Just as Luffy and the others successfully invited Nami aboard, in a stretch of sea in the East Blue.
On a new ship.
Buggy the Clown looked at the wanted posters for Luffy and the others in the newspaper, a cold smile appearing on his face!
"Damn rubber brat, thirty million just like that. But it doesn't matter. At least I finally know where you are. Now, I'll settle our grudge properly."
"Hehe, after searching for so long, I've finally found the first man who ever hit me. I'll marry no one but him."
Beside Buggy stood a woman in a black top hat and black clothes, smiling. Her figure was incomparably graceful, especially her skin, so smooth it seemed capable of reflecting light.
She was Alvida. After Luffy sent her flying, she had stumbled upon the Smooth-Smooth Fruit by chance. After eating it, her entire body had become incredibly slick, making any attack unable to touch her!
Later, she encountered Buggy, and the two immediately hit it off, planning to deal with Luffy together.
"Great, Captain! We finally have news about Straw Hat. Judging by their course, they're heading for the Grand Line too. Their next stop will be Loguetown, where Pirate King Roger was executed!"
The beast tamer Mohji chuckled. The lion Richie beneath him nodded as well, looking utterly agreeable.
"Not just Straw Hat. There's this guy too. Now I can avenge that sword strike!"
Cabaji sneered as he looked at Zoro's picture.
"Men, change course! Head for Loguetown!"
Buggy announced.
"Great, Captain! The Buggy Pirates will finally wipe away our past humiliation!"
"Straw Hat Kid, wait for us! This time, we'll beat you until you kneel and cry for your mother!"
"Forward, Loguetown!"
At once, all the pirates began shouting wildly as they changed course and headed toward Loguetown!
"Ding! You used Iai Slash once and gained 100*100 experience points!" "Ding! You used Dragon Ascent Slash once and gained 100*100 experience points!" "Ding! You used Armament Haki once and gained 100*100 experience points!" "..." "Ding! Iai Slash has advanced to lv4!" "Ding! Dragon Ascent Slash has advanced to lv2!" "Ding! You have obtained the new skill Phantom Sword Dance lv1!" "Ding! Armament Haki has advanced to lv4!"
Aboard the Going Merry, after leaving Cocoyasi Village, Moonlight trained madly atop the lookout platform.
At last, he had achieved some results!
With a thought, Moonlight looked over his current attributes.
[Moonlight] Basic Swordsmanship [System-gifted, no rank] Three-Stage Slash [System-gifted, no rank] Iai Slash lv5 1/1000000000 Dragon Ascent Slash lv2 1/1000000 Phantom Sword Dance lv1 1/100000 Observation Haki lv4 1/100000000 Armament Haki lv4 1/100000000 Conqueror's Haki lv2 50000/1000000
Basic Swordsmanship and Three-Stage Slash were automatically maxed out. The stronger he became through training, the more powerful they became.
Because he used it so frequently, Iai Slash had finally reached lv5. Sword Techniques at this level had already reached the point where spirit and Sword Aura fused together. Without even moving, a powerful presence could create mental illusions for an opponent. The Sword Aura was incomparably sharp; nothing in the world could withstand such a slash anymore.
This was also Hawkeye's realm!
If he faced Hawkeye again now, Moonlight was confident he could truly fight him head-on!
Both Observation Haki and Armament Haki had risen to a new level. Armament Haki in particular was no longer merely external armor; it could unite inside and out. With a single slash, it could directly inflict internal damage on the body, making it even more destructive!
As for Conqueror's Haki, the environment made it difficult to train. But once he reached the New World and faced more enemies, it would be like a fish in water.
The lv2 Dragon Ascent Slash had also gained the ability to remain in the air above the sea for a short time.
Lastly, there was the newly acquired skill, Phantom Sword Dance.
It condensed all Sword Aura into a single point and rapidly slashed forward. In the end, all the Sword Aura overlapped at one point before erupting.
The faster the slashes, the more Sword Aura overlapped, and the more terrifying its power became!
Boom!
Just then, dark clouds suddenly rolled in, fierce winds rose, and the sea began to churn violently!
Wave after wave of furious wind and seawater came crashing in!
"Not good, the wind has changed! A huge wave is coming! Usopp, change course and head west!"
On the deck, Nami, who had been observing the sea in every direction, hurriedly shouted.
"Got it."
Usopp did not dare delay and immediately changed course.
"Luffy, go check the sea! Zoro, watch the surroundings! Sanji, stand by! Moonlight, lower the sails!"
Nami then issued orders one by one!
"Mm."
"Yes, Miss Nami."
Zoro nodded, while Sanji answered with hearts in his eyes. Only Moonlight did not respond. Instead, he stood up and looked ahead at the massive wave already rushing toward them, more than ten meters high. With a movement of his body, he shot straight out!
"Hey, Moonlight, you... what are you doing?!"
Seeing that Moonlight ignored her, Nami looked over to speak, only to see him rush toward the wave like an arrow. She was instantly shocked.
"What happened?"
Zoro was startled, his hand instinctively pressing against his sword hilt as he thought a powerful enemy was approaching!
"Is there an enemy?"
Sanji was on guard as well!
"Huh?"
Usopp could not help looking over!
"Moonlight, what are you doing?"
Luffy looked curiously at Moonlight, who had suddenly jumped down.
Moonlight did not answer. Under everyone's baffled and astonished gazes, Dragon Ascent Slash erupted!
"Ah... ah... ah...!"
The entire sea surface was instantly filled with afterimages of him moving at high speed with Dragon Ascent Slash, along with thunderous sounds from his body rubbing against the air. He reached the wave, looked at the ten-meter-high wall of water, stopped atop the sea, and then unleashed Phantom Sword Dance with a fierce slash!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Moonlight stood atop the sea and slashed fiercely. Afterimages abruptly appeared all around him, followed by phantom Sword Aura appearing in front of him.
This was caused by how fast he was striking. Moreover, this Sword Aura did not scatter, but condensed at a single point and stacked continuously.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sea surged and roared as the ten-meter-high wall of water crashed toward him!
Then, Moonlight struck without hesitation!
A mass of Sword Aura formed from dozens of slashes condensed into one, rolling forward as it cut toward the wall of water!
Slash!
The ten-meter-high wall of water was instantly split into two by that Sword Aura!
The Sword Aura surged onward, carving a path across the sea!
Gasp!
Luffy and the others all drew in a sharp breath!
"Th-This... his swordsmanship has improved again!"
"This guy split even a wall of seawater!"
"Moonlight, you bastard!"
"..."
"Wow, Moonlight, you're amazing!"
Before you continue