Chapter 540: Logia?
Chapter 540: Logia?
Beneath the ruins of the 46GR main trunk...
This area had suffered massive destruction two years ago during a battle between the Super Novas and Pacifistas. It had never been repaired and remained a desolate wasteland, rarely visited by anyone.
Now, the plaza within these ruins was teeming with pirates.
Packed to the brim, the crowd numbered easily into the hundreds.
Near a broken wall, a blond Navy officer crouched in hiding, whispering into a Transponder Snail:
"This is the 46GR main trunk. The newcomers joining Luffy's crew are gathering here. Confirmed pirates include—"
The officer glanced outside, his eyes locking onto a tall, gaunt man with a beard who kept flicking out his long tongue, and a stocky companion wielding a shovel, his hair resembling a green chameleon's crest.
"—the brothers Kali Bu of the Kali Pirate Crew, bounty 210 million Beri, and Kri Bu the Bloodstained, bounty 190 million Beri."
He paused.
"And..."
His gaze shifted to a bizarre figure wrapped entirely in bandages. "Elbio the Severely Wounded, bounty 92 million Beri."
Then to a stout man with thick lips and a shovel on his shoulder. "Lip Sabis Dotty the Waiter, bounty 88 million Beri."
"All dangerous pirates in the tens of millions. Requesting immediate backup. If they fully join Luffy's crew, it'll be catastrophic."
"Huh?"
As the officer reported, a voice suddenly echoed behind him.
Turning sharply, he froze. A grotesque face loomed inches away, tongue lolling out, one green eye squinting crossly. The sight was horrifying.
"Ahh!"
The officer scrambled backward in panic.
The monstrous face's owner, sleeves billowing, snatched the Transponder Snail from his hand.
"Well well, what do we have here? A Navy brother!"
The man's words triggered a swarm of pirates encircling the exposed officer, glaring menacingly.
"K-Kali Bu!" the officer stammered.
"Hehehe! Navy brother~"
Kali Bu twirled the Transponder Snail, eyes glinting. "You wouldn't be secretly reporting to the Navy, would you? Wanting to stain this place with blood? That'd be... unpleasant. But if blood must be spilled—"
He produced a spear from nowhere, lunging forward. "Let's spill yours!!"
"Hey, Kali Bu!"
A thunderous shout cut through the air.
"Ahhh, it's Luffy! Luffy!"
"The boss is here!"
"Oh!! Boss!"
On a high platform above the ruins, a burly man wearing a straw hat grinned broadly, raising his pistol skyward before firing.
Bang!
"Quiet, my men!"
The gunshot silenced the crowd.
Surveying the scene, the burly man roared, "You may not know each other yet, but from today, you're all Straw Hat Pirates! When the Old Man claims the One Piece, you'll be part of that legend!"
"Oooooo!!"
The pirates erupted again.
"On future adventures, you'll be the Old Man's right and left arms, risking your lives for him!"
"So, Kali Bu, that nameless Navy officer isn't worth your time. Let him go!"
Exactly! This is perfect!
Pretending to be Luffy's crew was the right move after arriving here!
They've vanished, they're dead!
But their reputation remains.
Among pirates in recent years, none shine brighter than the Straw Hat Pirates.
The pirates who turned Enies Lobby, Impel Down, and Marine Headquarters upside down—rarely seen in this world.
The Straw Hats are absolute contenders for the One Piece.
Just using that name alone has drawn countless pirates. With them, I'll carve my own reputation in the New World!
"That won't work, boss", Kali Bu sneered at the burly man above, his tone dripping with mockery. "I hate liars most of all. Especially these hypocrites—"
He spun, thrusting his spear at the fallen officer.
"—they deserve execution!"
"Nailsfist Technique: Exploding Nail!"
As the spear neared, a shout rang out. A bullet-like impact shredded Kali Bu's upper body, leaving jagged holes.
"Ohohoho..."
The attack barely fazed him. No scream, no collapse.
The holes oozed viscous liquid.
"Not bad..."
Bang!
Before Kali Bu could finish, a figure blurred forward, punching his head clean off. The body crumpled.
"Are you alright?!"
A hooded cloak billowed before the officer's eyes. Beneath it, a Navy lieutenant crouched, fist still raised, gleaming in the sunlight.
"Lieutenant Sazil!" the officer gasped, relieved.
"Charge!!"
A cloud of smoke and dust erupted behind them. Navy forces surged from all directions, encircling the plaza.
"This ends here, pirates!" Sazil bellowed. "Straw Hat Pirates and the rest of you—surrender peacefully!"
"Tch! Navy?!"
The burly man on the platform recoiled, then snarled, remembering something. "Fools! The Old Man has countless pirates under him! What can the Navy do?!" He roared at his crew, "Attack!"
"That's right! Our boss is Luffy Luffy, with a 400 million Beri bounty! Even a Vice Admiral on this island won't scare us!"
A pirate charged, weapon raised.
At his signal, the pirates surged forward, unafraid of the Navy's encirclement.
"Ha! Don't joke! You're just trash!" Sazil clenched his fist, scowling. "You think you can challenge a Vice Admiral? No! Letting you pass would be my humiliation!"
He'd just returned from patrolling with Vice Admiral Klah when hearing rumors of the Straw Hats recruiting. He'd rushed here immediately.
Though Kuro knew stopping pirates was impossible, this many together could threaten civilians or Navy bases. That would shame Kuro—and Klah wouldn't tolerate failure.
And if Klah suffered...
So would I.
They must not pass!
"Sazil Lieutenant, watch out!"
As Sazil prepared to charge, the officer's warning came too late.
Bang!
"Iron Body!"
A bullet struck his forehead, leaving a smoking imprint.
"Damn, that hurts..."
He glared ahead. The man he'd decapitated earlier was reforming, pistol smoking in hand, tongue flicking out in a grin. The holes in his body vanished.
"You... Devil Fruit user?" Sazil asked.
"Hehehehe! I'm the Swamp Man, eater of the Logia-type Swamp Devil Fruit!" Kali Bu licked his lips. "Physical attacks won't work on me!"
"Logia?!"
Sazil raised his fist, launching another punch straight at Kali Bu.
(End of Chapter)
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