You're a Brute, Aren't You Afraid of Death? I Am!

The Holy Lord was absolutely furious.
He had been minding his own business, enjoying a drink at the bar and finally catching his breath.
And you dared to come over and throw a kick?
On what grounds?
Just because I took on the appearance of an honest-looking man?
The Holy Lord’s crimson pupils locked onto Blackbeard and his crew.
His killing intent almost manifested into substance—evil, overbearing, and so suffocating that they didn't even have the courage to run.
"Captain... what's with this guy?" Burgess asked, his body trembling.
Blackbeard didn't answer. A primal fear welled up in his heart.
This was the most basic human emotion.
Terror.
At this moment, Blackbeard was completely terrified; the arrogance he had when he first stepped into the tavern had vanished.
"I... I apologize. My subordinate offended you unintentionally. I hope you can forgive us," Blackbeard gritted out, forcing each word.
Ron spoke indifferently, "Holy Lord, fighting is prohibited inside the tavern."
The Holy Lord nodded and immediately restrained his killing intent.
He understood Ron's meaning.
No fighting in the tavern, but once they stepped outside, he could do as he pleased.
"We will leave immediately," Blackbeard stood up, making a silent vow in his heart.
From now on, until his strength reached this level, he would never set foot in this tavern again.
No...
He wouldn't even come near this entire area!
Just as Blackbeard turned to leave, Ron said softly:
"Wait a moment."
"Do you have something else, sir?" Blackbeard stopped instantly. He forced a strained smile onto his face and turned around.
Although this tavern owner hadn't made a move and looked more like an ordinary person, the terrifying man next to him followed his every word.
This forced Blackbeard to be extremely wary.
Especially after eating the Yami Yami no Mi, Blackbeard had become even more afraid of dying. He didn't want to die here for no reason.
"The wine has been served. Leave after you finish drinking," Ron said calmly.
"Oh, right. Now it's my turn to extort you. Ten thousand Berries a bottle. That's not too much, is it?"
Blackbeard’s face darkened.
Ten thousand a bottle, and that's not too much?
Damn it, if you didn't become a pirate, it's truly a great loss for the Great Age of Pirates!
Despite his internal reluctance, under Ron's pressure, the five members of the Blackbeard Pirates could only bow their heads and return to the bar.
Learning from their previous mistake, they didn't dare to chug the wine this time. They sipped it slowly.
But even so, as the wine hit their stomachs, it felt like being cut by knives.
An hour later.
The five of them finally finished their bottles, tears nearly welling in their eyes.
"Pay up. Four people, forty thousand Berries total," Ron said with a smile.
Blackbeard and Burgess looked at each other and had to place all the money they had on the bar.
In the end, seeing it wasn't enough, Blackbeard painfully took off the rings on his fingers and the necklaces around his neck, handing them all to Ron. He said with a bitter smile:
"Boss, we really are out of money."
"Fine then. Being a pirate isn't easy for you either. Go on," Ron waved his hand with a smile.
Hearing this, the five of them felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Without hesitation, they bolted out of the tavern as if being chased by ghosts.
"Boss, they've left the shop," the Holy Lord said as he slowly stood up.
Ron gave a soft instruction:
"Killing them is fine, but try not to hurt civilians. It's best to find a place where no one is around."
If Blackbeard had just honestly had a drink and left today, they could have chatted and become acquaintances. After all, the grievances between Ace, Rayleigh, and Blackbeard had nothing to do with Ron.
But since they had pointed a gun at his head, then sorry—they could only be sacrificed to the heavens.
The reason Ron didn't act earlier was entirely because he didn't want to break the rules he had set himself.
At this moment, Rem and Ram ran over from the backyard, looking at Ron with eager eyes.
Since gaining their abilities, besides grilling fish every day, they hadn't had a chance to test them.
"You two go as well. Be careful," Ron reminded them softly.
Rem and Ram lunged into Ron's arms like swallows returning to their nest. "Yes, Master!"
As they spoke, the figures of the Holy Lord, Ram, and Rem immediately blurred as they charged outside.
...
Meanwhile, on a plain far from the tavern.
Blackbeard turned back and saw no one following. He felt the exhilaration of a survivor.
Immediately after, he and his subordinates collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
From the moment they left the tavern, they hadn't dared to stop for a single second, fearing Ron would chase them down with a blade.
"Captain, why should we be afraid of him?" Burgess shook his fist at the sky and said in a deep voice, "If we fought, who knows who would have lived or died!"
Blackbeard’s face turned grim.
"You reckless brute! You might not be afraid of death, but I am!"
Seeing the other crew members also looking indignant, Blackbeard sighed softly:
"Use your brains. If that man has to listen to the tavern owner, have you thought about how strong that owner must be?"
"Remember, everything is ordained by fate. No matter what situation you face, the next second must be about survival!"
To Blackbeard, only by surviving was there hope, and only then would there be a chance to repay today's humiliation.
Burgess and the other three realized the truth and their eyes filled with horror. At the same time, they felt incredibly lucky.
Fortunately, they hadn't rushed in blindly earlier, or they wouldn't even know how they died today.
Just as the five were talking, suddenly...
The temperature on the prairie skyrocketed!
Then, the night sky looked as if a brilliant cluster of fireworks had streaked across it before exploding in mid-air, sending flames raining down toward the ground.
In the next instant, countless dazzling lights flickered in the sky.
Far off, Ram was seen condensing a fireball in her hand, while the ground below began to turn into a sea of fire.
The Holy Lord hovered in mid-air. His already red pupils now glowed with a hint of gold.
Seeing this, Blackbeard immediately stood up and roared, "It's Akainu's Meteor Volcano! Run!"
However, it was too late.
The Holy Lord’s eyes fired two thermal laser beams, reaching Blackbeard’s group almost instantly.
Boom! Boom!
Violent explosions rang out, throwing all of them to the ground.
At this time, the "fireworks" falling from the sky revealed their true form.
They were countless boulders of magma!
Rem had seen Akainu use this move before and was merely imitating it; its power certainly wasn't on par with Akainu's.
Even so, the area of effect was vast, making it impossible for Blackbeard’s group to dodge.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Magma crashed into the earth, incinerating the entire plain.
Meanwhile, the fireball in Ram's hand had finished condensing, and she hurled it fiercely toward Blackbeard’s crew.
Combined with the Holy Lord’s continuous laser bombardment and the magma falling from the sky, the entire Sabaody Archipelago shook violently tonight!
...
At the same time, the residents of Sabaody were terrified.
They all turned their gazes toward the place where the firelight was most brilliant.
"Is Fire Fist Ace fighting Admiral Akainu again?"
"Stop talking nonsense and run! When gods fight, mortals suffer!"
"It's an earthquake! Hide, if you get hit, it's no joke!"
Rayleigh, who was "working hard" at home, saw this and didn't even have time for a final shudder. He hurriedly pulled up his pants and went outside to check the situation.
...
Ron sat at the tavern entrance, looking at the soaring flames in the distance, and said indifferently:
"If Blackbeard survives even this, then he truly has a long life ahead of him."
Yoruichi, resting in his lap, raised her head and protested loudly:
"I don't know if he'll live, but you disturbing someone's beautiful dream is truly too much!"