Episode 445: Fine then, let's fight! Who's afraid of who?!
You're just a little brat who cries! I'll beat you until you cry for your mommy!
Hearing Buggy provoke him like that, Ace's mouth twitched instinctively. He said angrily, "Hmph, is that so?"
"I won't go easy on you. We'll see who ends up looking for their mommy!"
"Go easy on you? Don't go crying and begging me later. Watch closely—this is Captain Buggy's ultimate secret technique!"
Hearing Ace say that, Buggy could not help but sneer. He pulled the rusty little knife from his waist and gestured with it before his chest.
"Haki!"
With that, he struck what he thought was a very cool pose and spoke confidently.
Then he waved his little knife and charged at Ace.
The knife cut an arc through the air, slicing toward Ace's shoulder with a whistle of wind.
Ace instinctively twisted aside to dodge, but having only just become a Devil Fruit user, his body had not fully adapted yet. He was half a beat too slow, and the knife cut a slit in the corner of his clothes.
"Hehe, how was that? Scared stiff?"
Buggy laughed smugly. Without stopping, he continued attacking with his knife.
Though his moves were chaotic and unstructured, he was fast. Moreover, having spent years knocking around at sea, he had far more fighting experience than Ace.
For a moment, Ace was flustered and could only keep dodging.
He wanted to use his Devil Fruit ability, but the flames in his palm flickered on and off, refusing to come out at his command.
After all, he had only eaten the fruit recently and could not yet skillfully control this power.
"Hey, little brat, where'd all your strength go?"
Buggy taunted him as he attacked.
Ace's face turned