Garp understood clearly in his heart that Ron's appearance was no coincidence, and his goals likely extended far beyond just rescuing Luffy.
Ron seemed to sense Garp's gaze, turning to look at him with a slight upward curve of his lips, revealing a faint smile.
His eyes carried a meaningful glint as he slowly spoke, "Vice Admiral Garp, this world is no longer something your Marine can control."
Garp's expression grew even darker.
Having failed in his sneak attack, Akainu returned to his original position, his face ashen as he glared at Ron.
"Kid, you'd better know what you're doing," he warned, his tone carrying a clear threat.
"Thank you for the reminder, Admiral Sakazuki. I'm quite aware of what I'm doing."
Ron responded with a slight smile and a nod.
The battlefield fell silent as the fighting ceased.
Big Mom frowned at Ron's sudden appearance, puzzled about why he would show up here unexpectedly.
Kizaru's figure retreated from the center of the battlefield like a golden lightning bolt, his gaze settling on Ron with a tense expression.
He had already experienced Ron's strength firsthand, but the Ron before him now was clearly stronger than during their last encounter.
That black blade that blotted out the sky, the sword energy capable of slicing through sun and moon—all of it made his heart tremble with fear.
"This kid's power... has grown again," Kizaru's voice carried a note of gravity.
Then he too noticed the figures behind Ron and immediately felt a headache coming on.
These guys had really gotten out...Capturing them in the first place took tremendous effort, and trying to capture them again is highly unrealistic.
Now that they've teamed up with Ron, the mere thought of Ron's abilities made him feel a tightness in his chest, almost make him suffocating from the shock.
'What methods did Ron use to gather these lawless individuals together?' Kizaru frowned in thought.
Could they have formed an alliance?
If that were truly the case, the situation would become extremely troublesome...
He glanced sideways at the dozen or so vice admirals on the warship.
Even if they all used Green Blood serum, the gap in combat power was too vast to make any difference.
If a real fight broke out, they could only hope that years of imprisonment had caused these guys' strength to deteriorate.
"Ah, this is a big problem now," Magellan sighed deeply, turning to look at Kizaru. "Borsalino, this situation is already beyond our control. You know their capabilities—just the few of us can't possibly manage this situation."
Kizaru nodded imperceptibly.
He understood the circumstances clearly, but what else could be done? Did they really expect him to sacrifice his life here?
"So that young man is Ron? The rumored youngest Great Swordsman—that sword strike just now truly lived up to his reputation."
Kizaru glanced at him but said nothing.
Ron's strength had indeed grown significantly.
Anyone who still thought of him as just a research scientist would be in for a rude awakening.
The power of that sword strike not only left the Marines and Pirates dumbfounded, but even Ron's own companions were deeply shocked.
Bullett stood beside Ron, his tall frame slightly stiffened.
His gaze fixed intently on Ron, his pupils slightly contracted as waves surged in his heart.
Being the closest to that sword strike, he had felt its power most intensely.
That incredibly dense Armament Haki was even stronger than his own!
"This... how is this possible?" Bullett's voice carried a trace of disbelief.
His eyes fell on Ron's somewhat youthful face, filled with confusion.
Ron didn't look very old—how could he possess such terrifying Armament Haki?
Did he start training while still in the womb?
Bullett swallowed hard, his throat feeling as if blocked by a stone.
Several images flashed rapidly through his mind: Ron's composure, Ron's unfathomable depth, Ron's casual sword swing...
'How many more cards is this kid hiding up his sleeve?' Bullett wondered inwardly.
After all, Ron's earlier sword strike was just a casual move.
If he were to fight seriously, he probably had more hidden abilities yet to reveal.
After all, anyone who could make a name for themselves on the seas had to have some trump cards.
It seemed... he would need to proceed with caution from now on.
...
Meanwhile.
Crocodile's expression had also turned extremely serious, his gaze fixed intently on Ron with strong shock in his eyes.
The power of that sword strike even made him feel a sense of danger!
That level of Armament Haki was something even he couldn't easily withstand.
Moreover, he realized Ron's strength exceeded expectations.
When the time came for their agreement to end, how would he be able to leave?
Crocodile thought that if it really came to that day and Ron used force to keep him here, he would likely be powerless to resist.
Just thinking about this was truly headache-inducing...
Crocodile frowned with a hint of helplessness, silently weighing the pros and cons in his heart.
However, at that moment, a sudden thought flashed through his mind: If Ron's power truly reaches such heights by then, why the hell would he even leave!
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Crocodile's lips.
After all, wasn't he just going to be a pirate wherever he went?
Moreover, Ron had treated him fairly well—neither restricting his freedom nor forcing him to do anything.
Perhaps... sticking with Ron could be a long-term choice after all.
Redfield narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze revealing a trace of admiration.
"Heaven-Splitting Sword Drawing Technique—such an imposing name... and its execution truly lives up to it, astonishingly powerful."
His voice carried genuine respect as he still savored the heart-stopping intensity of that earlier sword strike.
He thought to himself that although he had previously glimpsed Ron's memories through special means, it was merely like scooping a single wave from an endless ocean—just a fraction of the vast river of memories.
Those fragmented images could never truly convey Ron's actual strength.
But now, having witnessed Ron in action firsthand, he realized how shallow his previous understanding had been.
What shocked him even more was the Armament Haki enveloping that sword strike—so dense it seemed almost tangible.
The overwhelming pressure made him feel as if he could sense the power vibrating through the air.
This level of Armament Haki likely placed Ron among the top tiers, yet judging by his expression and movements, this didn't seem to be his limit.
He was still holding back!
Redfield's thoughts drifted further.
A young man with such formidable power might actually succeed if he forced his way into the Impel Down.
If he moved fast enough, he could potentially complete his mission before the Marines could react, avoiding a large-scale siege.
"What an interesting young man."