Buggy's Defeat, What is Unstoppable Forward Momentum?

Can Yue's expression was blank, his gaze icy.

He pressed his sword blade down through the air, and a violent surge of sword qi began to converge. A azure dragon formed from countless sword streams roared down from the sky.

The hundred-meter-long dragon charged forward. Everything in its path was reduced to ash. The momentum was terrifyingly powerful, and even distant onlookers like Luffy felt their hearts clench.

As for Buggy, who was already struggling to deal with the Poison Flower Claw Meteor Shower, he had to face this horrifying attack while exhausted from dodging. A suffocating sense of death rushed over him.

"Damn it, I've got no choice but to try, huh?" Buggy gritted his teeth, and in an instant, Armament Haki coated his entire body.

"Split yourself apart for me, yaaaah!!!" Buggy roared, ignoring the pain of the poison claws corroding him as he released his ability outward, ultimately colliding with the Azure Dragon Break.

The terrifying energy exploded instantly. Azure-blue energy scattered in all directions, further destroying the already pockmarked and corroded ground. The entire mountain was flattened into a plain.

On another distant mountain peak.

Luffy and the others stared wide-eyed, utterly incredulous.

"Is this the kind of power a human can achieve?" Nami's heart pounded as she watched the scene, which seemed like a natural disaster. Amid her shock, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

"My understanding is still too shallow." Luffy's expression turned grave as he reflected on his own recklessness. Neither of these two was someone he could face right now.

'There are definitely many more people like Can Yue and Buggy out there on the sea. I have to get stronger.' Luffy resolved in his heart, determined to train twice as hard during his adventures.

Zoro felt the rampant sword qi wreaking havoc ahead and immediately recognized the gap between himself and those powerful swordsmen.

'I used to think I could just set sail and challenge Hawk Eyes. I was way too naive.'

With that thought, Zoro's eyes sharpened as he looked at Can Yue and made his own decision.

The Mayor had already fainted—whether from fear or from seeing his town destroyed to this extent was unclear.

The young woman was gripping the Pig Butcher's arm tightly, terrified by the horrifying scene.

The Pig Butcher, however, frowned deeply. Something felt off. Where was that move Buggy had used to split the mountain earlier?

As the smoke cleared, the battlefield was left in utter ruin.

At the center of the energy explosion, Buggy stood covered in blood, his skin cracked all over. He seemed to be severely injured.

Can Yue landed slowly about ten meters in front of Buggy, his gaze calm as he looked at him.

"If you hadn't split apart the front portion of the Azure Dragon Break's energy, the outcome would have been dire."

Buggy steadied himself with effort, swaying as he replied, "I have to thank you. If you hadn't pushed me to the brink of life and death, I'd never have learned this move in my lifetime."

"I've often tried to awaken the Chop Chop Fruit's ability, but I always fail at the critical moment. Take this mountain that's been flattened, for example. I used to practice on it all the time. Every time I split it, it would revert on its own in less than a moment. And I'd suffer internal injuries."

Hearing this, Can Yue realized what had happened. The Pig Butcher had made a mistake, assuming Buggy could casually split a mountain and control its reversion at will. In truth, Buggy simply couldn't control the ability.

No wonder it was called the strongest Luck-Luck Fruit. No matter what he did, outsiders would think he was incredibly strong.

At that thought, Can Yue almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Calming himself, Can Yue looked at Buggy and asked, "Then why were you able to split part of my energy this time?"

Buggy was silent for a moment, then looked up at the sky as if recalling something. "Maybe it was luck."

"Can Yue, you win. I've got no fighting strength left. What are you going to do with me?"

Can Yue's cold eyes locked onto Buggy. Even though Buggy's mindset had shifted, Can Yue's stare still made his scalp tingle.

"Heh. You have no killing intent toward me, so I won't kill you," Can Yue replied simply.

"Kah-haha, cough, cough. White-haired Swordsman—Can Yue—you're really something." Buggy laughed, then coughed from his severe injuries.

Just as Can Yue turned to fly toward Luffy's group, Buggy called out to him again.

"If I hadn't split the front part of the Azure Dragon Break just now, would you have voluntarily detonated the rest of the energy?"

Can Yue didn't turn around. As he walked slowly into the distance, he replied flatly, "The answer is the same as what I said before. It just depends on how badly you'd be hurt."

After saying this, Can Yue stopped and spoke seriously.

"Buggy, you're no match for me right now. I hope we can fight again in the future."

With that, Can Yue turned and flew toward Luffy and the others.

Buggy watched the white figure in the sky, a grin curling at the corner of his mouth. "Definitely," he murmured softly.

Seeing that Can Yue had already left with Luffy's group, Buggy closed his eyes as a flood of memories surged into his mind.

"Buggy, always dodging won't bring out your Devil Fruit's true strength. A fruit's power is directly tied to its user's personality. If you're cowardly, it's only good for running away. If you're bold, it can become a formidable combat force! Take this move."

Pluto Rayleigh shouted, swinging his sword forward. A pale blue sword beam carrying terrifying destructive power shot toward Buggy, who was barely thirteen years old.

But even as the sword beam was about to strike him, Buggy could only scream in terror, "Uncle Rayleigh, stop! I'll die!"

Rayleigh had no choice but to fire another slash to shatter the first attack, protecting Buggy.

"Buggy, our crew is about to disband. If you stay like this, how will you stand on your own in the future?"

"So what? I'm great at running away. I could've dodged that slash just now, you know."

"How fortunate—if I had added..." Rayleigh was about to reprimand Buggy when Pirate King Roger suddenly spoke up beside him.

"Forget it, Rayleigh. Everyone has their own way of living." Roger then turned to Buggy and said with profound meaning, "In the time to come, no one can help you. So use your own methods and strive to realize your dreams, Buggy."

"Got it, Captain Roger! Actually, my water combat skills were still pretty strong—it's all that Shanks's fault!" Buggy ran over to Roger in a carefree manner and started tattling again.

The memory faded, and Buggy returned to reality. He lay on the ground, staring at the sky, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

"Captain Roger, I miss you so much."

"I didn't want to bring you shame, so I trained hard, worked to get stronger. But every time I tried to awaken my ability, I felt a fear that I would be torn apart, a certainty of death. I'm still afraid of dying—I'm afraid that if I die, I'll lose those beautiful memories of being on your ship."

After another moment of silence, Buggy began muttering to himself again.

"Captain Roger, I just met a white-haired man. His attack made me feel death itself, but in that instant, I suddenly wasn't afraid of dying anymore. I'm your crewmate—I'm a crewmate of the Pirate King! How could I possibly fear death!"

"Just wait. I'll make this sea remember the name Clown Buggy. I'll make everyone know that none of Pirate King Roger's crew are weaklings!"

"From now on, I, Buggy, will charge forward without hesitation!"

"Thank you, Can Yue."