After all, Ron's strength was more than sufficient to navigate such dangerous environments with ease.
Yet, Ron had chosen to infiltrate stealthily—not arrogantly flaunting his power or acting recklessly, but opting for a low-profile approach.
This calm, cautious, and highly intelligent choice made Redfield view him in a new light.
In today's seas, young individuals like Ron—who possessed great power yet remained humble and level-headed—were exceedingly rare.
Redfield's approval of Ron deepened significantly in that moment.
"So strong! Is this what the youngest Great Swordsman is like?!"
Zoro's voice trembled slightly, his eyes blazing with near-fanatic intensity.
Even the sword clenched in his hand shook faintly from the surge of his emotions.
From the moment he first picked up a blade, his dream had been to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!
And now, his ultimate goal stood right before him—the excitement and awe nearly stole his breath away.
A single swordstroke spanning three thousand miles!
Zoro stared fixedly at Ron, his gaze filled with unwavering determination and resolve.
He engraved Ron firmly in his heart, setting him as the direction and goal for his own advancement.
'I must grow stronger—strong enough to match Ron!'
Only in this way could he gain the strength to protect his comrades and those who were immensely important to him.
He wanted to become a powerhouse like Ron, someone behind whom everyone could stand with complete peace of mind.
Beside him, Sanji was so shocked he couldn't speak.
He had thought he was prepared to fight desperately against the surging, massive magma.
Yet, just as he was on the verge of despair, Ron suddenly made his move.
That seemingly effortless attack, as if imbued with boundless power and authority, sliced the enormous magma into fragments, instantly resolving the crisis.
And Ron's sword energy seemed far from exhausted, even retaining enough strength to redirect its edge toward Akainu—the sheer force felt as if it could sever the entire world.
Such power far exceeded their imagination.
Sanji felt his worldview completely overturned in that moment.
"So terrifying... this is the strength of the New World's powerhouses..." His voice carried a trace of awe and self-mockery.
"It seems the opponents we've faced before were truly just clown..."
Luffy's face was full of astonishment, his eyes wide and round as he waved his arms and shouted excitedly.
"So amazing! Ron, was that slash really yours? That was incredible!"
His voice brimmed with excitement and admiration, completely unable to conceal his inner thrill.
Simultaneously, his gaze kept darting toward Ron's hands, his eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.
Where did that sword come from?
How could it unleash such a long and powerful sword energy!
What kind of swordsmanship was that?
'Ron-san... so this is his true strength...' Nami and Robin exchanged glances, their faces etched with shock.
They had long known Ron was the vice-captain of the Whitebeard Pirates and certainly possessed considerable power, but they never imagined his strength could be this terrifying.
That was Admiral Akainu's attack—magma capable of annihilating everything—yet Ron had casually sliced it apart with a single stroke!
It was utterly unbelievable; they even wondered if they were dreaming.
"So terrifying, it's hard to believe it," Nami couldn't help but whisper to Robin, her voice trembling slightly.
Robin nodded as well with a complex glint flashing in her eyes.
The entire battlefield fell into dead silence, as if even the air had frozen solid.
Everyone looked at Ron with complicated expressions—their eyes filled with reverence, shock, and even a hint of fear, each weighing their thoughts internally.
...
Meanwhile, Katakuri and the others who had just emerged from the prison entrance witnessed everything.
Their footsteps halted involuntarily, their eyes locked on the distant scene where the sword energy had split the sky.
Katakuri's face turned grim, a trace of unconcealed gravity flashing in his usually calm eyes.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he murmured in a low voice.
"As expected... someone who can become the vice-captain of the Whitebeard Pirates is no ordinary figure."
Behind him, Perospero and Brulee exchanged uneasy glances, their faces marked by shock and anxiety.
Brulee couldn't help but swallow hard, her voice trembling.
"Brother Katakuri, that sword strike... was just too exaggerated, wasn't it? That was Admiral Akainu's attack, and it was sliced apart just like that!"
Perospero added in a low voice, "No wonder the Whitebeard Pirates have remained unshakable in the New World. With such a monster and scientist, who would dare provoke them lightly?"
Katakuri did not respond, but his fists were already tightly clenched, his knuckles turning pale from the force.
He knew in his heart that Ron's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
But why was Ron here?
And those guys behind him—they hadn't even changed out of their prison uniforms, clearly having escaped from prison!
But how had they not been seen along the way?
What exactly had happened in between...
...
The chaos of the battlefield abruptly stilled at that moment, as if time itself had frozen.
Charlotte Linlin's massive figure slowly halted, her gaze sharp as a blade, fixed directly on Ron.
Her brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion and vigilance in her eyes.
"Ron, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the Eternal Kingdom?"
Her gaze then swept over the figures behind Ron, and when her eyes fell on Bullett, Crocodile, and Redfield, her pupils abruptly contracted as a trace of unconcealed shock appearing on her face.
"Bullett, Crocodile, and... Redfield?" She clearly seemed surprised. "You shitstain are still alive? Truly astonishing."
Ron was momentarily speechless, feeling somewhat awkward, his mind racing as he pondered how to respond.
His eyes flickered slightly as countless explanations flashed through his mind, but each one seemed full of holes.
Should he say he was just passing by? Not even a fool would believe such an excuse.
His silence made the atmosphere even more tense, as if the air itself had grown thick.
Just then, Katakuri stepped forward from behind, his gaze sharp, as if capable of seeing through everything.
His voice carried a hint of mockery.
"So that's it... I understand now."
His eyes swept over Ron, then over Big mom, finally settling on Bullett and the others.
"Mama, we've all been used as pawns and turned into someone else's blade."
---------
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator