In the plaza before Alubarna's palace—
Ronan stood alone amidst piles of corpses and shattered ruins.
"Well now… what a handsome little guy."
A voice, sweet yet laced with killing intent, echoed across the battlefield.
Miss Doublefinger stepped out from the shadows, hips swaying.
Her tight outfit accentuated every curve, a slender cigarette held between her fingers. Her eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
"Such a pretty face… what a shame it'll be turned into a pincushion."
Ronan raised his eyelids slightly, glancing at her indifferently.
"You may be a woman… but I'm not an idiot like Sanji who clings to 'chivalry.'"
His voice was ice-cold.
"To him, women are flowers to be protected."
"But to me, enemies only fall into two categories—alive… or dead."
"You crossed me."
"Unlucky you."
"Arrogant!"
Her expression twisted, eyes flashing with killing intent.
She spread her fingers wide.
"Spike Fingers!"
In an instant—
Her slender fingers elongated and hardened into five sharp, gleaming spikes.
They tore through the air like lightning—
Aimed straight at Ronan's throat and heart.
Ronan didn't even blink.
His observation haki had already mapped every trajectory.
But—
He didn't dodge.
Didn't even lift his staff.
"Got you!"
Miss Doublefinger smirked viciously.
She had absolute confidence in her power.
These spikes could pierce elephant hide.
CRACK—!!
The spikes struck Ronan's chest and throat.
But—
There was no blood.
Instead—
A deafening metallic clash rang out.
Like steel slamming into steel.
Sparks exploded across his skin.
Her face froze instantly.
"What… what…?!"
Her spikes had bent into unnatural curves—
While Ronan's skin remained completely unscathed.
Not even a mark.
"Your body… what is it made of?!"
"My turn."
Ronan spoke softly.
He inhaled.
His chest expanded.
His blood roared like a raging river.
No staff.
No weapon.
Just—
A simple motion.
Pull back.
Twist.
Strike.
Xingyi—Cannon Fist.
The moment his fist shot forward—
The air within several meters was violently expelled.
A vacuum formed.
Miss Doublefinger's pupils shrank.
At the brink of death—
She unleashed everything.
Her entire body erupted with countless spikes.
Especially her chest—
Layered into a thick "thorn shield."
"DIE!!!"
She screamed.
But—
Before Ronan—
These spikes were no more than brittle straw.
BOOM—!!!
His fist crashed into the shield.
The spikes didn't pierce him—
They were crushed back into her body.
Her chest caved inward.
CRASH—!!!
Her body shot across hundreds of meters—
Like a cannonball—
And slammed into the palace wall.
The wall collapsed instantly.
Dust filled the sky.
She vanished beneath the rubble.
Ronan lowered his fist.
Didn't even look back.
He turned toward another battlefield.
There—
Was a clash of "hardness" versus something even harder.
Mr. 1—Daz Bones.
His upper body was bare.
Muscles like sculpted granite.
The "1" tattoo on his chest radiated killing intent.
As the Dice-Dice Fruit user—
His body itself was the ultimate weapon.
"Steel body… blades everywhere, huh?"
Zoro grinned.
His eyes burned with excitement.
"In front of me, a swordsman's blade is just a toy for peeling fruit."
Mr. 1 crossed his arms.
Blades formed instantly.
"Spiral Slash!"
He stomped forward, shattering stone.
His body became a raging machine of blades—
Charging at Zoro.
Zoro didn't move.
His breathing slowed.
Under observation haki—
Every attack looked painfully slow.
"Too slow."
He tilted his body slightly.
Blades brushed past his nose.
"Too slow! What, no real fighters here?"
He walked casually—
As if critiquing a performance.
"Micro Slash!!"
Mr. 1 roared.
He crossed his arms—
Then unleashed a massive X-shaped air slash.
It could slice buildings into cubes.
This time—
Zoro didn't even bother dodging.
He crossed his arms—
And took it head-on.
CLANG—!!
Sparks exploded.
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Zoro didn't move an inch.
His clothes tore slightly—
Revealing metallic, hardened muscle beneath.
"My attack… didn't even cut your skin?!"
For the first time—
Mr. 1's face cracked with despair.
"Nothing's impossible."
Zoro grinned.
But his eyes were razor-sharp.
"If this is your level of hardness…"
"I'm disappointed."
"You've worked so hard to entertain me…"
"I should return the favor."
His hand slowly gripped Wado Ichimonji.
In that instant—
His aura changed.
From an immovable fortress—
To a blade that could split the heavens.
"Micro Slash—Rapid Blade!!"
Mr. 1 felt death itself approaching.
He went berserk.
Every part of his body turned into blades.
He became a spinning storm of steel—
Charging forward.
"One Sword Style… Iai—"
Zoro inhaled deeply.
All his explosive power gathered into his right arm.
"Lion's Song!!"
A single clear slash—
Drowned out the entire city.
That blade—
Was faster than lightning.
More beautiful than sunset.
They crossed.
SHHHK—!!
Blood erupted like rain.
A massive diagonal slash tore across Mr. 1's body—
Cutting through flesh—
And deep into his so-called indestructible steel bones.
He collapsed to his knees.
Eyes fading.
If Zoro hadn't held back—
He would've been split in two.
"You… cut steel…"
Mr. 1 whispered—
Before collapsing into blood.
Zoro sheathed his blade slowly.
"I didn't cut steel."
He looked over the battlefield.
His voice calm.
"I'm just… stronger than your steel."
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