One Piece: With Sign-in System Chapter 154: 154: The Trio at Dressrosa

"Oh~ such terrifying Conqueror's Haki. It seems even stronger than it was back on Drum Island…"

Kizaru's voice drawled as he looked at Ron, his tone as slow and irkso as ever.

But his speed was anything but slow. In an instant, his body dispersed into countless photons, reappearing beside Ron. Without hesitation, he delivered a Flash Kick, aiming straight for Ron's side with deadly precision.

Having already activated both the Transparent World and Observation Haki, Ron had anticipated the attack. He raised his right arm, gripping his black blade, and instantly hardened it with Armant Haki, intercepting Kizaru's strike head-on!

The dazzling Flash Kick collided with the pitch-black arm!

Boom!

The sea beneath them erupted in response to their clash of strength and Haki, splitting into a deep, long trench. Several warships were tossed about violently as massive waves surged around them.

From afar, Aokiji exhaled a breath of icy mist.

"Ice Age."

With his calm declaration, the ocean beneath the warships froze instantly, the ice spreading outward in all directions in re monts. The entire sea was sealed in a thick, unyielding layer of ice, stabilizing the precariously swaying ships.

In the air, Ron was sent drifting dozens of ters to the side by Kizaru's kick. However, he recovered swiftly and swung his blade toward the admiral.

What appeared to be a single slash suddenly multiplied into dozens—then hundreds—of dark, crescent-shaped strikes, each spanning a kiloter in length.

Kizaru's glowing figure blinked through the air, evading the barrage of slashes with ease. He raised a glowing finger, aiming directly at Ron. Energy condensed at its tip before unleashing a powerful laser beam, its force potent enough to obliterate a mountain.

Ron, still with his eyes closed, tilted his head ever so slightly. The laser grazed past his scalp, missing him by a hair's breadth.

"As expected, these tricks won't work on you…" Kizaru muttered, his expression unreadable.

Light gathered in his hands, and he materialized a shimring sword—the A-no-Murakumo, a blade ford entirely of condensed photons. Its three-ter length radiated intense light, and the powerful Armant Haki coating it exuded a crushing pressure.

"Let's finish the duel we started on Drum Island, Traveler Ron," Kizaru said, lifting the radiant blade as he fixed his gaze on Ron in the distance.

His aura was far stronger now than it had been on Drum Island.

"The Admirals of the Marines… truly formidable."

Ron smiled faintly.

Boom!

A surge of blood-red steam erupted from Ron's body, enveloping him entirely in a white mist. His black hair danced wildly in the air, swaying with his movents.

The frozen sea beneath them trembled under the pressure of their clashing auras, splitting apart with massive cracks spreading in all directions.

In a flash, the two figures vanished.

The black blade and the sword of light collided.

In that instant—

The sky above and the frozen sea below were both torn apart by a colossal cross-shaped fissure, stretching tens of thousands of ters in all directions.

Even from a great distance, the split sky was visible, a testant to the devastating power of their clash.

And so, the battle began.

…

One day later.

On the open sea, about twenty kiloters from the stone-ringed island of Dressrosa, a lone ship drifted on the waves. Standing on the deck was a man with short purple hair and sharp eyes behind a pair of glasses. His expression was calm but focused as he gazed into the distance.

"Zephyr, he's not back yet. Could sothing have happened?"

Ain approached Zephyr, concern lacing her voice.

She knew how strong Ron had beco—extraordinarily so. But this ti, his opponents had been two Marine Admirals. That fact alone was enough to make her uneasy.

Zephyr remained silent, his face serious. Then, suddenly, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing his teeth.

"That brat's back."

"What?!"

Ain imdiately turned her gaze in the direction Zephyr was looking.

In the distant sky, a black dot appeared, rapidly descending from the clouds.

As the figure ca closer, Ain's eyes sparkled with joy and relief.

…

Three outsiders strolled through the bustling streets of the vibrant city.

Leading the group was a black-haired youth, clad in black with a sheathed black blade at his waist. Though his eyes were blind, his striking features exuded confidence.

Beside him was an elderly man wearing sunglasses and a large, chanical prosthetic arm.

The third was a beautiful woman with curly blue hair, wearing a cloak with a gun and sword strapped to her waist.

[Ding! Location detected: Dressrosa. Sign-in available. Would you like to sign in?]

"Sign in."

[Sign-in successful. Reward received: 10 Vitality.]

"How are Kizaru and Aokiji faring?" Zephyr asked Ron as they walked.

"I fought Kizaru for half a day," Ron replied casually. "Aokiji didn't even get the chance to step in before I slipped away. They chased for quite so ti, though."

"Just as I suspected," Zephyr said grimly. "The Marines ca prepared this ti. It seems they've developed a new weapon based on Kizaru's ability—a laser-based system designed for aerial attacks."

Ron nodded. "Hundreds of lasers fired into the sky at once—it was a pretty spectacular sight."

Zephyr's gaze shifted to Ron's right arm. "Your arm—is it injured?"

Ain also turned to look, her concern growing.

Ron didn't bother hiding it. He shrugged and said, "Took a direct hit from Kizaru's kick. Probably a fracture, but it's nothing serious. I'll just drink more milk, and it'll heal in no ti."

"Milk... will heal it?" Ain stared at him, dumbfounded.

What kind of body did he have?!

Zephyr chuckled at Ron's response and nodded in agreent. "A fracture like that isn't a big deal. Eat more at, and it'll be fine in a few days."

"at... Now even you Zephyr..."

Ain felt utterly speechless. Was this just how n thought?

As they continued walking, Zephyr began to reminisce. "Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu—those three were all my students. Out of everyone I've taught, only those three could truly be called monsters."

"Kizaru's personality may be irritating, but his strength is undeniable. Most people rarely see him go all out."

Zephyr's tone turned contemplative. "But he relies too much on his Devil Fruit. He's never prioritized physical conditioning—that's always been his biggest weakness."

"As for Aokiji, he's a decent person. But he's far too lazy, indifferent to most things. While his mastery of his Devil Fruit and Haki is exceptional, he lacks the physical foundation to take his power even further. If he focused on that, his strength would be on a whole different level."

Ron listened quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Zephyr's insights into the Admirals revealed the gaps in their otherwise overwhelming power. It was clear that the forr "Black Arm" Admiral still carried the wisdom of a lifeti spent on the battlefield.

"Akainu, on the other hand, is powerful in every way. His mastery of both types of Haki is exceptional, his physical strength and combat skills are formidable, and the destructive potential of his Devil Fruit ability is terrifying. Among the three, he is undoubtedly the strongest, and his murderous nature only makes him more dangerous. Becoming his enemy often ans death."

"Those three, even among the ranks of Marine Admirals throughout history, are among the most powerful," Zephyr concluded.

Hearing Zephyr's words, Ron's interest was piqued. He asked, "If it were you, Teacher Zephyr, at your peak, how would you compare to those three?"

"Those three," Zephyr replied without hesitation. Then, glancing at his massive Seastone-powered Crusher prosthetic, he grinned. "But if I'd had this weapon specifically designed to counter Devil Fruit users during my pri… well, that would've been a different story."

Haki might allow soone to strike Logia users, but Seastone was a natural suppressant, nullifying their abilities entirely.

The three of them continued their conversation as they walked along the Lover's Avenue, heading toward Dressrosa's highest point: the King's Plateau.

During their journey, Ron shared so shocking secrets about the kingdom with Zephyr and Ain.

"Kid, is what you're saying true? Doflamingo stole this kingdom using so Devil Fruit ability, runs a factory here producing artificial Devil Fruits, and secretly trades with Kaido, one of the Four Emperors?!"

Zephyr was visibly shaken by Ron's revelation. Ain, too, was stunned beyond words.

When Ron affird it, Zephyr gritted his teeth, fury etched on his face.

"A pirate usurping a kingdom… Just how many atrocities has that bastard Doflamingo committed?"

…

Inside the palace atop the King's Plateau.

Doflamingo, clad in his pink feathered coat, lounged on the throne in the dimly lit hall. One leg was crossed over the other, and he rested his cheek on one hand while the other tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

Before him stood the top officers of the Donquixote Family: Trebol, the Sticky-Sticky Fruit user; Pica, the Stone-Stone Fruit user; Senor Pink, the Swim-Swim Fruit user; Violet; and Sugar, the Hobi-Hobi no Mi Fruit user.

"Still no news?" Doflamingo asked, his voice low and brooding.

Trebol, snot dripping from his nose, responded, "Baby-5 and Buffalo are out gathering intel. We should hear back from them soon."

"With two Marine Admirals and their new weapon in play, there's no way that Traveler Ron and his companions could've escaped," Pica added, his shrill voice contrasting sharply with his hulking fra.

"No way… huh?"

Doflamingo's fingers tapped rhythmically on the throne's armrest.

"Two Admirals mobilized to capture him, the Four Emperors watching closely… That kid has no place left in the New World."

But his voice dropped, carrying an edge of unease.

"Then why do I feel so uneasy?"

"Doffy, there's no need to worry," Diamante, the Flake-Flake Fruit user, interjected confidently. "We just need to wait for the news. That guy you're concerned about isn't capable of stirring up any big waves in the New World."

He smirked. "This isn't the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line. This is the New World. A lone rogue, no matter how strong, is nothing compared to the established powers here. Doffy, maybe you're overestimating him."

Pica smashed his fists together, his shrill voice ringing out. "Exactly! If he shows up, I'll crush him!"

Trebol spread his arms wide, his tone reverent as he addressed Doflamingo. "That's right! We are the mighty Donquixote Family, and you, Doffy, are destined to rule this world as its Dark King! That so-called Traveler Ron has no right to stand in your way!"

…

At that mont, the man they were speaking of—Ron—was steadily approaching the base of the King's Plateau with Zephyr and Ain by his side.

As they neared the massive structure in the center of Dressrosa, a group of armored guards stepped forward, weapons in hand. They raised their arms, blocking the path of the trio.

"No outsiders are allowed here. Leave imdiately!" one of the guards commanded coldly, their sharp gazes fixed on the approaching figures.

Ron stopped, tilting his head slightly. A faint smile appeared on his lips as the tension in the air grew thick.

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