The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

All other losses seem... bearable.

She looked up at the sky outside Pangu City.

This is my first visit to this "dwelling place of the gods" that has stood for eight hundred years.

A chill, as if about to overwhelm and penetrate to the very marrow, arose.

Inside the flower garden, Im slowly walked back to the couch and sat down in an elegant posture that seemed somewhat out of proportion to his current physique.

With eyes closed, in the palm of my left hand, darkness silently rotates.

The fingers of his right hand gently tapped the soft, collapsed edge, causing a subtle spatial tremor.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the man who once burned him with "sparks".

This is a wait-and-see event, where only one person is destined to emerge from among the flowers...

The final showdown.

Chapter 723 Bucky: I'm the only phoenix left

The New World, Kalai Bali.

Sunshine, beaches, coconut trees... this island has all the elements of a resort paradise.

But the "Cross Church" skull and crossbones flags fluttering on the island serve as a constant reminder to visitors.

This is the headquarters of Buggy, one of the newly crowned "Four Emperors," also known as "King of Clowns."

At this moment, inside the largest, most ornate, and most aesthetically pleasing tent in the center of the island...

The atmosphere, however, was in stark contrast to the bright sunshine outside.

Pakistani sat upright in the main seat of the tent.

Or rather, it's an attempt to sit up straight and act formally.

He was wearing his signature clown costume, cold sweat constantly seeping from his forehead.

On the left and right sides sat the true power core and top combat force of the Cross Guild.

On the left, a man with a gloomy expression scrutinized the uninvited guest in the center of the tent.

Crocodile, the "Sand Crocodile," slowly exhales a smoke ring while smoking a cigar.

On the right is the "Lonely Red" Barlowry Clydefield, elegantly sipping its red wine.

Further to either side are Charlotte Katakuri, the former leader of the "Sweet Commanders" of the Big Mom Pirates, with his arms crossed and expressionless.

And there was the enormous former Shichibukai "Gecko" Moria, who chuckled strangely and stared at the person in the center.

Standing in the center of the tent, enduring the scrutinizing, cold, and curious gazes, was a man who looked disheveled and listless.

He was a former member of the Blackbeard Pirates, who was severely injured by Enel in the Battle of Egerward.

Later, it was swept away by the vines of the abandoned farm, but eventually escaped and wandered around the new world until it ended up here.

Samuel Kronos, the "Cursed Doctor"!

At this moment, this man, who was once considered a powerful figure in the old era...

With the utmost humility, he frantically expressed his "surrender" and "praise" to Baki, who was in the main seat.

"Lord Bucky! 'The Clown King'! Please, you must take me in!" Samuel's voice was trembling with tears and obsequiousness.

"The Blackbeard Pirates are finished! Captain Teach is missing, and the rest of the crew have been killed in battle!"

"I...I'm just a doctor, I don't want to die!"

He was practically prostrate on the ground, rambling incoherently as he praised her:

"In this new world, who doesn't know the legendary name of 'Lord Clown' Bucky!"

You are wise, brave, and righteous—a true hero among pirates!

Under your leadership, the Cross Guild has become the last ray of hope in this turbulent sea, and the only 'sanctuary' for the oppressed pirates!

Only by following a great emperor like you...

Only then can I have a way to survive, and only then can I continue to use my insignificant abilities to serve you!

Spittle flew everywhere, and he was extremely obsequious.

Bucky's facial muscles twitched as he listened, his mind already filled with curses.

"Pure Land? Light of Hope? Bah!"

Don't you guys even know how I got the title of "Four Emperors"?!

Now this scourge has come knocking on my door, and it's got all the hatred from the Navy—it's trying to drag me down with it!

Therefore, how could Bucky dare to act on his own?

The tense gaze immediately became like a distress signal.

The arrows were thrown at Crocodile on the left and the Red Earl on the right, the two royal fathers.

Crocodile took a deep drag on his cigar, letting the smoke fill the air around him.

He didn't look at Samuel immediately, but spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and low.

"A quake... the navy led by Gern Reginald Sigma..."

He paused, seemingly savoring the heavy pressure that the name carried.

"That's a bit scary."

This statement is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

"In just six months..." Crocodile flicked his cigarette ash, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Kaido, Big Mom, Shanks, Marshall D. Teach... the four Yonko-level pirate crews were destroyed."

Each name represents a once-powerful force that once dominated the world and made it tremble.

Now, however, all of that is in the past.

"The Battle of Eghardt..." Crocodile's voice trailed off, tinged with a hint of apprehension he himself was unaware of.

"Needless to say."

The Five Elders, the highest-ranking officials in the World Government, have fallen... That's no longer a war between pirates and the Navy.

His words presented a bloody and suffocating picture to everyone.

Although Kaido and Big Mom were mainly defeated by Straw Hat Luffy, the surname "Monkey D" still holds true.

The fact that Wano Country was subsequently "taken over" by the Navy has convinced countless conspiracy theorists that...

Behind that battle between the two emperors on Onigashima, there was definitely the shadow of the Navy (or rather, Gern)!

The destruction of the Red-Haired Pirates occurred almost simultaneously.

It's hard not to connect the dots and point to the man who has now officially declared war on the World Government.

A deathly silence fell inside the tent.

Even their breathing could be heard clearly.

Katakuri's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Moriah's grotesque laughter also stopped.

Even the Earl of Red paused slightly as he swirled his wine glass.

pressure.

An invisible, terrifying pressure emanating from the monster known as "Skyquake" seemed to penetrate space and envelop the tent.

"Tsk."

A soft click broke the silence.

The Red Earl put down his wine glass, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Samuel before finally settling on Bucky.

As soon as he was about to speak, he immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Everyone knows that this is the only true and sole royal-level combat force guarantee for the Cross Guild.

Therefore, his attitude is crucial.

“I have a place to retire to…it’s not easy to stay there.”

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, especially Bucky, who almost stopped breathing.

The Earl of Red took a sip of wine, recalling some unpleasant experience, and chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Although the outside world praises it to the skies, but..."

"I'll say something."

"Back then in Paradise, I was being chased by Akainu... and 'Devil' Barrett together..."

The Red Earl gently swirled his wine glass.

"I'm a mess. A complete mess."

"If it weren't for my ability to fly... the Mythical Zoan-type ability of the Bat-Bat Fruit gave me a last resort to escape the battlefield..."

Count Red raised his eyelids, and a rare hint of lingering fear flickered in his scarlet pupils.

"I probably...couldn't have left back then."

These words were like a bomb dropped in everyone's hearts!

Even legendary pirates of the Red Earl's caliber

They both admitted that they almost perished while being pursued by the Navy (Akainu and Barrett).

The implications of this are crystal clear!

Gern's navy is not the navy of the past!

Their attack on pirates and their top-tier combat power have reached a point where they can threaten or even kill Emperor-level pirates!

The reason why the Cross Guild still exists may not be because they are so strong.

Rather... it hasn't been included in the primary cleanup list yet, or there are other considerations?

Bucky instantly understood!

So he suddenly jumped up from his seat, the movement so violent that he almost tipped the chair over!

The fear on his face was instantly replaced by an exaggerated expression that mixed "righteous indignation" and "reluctant sacrifice."

Waving his arms, using all his strength

"Of the four Four Emperors, three have fallen, leaving only me, the Phoenix!!!"

He cleverly attributed his "good luck," "strong background," and "fierce subordinates" to the "phoenix" attribute.

This both glorifies themselves and hints at the perilous nature of the situation.

Then, the voice was filled with "compassion" and "a sense of responsibility".

"but!"

"The Cross Guild! It's me, Bucky!"

"Under the terrifying oppression of the independent navy, this is the last and only sanctuary for all the pirate brothers, protected with all their might!!!"

He clutched his chest, as if enduring immense pain and a difficult decision.

Upon hearing this, Samuel's eyes lit up with hope.

Thinking that Bucky had been persuaded, he immediately crawled to Bucky's feet and looked up at him.

"Lord Buggy! So, are you going to accept me? I'm willing to go through fire and water for the guild!!"

However, Bucky suddenly turned his head to the side and exaggeratedly covered his eyes with one hand.

His shoulders heaved violently; he wept silently, his voice choked with sobs and a trembling tone of deep sorrow.

"I'm sorry... I... I, Bucky... I'm so sorry!!!"