Chapter 53
Ron, who had been enjoying Makino's juices and pastries, was suddenly alarmed by the encircling fleet.
"One, two, three... There are six warships, they are all small warships, but the number isn't insignificant!" Nami counted, unimpressed by the sight. Although the current naval fleet surrounding them was large, Nami remembered her previous encounter with a fleet of seventeen warships, including three medium-sized ones, all of which had been effortlessly destroyed by Ron's sword slash. Compared to that, what threat did these six small warships pose?
"Captain, what should we do?" Nami asked looking at Ron.
"Just crash into them!" Ron smiled confidently, dismissing the small warships as insignificant. In truth, they posed no threat to him at all.
"Directly, right past them?" Nojiko narrowed her eyes in disbelief. "Isn't that too dangerous?"
"Trust Ron's judgment!" Kaya took Nojiko's arm. "He must have a reason for this. Sister Nojiko, you can trust him!"
The Going Merry lurched forward, crashing into Captain Nezumi's warship like a wild beast that refuses to be tamed.
On Captain Nezumi's warship, a group of marines suddenly became alarmed.
"Captain, that pirate ship... it's heading straight for us!" A liutenant shouted.
"Hahahahahaha, don't be afraid!" Captain Nezumi chuckled triumphantly. "They must be desperate, just one small pirate ship surrounded by our six warships. They must be panicking! They think they can break through our blockade? Dream on! Fire at will!"
"Understood!"
After receiving the order from the flagship, the other five warships immediately prepared their cannons. Dozens of black shells were loaded and aimed at the Going Merry, ready to bombard it.
Boom...
A barrage of shells was unleashed, dozens of black projectiles hurtling toward the Merry.
"So many shells!" Nojiko exclaimed, feeling a surge of fear. Had she boarded the ship at the wrong time?
"Ron!" Kaya was also startled by the sheer number of shells flying towards them and turned to Ron for guidance.
"Captain Ron!" Nami and Makino also turned their attention to Ron, the only one on the ship capable of fighting. Even though some of the girls had auxiliary abilities, Tashigi had no means to fight such a barrage. They could only rely on Ron.
"Barrage?" Ron raised an eyebrow and grinned. "If they dare to shell my Merry, I'll return the favor!"
With that, Ron's figure blurred as he dashed across the deck and leaped into the air. Spinning like a top, he caught the oncoming shells with his powerful kicks, sending them flying backwards one by one.
Brush, brush, brush...
Dozens of shells shot back at the warships from which they came, their power amplified by Ron's kicks.
A deafening rumble echoed as the six warships were engulfed in thick smoke, then sank into the sea, leaving the marines scrambling in desperation to find floating planks to swim away.
In an instant, Ron had wiped out the six warships. While most of the marines managed to escape with their lives, Captain Nezumi wasn't so lucky. Struck by a shell, he was blown to pieces, his panicked eyes witnessing his demise. (Poetic, hahaha lol)
Meanwhile, the Going Merry sailed on, Ron standing proudly at the bow.
On the sea, a group of marines huddled like chickens, watching helplessly as the Merry sailed away, each one clinging to wooden planks and swimming off into the distance.
On top of the Merry, the girls watched in silence at Ron's indifferent attitude.
Nojiko took a deep breath. She had heard Nami and Kaya talk about Ron's strength, but she hadn't expected him to be so powerful.
Taking down six heavily armed warships and deflecting numerous artillery shots with his bare feet - that was a feat beyond imagination.
Tashigi glanced at the fleeing marines on the sea, a twinge of regret in her eyes. But she knew the life of a pirate; Ron had no choice but to fight back. If they were captured by the Navy, the consequences for Nami and the others would be dire. Despite her own status, she couldn't guarantee their safety. Nami and the others would likely face imprisonment and punishment.
"Haha, see? Ron is unbeatable!" As Ron's ardent admirer, Kaya wasn't surprised by the outcome. Seeing Ron effortlessly defeat that fleet only confirmed her belief in his invincibility. "Remember when Ron faced a fleet of seventeen warships? He just used his sword to wipe them out. Now, with only six warships, how could they stand a chance against Ron?"
"It is truly incredible!" Nojiko nodded solemnly. She had heard tales of Ron destroying seventeen warships with a single sword, and while she had harbored some doubts, witnessing his power firsthand left her in utter awe.