At Loguetown's central plaza, it was as though a massive hole had opened in the sky.
Torrential rain poured down, its dense curtain shrouding the entire world in gray darkness.
Thunder rumbled like a death countdown for the scene about to unfold.
"Wahahaha!!"
Atop the towering Execution Platform, Buggy stomped one foot viciously on Luffy's head and raised his gleaming blade high.
Ignoring the downpour, he let out a victor's laugh at the densely packed crowd below.
"You Red Eye brat!! Watch closely!"
"This is what happens when you dare oppose me!!"
"It's all over, Straw Hat Kid! You want to become the One Piece?! Keep dreaming!!"
Below the Execution Platform, despair spread through the crowd.
"Get out of my way!!"
Wado Ichimonji clenched between his teeth, Zoro's eyes were bloodshot as Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri flashed wildly in his hands, cutting down two pirates blocking his path.
"Luffy!! Damn it... I won't make it in time!!"
He was too far away, and ahead of him stood a thick wall of Buggy Pirates circus performers and countless Marines.
"Luffy!!"
Sanji kicked a Marine flying, but even more enemies immediately filled the gap.
It was a distance called despair.
Yet at this critical moment of life and death,
Luffy, trapped in the stocks and unable to move, looked through the curtain of rain at his companions desperately trying to reach him.
There was no fear, nor any plea for mercy.
The corners of Luffy's mouth lifted into his usual wide grin.
"Sorry, Victor, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp..."
He shouted with a smile,
"I'm going to die!"
That smile was pure and calm, as though death was nothing more than a new adventure.
"Die my ass!!!"
The instant Luffy shouted those words,
atop a towering clock tower at the edge of