As Shanks and Buggy clashed on deck, they fought with a fierce intensity, each strike met with a parry or deflection. The crew watched in suspense, cheering as Buggy began incorporating moves Draco had taught him. Draco had advised Buggy that his immunity to swords could be a trick up his sleeve, and Buggy was ready to use it.
When Buggy advanced again, Shanks swung his saber across Buggy's chest. But instead of being cut, Buggy's torso split apart, evading the blade effortlessly. The crew gasped, seeing that Shanks had used Haki on his attack. Shanks himself looked stunned for a brief moment, and Buggy seized the opportunity. In one swift movement, Buggy sent a powerful kick towards Shanks' ribs. Shanks managed to block but couldn't fully absorb the force, skidding back and clutching his side. Without hesitation, Buggy blitzed forward, recalling Draco's words: "Finish the fight before you show mercy." Buggy clinched Shanks' neck with both hands and drove a knee toward his face. Shanks blocked, though the impact still sent pain through his forearm.
Buggy stepped back, strategizing his next move. He secretly detached one of his hands, floating it high in the air as Shanks recovered and eyed Buggy with caution. Spotting his saber on the ground nearby, Shanks quickly rolled toward it as Buggy attempted a powerful frontal kick, missing him by inches. With his saber now in hand, Shanks swung the blunt end at Buggy's leg, aiming to trip him. But Buggy's ankle separated, allowing him to float mid-air, evading the strike.
To Shanks' frustration, Buggy grabbed hold of Shanks' blade mid-air, but Shanks brought down the saber with a force that broke through Buggy's grip, sending Buggy crashing to the deck. Blood trickled from Buggy's face, yet he remained defiant. With a fierce concentration, he split himself into even smaller parts, dodging Shanks' strikes and reforming as he backed away.
The crew was in awe, never expecting such intensity from an apprentice duel. Both fighters stood off once more, twitching, eyes locked, reading each other's moves. Suddenly, Buggy lunged with a powerful strike aimed for Shanks' chin. Shanks dodged, pivoting with Observation Haki, and struck Buggy's stomach with the blunt end of his saber, sending him skidding back. But Buggy's hidden hand retracted, launching a sneak attack to Shanks' back, causing him to stagger.
{Chop Chop: Sneak Retract!}
Buggy yelled, smirking as Shanks knelt from the unexpected hit. Seeing his chance, Buggy rushed in to finish him off. But with a sudden movement, Shanks used Soru to appear behind Buggy, delivering a sharp blow to Buggy's temple with the saber handle. Buggy stammered, dazed, and finally fell to the ground.
For a moment, silence blanketed the deck. Then, cheers erupted from all sides, some crewmates celebrating Shanks' victory, while others grumbled about their bets on Buggy. Shanks, bleeding and sweating, felt the weight of a fight he hadn't experienced in a long time. But to everyone's shock, Buggy began to stir, struggling to his feet with a determined look in his eyes.
The crew roared as Buggy rose, some encouraging him to keep fighting while others urged him to rest. Despite the pain, the fiery determination in Buggy's eyes said he wasn't done yet.
[Uncharted Island]
On an uncharted island shrouded in smoke and dust, a tall, white-haired man approached the entrance to a hidden cave. His eyes, clouded and whited out, saw nothing, yet he moved with a quiet confidence, familiar with every step. This was Homer, the revered leader of the Revolutionary Army. After leaving Yukiryu Island, Homer, and his group had spent months gathering intelligence and recruiting new soldiers, each a powerful addition to the cause Draco had inspired. Homer had established a structured hierarchy among them - not for control but for stability and respect. Every member of the Revolutionary Army was bound by principles of equality and justice.
As Homer neared the cave, two soldiers standing guard raised their hands in respect. Homer's face softened, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening with a gentle smile. "At ease, thank you," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that matched his expression. The guards nodded, clearly proud to serve under him, their white cloaks swaying in the smoky breeze. These cloaks, though similar in color to those of the World Government, represented a reclamation of their symbol - a statement that true justice wore white under the Revolutionary flag.
Inside, the base was a world apart from the hostile exterior. Built directly into the mountain, it was expansive, with rooms and passageways carved seamlessly from the rock. In the grand meeting hall, nine commanders were seated around a long stone table, their voices a low hum as they discussed plans.
"The marines at this base captured Zordan..."
"Zordan...whos that..."
"What do you guys think of recruiting this person"
"Enough of that, it's annoying that we have an unequal commander seating, I mean 9? Come on, we have to find a 10th"
"Mei, you're correct..."
"Ah... quiet down, Sir Homer's here..."
The first five were familiar figures: Popo, Yui, Zexer, Kiki, and Keke, each renowned for their loyalty from the start and unique strengths. Now, four new faces joined them, recent additions to the Revolutionary Army after careful vetting by Homer himself.
First among them was Gordon, a stern older man dressed in a crisp white suit and gold crown. Once a king but thwarted by the World Government, Gordon had eaten the Castle-Castle no Mi, the same Devil Fruit as the infamous Bege in One Piece. But unlike Bege, Gordon commanded an entire battalion within his body, with a staggering force of five to ten thousand men who were his soldiers, willing to follow his every will, he had even awakened the fruit's full powers. Next to him was Aiko, a fierce woman with sharp features, dressed in a tailored white suit and miniskirt, nonchalantly chewing gum as she scanned the room. Then came Ent, unlike others with white, he wore a heavy-set man in a mining uniform, his half-transformed state betraying his Mole-Mole Fruit powers. Ent had been instrumental in creating the mountain base, using his abilities to tunnel and fortify their stronghold. Last was Mei, a petite woman who appeared childlike but was a seasoned soldier in her mid-30s. She wore an all-white dress and a bucket hat, her demeanor deceptively innocent for someone who wielded the Hobi-Hobi no Mi, able to transform enemies into harmless toys.
As Homer took his place at the head of the table, the room quieted. Glancing around at his commanders, he felt a swell of pride. Though the goal of dismantling the World Government seemed daunting, Homer knew this army, strengthened by trust and shared purpose, would be the one to make history. The words of Draco lingered in his mind: change would come not with sudden upheaval but with patient, persistent action.
With a faint smile and a determined glint in his sightless eyes, Homer addressed his commanders. "Shall we begin the meeting?" He opened a file, revealing a faded photograph of a Marine figure. His finger rested on the name beneath it. "Monkey D. Dragon..."
[Back on Oro Jackson]
As Buggy staggered to his feet, his face bloodied but his resolve unwavering, the crew's cheers grew even louder. Rayleigh, who had been ready to declare the fight over, stepped back in surprise, watching the unrelenting determination in Buggy's eyes. Shanks looked on, visibly impressed, and muttered,
"Oi, Buggy, you really have gotten stronger."
He barely finished his sentence before Buggy dodged his next swing, pivoting with surprising speed and planting his foot firmly on the deck.
With a well-timed jab, Buggy struck Shanks squarely in the chin, sending a tremor through his opponent. As Shanks regained his footing, Buggy dropped into a familiar technique, focused stance, a boxing style Draco had taught him, known only to Draco as it was something he brought from Earth.
This style, a Peek-a-Boo stance inspired by the great Mike Tyson, allowed Buggy to weave in close, explosively dodging and countering Shanks's frantic swings as he blinked through the dizziness.
Moving with calculated precision, Buggy ducked Shanks's downward swing, side-stepping the strike before throwing a powerful uppercut that clipped Shanks under the chin. Shanks stumbled back, disoriented. Sensing an opening, Buggy followed with a body shot, landing a solid punch into Shanks's ribs and forcing the air from his lungs.
Shanks dropped his sword, gasping, yet Buggy wasn't finished. Eyes steely with focus, Buggy advanced, faking a jab to draw Shanks's guard up, then pivoted with a devastating hook to Shanks's temple, sending him reeling to the ground.
"Buggy won..."
"My money!"
"No!"
"Yes! I'm rich!"
As Shanks crumpled, a hush fell over the crew. Draco, on the sidelines and grinning from ear to ear, lifted his drink to Roger. "Looks like it's a draw."
"huh..."
"What does Draco-San mean"
"Buggy's standing though..."
The crew started whispering.
Roger raised an eyebrow, confused along with the others. Buggy was still standing, after all, but Rayleigh, stepping up to congratulate him, noticed something incredible. Buggy remained in his stance, eyes open, fists clenched, but…he wasn't responding. His body had reached its limit, yet his spirit was still holding him up.
Rayleigh laughed, a mix of amazement and joy. Buggy had fought so hard that his sheer willpower was keeping him upright, even in unconsciousness.
As the crew erupted in cheers, Crocus looked down from the railing, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. Buggy's spirit had left a mark on every one of them. With a final, proud smile, he made his way to his office, knowing his healing skills would soon be needed.