Chapter 38: The Ambush
Ron sailed toward Fishman Island on a borrowed ship.
"Man, traveling alone is boring."
"Wonder what Shakky and Gloriosa would be doing? Why is Fishman Island so far?"
Ron complained endlessly. A week alone at sea had taken a toll on him. He was completely bored.
He sighed, lying on a chair. "Hey, Surtr, are you also bored?"
The sword flew into his hand and flickered with flames.
"Tsk, you battle maniac. All you want to do is cut something. Careful, or one day you might just become a cursed blade filled with only killing intent."
The sword trembled as if complaining.
"Yeah, yeah, yo—"
Ron froze mid-sentence as he swung Surtr, sending a flying slash into the sky that cut the incoming flames.
"Tsk, your wish came true, partner." Ron grinned as his wings expanded and he shot into the air.
"Yo, first time meeting you, St. Mars." Ron waved at the giant bird flying in the sky. His observation spread as he scanned the surroundings.
"Ragnar D. Ron, your existence is a threat. But we shall make an exception. Become a God Knight, and you shall become a Celestial Dragon," Mars said.
"Tsk, you want me walking around wearing a stupid helmet without my brain? Do I really look that disgusting to you?"
"You dare?"
"Yeah, so what? Gonna go crying to Daddy?" Ron grinned and shot toward the bird as his size grew to 30 meters.
Mars spat fire. Ron swung his sword, and a flaming slash cut through the flame breath.
"Tsk, you lived for centuries and this is the power you cultivated? Every Chinese cultivator would be disappointed in you."
Soon Mars and Ron fought in the sky. Flame breaths and sword slashes fell onto the sea. Their fight reached a deserted island.
"Tsk, can't handle me alone?" Ron muttered.
Mars smirked as three pentagram magic circles appeared.
St. Saturn, Nusjuro, and Warcury appeared in their beast forms.
"Wow, cool tricks. Can you teach me? Or will I have to ask him?"
"How dare you," Saturn said coldly. "Pathetic mortals like you can't meet the great one."
"And you so-called gods are here just for this mortal. Bahahahaha—"
Ron raised Surtr, blocking Shodai Kitetsu.
Cold ghostly aura and Surtr's flames clashed. Nusjuro was pushed back by Ron's sheer physical strength.
"Damn the Ancient Giant race."
Ron grinned, resting Surtr on his shoulder. "You all wanna dance?"
He dashed forward, swinging Surtr with both hands.
"Careful!" Warcury rushed forward in his giant boar form, his head coated in Conqueror's infusion.
Four massive flame dragons rushed toward the others from Ron's back. Mars released a flame breath.
Surtr and Warcury's head collided as flames and Conqueror's Haki burst everywhere. Both were thrown back.
"Damn Conqueror's infusion," Ron gritted his teeth.
Nusjuro attacked from behind. Ron's flames vanished from his back, and his speed multiplied. He dodged and swung Surtr.
Saturn charged, his spider legs coated in Conqueror's infusion. From the sky, Mars dove down.
Ron was surrounded from three sides.
"Well, fuck." He grinned as his size shrank and a massive flame tornado appeared, engulfing Mars, Nusjuro, and Saturn.
Warcury roared with Conqueror's Haki. The shockwaves tore through the tornado.
Ron ran straight toward Warcury. Nusjuro and the others healed and rushed again. Ron swung a slash as Warcury turned to meet Nusjuro's attack.
Mars' flame breath came again.
"Tsk, you bastards aren't playing fair."
"Flame Commandments: Hydra."
Flames on his back burned brighter as multiple dragon heads erupted, attacking the Gorosei.
The battle continued as the island burned. Massive craters formed. Days and nights passed.
Ron panted. He was speechless. The Gorosei kept regenerating through Imu's contract, though slower now.
"Ron, don't waste your potential. Come to Holy Land and become the Holy Knight of the great one," Nusjuro said.
"Don't forget you were m—"
Ron swung his sword at Saturn. "Keep your mouth shut."
"Then you leave us no choice, Ron. You must die," Warcury said.
A pentagram appeared, and a middle-aged man appeared.
"Hmm, CP?" Ron looked at him. His aura was strong—admiral tier.
Nusjuro attacked again. Ron defended, but his eyes stayed on the man.
To be brought here by the Gorosei, this man wasn't simple. But he just stood there.
Mars and Warcury joined again.
"Tsk, I've had enough of this bullshit."
Ron roared and stored Surtr. Flames compressed onto his hand, forming a flaming gauntlet.
His size reached 30 meters as he slammed his fist down.
"Fist Bone: Burning Hell."
The ground cracked as flames spread through the cracks and erupted outward in pillars.
He shot into the sky, inhaled deeply—
"Fire Dragon's ROAR!"
A massive wave of flames poured downward like a dragon's breath.
"Damn monster," Saturn cursed.
The middle-aged man bowed. "It is my honor to serve the great one."
His vitality drained rapidly. He aged and collapsed into a withered corpse.
The flames burned him to ash.
The Gorosei attacked upward, defending against the flames.
"Well, see you again, old bastards—"
Ron froze mid-sentence as black markings appeared across his body.
"What—?"
His body was paralyzed as he fell. Ron spat blood from the impact.
"What the fuck?" He clutched his heart, using Armament Haki. "A Devil Fruit ability?"
"Still alive, as expected of you," Saturn said.
"Not many can survive the Curse-Curse Fruit used by an admiral-level user," Nusjuro said with disdain.
"You still have a chance. Become the Holy Knight, Ron. The great one is the only one who can save you," Warcury said.
"Tsk… who would've thought a day like this would come."
Ron spat blood as Surtr appeared in his hand. His grin turned mad.
"If I'm going to die, I'll make sure one of you goes down with me."
His Conqueror's Haki flared as he charged.
"This bastard!"
They attacked together—Conqueror's infusion from all sides.
Ron didn't defend. Flames surged into Surtr, turning it crimson red. Massive flaming dragons roared out.
The island burned, flames spreading to the sea.
Ron's giant flaming fist shook the entire island. Conqueror's Haki covered the island.
He wiped blood from his mouth, standing with Surtr stabbed into the ground. The black markings pulsed as intense pain surged through him.
His vision blurred. He coughed blood.
The Gorosei regenerated again and stared at him.
"This is the end, Ron," Saturn said.
"Tsk… who said that?" Ron grinned. "I just learned something. Can't end everything like this, you know."
His grin turned devilish as Conqueror's Haki coated Surtr.
"This—" Saturn shuddered.
"Fucking monster," Nusjuro cursed.
Ron rushed forward. Flames compressed onto Surtr, now infused with Conqueror's Haki.
"Flame Commandments: Dawn."
Surtr clashed with Nusjuro's sword, Warcury's head, Saturn's leg, and Mars' strike.
Conqueror's Haki detonated between them. Blood-red lightning filled the island.
Then Ron's compressed flames detonated.
Saturn, Nusjuro, and Warcury were blasted back to Holy Land, their limbs burned to ash and their organs shattered.
Mars' body was half destroyed as he fell onto the burning island.
Ron was thrown into the sea. Though his Lunarian and Ancient Giant physique kept him alive, the black markings drained his vitality.
So this is the end?
What a life… I was born in this world and never even saw their faces.
He sank deeper. His body was completely paralyzed.
His eyes caught a massive figure swimming toward him.
Shirahoshi? No… she isn't even born yet.
If I had lived… would I have seen her? That sweet mermaid… would she still be trapped in that tower? Will Yamato still suffer? Will Hancock still become a slave?
What was the point of my life?
His eyes closed.
Just then, Neptune caught him and swam away as fast as possible.
---
"And that's what happened. For two years, I've been using my Armament and Conqueror's Haki to force this damn curse out," Ron said.
Neptune nodded. "Ron was seriously injured. Even with his physique, he needed months to recover, but the curse made him unable to even stand."
"But can Haki really counter it?" Shakky asked.
"Bahahaha! Haki is supreme. This curse is just a Devil Fruit ability," Ron laughed.
"And now I can at least move around. And I need to go to God Valley."
"But why spread the news that Shakky is on God Valley?" Gloriosa asked.
Ron gripped Surtr.
"I want you two to do something when we arrive."
"As for the news—I want Rocks to know God Valley isn't safe anymore. No one knows it, but he has a wife and kid there. I can't contact him normally."
Gloriosa and Shakky were doumfounded. 'the hell dose he mean He has wife and kid ? ' Thay shouted inwardly. But than thinking about Rocks recent behaviour it made sence.
"Rocks might be a bastard, but he protected me when I needed it. I can't sit around knowing his family is in danger."
Gloriosa and Shakky giggled.
"Well, what do you want us to do?"
Neptune felt extremely uncomfortable. 'Am i really allowed to hear all this ? '
"Ahem… I'll check on the whales." He quickly left.
"So, what do you want us to do?" Shakky asked again.
Ron looked at her. "That aside… why did you eat it?"
Shakky smiled. "Well, you prepared it for me. I couldn't let it go to waste."
"Well, it was for you anyway." Ron shrugged. Since she don't want to tell he won't push.
"What I want you two to do is—"