"Is this your strongest move?"
Kaido-Carmelo Linlin gazed up at the enormous black-gold energy sphere plummeting toward her. Only when it neared, just moments before impact, did she truly feel the terrifying force of the Abyssal Collapse.
"I see!"
Boom!!!
The explosion was deafening. Kaido's body and the island itself were utterly consumed by the catastrophic energy of the blast.
In an instant, the entire island was shattered and obliterated, reduced to nothingness!
As Buggy launched the Abyssal Collapse, Gabban, and the others had already retreated miles away, ascending hundreds of meters into the sky.
Woo woo woo...
Rumbling...
The earth-shaking explosion sent violent gusts of wind sweeping across the sky, accompanied by a towering tsunami that surged up a thousand meters. The once-lush island—spanning tens of kilometers in diameter—was now gone from their sight, replaced by an immense, bottomless crater where the island once stood.
For a long moment, not even the sea could reclaim the void left behind.
The massive wave, originally unleashed by the explosion, was pulverized by the aftershocks before rising again, only to be destroyed once more. The sea itself seemed to writhe and twist, alive with ferocious energy.
Lightning cracked across the sky, and the winds howled as though the sky itself was in turmoil.
What was truly astonishing, however, was that despite the sky being consumed by black clouds for kilometers around, the area where Buggy and his crew stood remained eerily calm. Above them, a massive gash in the sky formed, as if the very heavens had been torn open. Sunlight poured through the breach, bathing Buggy and his crew in its warmth.
To the distant onlookers of the Big Mom Pirates, the scene was nothing short of divine. It felt as if they were witnessing a god descending from the heavens!
Minutes passed.
The explosion's fury slowly faded. The winds died down, and the waves finally receded.
The third-largest island in the kingdom, once a bustling part of their territory, had been obliterated in a single moment. The raging seas had yet to fill the immense crater left behind.
At that moment, the entire Buggy Pirates crew was left in awe once again.
Over the past year, each of them had grown significantly stronger. However, none of them expected Buggy's power to be this overwhelming.
If it were an ordinary small island, sure—it would be destroyed, no questions asked. Many of them could do that.
Even Enel had almost obliterated Angel Island—with a single Raigo. But this wasn't just any small island. This was a massive island, tens of kilometers in radius!
Even the enormous islands ranked among the top three in the Sea of Totto land had been wiped out by Buggy's attack!
It was truly unfathomable to everyone. This attack was ruthless beyond belief.
After a long pause, Gabban let out a deep sigh, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he spoke.
"Buggy, you've mastered that technique so well, and you're telling me this is the first time you've used it? You didn't know it could be this powerful?"
Buggy's heart stirred at the question. Had he become the island destroyer of the pirates?
A grin slowly spread across his face as he thought about it, then replied:
"No, I figured it would be about this powerful. Honestly, I planned to drop the Abyssal Collapse on Mary Geoise on the Red Line for my first go. Didn't think I'd be using it here. But for fulfilling Linlin's last wish, I didn't see any harm in it. Besides, it's given me more confidence in my abilities."
The crew stood in stunned silence at his words.
"Good grief, Captain! You do think big!"
"Mary Geoise on the Red Line! That's the place my Bullet follows! Hahahaha, I love it!"
"Insane! You're all insane! Just don't forget to take me with you when that happens!"
"This is the spirit of the true King of the World!"
"Hahaha, Rocks back then aimed to attack the Valley of the Gods? What's that even about? If we're going to fight, let's go straight for the Holy Land—Mariejois!"
"Wait, what?! Are you all out of your minds?"
The crew of the Buggy Pirates erupted into wild cheers, clearly thrilled by Buggy's words. They were buzzing with excitement, their voices filling the air as they shared in the thrill of the moment.
Buggy, looking at his rowdy crew, couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head at their sheer chaos.
"Gah!" he exclaimed with a grin.
At that moment, a carefree news bird flew out of the storm and landed on Buggy's shoulder, letting out a loud cry.
Buggy tilted his head, meeting the bird's gaze as it tilted its own, staring at him with curious eyes. The corner of his mouth twitched in confusion, and he couldn't help but mutter, "Morgans?"
"Gah?" The news bird tilted its head, perplexed.
The crew erupted in laughter at the exchange.
Buggy's expression soured, his arms crossing in irritation. "Do I really look that gullible, you feathered menace? You show up here, claiming to help, and then come after the battle is over."
"Huh huh!"
The news bird ignored him entirely, now preoccupied with combing the water droplets off its feathers, its head down as it worked.
Buggy sighed, realizing Morgan might be listening to the Voice of All Things with his observation haki. Just as he was about to speak again, the bird froze mid-motion, its posture stiffening. It suddenly let out a sharp, unmistakable cry.
"Hahahaha, Buggy, I finally found you!" Morgan's voice boomed through the bird's call. "So, what's the verdict? Did Kaido get wiped out? Honestly, I've had enough of the New World's weather—storms, tsunamis, lightning! I can barely keep my feathers dry!"
The laughter from the Buggy Pirates faltered for a moment before erupting again, louder this time. It took Morgans a while to realize that the crazy weather was the result of Buggy and Kaido's earlier battle. But that was easy to understand.
Morgans, catching his breath, looked toward the piece of news that he controlled, his eyes wide with curiosity. "So, since you're standing there, that means..." He trailed off, awaiting confirmation.
Buggy, still grinning, pointed toward the distant sea, where a massive black hole had formed, the remnants of the destroyed island only half-visible. "Kaido's gone with that island."
RING RING!
Just as the crew's laughter was at its peak, the Den Den Mushi in Buggy's hand suddenly rang.
Buggy answered it, and a familiar voice came from the other side—one that hadn't been heard in a long time.
"Hello Buggy? It's Dragon."
The news bird on Buggy's shoulder immediately turned its head, its eyes locking onto the Den Den Mushi in Buggy's hand with intense focus.
"Hello, it's me. Long time no see," Buggy responded, his attention now on the bird staring at the Den Den Mushi.
The bird didn't seem to notice Buggy's stare. Its eyes remained locked on the Den Den Mushi, unwavering, as if it was waiting for something, its gaze strangely determined.
Buggy didn't say a word, merely locking eyes with the bird, curious to see how long Morgans could keep pretending to be oblivious.
Morgans, realizing he'd been caught in the act, turned the bird's head around to meet Buggy's gaze. Then, with a dramatic flair, he spread his wings wide and said, "Alright, guess I'm off then? Discarded once you're done with me… you're a cruel one, Buggy!"
He let out a laugh, clearly enjoying himself. "I'm going back to work on my manuscript. Today's news is going to give me enough material to write a long press release. The fall of the two emperors of the sea? Headline-worthy. See you later!"
With a final flap of his wings, Morgans flew off, leaving Buggy and the crew behind.
Dragon, who had been waiting patiently, remained silent. After a few moments of watching Morgans disappear into the distance, Buggy finally broke the silence, his grin returning.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Dragon," Buggy said with a chuckle. "That birdman Morgans just had to finish his dramatic exit. It's been a while since we've spoken, so I thought I'd catch you up on what's been happening."
The rest of the Buggy Pirates, their curiosity piqued, listened in. They, too, were eager to hear why the leader of the Revolutionary Army was reaching out at such a pivotal time.
For the past year, the Revolutionary Army had been making waves across the world. The news had been relentless. Eight countries had rebelled against the World Government in what the newspapers were now calling the "Eight Kingdoms Rebellion." It was widely believed that the Revolutionary Army was behind the orchestrated uprising.
The news had rocked the world, causing chaos and panic. The World Government and the Marines had been fully mobilized to suppress the revolts. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop the flames of rebellion from spreading. One country after another raised the banner of defiance, refusing to submit to the World Government's control. For a time, the Marines and the World Government were left scrambling, unable to regain control.
In the underground world, many kings had a good laugh at the Government and Marines' expense. Meanwhile, the reputation of both the World Government and the Marines had taken a massive hit.
It was the first time the Revolutionary Army had made such a bold move, openly declaring war against the World Government. Their resolve was clear: they were ready to fight to the death.
This show of strength had drawn people from all corners of the world to join the Revolutionary Army's cause, strengthening it even further.
It was no wonder that even the Buggy Pirates, with all their bravado, didn't dare underestimate Dragon.
Dragon, ever the quiet observer, didn't respond right away. Instead, he raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I just heard Morgans mention something about the 'fall of the two emperors.' What did he mean by that?"
Buggy nodded calmly, his smile widening as he prepared to drop the bombshell. "I killed the Four Emperors—Charlotte Linlin and Kaido—today."
"Ooooh!!!"
Before Dragon could respond, a collective gasp of disbelief echoed from the other side of the Den Den Mushi, where the Buggy Pirates were listening in.
It quickly became clear that Dragon wasn't the only one on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. The gasps that followed Buggy's words were layered, indicating that multiple people were listening in on the conversation.
Dragon, too, was stunned for a moment before responding, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You just said... did you kill both Kaido and Big Mom? Today?"
"To be precise," Buggy added with a grin, "just now."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "No surprise, though. You'll see the news tomorrow."
Dragon let out a long, exasperated breath. "I thought you wouldn't be fighting for a while, especially with Kaido and Big Mom still around. But here we are, and you've taken them both down within a year. Looks like my decision was right."
Buggy raised an eyebrow. "Your decision? What decision?"
The other members of the Buggy Pirates, eavesdropping on the conversation, exchanged confused glances. They hadn't expected such a deep connection between Buggy and Dragon. Had they known each other this well?
Bullet and the others began to piece things together. Dragon was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, after all. No wonder he could deduce so much from just a few details. Their minds, admittedly, didn't quite match up to his level of analysis.
Dragon continued, his voice calm but resolute. "It seems the time is drawing near for you to make your move against the World Government."
At this, the crew's eyes widened. So, Dragon had already guessed Buggy's next move, and it was clear he knew more than just the surface-level details.
Buggy leaned back, his smile widening. "You're right. You've figured it out, haven't you?"
But as soon as Buggy asked the question, the Den Den Mushi went silent for several seconds. This pause left everyone on edge. Was Dragon struggling to answer? Had he reconsidered?
Then, when Dragon spoke again, his voice was serious, and the words he chose stunned the entire crew.
After a long, deliberate breath, Dragon finally said, "Buggy… after much discussion within the Revolutionary Army, we've decided... we will join your Crimson Empire."
The moment the words left Dragon's mouth, the Buggy Pirates erupted in shock.
"What?!"
The crew could hardly believe what they had just heard. Dragon had just declared that the Revolutionary Army was aligning itself with Buggy's empire. But there was something even more perplexing about it—did this mean the Revolutionary Army was officially joining the Buggy Pirates? Was there even a difference?
It wasn't like Zephyr, who had joined in a more formal, respectable manner. Dragon was a completely different breed, and this alliance wasn't just a power shift—it was a game-changer.
The crew couldn't help but exchange bewildered looks. Bullet, who normally liked to keep his emotions in check, was visibly stunned. This was not what any of them had expected.
Buggy's grin widened as he processed the monumental declaration.
One of the most formidable forces in the world, a man who wielded emperor-level combat power and commanded the only organization daring enough to challenge the World Government head-on, suddenly declared that he wanted to join Buggy's side. The shock was almost palpable.
Even Buggy, who usually maintained a sense of composure in the face of most surprises, found himself momentarily stunned.
But he quickly regained his focus, furrowing his brow as he spoke, his voice low and serious. "Dragon... you know what you're saying, right?"
"Of course!" Dragon's voice was unwavering, filled with certainty. "This decision comes after discussions with all the key figures in the Revolutionary Army."
He took a deep breath, his words carrying the weight of conviction. "You may not fully realize the extent of your influence, Buggy. We want you to become the heart and soul of the Revolutionary Army. You may not know it, but over the past year, your ideals, your vision, your proclamations have spread like wildfire across the world."
Dragon paused, his gaze intense. "People everywhere are rallying to your cause. They've begun to see your dream as their own. If it weren't for your influence, if it weren't for the way you've inspired them, we would never have seen the kind of success we did with the Eight Kingdoms Rebellion. It's your program, your dream, that sparked it all."
Buggy's crew listened in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on their leader.
Dragon's tone grew fiercer, his voice brimming with passion. "We've been in discussions about this for some time. We wanted to see the true nature of your Crimson Empire to witness your dreams in action. What we've seen—your pragmatic, grounded approach—has inspired us. It's lit a fire in the hearts of the Revolutionary Army, Buggy."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before delivering the final declaration.
"So, at this moment, Buggy, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, and the countless soldiers who fight for freedom all over the world, we are asking you to join your Scarlet Empire. Together, let's overthrow this corrupt world once and for all!"
By the end of his speech, Dragon's voice had risen to a near shout, his words echoing with a fervor that filled the room.
Gabban, Bullet, Enel, and Doringo exchanged looks, their usual grins replaced with solemn expressions. There was a palpable intensity in the air, a surge of adrenaline that pulsed through them.
Overthrow the World Government…
As expected of you, Dragon.
First, his captain sought to become the king of the world. Then, he joined the Revolutionary Army, an organization bent on overthrowing a world government that had ruled for over eight hundred years.
The world was becoming increasingly interesting.
The Buggy Pirates were electrified, a surge of excitement rising from within their ranks, as though a flame had been kindled at the core of their beings.
After several seconds of silence on Buggy's side, a slow smile curled at the corner of his mouth. Then, with renewed confidence, he spoke.
"Then welcome to the team. From this day forward, we are comrades."
He spoke with the weight of someone who knew their purpose. "We're not here to create chaos—we're here to take control. The World Government has ruled this world with an iron fist for far too long, and it's time to end that. We'll rebuild, bring order, and create a world where freedom reigns. We will stand as kings, not pirates and criminals."
"Down with the decay, rise up with freedom!!!"
"Down with the decay, rise up with freedom!!!"
"Down with the decay, rise up with freedom!!!"
The den den mushi's mouth was filled with the sound of fanatical excitement from Dragon and his comrades.
Buggy, who initially just wanted to deal a crushing blow to the World Government, now found himself more confident than ever. With Dragon and the Revolutionary Army joining forces, the world under his control would soon be stabilized.
As for the Five Elders—the so-called "War Gods"—Buggy paid them no mind. Based on his judgment, their strength was no more than emperor-level, and he had at least two warriors of that caliber on his team. With Dragon's joining, there was no reason to feel threatened.
Furthermore, Buggy had powerful allies. Hawkeye and Shanks, two top-tier imperial combatants, were on his side. Compared to those so-called "War Gods," the strength of Buggy's partners was undeniable—far stronger, no question.
But his ultimate goal had always been clear: the woman sitting atop the throne of the world.
Nerona Imu.
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