Battle against the Buggy Pirates 1

Looking at the prepared Buggy Ball, Buggy told his men, "Let's test the power of a Buggy Ball first."

A pirate lackey replied, "Yes, Captain Buggy."

Then the pirate aimed straight at the town below and fired.

Elsewhere, Liu Qing and Zoro had just docked their boat and were standing at the harbor when they suddenly sensed an attack coming toward them.

Liu Qing's perception instantly picked up the situation with the Buggy Pirates. Seeing the cannon aimed their way and the rapidly approaching cannonball, he knew what was going on.

Liu Qing grabbed Zoro and used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the rooftop of the Buggy Pirates' headquarters. He stayed silent, planning to watch the situation first.

Nami's eyes widened as she stared in horror at the row of houses destroyed by the Buggy Cannon. They had crumbled into rubble in an instant, as though made of paper. Its terrifying power made her suck in a cold breath, silently lamenting her predicament.

Her gaze slowly shifted toward the massive Buggy Cannon, and images of herself about to attack Luffy with it kept surfacing in her mind. The thought filled her with regret and unease.

Just then, Buggy's voice suddenly rang out beside her. "We've tested its power. Now it's your turn." There was a trace of coldness and ruthlessness in his words.

Nami raised her head and looked at Buggy's hideous face, growing even more frightened. She hesitated before finally mustering her courage. "Captain Buggy, I... I think we'd better not do this."

Buggy was clearly somewhat surprised by Nami's reaction. He frowned impatiently. "What? Are you scared? Don't forget, you're our new crewmate. This is your job!"

Nami hurriedly shook her head and explained, "No, Captain Buggy. I just think this is too cruel. Luffy... he's actually a very innocent person. I can't bear to..."

"That's not up to you. This is your proof of loyalty. If you don't kill him, how can I trust you enough to use you?"

Buggy turned toward his other men and ordered, "Put that brat where we just fired, and bring over another cannonball. Let our new crewmate finish off her own boss."

"Yes!" the other lackeys answered in unison, then quickly got to work.

Nami could only watch as they carried Luffy in front of the cannon's muzzle, her anxiety mounting. She knew that if she didn't act soon, Luffy might really die here.

Yet when she saw the fuse, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it. Her hand trembled slightly, as though the fuse were a venomous snake that would poison her to death the moment she touched it.

The lackeys around her began egging her on, shouting, "Fire! Fire!" Their voices were deafening. Nami felt as though her heart were about to stop, and a sheen of sweat formed on her forehead.

At this tense moment, Nami finally spoke hesitantly. "Captain Buggy, why don't we just forget about it..."

Buggy said, "Nami, don't let us down."

Just then, Luffy suddenly spoke. "Nami, you still don't have the resolve! It's precisely because you lack that resolve that you tried to take on a pirate and ended up in this situation."

Nami asked in confusion, "What resolve? Does being a pirate mean you can kill or rob anyone you please? Is that what you call resolve?"

Luffy hurriedly explained, "No, by resolve, I don't mean the courage to attack other people. I mean the determination to stake your own life."

Just as I thought Nami would be moved by Luffy's words, something unexpected happened. The instant Nami froze at what Luffy said, a pirate lackey seized the opening, snatched the torch as fast as lightning, and lit the cannonball's fuse without hesitation.

Seeing the fuse burning, Luffy, who had just been talking at length about the resolve to stake one's life, instantly went pale and cried out in panic, "Put it out! The fuse is lit! If you don't put it out now, it'll be too late!"

Yet faced with this sudden crisis, Nami displayed astonishing reflexes. Without hesitation, she pulled a two-meter-long wooden staff from her chest and swung it like a gust of wind. With a dull thud, the pirate who had snatched the torch fell to the ground, knocked unconscious by a single blow from Nami.

"Oh no, this is bad! I couldn't stop myself from attacking. What am I supposed to do now?" Nami said nervously, a sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.

Buggy shouted, "Nami, what are you doing? Are you trying to save your boss?"

Nami told Buggy, "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Then she said to Luffy, "Because I don't want to become an accomplice to cruel pirates. Pirates destroyed everything I had. How could I possibly join them?"

Buggy flew into a rage. "Do you think we're playing house? You can join whenever you want and leave whenever you don't? Dream on! There's a limit to making fools of people, you damned little brat! Men, kill them both!"

The pirates answered, "Yes!"

The pirates who had been watching all grabbed their swords and charged at Nami when they heard Buggy's order.

Suddenly, Luffy, who was tied up inside a wooden cage, began screaming in terror. "The cannon's about to fire! Put it out! Aah~~ Help~!"

Nami looked at the cannonball that was about to fire, then at the pirates attacking her. She decisively turned and ran straight toward the cannon. Once she reached it, she clamped her hand tightly around its fuse.

Seeing Nami's injured palm, Luffy shouted, "Watch out behind you! A pirate's swinging at you! Dodge!"

Just as the blade was about to strike Nami, Liu Qing's voice came from the rooftop above Buggy's head.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!" With a series of sounds of wood joining together, an oval wooden wall blocked the weapons attacking Nami.

Zoro jumped straight to the cage holding Luffy, cut through the wooden bars with a few slashes, and freed him. Then he looked at the Buggy Pirates. "All of you ganging up on one girl. You really are shameless."

Liu Qing jumped down as well. Looking at Nami's burned palm, he took her hand. "I have some healing ability too. Let me heal that for you."

Green chakra energy suddenly lit up Liu Qing's palm. He covered Nami's palm with it, and in just a few breaths, her hand was as good as new.

Nami said, "Thank you."

Buggy's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Zoro, a trace of suspicion crossing his face. "Roronoa Zoro, are you here to kill me for my bounty?"

Expressionless, Zoro folded his arms across his chest and answered coldly, "No, I'm not a bounty hunter anymore. I'm a pirate now. That idiot you wanted to blast with a cannonball is my captain."

Buggy froze at this, then burst into wild laughter. "Oh~ So that's how it is. But that doesn't change my interest in you. Once I kill you, my name will be known across the seas! Hahahaha!"

His laughter echoed over the surrounding waters, prompting the pirate lackeys around him to join in the jeering. "Kill him! Kill him!"

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside Zoro. It was Liu Qing. Clad in red battle armor, he cut a dashing figure as he fixed Buggy with a sharp gaze and said in a low voice, "Want to fight? People could die, you know."

Buggy's attention shifted to Liu Qing. He looked him up and down and asked in puzzlement, "And who are you? I've never seen you among any of the famous names."

The corners of Liu Qing's mouth lifted in a faint smile as he introduced himself. "Me? My name is Liu Qing. I'm a handsome bastard."

Buggy clearly had no recollection of that name. A contemptuous smile curled his lips, and he snorted. "Never heard of you? Haha, how ridiculous! But whoever you are, you can all die! Officers, get in there and kill them!"

Facing the enemies surging toward them, Liu Qing remained exceptionally calm. He turned to Luffy, a trace of trust flashing through his eyes. "I'll leave the captain of the Buggy Pirates to you. Luffy, are you confident?"

Luffy grinned, showing his signature sunny smile, and answered loudly, "Of course! I'll fight the captain. Watch me beat the crap out of him!"

Zoro stepped over as well, his gaze settling on a pirate lackey wielding two swords. He said in a low voice, "Leave the one with two swords to me. Let's see what he's made of."

Liu Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield before finally settling on a pirate sitting on a lion. "Then leave the one riding the lion to me. As for you, Nami, do as you see fit. Be careful not to get hurt."