CHAPTER 36 — The Mask Comes Off
"W–Wait… so… you… you are—Ren of the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
Keptyn's voice cracked as he stared at Ren's exposed face, the mask now hanging loosely in his trembling hands. His pupils shook, disbelief crashing into awe as realization finally struck him like a cannonball.
So I'm really joining him… Keptyn thought, his heart pounding violently. The hero of the Whitebeard Pirates. If it's him… then I'm definitely surviving this.
Ren burst into laughter, a deep, carefree sound that echoed across the ruined plaza.
"Hahaha! If you're done staring," Ren said, flashing a sharp grin, "you might want to hurry up and save your people."
Keptyn snapped back to reality. Without another word, he pulled the mask over his face, tightened the strap, and spun on his heel.
"Thank you… Captain!"
In the next instant, he sprinted off toward the market district, feet pounding against cracked stone as smoke swallowed his retreating form.
Ren watched him go for only a second.
"So," he muttered, rolling his shoulders, "it's finally time to break something."
He turned, boots crunching against the hardened cement swamp beneath his feet, and began walking toward Brocky and Sophia—both still frozen in place like grotesque statues.
"And I'll show you," Ren continued calmly, eyes sharpening, "what happens when you lay your hands on my crew."
"Hehehehehe…"
Domino's laughter drifted across the battlefield. He sat comfortably atop an elevated cement throne, one leg crossed over the other, his expression eerily relaxed.
"Take your time," Domino said lazily. "You'll end up just like them soon enough."
The air changed.
Suddenly, a violent red-black energy erupted around Ren's right fist. The ground beneath him cracked as invisible pressure slammed outward. The familiar terror of pulverize pulverize fruit flooded the area, heavy and suffocating.
Ren grabbed the cement encasing Brocky, Sophia—and Brick—with a single hand.
"Crack… crack… CRAAACK!"
The hardened cement shattered violently, exploding outward in chunks as Ren's fruit shattered the Devil Fruit effect. Dust billowed into the air as the three bodies collapsed free, gasping.
"What—?! How did you do that?!"
Domino leapt to his feet, his calm finally shattered. His cement throne crumbled beneath him as he stared at Ren with wide, shocked eyes.
Brocky blinked several times before scratching the back of his head.
"Huh… Captain?" he muttered groggily.
Then his gaze shifted to Sophia, who was kneeling beside him, shaken but unharmed.
"I… I'm sorry," Brocky said, clenching his fist. "I failed to protect her."
Ren placed a hand on Brocky's shoulder.
"It's fine," he said simply. No anger. No disappointment. Just certainty.
Before Brocky could reply—
"WAIT—WHAT?!"
Brick's voice exploded beside them.
His face turned bright red, steam practically rising from his head.
"You—You—YOU!!" he yelled, spinning wildly in place. "You're Astro D. Ren?!"
His legs gave out.
Brick collapsed flat on his back, unconscious from sheer shock.
Ren didn't even look at him.
Instead, he turned to Brocky and Sophia, his tone shifting into that of a captain issuing orders mid-battle.
"You two," Ren said firmly. "Head to the residential district. Clear out every government dog you find."
His eyes hardened.
"Meet us at the port by evening."
Brocky nodded instantly. "Got it."
Sophia clenched her fists, fire burning in her gaze. "We won't disappoint you again."
They took off together, disappearing into the smoke-filled streets.
Ren finally turned back toward Domino.
Brick suddenly sprang back to his feet and snapped into a stiff salute.
"You haven't given me my orders, sir!"
Ren's brow twitched.
He turned slowly, killing intent leaking just enough to make the air vibrate.
"Who the hell are you?" Ren asked coldly. "I only freed you out of curiosity."
Brick swallowed hard.
"My name is Brick Vand," he said loudly, standing at attention. "Captain of the Dinosaur Crew!"
Ren stared at him for a moment… then sighed.
"If you want an order," Ren said, waving dismissively, "go to the port. Tell your men to push back the government officers."
Brick's eyes lit up.
"Yes sir!!"
He saluted again—harder this time—and sprinted off with ridiculous enthusiasm.
Silence fell.
Ren rolled his neck once.
"Now," he said calmly, cracking his knuckles, "I can finally kick your ass."
He vanished.
Domino's eyes widened—
A massive hand suddenly materialized inches from his face, coated in roaring Haki and compressed force.
"BOOOOOM!!!"
The impact detonated like a cannon blast.
Domino's body was launched through multiple layers of shattered cement, crashing through debris after debris before finally skidding across the ground in a trail of blood and rubble.
"Hehehe…"
Domino slowly rose to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I'll admit it," he said, voice strained but amused. "You're tough."
Cement flowed rapidly over his body, forming a semi-solid armored shell just in time.
"Luckily," Domino continued, tapping his chest, "my cement semi-solid armor blocked the worst of it."
Ren grinned.
"Nice," he said, eyes gleaming with excitement. "That just makes this better."
He leaned forward slightly.
"There's a skill I've been dying to test," Ren continued, Haki flaring violently around him.
"And congratulations…"
Domino felt a chill run down his spine.
"You're the perfect test subject."