Chapter 329

If they truly wanted to challenge Ron, they could have waited half a year.

In that case, Ron could have picked a match date that was still half a year out, so he'd have plenty of time. 

But no matter which alternative Ron proposed, the challenger refused. They insisted on an immediate match.

Even the TST member Doppo tried to intervene, but the challenger refused to listen. Nina, on Ron's behalf, also attempted negotiations, but he just wouldn't budge.

> "I don't care what your reasons are. 

> "I'm following the rules and challenging you fair and square. 

> "If you're so scared of losing, then forfeit. 

> "Otherwise, you can't refuse me. 

> "You must be deliberately stalling to hold on to your Floor Master seat. 

> "But dream on—I'm demanding to fight you, Ron!"

This person believed Ron might not be so strong after all, so he thought he had a decent chance to win. Plus, Ron had the "boy genius" reputation that still gave him a lot of attention in Heaven's Arena; even after so many years of absence, no new "young prodigy" had overshadowed him. So the challenger was certain that fighting Ron would bring huge notoriety, whether he won or lost.

In the end, Ron was forced to accept the match. And that's why, once in the ring, Ron killed him

 Ron doesn't like killing gratuitously—being an assassin is a job, and "work without pay, is overtime", which he'd had enough of in a previous life. Yet this person managed to infuriate him enough that Ron ended it on the spot.

His opponent, mortally wounded, tried to beg for mercy, but Ron showed no sympathy.

> "If following the rules is so important, then killing you here in the ring is also within the rules. 

> "You're not wrong; I'm not wrong either. 

> "It's a win-win. 

> "Isn't everyone happy with this outcome?"

Afterward, Ron looked up at his eighth Nen Beast, then dismissed it with a thought.

---

"My three years in the Sahelta Union took a lot longer than I expected," Ron mused. 

"But that time wasn't all wasted." 

"After creating Uchiha Sasuke, my core self lagged behind my beasts again. Over these three years, I've caught up—continually training my body, polishing my martial arts, improving my overall Nen mastery."

"I've reached B-level now, as my base. A higher-end B-level, actually. Without calling on my beasts, just my own Nen Bullet, fighting technique, and advanced Nen skills, I can hold my own against many B-level users."

"And because I've strengthened myself, my other beasts have improved too."

1. Chii — B-level. 

 - Combat ability is still rather ordinary. She's specialized in network tech, which has grown stronger.

2. Lampent— B-level. 

 - Turbid Mist has become much more potent.

3. Hanma Baki — B-level. 

 - His physical power has increased.

4. Natsu — A-level. 

 - Beyond getting stronger, he unlocked an ultimate form: 

 "Heavenly Fiend-Clad Armor" in which the full power of Rashomon transforms into armor around Natsu. 

 - This drastically increases his defence. In Bungou Stray Dogs, Akutagawa's own weak constitution limited him against heavy impacts, but Natsu's Dragon Slayer body handles it perfectly. 

 - This mode consumes huge amounts of aura, yet grants overwhelming destructive power.

5. Uchiha Sasuke — B-level. 

 - But a high B-level, compared to Chii, Lampent, and Hanma Baki who are mid-lower B. Sasuke's offense can reach A-level potential, while his defense is weaker. 

 - Paired with Natsu, Sasuke can stay back, wait for an opening, and strike with extreme force—an ideal combo.

"But the biggest changes are in Killer Queen," Ron continued.

- Now at B-level Killer Queen has gained a new ability:

Withering Heart Bomb

A projectile launched from Killer Queen's right forearm that auto-tracks its target by homing in on heat signatures. The stronger the target's heat, the stronger the resultant explosion. The bomb is also extremely durable to standard attacks.

Weakness: If another source of heat surpasses the intended target's, the projectile may get distracted, veer off, and detonate elsewhere.

Hence, perfect timing and positioning are critical; otherwise, it might fail to hit the original mark and waste a large chunk of Ron's aura.

And finally, "Akame" — also B-level.

This was the eighth Nen Beast Ron forged in the Sahelta Union, complete with her Murasame sword, whose one-strike kill is less poison and more akin to a curse. 

Because this instant-kill effect is so powerful, there are considerable constraints via vow and condition on Akame's raw stats. She's weaker than Natsu in a direct fight, but her Murasame is extremely broken—if it lands a proper slash, the victim dies.

The synergy of these various conditions explains why she isn't as physically strong as Natsu. Fiola Kingdom (source of Natsu's traits) and the Sahelta State (source of Akame's traits) are roughly on the same tier of "setting strength." But "Fairy Tail" as a world is arguably more powerful than "Akame ga Kill," so Akame's raw power is comparatively lower. Yet her one-hit-kill stands out as even more terrifying.