Pirate: I, Buggy, am the Emperor, the Emperor of the Clown King!

"Pat-pat, pat, pat..."

Nami walked forward with her head down, taking one slow, deliberate step at a time.

The soles of my shoes made a soft sound as they stepped on the gravel.

However, the sound was inconspicuous on the ruins.

Because there is an even louder sound.

The crackling of the flames, the distant clamor of pirates, and the heavy, rapid breathing of the evil dragon.

In Nami's eyes, everything around her seemed to have quieted down.

There was only one person in her eyes.

Or rather, there is only one fish.

A stinky salted fish lying in a pool of blood, its limbs gone.

Sharkman Evil Dragon.

That name that oppressed her for eight years.

The murderer who killed his mother, Bellemere.

The enemy she had killed countless times in her dreams.

He's lying there right now.

—If Nami's personality weren't so intense and extreme, she would probably shout at this point:

—Aaaaaah! It's finally mine!

Buggy watched Nami's performance from the sidelines, his mind racing with thoughts.

Fortunately, he held back and didn't say the above words aloud... after all, saying them would have ruined the atmosphere.

Nami walked up to the dragon and stopped.

She lowered her head.

Her orange hair fell down, obscuring the upper half of her face.

The sunlight shone from behind her head, completely shrouding her face in shadow.

I couldn't see her expression.

I couldn't see her eyes clearly.

All that could be seen was her chin and the liquid dripping from it.

Those were tears.

a drop.

Two drops.

Three drops.

...Tears slid down his chin, dripping onto the ruins, onto the rubble, onto the pool of blood in front of the dragon.

Silently.

Yet it was a wake-up call.

For Nami, this was absolutely a historic moment.

What could be more joyful than seeing your mother's killer fall miserably before you?

The only regret is probably that I didn't do it myself.

The dragon lay on its side on the ground, struggling to raise its head.

His severed arm was still bleeding, and his severed leg was a bloody mess. The sword wound on his chest trembled with each breath.

The dragon looked at Nami.

Looking at the human girl he had once trampled on at will.

Looking at the little thief cat he had been forcing for eight years.

He looked at that ant he thought could never turn his life around.

The dragon was silent for a moment, then he laughed.

The laughter was hoarse and broken, yet still full of malice.

"Hehe...hehehe...hahahaha!"

The dragon laughed so hard it trembled, and the blood from its wounds flowed even faster.

"Nami...you're here."

"What??"

"Come see how I die?"

"Are you still going to kill me with your own hands?"

Come on!

The dragon's eyes were fixed on her, but there was no fear in them, only a deep-seated resentment.

"You think you've won?"

"You think you've stepped on my head?"

"Pooh!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Humans are just humans, forever lowly humans!"

"I should have killed you all back in Cocoyasi Village!"

"Leave none alive!"

"What agreement? What 100 million Berries? It's all bullshit!"

"One adult costs 10 Berries!"

"5 Berry for a child!"

"You humans are nothing more than animals enslaved by us fish-men!"

"Do you know how many people I've killed in these 20 villages around here over the past 8 years?"

"Hahaha!"

"You are our accomplice!"

"I just want to see how long you, you little thief, can struggle. I want to see your desperate look!"

"Do you know?"

The dragon's voice grew increasingly malevolent.

"Your foster mother, Bellemere, was begging me as she died."

"Please let me go."

She knelt on the ground, hugged my legs, and said, "Please, spare my child."

"But it was I who broke her left hand!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"They looked so pitiful!"

"That's just how humans are; they'll throw away all dignity for the sake of a few ant-like offspring!"

"Oh! You're not her biological son~"

"Do you want revenge on me?"

"That's a real shame, I don't even have elbows now!"

"You can't even get revenge on me!"

"You can't get revenge on me!"

"You can't take revenge on me for your beloved mother!"

"That woman could have lived, but she chose to die for you all."

"Hahahahaha!"

The dragon's mouth gaped open, revealing serrated teeth.

"I shot her in the head."

"Bang!"

"She just lay there on the ground, her eyes still open, looking in your direction."

"I'll be thinking about you two little bastards until I die!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Nami stood there, motionless.

Her hair still covered her face.

The sunlight still shone on her back.

No one could see her expression.

Only the constantly falling tears are telling a story.

Nami is very smart; even in her anger, she knows that the dragon is trying to provoke her.

So hold back.

We must hold back; we can't let this bastard die so easily!

The thoughts of revenge—to cut into a thousand pieces, to skin and pull out tendons, to boil and burn...—had completely clouded Nami's mind.

This is a deep-seated hatred that cannot be erased or eliminated.

Two conflicting ideas were raging in my mind.

Slay the dragon!

No, I have to hold back!

kill!

Tolerate!

Ah!

Headache!

My head hurts so much!

Nami... Nami is almost unable to think straight!

How should one seek revenge?

This moment was absolutely historic for Nami.

The choice she makes at this moment will determine the course of her life.

Light and darkness are separated by a single thought; once a choice is made, there is no turning back.

And that's when Bucky will give them a push.

Dark depravity never teaches you moderation.

He will only tell you about indulgence and the pleasure of desire.

So embrace happiness.

So embrace happiness.

Then a voice came from the side.

The voice was languid and elegant, carrying a faint sigh.

"How pathetic." Baji stood still, still holding the square sword he had just wiped clean.

He looked at the dragon, the corners of his mouth beneath the mask slightly upturned, but there was an indescribable feeling in that upturned curve.

It's like compassion.

It's like pity.

It's like crocodile tears.

"Dragon..." Bucky whispered, "Are you courting death?"

The dragon's laughter stopped abruptly.

"What did you say?" He turned his head and stared intently at Bucky.

Even when it falls into such a state of having no limbs, the dragon's ferocity remains undiminished.

Although he was a scumbag, he was indeed a complete pirate.

The current situation is not enough to completely suppress his viciousness and cruelty.

"I said—" Buggy paused, his tone still gentle, "You said these things on purpose, deliberately provoking Nami, hoping she'd give you a quick end, right?"

"after all……"

Bucky leaned down slightly and moved a little closer.

"Death is a mercy rather than living and being tormented by us."

"Especially for a proud merman like you."

"Right?"

Buggy is still quite sharp-witted, unlike most pirates on this sea who are driven by emotions and don't use their brains at all.

The dragon's approach is correct most of the time and will indeed provoke the opponent's anger.

But using such methods against the current Pakistani government will only lead to an even more tragic situation.

The dragon's eyes widened for a moment.

For a fleeting moment, something flashed across his expression.

It was a pathetic sight to have been seen through.

Or is it the anger of being exposed?

Or perhaps... fear?

Bucky straightened up and shook his head.

"How pitiful."

"The members of the Sun Pirates, who once sailed the Grand Line, can now only escape by begging for death."

"This doesn't seem like the invincible dragon of legend."

"Actually, I'm really looking forward to seeing you live and use your willpower to resist our revenge~"

"So live on, and never think of dying. You are a proud dragon after all!"

"Proud dragon, how could you so weakly choose death?"

"Could it be...could it be...could it be..."

"Are you scared?"

"Are you going to admit you're scared?"

"Then just say it already!"

"Quickly tell me that fish-men are the most despicable species!"

"Quickly tell me you're the lowest of the low, a merman!"

"If you tell me, maybe I'll let you go~"

Bucky's words were full of malice.

Death is merely a mercy.

A fate worse than death is revenge.

But to keep the enemy conscious while they are suffering a fate worse than death... that is the truly most satisfying revenge.

If you let your enemy die quickly and decisively, then even if you seek revenge, you will only feel empty inside.

Speaking of evil dragons, Buggy immediately thought of Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

The dragon's current state is actually somewhat similar to Moria's... but only slightly, just a tiny bit, while the difference in their strength is much greater.

At his peak, when he was full of vigor, Gecko Moria was far superior to Arlong.

The dragon opened its mouth, as if to say something.

But at that moment...

"Evil dragon!!!"

A roar came from the other side of the ruins.

It's Xiao Ba.

The six-armed octopus-man was covered in blood, but its eyes burned with a mad flame.

"I'll kill you!!!" He charged towards them.

Six arms, six knives, all raised above the head.

Croobi moved too.

His hands grasped the water again, and he assumed the Fishman Karate stance once more.

"Evil dragon!!!"

Chirp rushed over too.

His mouth swelled up again, filled with seawater, because seawater can counteract the abilities of Devil Fruit users.

Three fishmen charged toward Bucky from three different directions at the same time.

They charged toward the demon who had trampled their captain underfoot.

They charged toward the culprit who destroyed Dragon Paradise.

"Evil dragon—!!!"

"I'll kill you!!!"

Two roars, three figures, three waves of frenzied killing intent.

The dragon's eyes widened suddenly.

He looked at his compatriots, at his close friends whom he felt should flee, and at the fools who still charged toward the enemy in their desperate situation.

"No--!!!"

The dragon's roar was heart-wrenching.

"Run!!!"

"you!!!"

"Aaaaaah!!!"

But nobody listened to him.

Xiao Ba didn't stop.

Croobi did not stop.

The chirping didn't stop.

They just kept rushing.

They continued charging towards the masked man.

Baji stood there, watching the three fishmen charge towards him.

Then he laughed.

The laughter came from deep in his throat, low, hoarse, and with a strange echo.

"Hehehehehe..."

"Instead of running away, you actively approached me?"

"I actually quite enjoy seeing this kind of moth-to-a-flame behavior."

"Loyalty and righteousness~"

"What a beautiful feeling!"

"Since we've chosen to face hell head-on, then let's fall into hell!"

Bucky chuckled and muttered to himself.

He raised his right hand.

Two swords silently slid out from the magic box behind him.

Red Heart Sword.

Black Heart Sword.

Two swords hovered beside him, as quiet as two hunting dogs awaiting a command.

"Ace Throwing Knife".

As soon as he finished speaking, both swords flew out at the same time.

fast.

Extremely fast.

It was so fast that the air itself seemed to be torn apart, producing a sharp, piercing sound.

It was so fast that Croobi didn't even have time to react; he only saw a dark shadow attacking from the side.

puff!

The black-hearted sword pierced his left abdomen.

It runs from left to right, through the body.

Croobi's body stiffened abruptly, and the water droplets he had gathered in his hands instantly scattered.

He looked down at the sword, at his own reflection in its blade.

Then the sword moved.

It wasn't pulled out, but rather cut horizontally.

The Black Heart Sword sliced ​​horizontally through his body, leaving a long gash from left to right.

His abdomen was cut open in half, and blood gushed out.

Croobbi's eyes widened, his mouth opened as if he wanted to shout something, but he only managed to let out a muffled whimper.

Then he collapsed.

puff.

It crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

At the same moment, Qiu was also pierced by the Red Heart Sword.

Before the bulging mouth could even fire the water bullet, the sword had already pierced his back and emerged from his abdomen.

Then cut crosswise.

The same action.

The same result.

His abdomen was cut open in half, and blood gushed out.

Chirp's body went limp and fell to the ground, its eyes still open, water mixed with blood and foam dripping from its mouth.

The two swords completed their mission, flew out of the two bodies, drew two arcs in the air, and flew back towards Bucky.

Not a drop of blood stained the sword.

Like a hunting dog that has completed its mission, it needs to wait for the next command.

From start to finish, it takes no more than ten seconds.

Three mermen charged forward, and two of them were already down.

Only Xiao Ba is left.

Xiao Ba is still bubbling.

All six eyes were bloodshot, and the six arms were waving wildly, with six knives forming an impenetrable net of blades in front of him.

"I'll kill you! I ...

He kept repeating those three words to himself.

He had completely gone mad.

Bucky watched him rush towards him.

They didn't dodge.

There was no flash.

It didn't even move.

He just stood there, letting Xiao Ba's knife slash at him.

The blade fell.

Six-Sword Style: Six-Sword Waltz

Six knives simultaneously struck Bucky's body.

Head, neck, chest, abdomen, waist, and legs.

Six parts, six wounds.

The blade tore through the air, sliced ​​into flesh, and then passed right through.

Xiao Ba's attack was meaningless.

Most attacks can potentially harm Bucky, but slashes are the only exception.

Let alone Xiao Ba, even if you called Hawkeye over, the result would be the same.

Hachi's six knives pierced through Buggy's body, as if cutting through a wisp of smoke, a phantom, or nothingness.

Bucky's body was cleaved into countless pieces by those six flashes of light.

Its head flew up.

The torso was torn apart.

Its limbs were scattered and floating.

Every single piece is still moving.

Every single piece is still alive.

The shattered face wore a shattered black and white mask.

Even with her face separated, she still maintained that elegant smile.

The floating fragments spoke simultaneously, their voices coming from all directions:

"What a pity."

There was a faint sigh in his voice.

"Your knife is very fast."

"pity--"

The fragments paused for a moment.

"Slicing attacks are ineffective against me."

To be honest, there's no need to hide this.

Because anyone with eyes can see it.

Xiao Ba's eyes widened to their maximum.

He watched the body fragments floating in the air, watched them slowly come together, and watched the face still smiling.

His mind went completely blank.

I don't know what to do anymore, I can't think anymore.

What penetrates to the bone is a complete and utter sense of powerlessness.

It was at this moment that...

Two swords flew from behind him.

Red Heart Sword.

Black Heart Sword.

It pierced through the back and exited through the abdomen.

Two swords pierced his body simultaneously.

Xiao Ba's body suddenly stiffened.

All six arms stopped at the same time, and the six knives slipped from their hands, clanging and clattering onto the gravel.

He looked down at the two sword tips protruding from his abdomen.

His face was reflected on the sword.

His face was filled with fear.

Then the sword moved.

Horizontal cut.

Two swords simultaneously sliced ​​outwards from his body, creating two long gashes.

His abdomen was cut open, with more than half of it exposed.

Hachi's body slumped forward.

puff.

It crashed to the ground, crashed into its own pool of blood.

Two swords flew out of his body, tracing two arcs in the air, and flew back behind Bucky, silently sheathing themselves.

At this point, not a single merman remained standing on the ruins.

At this point, Bucky's attack became quite ruthless.

After all, Nami was right there.

"Playing is playing, and making a fuss is making a fuss."

"I wouldn't joke around with Nami's life~"

Buggy came to Nami's side, put his arm around her shoulder, and whispered in her ear.

Nami remained motionless.

With her head bowed, her orange hair obscured her entire face, only tears continued to drip down, one drop at a time, falling onto the rubble, onto the pool of blood, onto the ruins soaked in the smoke and the stench of blood.

Buggy casually brushed Nami's head, his hand sliding from the back of her head to the nape of her neck.

Nami's shoulders trembled, and her breathing became shallow and rapid, like a cat being pinched by the scruff of its neck, wanting to run but unable to escape, wanting to hide but having nowhere to hide.

"Cry."

No one in this world has to pretend to be strong.

"People have the right to choose to move upwards, and they also have the right to choose to move downwards."

"People have the right to choose to move forward, and they also have the right to choose to give up."

For someone as strong-willed as Nami, what she fears most is someone speaking softly to her.

Strong people are not afraid of being suppressed, but they are very afraid of being understood.

Being understood means letting go of your convictions.

and this.

It was the biggest crossroads in their destinies.

The angels will ask you to follow the rules.

The devil will only tell you: We follow the rules.

"Waaaaah..." Nami's sobs finally broke through her throat.

She was crying so hard she was shaking all over.

Out of breath crying.

She cried so hard that she squeezed out all the fear, anger, grievances, and despair she had accumulated over the past eight years.