ebony Maw's screams, it transformed into a crescent moon in the sky.

But Ronan wasn't done yet.

"Next, the form of a pirate."

As Ronan spoke, his body once again underwent a drastic transformation.

His black kimono disappeared, revealing his well-toned eight-pack abs. His lower half was now clad in red shorts.

His yellow hair turned into a fiery, floating white mane. A ribbon wrapped around his neck and under his arms.

His pupils changed as well.

"Take this: Gomu Gomu no..."

"King Cobra!"

Ebony Maw, already gravely injured, could no longer follow Ronan's movements.

All he saw was a black blur breaking the sound barrier, rushing toward him in the air.

For a moment, he thought he saw a giant king cobra!

Boom!

The black shadow pierced through Ebony Maw's abdomen, sending him flying once again into the sky.

Pfft!

Ebony Maw spat out a mouthful of blood, as excruciating pain wracked his entire body.

Under such a devastating attack, he couldn't mount any defense. He couldn't even keep track of Ronan's moves!

"Is this... your mental world?" Ebony Maw muttered, his eyes wide, staring at the brilliant starry sky above Ronan's head.

At this point, his muttering seemed to be the last thing holding him together.

He never expected Ronan's mental world to hide such overwhelming abilities.

Where did these techniques come from? Why had he never encountered such things before?

But Ebony Maw could only take these questions with him to the grave.

"Did you think that was the end?"

"This punch could have shattered all your internal organs, but I didn't do that."

"The reason is simple. I still have one last move."

Ronan gazed at the airborne Ebony Maw, his body beginning to change one final time.

His white, floating hair fell back down, returning to its unruly yellow state.

A trench coat that Ebony Maw had never seen before appeared on Ronan's body.

On the back of the white trench coat, words slowly materialized: Seventh Hokage.

Ronan extended his hands, and a forehead protector appeared out of thin air.

He picked up the protector and tied it around his head.

The moment he tightened it, Ronan underwent a massive transformation.

The white coat on his body ignited, and an immense golden energy enveloped his entire form.

Black lines outlined the coat's surface, and a necklace of golden magatama appeared on his chest.

On his stomach, a golden circle took shape.

"ROAR!!"

A beast's roar echoed through the silent night sky.

Ronan tilted his head slightly, then closed his eyes. He seemed to relish the feeling for a moment.

But a few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

"Let's go, Kurama!"

At Ronan's words, the golden flames around him roared to life, forming an enormous golden fox, its nine tails waving behind it.

"Now, for my final move..."

"Time to send you off!"

Ronan, now resembling a full-fledged battle-hardened warrior, pointed his right index finger at the descending Ebony Maw.

The golden Nine-Tails Fox opened its jaws.

In an instant, a black-purple Tailed Beast Bomb began to form.

Ronan slightly raised his chin, and a blue swirling orb appeared in his left hand.

"Sending you off with my youth—you should feel honored."

"Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken!"