Ron's eyes narrowed slightly as Smoker's fist shot toward his chest.
It wasn't the strength that surprised him — it was the speed.
A sudden blur, a booming impact —
Bang!
The blow landed squarely on Ron's torso.
To the crowd, it looked as though the man had been frozen in place, taking the hit head-on without even raising an arm.
"Whoa, is that Captain Smoker?"
"Yeah! In Loguetown, he never misses!"
"Wait… that guy didn't even move? Is he frozen from fear?"
Spectators gathered quickly, whispering with excitement.
But then…
Smoker's expression twisted.
He pulled back, clutching his hand.
His knuckles throbbed with pain — pain from a strike that should have shattered bones.
His target, however, hadn't even flinched.
Zoro chuckled from the sidelines, a blade of grass hanging lazily from his lips.
"Don't waste your breath, Captain," he said with amusement.
"Ron's body's tougher than iron. Even Mihawk's black sword — Yoru — wouldn't scratch him."
Smoker froze, his disbelief visible.
"What nonsense is that supposed to be?"
The world's strongest swordsman — unable to wound this man? Impossible.
Zoro shrugged. "You can always test it yourself."
Ron sighed softly, shaking his head.
"Zoro… I told you, low profile."
Then, with a teasing smirk, he looked at Smoker.
"Come now, Captain. You're not going to stop there, are you? Or have you lost your nerve already?"
Smoker's jaw clenched.
"Afraid? Don't insult me!"
His temper — famous across East Blue — flared to life.
He lunged again.
Like a wild beast breaking free, his movements turned into blurs of white smoke and raw power.
Each strike crashed into Ron's frame — a storm of fists, fast and furious.
The air shuddered.
But it was like punching a mountain.
Ron didn't even sway.
He simply stood there, a faint smile curving on his lips.
Then —
A sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
"Host has witnessed the Marine Technique: Six Styles — Shave (Mastered)."
"Congratulations! Body has now comprehended Shave (Master Level)!"
Ron's smile widened slightly.
"So that's what it was," he thought.
"The secret behind his speed — the Marine Six Styles' 'Shave' technique."
No wonder the movement had felt so familiar.
Now it was his to use.
From the crowd, gasps rose.
"Wait— is he… smiling?"
"Captain Smoker's punches don't even budge him!"
Even Zoro and Tashigi exchanged a look.
The difference in strength was undeniable.
To Ron, it was as if Smoker's furious assault were little more than an impatient breeze.
"Damn it!"
Smoker gritted his teeth and leapt back, breathing hard.
He'd wanted to defeat Ron without relying on his Devil Fruit — to prove his strength came from his fists alone.
But now, under the eyes of the public, his pride was cracking.
The ache in his knuckles reminded him who had come out worse.
Tashigi looked between them, eyes wide.
"This… this can't be real. Why does it look like Captain Smoker's the one being beaten?"
Her words carried honest confusion — and, beneath it, admiration.
"The man's incredible," she whispered.
Ron's amused gaze drifted back to his opponent.
"Come now," he said. "Surely you've got more than that."
He smiled faintly. "Right now, your fists feel like feathers."
The provocation hit home.
Smoker's anger ignited again.
"Don't underestimate me!" he roared.
White smoke burst from his body like a storm.
His arms and legs dissolved into swirling vapor, coiling and snapping like serpents in midair.
"White Punch!"
The smoke struck from every direction — dozens of tendrils hammering toward Ron at once.
Whish—whish—whish!
The air crackled with sound, the blows overlapping in a blur.
But still — Ron didn't move.
Each strike passed through with no visible effect.
To the crowd, it looked surreal — like Smoker was shadowboxing against thin air.
Even Tashigi found herself frowning.
"His Smoke-Smoke Fruit… feels so weak all of a sudden," she muttered under her breath.
Ron didn't reply. He just looked faintly amused.
"Damn it, Tashigi!" Smoker shouted.
Her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "S-sorry, sir! I didn't mean— uh— You can do it, Captain! Catch that criminal!"
Zoro's jaw twitched.
Ron just gave a slow blink.
Smoker himself froze mid-attack.
The silence that followed almost made Tashigi sink through the floor.
But her awkward outburst had one effect — it snapped Smoker back into focus.
He exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing.
Enough games.
If brute force couldn't bring Ron down — then he'd use his fruit to suffocate him.
In an instant, the air filled with thick, white fog.
Smoker's body melted completely into smoke, swirling and closing in around Ron like a living cage.
"Even with that monster's body," Smoker's voice echoed coldly through the haze,
"you still have to breathe."
The white mist tightened, cutting off air, light, and sight.
For the first time, the crowd fell silent.
Inside that swirling dome of smoke — it was impossible to tell who would emerge alive.
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