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[Naruto: Superpower Roulette]
[One Piece: My Crew Is Trash!]
[Pokémon Breeder in One Piece]
[Starting as a Class 5 Mutant]
[I've Already Confronted the Five Kage, and the System Just Arrived!]
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[Naruto: Infinite New World]
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"W-well, if it isn't, W-Whitebeard old man!"
Fortunately, Buggy's broad experience and his early encounters with Whitebeard had somewhat prepared him for the terrifying presence of the world's strongest man. Otherwise, he might have died from sheer terror.
Despite maintaining a facade of composure, Buggy's body parts hidden beneath his clownish red robe were shaking uncontrollably, like small motors.
I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead. There's no escaping this one—I'm definitely going to die here today!
Though Buggy stood tall and faced Whitebeard, inside, he was trembling so much that even his imaginary snot bubbles were popping out.
"Oh, oh, oh! As expected of Captain Buggy! He's actually issuing a challenge right to that man's face!"
"Get ready to face the wrath of our Captain Buggy, Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Captain Buggy, take down the head of the world's strongest man!"
"Buggy! Buggy! Buggy!"
Seeing their captain seemingly unafraid of Whitebeard, the members of the Buggy Pirates, who were sprawled around, were filled with excitement, chanting Buggy's name at the top of their lungs.
Hearing the continuous cheers ringing in his ears, Buggy felt like dying on the spot.
Damn it! Could you idiots shut up for once?! How am I supposed to use my old connections to get Whitebeard to spare my life now?! "Gurararara! So, you want my head, do you?"
"Perfect, Red-Nose brat, I'm also quite interested in that red Poneglyph you stole. So, let's fight like pirates..."
"And claim what we each desire through combat!"
Whitebeard's golden hair flowed as he broke into a wild, domineering grin, swiftly swinging his massive naginata. He then forcefully planted the end of the weapon into the ground, shattering the hard rock beneath.
The powerful gusts of wind that burst forth blew over Buggy, who was sweating profusely, leaving him with a look of utter despair.
Fight against this monstrous man who is said to be the strongest? Are you kidding me?! Even if I had ten lives, they wouldn't be enough to survive a single punch from him!!
Buggy's wide eyes darted around as he desperately searched for a way out of this impossible situation.
At the same time, the once clear skies above the island suddenly darkened as ominous thunderclouds rolled in, blocking out the bright sunlight and casting a suffocating atmosphere over the scene.
Being an experienced pirate who had seen his fair share of extraordinary events, Buggy quickly came up with a plan to survive.
And that plan was...
"I'm really sorry, old man. Whatever you want, just take it. I only ask that you spare my miserable life!"
"The red Poneglyph is hidden in..."
Buggy's words came out in a rapid-fire burst, every syllable dripping with desperation to stay alive.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Perhaps it was the luck of his innate "Baka" Haki at work, but the sudden roar of thunder from the sky completely drowned out his pleas for mercy.
The nearby crewmates could only see Captain Buggy seemingly "shouting" at Whitebeard but couldn't make out any of the actual words.
"Huh? Wh-what?"
Buggy, who had mustered all his courage to beg for his life, froze, blinking in confusion as he looked up at the ominous thunderclouds.
"The weather in the New World sure changes fast..."
Whitebeard's smile didn't waver; in fact, it grew even wider. He slightly tilted his head back, gazing at the lightning flashing within the thunderclouds.
As a Yonko with top-tier Haki in all three forms, he could clearly hear Buggy's earlier plea for mercy and sense the unusual nature of the thunderclouds.
Thus, his words carried a double meaning.
Zzzap!
Just as everyone from the Whitebeard Pirates and the Buggy Pirates was drawn to the sudden thunder, a bolt of lightning struck the ground behind Buggy, creating a scorched crater.
As the swirling dust and smoke cleared, a lean, athletic figure emerged, walking slowly forward.
"Who would have thought that as soon as I arrived in the New World, I'd encounter a scene like this? I can't tell if I'm lucky or unlucky."
Dressed in a deep black cloak with twin swords at his waist, Zyhark made a dramatic entrance, coming to a stop beside Buggy amidst the shocked gazes of everyone present.
"Wait, no way! Isn't that..."
"The infamous rookie everyone's been talking about, one of the Shichibukai, Zyhark the Thunder?!"
"I heard this guy was spotted at Twin Cape just a few days ago! How did he get to the New World so quickly?"
On the Whitebeard Pirates' side, officers like Marco the Phoenix, Jozu the Diamond, and Vista the Flower Sword immediately recognized the newcomer.
Given the recent string of high-profile actions attributed to this young man, their previously relaxed demeanor quickly shifted to one of heightened alertness.
No matter how you look at it, this guy is seriously dangerous! In contrast, the members of the Buggy Pirates, after a brief moment of mental gymnastics, erupted into loud cheers.
"It's Zyhark the Thunder! He's here to help us?!"
"Captain Buggy really is something! He can even get a big shot like Zyhark to lend a hand!"
"What do you mean, 'get'? Of course, it's only natural for someone as great as Captain Buggy! After all, he's the rival of Red-Haired Shanks!"
The chaotic chatter filled Zyhark's ears. While he understood that this was typical behavior for the Buggy Pirates, being mistaken for someone who had come to help Buggy was something he...
Couldn't accept at all.
Zzzap! Zzzap!
A flash of lightning cut through the air, and the noisy members of the Buggy Pirates immediately started trembling uncontrollably before collapsing unconscious.
"W-w-w-w-wait! Zyhark?!"
It was only then that Buggy realized what was happening, staring in disbelief at the man standing beside him.
Quickly, that disbelief turned into a mix of fury and hatred.
This was the guy who always wore that insufferable smirk, the one who had ruined his peaceful and idyllic life in the East Blue. The same guy who indirectly forced him into the New World, making him fight for survival!
"Yo, Buggy, long time no see. You're really looking like a proper captain now," Zyhark teased with a smile.
"Don't act like we're pals, dammit! I wish I could cut you into a thousand pieces!!"
Buggy spat angrily, his voice filled with venom as he glared at Zyhark, who was casually exposing his back to him.
"Let's save the catching up for later. You seem to be in a bit of trouble right now."
Zyhark smoothly sidestepped the enraged Buggy, completely unbothered by the potential threat at his back.
"Are you deaf?! I said..."
Buggy pulled out a short knife from between his fingers, ready to take advantage of the situation with a sneak attack. But then, a devious thought flashed through his mind.
He quietly retreated to where Galdino and the other officers were standing, then loudly and arrogantly shouted at Whitebeard:
"Hahaha! That's right! Whitebeard, old man, if you want to fight me, you'll have to get through Zyhark first!"
Of course, Whitebeard wasn't one to be swayed by such low-level taunts, nor would he bother with the likes of Buggy.
His focus was almost entirely on the man standing before him.
"Gurararara! What a surprising encounter."
After sizing up Zyhark, Whitebeard let out his signature laugh, "Zyhark the Thunder, I've been wanting to meet you for quite some time."
"Didn't expect the world's strongest man to know a little rookie like me?" Zyhark raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
His gaze was similarly fixed on the towering man before him, who stood like a mountain.
This version of Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, hadn't yet started wearing a black bandana to cover his head. His flowing golden hair was still uncovered, and he wore a pirate captain's hat.
His bulging muscles were filled with raw power, his breathing steady, and his entire presence exuded a domineering authority.
Just locking eyes with those sharp, hawk-like eyes was enough to make one's heart race and disrupt their breathing.
There was no doubt that this Whitebeard was not the frail old man ten years from now, struggling to even use Haki—he was a monstrously powerful and dangerous force!
(At this point, Whitebeard is slightly weaker than at his peak, but still formidable. Kaido is similarly not at his peak, with a little room for growth, and Big Mom is in a similar state. Overall, the strength gap between the Yonkos isn't too large.)
To be honest, if it weren't for the importance of the red Poneglyph, which directly affected his path to becoming stronger, Zyhark would have preferred not to encounter Whitebeard right now.
It was too dangerous!
The only silver lining was that the Poneglyph had not yet fallen into Whitebeard's hands.
Given Whitebeard's laid-back attitude toward his "family," it was clear that raiding Totto Land or Onigashima to steal from Big Mom or Kaido would be far riskier.
As for Zunesha's Zou Island, finding that Poneglyph would require an immense amount of time and effort.
So, since he had stumbled upon this situation, Zyhark figured he might as well try to take advantage of it!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Just as Zyhark and Whitebeard were exchanging pleasantries, a series of explosions suddenly erupted along the distant coastline.
"Father! A uniquely shaped ship has appeared! There's a cat and a robot on board, and they're heading this way!"
A rookie pirate rushed over, his face filled with panic as he reported the situation to Whitebeard and his officers.
"Gurararara! You can't even stop a single cat?"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, making light of the situation even as he teased the young recruit.
But just as he finished speaking, a small, dark shadow darted through the crowd of pirates, moving with incredible speed as it approached them.
Having learned the Navy's Six Powers, Meowth's already impressive physical abilities had received a massive boost. With the added speed from the "Soru" technique, his small frame made it nearly impossible for the Whitebeard Pirates' regular members to catch him.
—Of course, this was assuming the more powerful officers didn't intervene.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Farther away, the sound of gunfire and explosions filled the air, accompanied by clouds of thick smoke.
A towering machine with glowing red eyes walked steadily through the chaotic barrage of cannon fire.
King, piloting his second-generation robot, ignored the incoming artillery and continued his march toward Zyhark's location.
At the same time, a massive shadow swept across the sky above the gathered pirates, arriving at Zyhark's side before Meowth and King.
It was Aqua, dressed in her blue goddess outfit, and Kanna, who had returned to her cute, innocent form.
"Honestly, couldn't you have waited for us, you idiot, Zyhark?"
Aqua grumbled impatiently, completely unaware of Whitebeard's imposing presence just a short distance away.
"You're so fast, Zyhark!" Kanna echoed with a pout, though her tone held a bit of an ambiguous meaning.
"Sorry, sorry, but if I had waited any longer, the situation would have been completely different."
Facing the world's strongest man, Zyhark didn't dare to relax for a moment and didn't waste time bickering with the foolish goddess.
The roar of engines grew louder as King, piloting the second-generation robot, arrived with Meowth in tow.
With that, the entire crew of the Seaside Restaurant was present.
"So, these are the crewmates who follow you? They certainly are a lively bunch, full of spirit."
Whitebeard's gaze swept over Aqua and the others, his tone filled with genuine admiration.
If he could bring these young ones into his family, it would certainly make things more lively around here.
"Hey, Zyhark, brat, how about..."
Knowing Whitebeard's personality, Zyhark quickly interrupted, shouting over to the pineapple-headed man behind Whitebeard: "Hey! Marco, I like you. How about joining my crew?"
He had originally considered saying, "Marco, how about becoming my grandson?" but realized that might be a bit too cocky and could backfire, so he decided against it.
After all, they were about to face what was nearly the full force of the Whitebeard Pirates in their prime!
"..."
Marco, who had been silently standing behind Whitebeard, was momentarily stunned by Zyhark's unexpected proposal.
Without even asking how the man knew his name, the still somewhat young Marco instinctively snapped back, "Who the hell wants to join your crew, you bastard?!"
"Trying to poach one of Whitebeard's crew right in front of him—should we call it boldness or overconfidence in his own strength?"
Diamond Jozu, Vista the Flower Sword, and the other officers muttered to themselves in low voices.
"Gurararara!"
After a brief pause, Whitebeard also burst out laughing, "You're quite an amusing brat!"
Soon, his laughter faded, and his eyes filled with a powerful Haki as he asked in a deep voice, "So tell me, Zyhark, what brings you to this place?"
It was clear from Zyhark's attitude that a simple invitation wouldn't be enough to get him to join Whitebeard's family.
Feeling the terrifying power surging from within Whitebeard, Zyhark instinctively placed his hands on the twin swords at his waist, responding directly, "It's simple—I'm here for the red Poneglyph that Buggy has."
"I see, a fitting ambition for someone who would dare to attack the Celestial Dragons."
"But I'm afraid that treasure is something we're after as well!"
Whitebeard wasn't surprised by Zyhark's answer. In fact, it would have been more surprising if Zyhark had come all this way just to save a red-nosed clown.
As he spoke, Whitebeard drew his supreme-grade naginata, Murakumogiri, from the ground.
The blade gleamed with a fierce light, red sparks dancing along its edge as it radiated a terrifying and violent aura.
Zing! Zyhark's twin swords slid out of their sheaths with a sharp ring.
Unlike Whitebeard's red lightning of Conqueror's Haki, the blades of Zyhark's swords crackled with dense black lightning!
"Come on, brat! Show me if you have the guts to wield such a dangerous power!"
Whitebeard roared as he entered battle mode.
Boom!!
The Conqueror's Haki that had been building up on Whitebeard's blade exploded like a volcanic eruption, its overwhelming pressure instantly engulfing the entire island.
The sea roared, the earth trembled, and even the sky seemed to dim in response!
The world's strongest man was finally about to unleash his fury!!
(End of Chapter)