The door of space materialized, and Buggy made his grand entrance. However, it wasn't just Buggy who emerged; trailing behind him was a prominent figure in the world of News, the underground king, and President of the World Economics newspaper, News King Morgans!
Morgans, stepping out alongside Buggy, was taken aback by the bizarre battle below. Even Buggy, witnessing the spectacle beneath them, couldn't help but marvel at the Empress's incredible abilities.
Beneath them, a vast portion of the forest had succumbed to petrification, transforming into a myriad of bizarre stone statues. The petrification didn't spare the Marine soldiers, nor did it spare Momonga and the PX pacifistas. It seemed that everything and everyone within the battle's aftermath, except for Admiral Green Bull, had been petrified. Yes, even the warships!
The petrification's reach extended slowly outward, encompassing an expanding area that had already spread several kilometres. Yet, there was an anomaly amidst this chaos. The region where Aramaki stood remained lush with vibrant greenery and flowers while towering trees still loomed behind him.
Aramaki himself had transformed into a colossal treat. Countless vines and roots whirled around him, their front ends covered in a protective layer of Haki. Aramaki had utilized these defences to confront the Empress earlier, though he had never anticipated the extent of her terrifying powers. Were it not for his Haki, stronger than that of the Empress, he might have succumbed to petrification.
On the surface, it appeared as though Hancock held the upper hand, but her previous attacks exacted a tremendous toll on her stamina. In previous clashes, she had suffered injuries, evident from the blood at the corner of her mouth and numerous wounds inflicted by the relentless branches.
Nevertheless, she maintained her poise, grace, and regal demeanour. After a few deep breaths, she fixed an indifferent gaze on Aramaki in the distance and spoke, "Admiral, do you wish to continue this battle? Understand this – even if you were to defeat me, it would avail you nothing. My demise would be equally futile. Unless I willingly reverse the petrification, your Marines, along with the vice Admiral and pacifistas, will remain as statues. Are you prepared to sacrifice these people?"
"Damn woman!" Aramaki was vexed, and after a moment of silence, he looked toward Amazon Lily, concealed behind the forest, and sneered, "Hahaha! Very well, Pirate Empress. If you refuse to release the petrification and surrender to me today, I shall not hesitate to target the citizens of Amazon Lily!"
"After all, your nation is comprised of pirates. Located in the Calm Belt, where none dare venture, so even if I lay waste to it, none shall know of my deeds. You have one minute to contemplate your decision. If you do not willingly release my subordinates from their petrified state, I shall storm in and annihilate Amazon Lily! You've battled me for long enough; you must be aware that my abilities are perfectly suited for such endeavours – the annihilation of entire islands. Hahahaha!"
At the climax, Aramaki, now a colossal treant, burst into maniacal laughter.
This time, it was the Pirate Queen's turn to be taken aback. She stared at Aramaki in disbelief and uttered, "Are you truly the Marine Admiral? Daring to employ ordinary lives as leverage against a pirate? Hehehe, Marine Admiral." The Empress scoffed with disdain.
However, she no longer harboured any intentions of confrontation, and the petrification gradually began to recede, starting from the soles of their feet. When her adversary threatened the lives of all of Amazon Lily's inhabitants, she found herself with no choice but to comply obediently. After all, with the Green Bull's horrifying devil fruit power wiping out Amazon Lily would be effortless.
"Hahahaha!" Aramaki continued to laugh uproariously at the scene.
"What Admiral Sakazuki said is correct. In the name of justice, anything can be sacrificed! Furthermore, didn't you all claim to be Amazon Lily's soldiers? Now that they've aligned themselves with Kuja Pirates, it only makes sense for me to dismantle the nation, doesn't it? Don't waste any time; release my subordinates from their petrification! Yes, that's it. Then, put on the Seastone handcuffs voluntarily! You're nothing more than a mere pirate. Hahaha____"
Observing Aramaki's audacious behaviour, Morgan, flying above, was utterly flabbergasted. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Were these the words of a Marine Admiral?
Threatening a pirate with the lives of an entire island's civilians? It was utterly absurd, and had he not witnessed it before, Morgan would have found it impossible to believe that such words could come from the mouth of a Marine Admiral. At that moment, it felt as though the world had been turned upside down.
It appeared that, in this bizarre twist of events, the Pirate Empress was the voice of logic, while the Green Bull across from her was cast as the malevolent pirate. The irony was almost too much to bear.
Tap!
Just as Morgan grappled with the shocking turn of events, Buggy suddenly tapped his shoulder, and when he turned to look, he saw Buggy holding a conch-like device.
"This is a tool that records and plays back sound. It's from Sky Island. Everything the Green Bull just said is on this device, a keepsake for you. After all, this may be his final words. I'll be on my way now." Buggy's clown makeup twisted into a sinister smile, sending chills down Morgan's spine.
"What did you mean? Possibly his final words?" Morgan pondered, then quickly took out a Den Den Mushi and began recording.
Whoosh! As Morgan raised the Den Den Mushi, he felt a sudden rush of movement around him. In the next instant, he found Buggy standing before the colossal tree-man that was once Green Bull Aramaki.
"Boom!" Before the Green Bull could react, a fist crackling with platinum, black, and three-colour lightning struck his face, shattering the giant treant into pieces. The colossal figure, towering tens of meters high, was sent hurtling backwards, carving a deep ravine hundreds of meters long in the heart of the forest.
"Hancock, I hope I haven't arrived too late," Morgan declared.
Buggy ascended into the air, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He turned his head to fix his gaze upon the astonished Empress Boa Hancock, whose beautiful eyes had widened in disbelief not far away.
"You... how did you end up here?" stuttered Hancock, her words faltering. A sudden blush flushed her cheeks, a flustered reaction unlike any seen since Aramaki had threatened to destroy Amazon Lily.
Buggy, shrugging indifferently, replied, "Hehe, it was Gloriosa who reached out to me. She got my contact from Sister Shakky. I couldn't refuse such a charming lady's request, not to mention the opportunity to meet the world's most beautiful woman. So, here I am."
"Sister Shakky and that old woman..," Hancock began to say, her expression shifting between surprise, shyness, and a hint of anger, forming a distinctive fan-shaped expression.
"It's God Slayer Buggy!!!" Kuja Pirates girls who were observing the battle from a boulder at the back screamed in unison when they witnessed Buggy pummeling Aramaki.
"Yo, how are you, beauties?" Buggy turned his head, waved to the members of the Kuja Pirates behind him, and flashed a charming smile.
Interrupted by the commotion, Hancock eventually collected herself from the initial shock and surprise. Her cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue, and she couldn't bring herself to meet Buggy's eyes. She tilted her head and said, "Thank you for your assistance. Amazon Lily won't forget this kindness. If it weren't for your timely intervention, I might have had no choice but to follow their demands."
"It's no big deal; what comes next doesn't concern you, Kuja Pirates," Buggy replied with a faint smile. "Finally ran into a Marine Admiral, just had to take him out to lower the World Government's morale."
"God Slayer Buggy!" Aramaki, at that moment, recognized his assailant from afar and strained to speak through his pain. "How... could you be here? Damn it!"
Buggy shrugged nonchalantly. "The world's a vast place; I can't be confined to one spot. No need to explain much to you, though, you're as good as gone."
Buggy extended his hands and continued, "Remember the words you spoke earlier? This is the Calm Belt; ordinary folks can't intrude here, and your subordinates are back to being statues. Once I dispatch you and eliminate the evidence, no one will ever know."
At Buggy's words, laughter erupted among the Kuja Pirates behind him. The Green Bull's expression darkened, and he stared coldly at Buggy before letting out an enraged roar. "You want to kill me? It depends on whether you have the ability! Mori Mori no Sea of Trees!"
With a snap, Aramaki's hands clapped together, and a surge of energy enveloped his entire body. The forest that had remained untouched by the Empress's petrification suddenly came to life.
In an instant, these living colossal trees started to grow rapidly, and countless roots surged towards Buggy. What was most astonishing was the presence of Armament Haki on the tips of these roots.
Aramaki's barrage didn't stop there; he clapped his hands again, shouting various commands.
Many of the roots bearing down on Buggy transformed into enormous fists, several meters in diameter, each adorned with a layer of Armament Haki, exuding formidable power.
And Buggy? He had his work cut out for him.
"Ahhh! Be cautious, Mr. Buggy!" the Kuja Pirates cried out in concern.
"This guy is unbelievable! Didn't you go all out when fighting big sister?"
"Isn't this the true might of a Marine Admiral?"
"Hmph! You don't understand. Big sister, She lacks the devil fruit's awakening."
"Yes, when her devil fruit power is awakened. She can turn an entire island to stone!"
Aramaki's actions were undeniably terrifying. It seemed that awakening was truly necessary for devil fruit users. The forest within dozens of kilometres now appeared to be an extension of Aramaki. A continuous surge of energy flowed into Aramaki's body, then converged into the sea of trees hurtling toward Buggy.
Regardless of the Kuja Pirates' cries, Buggy remained nonchalant with his hands in his pockets, gazing coolly at the oncoming sea of trees. This alarmed the Empress, who shouted nervously from behind, "Mr. Buggy, hide! The Haki contained in this is too formidable!"
"No worries," came Buggy's calm reply. "It's just rubble, not even half as good as me."
"Boom, boom, boom!" As he spoke, Buggy was engulfed by the colossal sea of trees. Countless roots, imbued with Armament Haki, pierced into Buggy, while massive black wooden fists descended from the sky.
Witnessing this, the Empress involuntarily covered her mouth, her sapphire eyes filled with worry.
"Hahahaha, Buggy the clown! You're being careless!" Araki exclaimed, seeing Buggy surrounded by his attacks. "Trapped within my sea of trees, you'll never escape, crushed to death by endless assaults! Death awaits you! Those so-called Godslayers! The Four Emperors! Today will meet his demise at my hands!" Aramaki roared with exhilaration.
As Aramaki roared, countless vine fists swirled around him, exuding an overflow of Haki, giving him the appearance of a demon god.
Terrifying!
Furthermore, under his influence, the numerous trees around them reacted with excitement, swaying their branches, leaves, and roots in unison. This terrifying and awe-inspiring display sent shivers down onlookers' spines.
It could only be said that if the Sand-Sand Fruit were not Forest Forest Fruit's nemesis, this terrifying spectacle might have taken place at Punk Hazard, and it would have been Green Bull Aramaki's grand performance.
Yet, Aramaki couldn't help but feel regretful when he resumed his performance. Today, he encountered Four Emperor Buggy alone, and he felt as if history were repeating itself: "Kill Buggy! Slaughter the Yonko! Make history today!"
However, in the next moment, Green Bull Aramaki's expression froze, and he gaped in disbelief at the sea of trees several kilometres away.
"Chi, chi, chi, chi!" As countless tentacles, all imbued with Armament Haki reached towards Buggy, they shattered effortlessly within a two-meter radius of his body, reduced to mere splinters by a faint platinum halo. Buggy hadn't even altered his posture; he remained placid with his hands in his pockets, watching the spectacle dispassionately.
"Green Bull, do you wish to continue?"
A wicked smile crept across Buggy's lips, a grin that exuded a sense of recklessness and unrestraint. "Then, continue to demonstrate your worth! If this is all you have, it's not nearly enough – not even close! Aramaki! Please me with your madness!"
As Buggy's laughter resonated, the platinum halo surrounding his body initially spanned a mere two meters, but it rapidly expanded to four meters, then eight, then sixteen meters... In a matter of breaths, the circle of radiant platinum had grown to hundreds of meters in radius. Trees nearby were reduced to endless splinters by its expansion.
Then, with a snap of Buggy's fingers, the fragments of those shattered trees reconstituted themselves within moments, transforming into a fresh wave of vines and colossal tree fists, all imbued with Armament Haki and surged towards the Green Bull.
"What! How is this possible?!" Green Bull Araki's eyes widened, his treant-like visage reflecting shock and disbelief. "How can you wield my power? It's impossible, utterly impossible!"
"Boom, boom, boom!" In the next instant, the two titanic tree surges collided, creating a thunderous explosion.
At the moment of collision, Buggy slowly parted his clasped hands, revealing a white-gold ball of light the size of a human head in his palms.
In the distance, the Green Bull seemed to sense an impending catastrophe. "No!" his desperate cry echoed as he rapidly contracted his massive treant form, attempting to evade the impending strike amid the forest of trees.
"Atomic Crush!"
Unperturbed by the Green Bull's frantic movements, Buggy calmly thrust the orb of light outward, locking onto Aramaki.
In the following moment, the luminous sphere shot forth, instantaneously transforming into a colossal white beam several meters in diameter. It pierced through the still-battling tree waves in the blink of an eye, tearing a gaping hole in their centre.
"No!!!" The Green Bull's desperate cry echoed once more as the white-gold radiance struck him directly.
Rumbling. Subsequently, a colossal mushroom cloud surged into the sky, the devastating explosion flattening everything within several kilometres. Countless trees disintegrated into dust and vanished within an instant. The white clouds above were swept away by the cataclysmic force.
A few minutes later, within a massive crater with a diameter of one or two kilometres, the battered form of Marine Admiral Aramaki lay unconscious and bathed in blood.
In the following second, Buggy's figure materialized beside him, and he nonchalantly kicked Aramaki's body into a suddenly opened portal.
READ 15 CHAPTERS AHEAD ON P*TRREON.C*M/MARIONI