A sharp, piercing whistle tore through the air.
Ren snapped his head around, crimson eyes narrowing as the tomoe in his Sharingan trembled.
He twisted his waist—spinning, whipping out his arm!
With a sharp crack, the ten-hand baton struck a pitch-black cannonball, shattering the shell and igniting a burst of violent fire.
BOOM!
Raging flames and a crushing shockwave engulfed everything, and Ren rolled across the ground like a spinning top.
But the shrill, ceaseless screech of incoming shells didn't stop. Dense cannonfire screamed toward him from the bay.
"Perfect timing! I thought you'd run away! Lucky you made noise—otherwise I wouldn't have found you!"
On the battleship, Mondes shouted in excitement, completely ignoring Smoker, who was also caught within the bombardment radius.
His greedy, wrath-filled, murderous gaze locked onto the figure sprinting through the storm of explosions.
"Blast him! Blow him to hell!"
Mondes' roar echoed across the bay. The gun batteries on the warship beside the shore erupted with continuous fire.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!Explosions rolled endlessly.
Ren dodged wildly through the firestorm, golden patterns wrapping around his skin as he braced against shockwaves and flames.
Blessing of Arrow Avoidance continuously activated, gusts of wind diverting the whistling metal fragments.
Damn it—the idiot doesn't even care about his fellow Marines!?
Through the thick smoke, Ren's Sharingan caught sight of the frenzied Marine officer giving orders.
Almost at the same moment, white mist surged within the smoke.
Smoker was still alive.
Ren's heart hardened. His decision was instant.
The Boots of Swiftness expelled freezing mist, propelling him forward like a phantom toward the warship.
"Stop right there! White… Vine!"
Through smoke and fire emerged Smoker's pale but resolute face. Blood trickled from his lips as he thrust out his hand.
A smoke-formed arm shot forward, spiraling as it extended hundreds of meters toward Ren.
But what met it was the seastone tip of Ren's ten-hand baton.
The smoke arm shattered back into mist, but Smoker's physical hand—forced out of elementalization—locked tightly onto the baton.
The retracting smoke tugged, trying to drag Ren back toward Smoker.
"You're gambling your life for one chance!?"
Ren's eyes narrowed—then he released the weapon.
In the corner of his vision, Smoker's figure was instantly swallowed by cannonfire. Explosions engulfed him, shockwaves rolling outward.
As the blast winds surged—
Ren used the gust to propel himself forward, leaping into the air like a launched spear. Silverfall Dagger plunged into the bay below.
Water splashed upward—only to freeze instantly from the cold aura.
Ren stepped onto the forming ice staircase and vaulted back onto the water's surface, crimson eyes locked onto the Marine officer.
Their gazes met for one brief moment.
Mondes felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar—murderous intent colder than blades washed over him.
He didn't have time to wonder why a Devil Fruit user could move through seawater.
Terror seized him as he screamed, "Kill him! Quickly! Don't let him get close!"
But the rotation speed of the cannons couldn't keep up with Ren's movement.
Everyone could only watch in horror as the demon strode across the sea toward them.
"Prepare—volley fire!"
Mondes shrieked, forcing his men into position for a coordinated barrage.
But—
It was useless.
Sparks flashed across Ren's body as flattened bullets ricocheted harmlessly into the sea.
One hundred meters.
Fifty meters.
Ten meters.
—
Silverfall Dagger!
Ren kicked off the surface and shot skyward, his hand forming a blade as he descended like a falling star.
BOOM—!
His iron-hard fist slammed into the deck.
The warship's rail buckled inward, forming a massive crater.
Within the spiderweb-like pit, Ren knelt on one knee as seawater on his body froze into icy spikes, blasting outward with the erupting shockwave.
Nearby Marines screamed as they were hurled away, their bodies riddled with countless bloody holes.
Amid the chaos—
Ren vanished.
A golden-patterned hand flashed through the air and clamped around Mondes' throat as the man staggered backward.
Then Ren barreled forward, dragging Mondes in front of him like a human shield.
BAM—!
The armored fortification turret shuddered violently under the impact. Metal groaned. Bones cracked.
Ren straightened, gripping Mondes' neck with one hand and holding him up as a shield.
The surrounding Marines froze—caught between fear and discipline. Guns and rocket launchers pointed at Ren, but none dared fire.
Mondes had seized power, yes—but without a Marine officer's rank, he could never have taken command.
He was still a superior officer.
Killing a superior was a taboo for Marines.
"Don't move. If he dies, so do you."
Ren maintained just enough pressure not to crush Mondes' windpipe. His crimson eyes swept toward the bay.
A streak of smoke shot toward him—Smoker, refusing to give up.
"Clingy bastard. Admirable… and annoying."
Ren shook his head and flipped open the Dimensional Roulette.
{Balance: 8,000,000 Beli}
Let's hope something good drops. Otherwise, this ends in a deathmatch.
Ren switched to the VIP Roulette.
Each spin cost 1,000,000 Beli.
The first result: four Health Potions.He downed one immediately—his injuries from the bombardment were severe.The remaining three went into his pocket.
The second spin: two Invisibility Potions.Ren blinked. Not perfect—but promising.
At that moment, blood-soaked Smoker staggered onto the warship. He had abandoned his ten-hand baton on the battlefield, unwilling to bring seastone near the enemy hostage.
He glared at Ren. "Let him go. You have nowhere left to run."
"Nowhere? Hardly." Ren smirked. "Ask this honorable officer whether he's ready to 'sacrifice himself for justice'—after collaborating with pirates."
Ren loosened his grip just enough for Mondes to speak.
"I don't want to die! I'll let you go—just don't kill me!"
Gone was the arrogance from moments earlier.
Now he regretted everything—his greed, his attempt to take credit, and Smoker arriving early enough to ruin it all.
"Smoker! This is the Sixteenth Branch's jurisdiction! Marines do NOT cross-branch! I order you to leave immediately!"
"You asked for my help first, Mondes."
Smoker looked at him with disgust and growing dread.
Collaborating with pirates…?He's not bluffing?
"Don't just stand there! Block him! Move! Do you want me to die!?"
Mondes cursed at his men. Then he turned back to Ren with obsequious desperation."You're a great man—just treat me like a fart and let me go, okay?"
"Is that so? Not impossible. But first, tell this gentleman"—Ren tilted his head toward Smoker—"exactly what the Sixteenth Branch has been doing with Arlong."
A cold grin curled on Ren's lips as a blue crystal appeared in his hand.
A glowing prompt identified it instantly—Mana Crystal.
"Th—"
Mondes' face turned deathly pale. He dared not continue.
Ren's gaze sharpened, his grip twisting. Mondes' neck cracked ominously.
"Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Terror swallowed him. He didn't care about consequences anymore. He just—
BOOM—!
(End of Chapter)