Ronan's expression remained calm and indifferent as a system notification echoed in his mind:
[ Ding! Combat multiplier activated: 3x. ]
"Three times… what a 'tiny bonus.'"
Ronan sighed inwardly.
At his current level, an opponent like Lucci wasn't even worthy of making him fight seriously.
"Bastard… how dare you look down on me!!!"
Humiliated beyond measure, Lucci let out a beast-like roar.
His body began to swell violently, black leopard patterns spreading across his skin. His originally lean frame transformed into a towering three-meter-tall leopard-man.
Savage ferocity and killing intent erupted outward, shattering the surrounding furniture.
"Life Return—Shigan: Mad Spots!!"
Lucci vanished again.
In his place, countless streaks of blood-red light filled the air—afterimages left behind by fingers moving at extreme speed.
Hundreds, thousands of piercing strikes rained down like a storm, sealing off every inch of space around Ronan.
Sizzle—!!!
The entire office was torn apart by the assault. Wood splintered, marble floors were riddled with holes like a honeycomb.
Yet within the storm—
Ronan stood unmoved, like an unshakable mountain.
Facing an attack that could turn a Sea King into a sieve, he didn't even raise his spear.
His upper body blurred into overlapping afterimages.
Each time Lucci's fingers came close, Ronan would shift—just slightly.
A tilt of the head. A turn of the waist. A step aside.
Every strike missed by a hair's breadth.
Not a single one touched him.
"Too weak, Lucci."
Ronan walked calmly through the storm of attacks, even offering critique.
"Your speed is there, but your attacks lack 'intent.' Without it, this is nothing more than flashy tricks."
Iceburg stood frozen in the corner, staring at the man who moved effortlessly through such an onslaught.
Only one thought remained in his mind—
This is a crew worth over 3.1 billion?
These aren't pirates… they're monsters.
Kaku, who had been about to step in, froze where he stood.
A chilling fear surged up his spine.
He realized—
This man was dismantling CP9's strongest weapon… in the most humiliating way possible.
For the first time, terror appeared in Lucci's beast-like eyes.
His pride as the "strongest weapon of CP9 in 800 years" was being crushed piece by piece.
"That's impossible…!!"
Lucci roared like a wild beast, his muscles tightening like twisted steel cables under Life Return.
He leapt into the air, spinning like a high-speed drill, generating a black storm capable of tearing apart the atmosphere.
"Rokushiki—Leopard Tail!"
The spiraling Rankyaku strike screeched through the air, drilling straight toward Ronan's face.
Ronan merely lifted his eyes coldly.
His spear didn't even gather strength.
With a casual flick—
The spear shaft met the attack.
A deep, bell-like boom resounded.
Crack!
The devastating strike shattered instantly—like fragile ice colliding with divine steel.
Lucci landed, staggering.
The killing intent in his eyes was gone, replaced by suffocating despair.
Behind Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stood with arms crossed, watching coldly—as if waiting to see what tricks remained.
That overwhelming sense of being utterly outclassed made Lucci realize—
If they didn't escape now, this would be their grave.
He shot Kaku a subtle glance.
"We have to take Kalifa and get the intel out!"
Lucci took a deep breath, chest swelling.
"Rokushiki Secret Technique—Rokuogan!!"
He closed the distance instantly, both fists thrust forward as a devastating shockwave erupted—capable of destroying internal organs.
BOOM!!
Ronan shifted slightly, his footwork almost mystical.
The attack passed through his afterimage, blasting a massive hole in the marble wall behind him.
"Now! Move!" Lucci roared.
In that instant—
Kaku acted.
His body became a blur as he used Soru at full speed, appearing beside the unconscious Kalifa.
His long nose twitched nervously as he reached out to grab her—
"Trying to run? Did you ask my blade first?"
A voice as cold as ice sounded beside him.
Kaku looked up—
A blade had already arrived.
Zoro.
At some point, he had drawn Sandai Kitetsu, the cursed blade glowing faintly red.
No wasted motion.
They passed each other in a single instant.
The sound of the blade returning to its sheath rang out.
Slash—!!
Kaku's pupils shrank.
He hadn't even seen the attack.
A deep wound split his body from shoulder to abdomen, exposing bone as blood sprayed violently.
He collapsed to his knees instantly, unable to even groan—his strength completely gone.
"Playtime's over, Lucci."
Ronan shook his spear.
Lightning-infused energy surged wildly at the tip, roaring like an enraged god.
"Iron Body—Maximum!"
Lucci had nowhere to run.
Eyes bloodshot, he poured all his strength into his chest, attempting to block the attack with his strongest defense.
Thrust—!
The sound of flesh being pierced was crisp.
The "Iron Body" said to withstand cannon fire—
Was like tofu before Ronan's spear.
The tip pierced cleanly through Lucci's right chest, lightning raging within.
The seastone's suppressive power activated instantly.
Lucci's massive leopard form trembled violently—
Then collapsed.
His Devil Fruit power dissipated as he reverted to his bloodied human form, utterly broken.
With a flick of his spear—
Ronan threw the so-called strongest weapon of the World Government onto the ground like discarded trash.
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