One Piece: With Sign-in System-Chapter 164 - : Armament Haki Stage Three, Ryuo!

As Ron flew in from the horizon, the silhouette of the black-haired swordsman became visible to the Big Mom Pirates stationed in the sea beneath the floating ship.

Through his trembling voice, a pirate with a telescope stammered, "M-Minister Cracker... that... that's..."

Before he could finish, the figure had already closed the distance, arriving high above the area.

Charlotte Cracker, standing on the deck of his ship, stared up at the expressionless youth with black hair, his heart skipping a beat. In Ron's grasp hung the battered, mangled body of King, one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, dangling like a lifeless doll.

The sight was enough to freeze Cracker in shock.

King... reduced to this?!

"That's impossible..." Cracker muttered, his voice hollow. "That's King the Wildfire—one of Kaido's Three Disasters! How could he end up like a beaten dog?!"

Ron hovered in the air above their ship, his presence dominating the scene. His voice, cold and detached, carried across the waves:

"You're with Big Mom's crew, aren't you? You've seen enough. Isn't it time to leave?"

The pirates aboard the Big Mom ship broke into cold sweats, the weight of Ron's presence pressing heavily on their shoulders. None dared respond to his words.

Ron's tone darkened, his sharp words cutting through their silence:

"Or... do you intend to make an enemy of me?"

The moment he finished speaking, an overwhelming killing intent surged from Ron, blanketing the entire ship. The suffocating aura left even Cracker, a Sweet Commander of Big Mom's crew, feeling as if his very bones were shaking.

"Minister Cracker, maybe we should retreat..." one of the crew members whispered, his voice filled with panic.

"Yes, it's better to leave now," another added. "Katakuri warned us not to engage Ron directly."

"Let's wait for a better opportunity," a third chimed in.

Cracker clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Ron above. After a long, tense moment, he exhaled sharply and made his decision.

"Fine. Fall back—for now."

Relief washed over the crew as Cracker issued his order. Without hesitation, they began retreating from the area, the ship's sails unfurling to carry them swiftly away.

Once Cracker's ship disappeared beyond Ron's Observation Haki, he let his killing intent dissipate and flew back toward the heavily damaged floating ship.

"Ron!"

"Captain!"

"Master!"

Kuina, Robin, Conis, Bonney, Enzo, and even the cloud fox Su, all greeted him with visible relief and joy.

But as they noticed King hanging limply in Ron's grasp, their expressions darkened. Hatred and anger flickered in their eyes as they were reminded of what had transpired.

"Master!" Enzo, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, ran toward Ron and hugged his leg tightly, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I'd never see you again! Waaaah!"

"That bastard!" Bonney seethed, her fists clenched as she glared at King. "He nearly killed all of us! And for what? We didn't even provoke him!"

"Yeah," Kuina agreed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Ron, why would someone from the Beasts Pirates come after us?"

Robin's gaze was no less intense, her usual composure replaced by a rare display of fury.

Ron dropped King's limp body onto the broken deck with a thud. His voice was calm, but his words carried a weight that silenced everyone.

"Doflamingo made a deal with Kaido."

"What kind of deal?" Kuina asked, her brows furrowed.

"A deal to have Kaido send King after us," Ron explained. "King is one of the few who can fight effectively in the sky. He was sent to ensure our destruction."

The crew exchanged glances, their anger only growing stronger.

Bonney sneered. "So, Doflamingo's grudge reached Kaido, huh? Typical of that bastard."

Kuina tightened her grip on her swords, her determination burning anew. "No matter who sent him, we survived—and next time, we'll be ready."

Ron remained silent, his expression unreadable. He gazed at King's broken form before turning his attention to his battered ship and weary crew.

"It's over now," he said softly. "You're all safe. Rest and recover. I'll handle the rest."

His words, spoken with calm authority, filled the crew with reassurance. Even amidst their exhaustion and the ship's dire state, they couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope.

The truth about their situation was something Ron had forced out of King during their brutal clash.

"Doflamingo? Why would he go to such lengths to target us?" Conis asked, confusion evident on her face. "We've never provoked him."

"It's probably still because of me," Ron replied, his voice laced with guilt.

"Because of my actions, all of you ended up in such danger. If I'd come back sooner... maybe this wouldn't have happened."

Hearing the self-reproach in his voice, the women around him panicked.

"Captain, don't say that!" Conis quickly interjected. "This wasn't your fault at all. It's that vile Doflamingo's doing!"

"Exactly!" Bonney chimed in, her voice firm. "Without you, we wouldn't even be alive right now!"

Robin nodded in agreement. "I don't think this has anything to do with you, Ron. The New World is full of dangers, and we knew what we were stepping into."

The atmosphere was heavy with mixed emotions, but Kuina's frustration boiled to the surface.

"In the end, it's because we're still too weak," Kuina muttered through gritted teeth, her gaze locked on the mangled King in Ron's grasp. Her voice trembled with both anger and determination. "If we were stronger—strong enough to protect this ship—then even without you, we wouldn't have ended up like this."

The others, including Enzo, couldn't help but clench their fists in silent agreement.

The battle on Drum Island had given them confidence, but the overwhelming power of King had completely shattered it. For the first time, they truly understood the gap between themselves and the true monsters of the New World.

If they didn't grow stronger, incidents like this would keep happening again and again.

Ron could feel the shift in their emotions, the unspoken frustration and resolve brewing among them. His grip on King's skull tightened, the sound of bones creaking under the pressure echoing across the deck. Blood began to trickle from King's head, his eyes bulging as if they might pop out at any moment.

"Is he dead?" Robin asked hesitantly.

"No," Ron replied calmly. "As a Zoan Devil Fruit user, especially one with an Ancient Zoan, his life force is incredibly tenacious."

He glanced down at King, his tone cold and unyielding.

"I'll make sure Kaido sees me crush his skull with my own hands."

"W-What?!"

The women around him froze in shock, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"You're going to Kaido?" Robin's usually calm voice wavered as she processed his words.

Ron's expression didn't waver. "Killing King isn't enough to calm the anger I feel right now. Doflamingo is dead, and the only one left who can satiate my rage... is Kaido himself."

His declaration left the entire crew stunned.

"That Heavenly Yaksha, Doflamingo... he's dead?" Bonney asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yeah," Ron said flatly. "I killed him myself. The Donquixote family is gone."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.

The women stared at him, their minds racing. He had only been gone for a single day, yet he had killed one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, all while evading two Marine Admirals.

Just how many impossible feats does our captain plan to accomplish?

"I'll take you and the ship somewhere safe first," Ron said as he surveyed the damage to the Traveler. "Then I'll deal with Kaido."

With that, he began guiding the heavily damaged ship through the skies, flying toward his intended destination.

...

Half a Day Later

After hours of travel, Ron finally located the place he had been searching for, a location marked on his map.

Zou.

An island that was, in truth, a colossal, ancient elephant carrying an entire civilization on its back.

The sight of the massive creature, its legs descending into the sea, its back shrouded in mist, left the crew momentarily breathless.

"We're here," Ron said calmly. "This is where we'll rest and prepare."

The crew looked out at the towering figure of Zou, a mix of awe and anticipation rising in their hearts. This was not just a sanctuary—it was the next step in their journey to become stronger, to face the trials of the New World head-on.

As Ron guided the heavily damaged Traveler to land atop the mist-shrouded back of the giant elephant, Zou, the moment his feet touched the ground, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Host's current location—Zou. Conditions for sign-in met. Proceed to sign in for rewards?]

"Sign in."

[Ding! Sign-in successful. Rewards granted: +10 Vitality Points. Unlock: Advanced Armament Haki Technique—Flowing Sakura (Ryuo).]

In an instant, a flood of knowledge about Armament Haki surged into Ron's mind. It was as though a key had been inserted into the locked gates of understanding that had always blocked his progress.

The barrier was gone.

Ron felt his perception shift, his mastery of Armament Haki evolving to a new level. He took a deep breath, steadying the rush of enlightenment flowing through him.

His Haki now moved freely, flowing across every fiber of his being as easily as petals caught in a breeze. The sensation was both empowering and exhilarating.

[Armament Haki Level 7!]

"So this is the Flowing Sakura stage," Ron murmured, a faint smile curling his lips.

The breakthrough left no doubt in his mind: his power had grown exponentially. Even without testing it, he could feel the raw strength coursing through him—vastly superior to what it had been mere moments ago.

Turning to his crew, Ron addressed them in his usual calm, resolute tone.

"Stay here on this island and wait for me to return."

Without waiting for a response, he gripped King's battered body and leaped into the sky. His silhouette disappeared into the clouds, turning sharply as he accelerated toward his next destination.

The crew stood in silence as Ron vanished into the distance. The weight of his words, his sheer determination, left an indelible impression on each of them.

Kuina clenched her fists, a mixture of worry and admiration flickering in her eyes. "He's... really going to Wano. To face Kaido head-on."

Robin's expression was thoughtful but tinged with concern. "He's resolved. And we all know once Ron sets his mind on something, there's no stopping him."

"But Kaido..." Bonney muttered, her voice shaky. "He's one of the Four Emperors."

"It's Ron," Conis said, her tone firm despite her injuries. "He'll come back. He always does."

Enzo nodded, still wrapped in bandages. "Master is the strongest! He'll win for sure!"

The crew exchanged glances, their collective resolve hardening. While they couldn't join him now, they knew what they had to do—train, grow stronger, and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Ron had given them hope, but it was up to them to become strong enough to stand by his side.

...

High Above the Clouds, Ron's figure cut through the skies like an arrow, the battered form of King still dangling from his grip. His expression was calm, yet the rage simmering beneath the surface was undeniable.

The newly acquired Flowing Sakura technique coursed through his veins, a silent testament to his growth.

Kaido.

The man who sent King to destroy his crew, who dared to stand in his way, would soon face the wrath of the Traveler.

Ron's closed eyes tightened slightly, his grip on King's head growing firmer.

"This time," he murmured to himself, "I'll make sure the world remembers."

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The wind howled around him as he raced toward the next Chapter of his journey, his destination clear and his resolve unshakable.

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