Return to the Island

After four days of sailing, the Pale White is finally about to arrive at Festival Island.

Since the town's construction began, the development and expansion of the Ritual Hall has always been directed towards the nearest south bank. After a year of development, not only has a sheltered harbor been built on the south bank, but the road leading to the south bank is also bustling with traffic.

At this time, on the south bank road.

The royal guards, clad in black armor, stood solemnly on both sides, holding black spears and standing ramrod straight, their ranks stretching for over a hundred meters. Countless people of all kinds stood outside the royal guards' protective circle, gazing towards the sea.

The white hull of the Pale White and another pirate ship soon came into everyone's view, followed by a constant commotion from the crowd.

A group of pirates who had been roaming the New World for over a year stood together, waiting with a hint of anticipation for the Pale White to dock. One of the pirates spoke up, "Boss, this Buggy the Star Clown may be the king here, but his presence is truly formidable. I think even the Celestial Dragons couldn't compare to him, hehe."

Another pirate chimed in, "The Shichibukai are all unruly, but Buggy is no match Donquixote Doflamingo Donquixote Doflamingo. That guy seized power in Dressrosa in just over a decade."

The pirate leader, a middle-aged man with a red headband named Jerome, continued, "Indeed, Dressrosa is World Government Member States, existing since before the Void Century. Donquixote Doflamingo was able to take over from the Riku Family without any suppression or obstruction from the World Government..."

He paused, glancing at a man standing discreetly in the distance, a cigar dangling from his lips, and said in a tone seven parts apprehension and three parts mockery, "He's far superior to that former Shichibukai failed in his attempt to seize a country and was sent to the Impel Down by the Navy..."

Before he could finish speaking, a haughty gaze swept over. Crocodile, with a cigar dangling from his lips and hands in his pockets, let out a low, cold snort before slowly withdrawing his gaze from the crew-cut man.

Jerome's brow twitched slightly, and he turned around warily. Besides Crocodile, who made no attempt to conceal himself, he also knew that several other powerful pirate crews and other unknown forces were secretly observing the situation, each with their own thoughts.

A few days ago, news spread across the island that Buggy the Star Clown Shichibukai, was about to return to the Festival Island. Pirate crews passing by the island stopped their voyages and chose to stay on the island temporarily. In addition, some other forces that heard the news came to wait for Buggy's arrival.

The Pale White sailed for about ten minutes before finally docking in the harbor.

Buggy stepped off the boat, followed by Basil Hawkins and Edward Weevil, who came into view. A commotion arose from all sides of the shore.

"What's going on? That tall guy looks like Shichibukai too?!"

"That's right... that guy is the weirdo who calls himself the son of Whitebeard, Edward Weevil!"

"Wait, there's also that guy... Basil Hawkins of the Worst Generation..."

Jerome, who had been observing, also narrowed his eyes. He shook his head, and after confirming that he hadn't seen wrong, the shock in his heart almost overflowed. Two Shichibukai joining forces was something he had never heard of before, and the pirate alliance also included Basil Hawkins, whose bounty was close to 300 million! This lineup could challenge the Four Emperors!

Ding... Ding...

A strange, slight noise pulled him from his reverie. Looking up, he saw a burly pirate draw his ring-bladed sword and charge towards Buggy, laughing rudely, "Haha! I'll use the lives of the Shichibukai to make my name known!!"

"That guy... seems to be Leonard, the 'Bear' with a bounty of 105 million Beli. Rumor has it that he has a violent temper and once slaughtered soldiers at a Marine Base in a fit of rage!" Jerome was shocked again. Although he had expected that someone would make a move against Buggy, he did not expect that the first one would be a monster like Leonard.

"Even the Shichibukai would let their guard down when they return to their own territory, and their opponent is Leonard..." Jerome's thoughts had barely formed when reality shattered them, and he stared wide-eyed incredulously at the battle that had already ended.

Weevil not only blocked Leonard's knife attack, but also knocked the latter away. The moment he fell to the ground, the quick-thinking royal guards around him plunged black guns into his limbs, leaving bloody holes in his hands and feet.

"Hai, Seastone..."

Leonard felt the icy chill of the Seastone piercing his body, and as if his strength had suddenly vanished, he was powerless. Gritting his teeth, he roared in resentment, "If you have the guts, let me go and fight me fair and square!"

"Who would be foolish enough to let their enemy go..."

Jerome had barely finished thinking those words when he heard Buggy's calm voice, "Let him go..."

Jerome was stunned, unable to understand, "You've already got Leonard under control, why did you let him go?!"

After receiving instructions, the King's Guard drew their black guns and retreated.

Leonard stood up, staring at Buggy with bloodshot eyes. Then his body began to expand and swell, with black fur growing on his body. After an angry roar, he transformed into a four-meter-tall humanoid black bear!

The civilians who had long since retreated now erupted in noise again. The visual impact of Zoan Devil Fruit abilities on them, who had never seen anything like it before, was still quite intense!

"Weevil, step back." Buggy waved Weevil away, then took two steps forward, glancing at Leonard with the indifferent look of a superior looking down at a subordinate. "A fair duel... Fine, I'll give you that opportunity."

"Hmph!" Leonard's eyes widened. He had a short temper and couldn't stand other people's nonchalant attitude. He angrily charged at Buggy, raising his black bear paw as if he wanted to smash the other's head!

Just as the bear's paw was about to slap Leonard's cheek, Buggy raised his hand and firmly gripped Leonard's wrist.

"What!!"

Leonard used all his strength, but found that he couldn't move his hand at all, and sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.

"Aaaaaah!!"

He shouted and slammed his left hand down toward Buggy's chest. His left hand was fully extended in the blink of an eye, but it struck nothing but air, failing to touch Buggy's retreating body.

"Devil Fruit User!" Looking at Buggy, he finally realized.

"Your strength is not bad, and your ambition is also great..." Before Buggy could finish speaking, his split right hand suddenly twisted, instantly turning the black bear paw he was holding 180 degrees, and the enormous force forcefully broke Leonard's entire wrist bone!

Leonard let out a heart-wrenching scream, his wrist falling limply to his side, a trickle of blood seeping from his skin. Buggy's severed hand continued its relentless advance, instantly gripping Leonard's neck. Before Leonard could react in surprise, it snapped again, producing a crisp sound of bones breaking.

Leonard's neck was bent at a ninety-degree angle, his eyes lost all color, and he could no longer utter a roar.

Such direct methods and brutal force silenced all the onlookers.

"Most pirates who come to the New World are like this, pursuing fame and power, craving strength and wealth, rushing in recklessly like moths to a flame. Although I admire that courage, reality is just that cruel..." Buggy slowly withdrew his split hand, returning it to his wrist, letting the corpse, now back in human form, fall to the ground. He calmly surveyed everyone before him. "This sea is full of forbidden zones filled with death. If you want to live longer, you'd better remember there are some things you should never try, because those who are not strong enough... cannot see the Grim Reaper behind them!"