Ron's pupils abruptly contracted.
An ability that could seal powers within the body?
He frowned and speculated, "Is it a black, vortex-like energy? One that attracts and absorbs all abilities?"
Enel, clutching his wound, looked up. "Exactly! That kind of power! The moment their hands touched my body, my lightning vanished! I was solid flesh and blood!"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit..."
Ron slowly stood up, sheathing White Moon.
His brow furrowed tightly. "This is impossible... The Dark-Dark Fruit should be in the hands of Blackbeard, Marshall..."
Suddenly, as if realizing something, his expression turned extremely grim.
"Unless... Blackbeard and the Marines have reached some kind of agreement. Or worse, Vegapunk has managed to extract his Lineage Factor."
The laboratory fell into deathly silence, broken only by Enel's pained gasps echoing through the room.
Ron walked to the window, gazing at the faintly visible Marine warships on the distant horizon, his eyes shifting between shadow and light.
"First the Green Blood serum... now the Dark-Dark Fruit power..." His fingers unconsciously tapped against the window frame.
"The World Government... you certainly have plenty of nasty methods."
Enel weakly lifted his head. "Ron... what should we do now?"
Ron turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "First, we need to treat your injuries."
But Enel shook his head vigorously. "My injuries don't matter!"
Struggling to stand up, his forehead beaded with sweat, he asked with unprecedented urgency.
"Shouldn't we go rescue people now? Crocodile... that Sand-Bastard stayed behind so I could get away."
This once arrogant "God" now had eyes filled with concern for his comrades.
Crocodile's sacrifice had completely changed his perspective.
For the first time, the word "comrade" carried weight in his heart.
Just as Ron was about to respond, a blur of motion appeared and Izo's figure materialized in the center of the laboratory.
His dark kimono was stained with traces of gunpowder smoke, and his usually composed face was now etched with tension.
"Enel? I didn't expect you to be injured too."
Izo's pupils contracted when he saw his severely wounded comrade.
Enel snorted coldly and briefly explained the "Darkness" ability.
Izo quickly suppressed his shock and turned to Ron, speaking rapidly.
"Ron, the situation is bad. Nearly half the islands now have Marine presence!"
Ron's eyes gleamed coldly. "Explain in detail."
"These guys were previously disguised as trading customers," Izo explained quickly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing against his flintlock handles.
"Just half an hour ago, they all attacked simultaneously as if by agreement. Our people are doing their best to suppress them, but—"
He took a deep breath, his voice turning grave.
"Some of these Marines possess multiple abilities via that 'Green Blood' tech. What's more terrifying is that black energy... just like what Enel encountered. The moment it touches you, your abilities become useless! Several Captain-level officers have already been captured!"
"And Shiki's new subordinates... even though they have Logia abilities, their Haki is too weak. Some don't have Armament Haki at all—they rely entirely on their fruits, so they were taken down in a single encounter."
"Currently, only the Glint-Glint Fruit users are managing to escape quickly, suppressing those Marines from high altitudes. But given time, they'll be captured by the Marines' Rokushiki experts too."
The air in the laboratory seemed to instantly freeze.
Ron gently picked up White Moon, using a corner of his white robe to carefully wipe the blade.
This seemingly calm action caused the room's temperature to plummet dramatically.
"Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach..." he murmured the name softly, his voice carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
"It seems you're determined to become the World Government's lapdog."
Enel struggled to stand, arcs of electricity flickering uncontrollably around him.
"Ron, what do we do now? We must make those Marines understand the price of provoking us!"
Izo silently drew his twin pistols, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Every minute we delay means another comrade falls into danger."
Ron sheathed White Moon, his eyes having turned into icy black pools. Without looking at Enel, he spoke coldly.
"Enel, where are the Marines currently dispersed?"
Enel immediately closed his eyes and activated his Mantra (Observation Haki).
His vast sensory network instantly covered the entire Eternal Divine Kingdom, from the top to the bottom, every layer of islands within his perception!
First layer, second layer, third layer... all the way to the seventh layer!
"Ron, currently aside from the first and second layers, there is Marine activity from the third to seventh layers."
Ron slightly frowned. "How did they get up here..."
"Iron chains, Rokushiki Geppo, they knocked out the Shandian guards..." Enel gritted his teeth. "I didn't expect the Marines to be so bold, attacking while I was watching the arena matches. How despicable!"
After learning the general distribution of these Marines, a cold glint flashed in Ron's eyes.
"Izo, you take the third to fifth layers. Show no mercy to any Marine you encounter. Enel, you..."
"I need to save Crocodile!" Enel interrupted, the lightning in his eyes burning more intensely than ever before.
Ron remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Fine. Come with me to the Sixth Layer. But remember, your injuries haven't healed yet. Don't push yourself too hard. If you encounter Dark-Dark Fruit users, don't engage them physically. Keep your distance and attack from range."
"Understood."
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
Before his voice faded, the laboratory alarm suddenly blared sharply.
On the display screen, a massive red dot was rapidly approaching the central area of the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
"This is..." Izo's expression changed slightly before he entered a combat stance. He had already recognized who was coming!
But a dangerous smile curled at the corner of Ron's lips.
"Perfect timing. It seems our 'Guest' is more impatient than expected."
He indifferently scanned the chaotic islands below, lightly waving his hand.
"Proceed as planned. Clear the ants from the islands first."
"Yes, Ron!" Izo bowed slightly.
Two flintlock guns slid out from his kimono sleeves as he turned and leaped out the window, using Geppo to descend rapidly.
The next moment, explosions erupted across the lower islands.
Izo hovered high in the air, his gun barrels aimed at every Marine attempting to resist.
"Slicing Bullets!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Precise Haki-infused bullets descended like rain.
Those elite Marines who were preparing to crush the "Green Blood" capsules hidden in their teeth didn't even have time to activate the drug's effects.
The bullets pierced their hands and jaws with surgical precision.
"DAMN IT! SNIPER!"
A Marine Colonel dragged his broken sword while roaring into his communicator.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately! We can't use the darkness if we can't get close!"
Some Marines fared even worse.
Izo's bullets, enchanted by Ron's earlier modifications, exploded on impact, blowing their weapons to pieces.
Surviving Marines dragged their paralyzed bodies toward the ports in a desperate escape.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the islands, over a dozen Marine warships disguised as merchant vessels were hastily fleeing.
Marines on deck frantically tore off their disguises, all cannons aimed backward to defend against possible pursuit.
At this moment, Izo's figure flickered like a ghost across various parts of the island, his movements a blur of speed and gunpowder.
"You aren't leaving with our secrets!"
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