Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!
Atop the highest perch in Orange Town, the Buggy Pirates reveled in a spectacular display of explosions, carefully crafted by Buggy's bombardment. A loud laugh filled the air:
"HAHAHA, my Buggy Bombs, are the mightiest in all of the East Blue!" declared Buggy. Adorned in
eccentric clown attire, smeared in vibrant clown makeup, and with a big-sized red nose, Buggy exuded an air of theatrical arrogance to his crew.
Oh, but wasn't he just a sight to behold?
"Whoopee! Captain Buggy's bomb can't be beaten!" The crew, mirroring their captain's distinctive circus attire, showered him with unabashed admiration.
Buggy, basking in the praise, chortled, "Ha ha ha ha!" At this moment, his past as a member of the Roger Pirates seemed a distant memory.
"Pour it on, my little fans!" cheered Buggy, "Give your awesome Captain Buggy some love!"
A chorus of voices rose in earnest from below:
"Captain Buggy, the unparalleled pirate of the East Blue!"
"Captain Buggy, the Navy's worst nightmare!"
"Captain Buggy, the pirate with untold treasures!"
"Captain Buggy..."
"WOWZA! Such a BIG RED NOSE!" Amidst the accolades, an unexpected voice chimed in, its gentle volume somehow hushing the crowd.
All heads, adorned in funny costumes, turned, their necks raising towards the origin of the voice.
Who else could it be but Luffy?
"You've got a sharp eye, Luffy. Buggy the Clown's RED NOSE is indeed his most striking feature," commented Bai Ye casually, seemingly unperturbed by the atmosphere of the moment.
"It sure is an eye-catching RED NOSE. I wonder if it's genuine," Zoro mused, arms folded, casting a scrutinizing gaze.
Nami, noticeably the most on edge amongst them, whispered hurriedly, "Hey, hey, tone it down, will you? I think 'RED NOSE' might be a touchy subject here!"
Alas...
Buggy's Pirate interjected: "You just said it too, and quite loudly at that!"
A stifled "Hehehe~" barely escaped the silence.
"You little rapscallions! You dared to utter... RED NOSE!!" Buggy's angry face, mixed with his funny makeup, looked surprisingly... silly.
A shiver ran through the pirates as they observed Buggy's exaggerated antics. It was widely known that Buggy was peculiarly sensitive about his red nose, often unleashing a ruthless vengeance upon any who dared to speak of it.
Yet here they were, openly commenting on the RED NOSE.
"Crew, roll the cannon this way!" Buggy commanded, and a cannon, brimming with Buggy Balls, was dutifully pushed forward.
Buggy's gaze swept over the group before him – a three-sword-wielding man, a dazzlingly handsome fellow, a straw hat-wearing youth, and a visibly trembling orange-haired woman.
"You dared to mock me!? To the hell with you!"
With a resounding blast, a Buggy Ball, far more formidable than any ordinary cannonball, hurtled towards Luffy and his companions.
In that instant, as Buggy and his crew watched, they anticipated that in the next moment, the formidable Buggy Bombs would surely obliterate the impudent intruders...
"HEHEHE, watch out, here I come!" Luffy, spotting the soaring bomb, secured his straw hat with one hand, boldly stepping forward.
Gomu Gomu no Fusen!
Inhaling a massive gulp of air, Luffy, the rubbery fellow, transformed into a gigantic balloon, skillfully catching the bomb, and boinging into the sky.
One-sword style · Ittoryu Iai: Shishi Sonson!
Observing the airborne bomb, Zoro agilely moved, bouncing off Luffy's belly into the sky, skillfully slicing the bomb. An explosive burst of air struck the ground below.
Xun Gua – Air Blast!
Bai Ye, lifting a hand, summoned a swift wind, shielding the group from the scorching heatwave above. From bomb launch to Bai Ye's defensive move, only a moment had passed. But their skills left the Buggy Pirates agog, jaws practically hitting the floor.
A singular thought echoed in their hearts...
"Who... are you?" Buggy, no longer in his frenzied state, easily recognized their extraordinary abilities with a shrewd gaze.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the future Pirate King!" Luffy, ever the hero, confidently declared his famed line, then gestured to his comrades, introducing, "This is my crew. Zoro's our swordsman, Bai Ye our priest, and Nami our navigator."
Nami, slightly irate, snapped, "Did you have to spill all our beans, you nitwit? And who said I'm part of your crew?!"
Buggy's eyes flickered between Zoro and Luffy, "Did the pirate hunter turn pirate?" He then looked at Luffy, "You've eaten a Devil Fruit."
Luffy, swelling with pride, explained, "I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit and became a rubber man. But Bai Ye, he didn't eat any fruit – he's a Daoist priest, which is super cool and powerful!"
Still angry, Buggy demanded, "What do you want?"
With a casual palm slap, Luffy cheerfully declared, "We're here to snatch your Grand Line chart and, oh yeah, to send you flying, Buggy!"
"Bunch of imbeciles want my chart? What a joke!" Buggy bellowed, "I'm Buggy the Star Clown, the big-shot pirate of the East Blue! You're done for!"
Bai Ye nonchalantly quipped, "The loudest roar followed by the meekest words? Classic, Buggy."
"Ignore all that, Buggy! It's you and me now!" Luffy, not one for long chats, lunged into action.
Gomu Gomu no Pistol!
Luffy's stretchy fist zipped through the crowd, smacking Buggy squarely on the head.
WHAM!
Caught off guard by Luffy's eagerness, Buggy, unable to detach his head in time, tumbled backward from the mighty blow. Luffy, undeterred, darted toward him once again.
Three chief members of Buggy's crew sprung forth to intercept Luffy but were promptly halted by Bai Ye and Zoro.
Nonchalantly, Bai Ye commented, "Can't let you interrupt our captain's duel, can we?"
Mohji, the Buggy Pirates' deputy captain, and animal tamer, dressed in a white bear-like outfit, armed with a training whip, stood beside his fierce lion partner, Richie. Meanwhile, Cabaji the Acrobat, the crew's Chief of Staff, obscured half his face with a unique hairstyle, unicycle at the ready, and sword in hand.
As Zoro and Bai Ye exchanged a quick glance, their opponents braced themselves.
Zoro declared, "I'll handle the sword guy."
With a casual nod, Bai Ye agreed, "Then I suppose the others are mine."
Cabaji spat, "Don't underestimate us, jerks!"
Mohji warned, "Long-haired lad, Richie and I are about to make you regret this!"
And so, the atmosphere crackled with impending combat. Straw Hat Pirates vs. Buggy Pirates, let the battle commence!