Just as Ronan and Vice Admiral Momonga clashed once more, their weapons colliding before they crossed past each other—
Momonga stabilized his footing.
The usual calm in his narrowed eyes was gone, replaced by bloodshot intensity.
Ronan's explosive force had forced him to tighten his grip on his Armament-coated blade, trying to suppress the surging chaos in his chest.
As a veteran Vice Admiral of Headquarters, his Observation Haki had long been awakened.
But in that instant—
A bone-chilling sense of dread shot from his spine straight to his skull.
"Not good!"
His instincts roared like thunder.
In his perception—
The space behind him collapsed.
Ronan's wide, domineering spear momentum suddenly vanished—
Replaced by something far more terrifying.
A cold, venomous killing intent—
Like a snake striking from the dark.
His body couldn't keep up with his instincts.
At the brink of life and death—
Momonga roared and forced all his Armament Haki to his back, forming a jet-black defensive layer as hard as steel.
At the same time, he twisted his torso, trying to avoid a fatal strike.
But—
Ronan's spear was too fast.
"Xingyi — Turning Spear!"
His voice rang like judgment from the underworld.
His body twisted mid-motion—
The massive spear reversed direction with unnatural fluidity.
Driven by rotational force—
A terrifying spiral energy formed.
The spear tip no longer pierced straight—
It drilled.
Like a rotating lance meant to shred everything in its path.
"PUCHI—!"
The Armament Haki—
That could withstand cannon fire—
Was torn apart like paper.
The spear pierced clean through his body—
Bursting out from his chest in a spray of blood.
This was the nature of the spear—
A weapon of the battlefield.
No probing.
No hesitation.
Once it struck—
It meant death or crippling injury.
The overwhelming penetrating force left no room for prolonged combat—
Only instant separation between life and death.
"GAAAH—!!"
Momonga spat blood.
The scent of tobacco was replaced by thick iron.
The pain nearly shattered his mind—
But he knew—
Hesitation meant death.
With a desperate roar—
He made a brutal choice.
Instead of resisting—
He lunged forward along the spear's path.
"RIP—!"
With a tearing sound—
He forcibly pulled himself off the spear.
Blood erupted from his chest like a fountain.
Ronan's eyes turned cold.
His spear trembled—
He was about to follow up and finish him.
But in that exact second—
"BOOM!"
A thunderous crack exploded beneath Momonga's feet—
Rokushiki: Geppo.
Pushed to its absolute limit.
His body shot backward—
Like a broken-winged eagle—
Falling toward the sea.
He understood now—
This young man wasn't some rookie pirate.
He was a master of killing.
If he stayed—
He would die here.
Ronan stood still, spear grounded.
Watching as Momonga crashed into the raging sea—
The waters instantly turning crimson.
"…He escaped."
"A seasoned veteran indeed. His will to survive is impressive."
—
On the other side of the deck—
Zoro was in the midst of battle ecstasy.
His opponent—
Vice Admiral Onigumo.
A killing machine of the Marines.
His hair writhed like living limbs—
Eight additional "arms," each wielding a blade.
Combined with his own—
Nine swords.
A net of death woven under moonlight.
"Nine-Sword Style — Spider Tempest!"
His attacks came like a storm—
Each strike infused with refined Armament Haki.
Pure killing technique.
Fast.
Cold.
Relentless.
Zoro's three blades blurred into afterimages—
Meeting each strike with perfect precision.
Sparks erupted across the deck—
Metal clashed endlessly—
Drowning out the battlefield.
"Heh… now this is interesting!"
Zoro grinned widely.
His eyes burned with excitement.
This kind of pressure—
This speed—
It thrilled him.
Each clash made his blood boil hotter.
But Onigumo—
Was growing uneasy.
At the moment Ronan pierced Momonga—
A glance—
A spray of blood—
His heart sank.
The swordsman before him—
Was already matching him.
Even suppressing him slightly—
And still holding back.
And now—
That spear-wielding monster—
Was free.
Watching.
Calmly.
Even worse—
That cook—
And the Straw Hat captain—
Had yet to move.
"…Damn it… those CP0 bastards…"
Onigumo clenched his teeth.
The Marines spoke of sacrifice—
But he wasn't suicidal.
Momonga was down.
If he stayed—
He would be surrounded and killed.
"Straw Hat crew… this debt will be repaid!"
With a sudden burst—
He unleashed a wide-range slash—
Forcing Zoro back.
Then—
"BOOM!"
The deck shattered beneath his feet.
He launched into the air.
"Geppo!"
His body zigzagged through the sky—
Blindingly fast—
Retreating toward the fleet.
"Hey! We're not done yet! Get back here, you freak with too many arms!"
Zoro lowered his swords, shouting into the night—
Clearly unsatisfied.
—
The Golden Merry's deck was battered—
But slowly repairing itself.
Under the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit—
The damage began to fade.
Nami exhaled in relief.
Even with her lightning powers—
Witnessing Vice Admiral-level combat had shaken her.
"Th-they're gone…! Luffy, let's move!"
Sanji lit a cigarette gracefully—
Watching the retreat.
"Fast runner. Shame… I didn't even get warmed up."
Usopp and Chopper cheered tearfully:
"We won! Ronan and Zoro beat those monsters!"
Ronan stood calmly, spear in hand.
He looked at Luffy.
"This is the level of power under an Admiral."
"We drove them back—but as long as Akainu is still here…"
"We're not safe."
His voice turned firm.
"Luffy."
"It's time."
"We go support Ace."
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