As the group stepped into the town, the scene before them forced them to a halt. Firelight flickered against crumbling walls, and blood shimmered with a dark red luster as it snaked across the ground.
At the center of the battlefield, a black-haired youth was weaving around a powerful foe with incredible speed and agility.
Ronan.
He swung his wooden stick, his footwork so fast that his movements were nearly impossible to track. The Pirate Captain was covered in wounds; his body looked as if it had been deformed by a sledgehammer, and blood flowed freely down his face. Around them, the remaining pirate lackeys lay in pools of blood, silent and still. The few survivors were so terrified they couldn't even hold their weapons steady, not daring to take a single step closer.
The old man saw that upright silhouette from a distance, and his eyes widened in shock. "It's him! The young man who saved me just now! I... I had no idea he was this powerful..."
Beside him, the straw-hatted youth's eyes lit up, his mouth stretching into an exaggerated grin. "Whoa—this guy looks really strong!" He turned to his companion. "Hey, Zoro, he's pretty good, right? Should we ask him to join us?"
Zoro's gaze was locked onto Ronan, a faint, sharp glint reflecting in his eyes. He mentally deconstructed Ronan's movements: the strange footwork, the explosive strikes, and a reaction speed that far surpassed an ordinary human.
"His technique is high-level," Zoro nodded, giving his evaluation. "There's a method to his movement and strikes... but his raw power is a bit on the weak side."
Just as the words left his mouth, a raspy roar erupted from the center of the battlefield. The Pirate Captain swung a final, desperate cleave. Though the blade was still heavy, it was sluggish—his stamina was completely spent.
A surge of battle intent flared in Ronan's eyes. He slid his body across the ground, easily evading the massive blade. In the next heartbeat, the wooden stick spun in his palm, emitting a humming vibration as internal force caused the wood to whirl.
Xingyi · Spiral Force!
As the stick lunged out, it sounded like the air itself was tearing. The Captain's eyes bulged, but before a sound could escape his throat, the tip of the stick ruthlessly pierced through his windpipe.
CRACK!
Blood sprayed. The notorious East Blue pirate captain with a 3.2 million Berry bounty had been ended with a single strike by a youth wielding a wooden stick.
Luffy's pupils shimmered; he looked as excited as if he had found a legendary treasure. "Zoro! I've decided! This guy—I want him to be our comrade!!"
The Split-Sail Captain clutched his throat, blood gushing through his fingers, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror. He staggered back two steps and finally collapsed under Ronan's calm gaze. Ronan pulled the stick back as blood dripped from its tip.
After a brief silence, the remaining pirates completely broke down! "The Captain is dead! RUN!!" They scattered like mangy dogs with their throats pinched.
Ronan took a step forward, preparing to give chase—
Shing! Shing! Shing! Shing!
Sword-light flashed. A figure blurred through the air as if teleporting. Cold steel hummed and blood sprayed in a single continuous line. In the next instant, every fleeing pirate collapsed simultaneously, each bearing a terrifyingly precise blade wound across their chest.
Ronan's heart skipped a beat. When the figure finally came to a halt, he saw the green hair and the three swords at the waist. His pupils contracted sharply.
Roronoa Zoro!!
The green-haired swordsman slowly flicked the blood off his blade and sheathed Wado Ichimonji with a crisp, calm motion. He looked up at Ronan, clearly noticing the change in the youth's expression. His eyes held a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.
"You know me?"
Ronan's throat tightened. As a fan of One Piece in his previous life, he recognized Zoro instantly. But he never imagined he would actually see him in a world this vivid and real.
Not far away, the youth in the straw hat walked over with a light step and a brilliant smile. Behind him, the orange-haired girl stood with her hands on her hips, looking exasperated yet alert as she scanned the surroundings.
Ronan froze for half a second.
Luffy. Nami.
Faces that had appeared on screens countless times in his past life were now standing right in front of him. He could hear their breathing and their footsteps.
While Ronan was stunned, the old man and his grandson ran over. The old man's eyes were red with emotion as he grabbed Ronan's hand. "Young man! You... I'm glad you're alright! I truly... I owe you everything!"
Ronan nodded slightly, his mind still working to process the shock. Nami stepped forward, glancing at the bodies on the ground before looking at Zoro with a smirk. "Zoro, that 'Pirate Hunter' title of yours really isn't for show, is it? Plenty of people seem to recognize you."
Zoro grunted but kept his focus on Ronan. "Your moves just now... they were very unique." He stared at Ronan's wooden stick and his stance, his voice serious and direct. "What's your name?"
Ronan took a deep breath to steady himself. "I'm... Ronan."
The moment he spoke— "RONAN!!!"
An incredibly excited voice exploded. Luffy bounced in front of Ronan like a spring, his eyes shining like lanterns, his face filled with unhidden joy and anticipation. He reached out his hand, his tone exceptionally solemn:
"Become our comrade!!"
His voice echoed through the air, carrying a warmth enough to set a person's heart ablaze.
Ronan was dazed. Zoro raised an eyebrow. Nami facepalmed. The old man and the child stood there, mouths agape.
Meanwhile, Luffy's eyes remained fixed solely on Ronan, extending his invitation with raw, unabashed sincerity.
Ronan looked at the straw-hatted youth before him, a sense of unreality washing over him. This character, who had once existed only on screens and manga pages, was now standing before him, radiating genuine warmth and light. He glanced at the orange-haired girl beside them—clever, sharp, and laced with a hint of wariness: Nami.
Scanning their surroundings, he noticed the absence of Usopp and Sanji. Ronan immediately deduced the current timeline.
The Straw Hat crew had only just begun. Sanji hadn't joined yet, and Usopp was likely still back in his village spinning tall tales. This meant... he was at the purest starting point of the Straw Hat adventure. It was the perfect opportunity to truly participate, influence, and grow alongside them.
For someone with a system but limited initial strength, a reliable team was the ultimate foundation. And this crew, who valued "comrades" more than life itself, was undoubtedly the most trustworthy group in the Pirate World.
Ronan looked up into Luffy's eyes, which were filled with nothing but honesty. At that moment, something deep within him was touched. He exhaled softly and spoke with solemn resolve.
"Alright. I'm in. From today on... I'll be in your care."
The moment the words left his mouth, Nami crossed her arms, scanning him from head to toe with undiminished suspicion. "Hey, you agreed to that way too easily... You don't have some ulterior motive, do you?"
Her tone was blunt, but a flicker of guilt passed through her eyes—after all, she was harboring secrets of her own. Ronan gave a faint smile, neither offering an excuse nor taking offense.
"Hahahaha!!" Luffy suddenly burst into laughter. He slapped his chest with total confidence. "Don't worry, Nami! The people I choose—they're never bad guys!! From today on, our pirate crew has four members!!!"
The youth's hot-blooded declaration echoed across the ruined town. Zoro let out a soft huff, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a silent acknowledgement of their new comrade. Nami rolled her eyes but didn't protest further.
And so, amidst the ruins where the fires had yet to fully die out, Ronan officially joined the Straw Hat Pirates. At that very moment, the blood surged through his body began to settle. The training multiplier ended.
[Strength: 11 → 12][Physique: 11 → 12][Speed: 11 → 12] Ronan silently clenched his fist, feeling the surging vitality within him that almost threatened to overflow. This was the world of One Piece... A new training... A new journey had truly begun.