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Aqua, with eyes wide in bewilderment, stood frozen, watching Buggy, whose face was twisted in pain. She didn't know what to say. This strike... where was the elegance in it?
The pirates on the opposite side were equally stunned, having never seen anyone "slash" at someone with the flat side of a blade before. What kind of swordsman does that make?
"Buggy, you asked who taught me to wield a sword like this?" Zyhark twirled the long blade in his hand, savoring the feeling of impact from hitting Buggy's head, "Well, if we're really getting into it, that would be the Red Hair Pirates."
The Red Hair Pirates?!
The familiar name made Buggy's eyes widen in shock, momentarily forgetting the pain in his head as he exclaimed, "What did you say? Shanks taught you to do this?!"
Remembering that exceedingly annoying smile, he gritted his teeth in hatred.
If it weren't for Shanks, he wouldn't have accidentally consumed a Devil Fruit, becoming a landlubber rejected by the sea!
Realizing that it was Shanks who had taught Zyhark to use such an unconventional slashing technique meant that his own trump card, the Chop-Chop Fruit's power, had been known to Zyhark all along.
No wonder Zyhark didn't use a typical sword slash. This so-called pirate wager was a trap from the start!
Everything clicked for Buggy, who was seething with rage, blaming everything on Shanks.
Oh Shanks, it's on!
Next time we meet, I'll tear you to pieces!!
Thus, a bizarre new chapter was added to the feud between Buggy and Shanks.
At this moment, far away in the New World, engaging in a battle with a formidable pirate, Shanks sneezed out of nowhere.
"Wait, you know Shanks?" Buggy, having come to his senses, asked Zyhark.
"Some time ago, he invited me to join his crew," Zyhark calmly met those bloodshot eyes, casually as if discussing something trivial, "But, I refused."
"I see!" Buggy clenched his teeth.
That was indeed Shanks's style. He finally accepted the truth—that he'd been thoroughly outplayed.
"You've impressed me, managing not to make a sound," Zyhark commented, genuinely.
Despite Buggy's cowardly nature, to withstand such a blunt force unexpectedly without screaming was unusual. Perhaps because it was ten years ago, shortly after Buggy left Roger's crew, he still retained some of his youthful brashness?
That was Zyhark's speculation.
"Damn bastard, playing dirty with me!"
Buggy's mouth twitched, sucking back the snot bubble hanging from his red nose. His real expression hidden from his crew, they didn't see his true face.
"Being remembered by Captain Buggy is an honor," Zyhark gripped the hilt of the large sword, posing as if about to swing a golf club, "But before that, you still owe me two strikes."
With that, he glanced back at Aqua, who was still puzzling over where the first strike's elegance was.
"Aqua, I'll need your strength enhancement for what comes next."
Muttering "It seems I have to step in after all," Aqua's blue hair fluttered as she activated a complex blue magic circle beneath her.
The sight stunned the Buggy Pirates, unfamiliar with such a spectacle, into gaping awe.
As Aqua's enchantment boosted Zyhark's strength, his muscles became visibly more defined, preparing for the next move.
"Well, I'm about to start, Captain Buggy."
Buggy's eyes, wide as bells from recalling the previous severe pain, watched as Zyhark confidently handled the heavy blade. Realizing his Devil Fruit powers were known, panic replaced his bravado.
In other words, damn, he's about to be hit again for nothing?
"Wait, wait..."
Buggy was about to say something when the cheering admiration from his crew cut him off.
"Ohh! True to Captain Buggy, even without using his powers, he can withstand the opponent's attacks with his monstrous strength!"
"Hehe, that restaurant owner is so naïve. Did he think a slight increase in strength could shake Captain Buggy?"
"Let this clueless fool witness your unparalleled terror, Captain Buggy, and feel the gap between worlds!"
"Buggy! Buggy! Buggy!!"
The Buggy Pirates' loyal cheers...
Effectively cut off Buggy's retreat.
Despite looking more miserable than if he'd eaten dung, as captain, he stood tall, offering his crew a reassuring silhouette.
"Leave it to me, lads!!"
Watching Buggy put on a brave face for his idol image, Zyhark tightened his grip on the sword.
He was curious to see whether Buggy was truly as hard-headed as he claimed or just all talk.
As he spoke, the sound of slicing air followed, the sword carving a beautiful arc through the air.
Thud!
The moment Zyhark finished speaking, he didn't hesitate anymore and swung the heavy blade towards Buggy, who had just been posturing proudly.
The next second, the intense force of the strike, accompanied by a headache and dizziness, transmitted from his head to his entire body.
Zyhark's enhanced strike not only brought out the expression pack from Buggy but also made his upright posture buckle. He clutched his knees, gasping for air in a very disheveled state.
Even so, Buggy managed to endure with remarkable willpower, not uttering a sound. Zyhark couldn't help but express surprise at this resilience.
Was this really the Buggy he knew?
But thinking about it, figures like Buggy and Usopp, who major in luck, may not have strong offensive capabilities but their endurance is remarkable, belonging to those peculiar individuals who can keep getting up for more beatings from the enemy.
"Ahahaha, Ahahahaha! I took it!" Buggy, regaining his breath, laughed triumphantly, responding to the cheers from his crew with an even greater uproar.
Considering his simple mind, he even forgot that he was just being hit one-sidedly...
"Hey, hey, that guy won't be okay, right? Why do I see him barely able to stand straight?" Cabaji, seated on his unicycle, noticed something off.
Compared to the brainlessly cheering crew, he, as a high-ranking officer, obviously understood Buggy's true nature much better.
"Don't worry, it's just one more strike left." Moji, the animal tamer, spoke softly.
"Owowow." The lion, Richie, joining in with a couple of howls in agreement.
(End of Chapter)