Chapter 85

On an uninhabited desert island in the Grand Line, a training session was underway.

"That's right, Robin," Buggy began, addressing Nico Robin. "Didn't you mention that your replicated arm could sense if someone were to attack it?"

Robin nodded in agreement. "Yes, by extension, I can better sense with Haki. Likewise, when I use Armament Haki, my surprise attacks with this ability are more likely to deal significant damage to the enemy."

Buggy continued with his advice. "You don't need to broaden the scope of your abilities. If you aim to enhance your attack power, focus on improving your physical strength. The crucial thing right now is training Haki."

"Fishmen karate is the best fit for you. Sunbell is right here he can teach you. You should concentrate on developing three aspects: mastering Armament Haki, perfecting Fishmen karate, and utilizing your Flower-Flower Fruit for assisted flight. Wings would be a great idea."

Addressing both Robin and another member, he added, "Now, both you and Shirahoshi should learn Fishmen karate with Sunbell. This form of Gentle Fist is highly suitable for both of you."

Turning to Kalifa, Buggy was frank. "Kalifa, to be honest, your ability isn't very useful right now. You don't need to invest further in it. I'll find a way to get you another Devil Fruit in the future. For now, focus on mastering Armament Haki."

Finally, Buggy turned his attention to Seraphim Boa. "Boa, give it your all and strike me!"

A series of powerful blows followed as Boa engaged in combat with Buggy. Despite their training, Buggy couldn't help but find the young Hancock quite charming. With her mastery of the Mero-Mero no mi, her allure grew each day.

Buggy had to be cautious; without strong enough Haki, he could risk being petrified by her. She was a testament to the genius of Vegapunk, a creation combining the talents of the Lunarian with exceptional adaptability. In each battle, she quickly absorbed her opponents' fighting skills.

This became particularly evident after the removal of the controlling chip, which had hindered their development. The chips had held them back.

Now that they had mastered Haki, coupled with the Lunarian race's formidable defensive flames, most Vice Admirals wouldn't stand a chance against them. Once they became proficient with two colours of Haki, they would rival elite Vice Admirals in strength.

Buggy chuckled, reflecting on the bewildering power of the two seraphs dispatched by the World Government. They might believe that he was powerless about how to use the two seraphs due to the chip, but witnessing their strength would likely leave them stunned.

As he practised against Boa, Buggy eagerly anticipated the Empress's reaction when she met Boa. He knew they wouldn't find out until they reached Wano Country.

Hancock had decided to join forces against Kaido, and the placement of Amazon Lily Island in the calm belt from where the access to the new world seemed plausible. Hancock's role was to investigate the area around Wanokunni in advance to determine its usefulness.

Another member, Seraphim Mihawk, had been sent to a peculiar location: Kuraigana Island.

Outside the castle, Hawkeye gazed at the boy, whose youthful face bore a striking resemblance to his own. He remained silent for a prolonged moment. Seeing that the boy's swords were identical to his legendary black sword, Yoru, he felt as if he were looking at his younger self.

Hawk found himself in an awkward predicament. Never had he expected to be sent to the original Hawkeye when Captain had mentioned placing him under a master swordsman.

"Father, when do we begin?" The boy's question affirmed Buggy's decision to have Mihawk recognize Hawkeye as his adoptive father.

Buggy's clever idea had caught both the Hawk and Hawkeye by surprise. The notion of Hawk gaining access to be taught under a swordsman with the combat prowess of an emperor level was undoubtedly brilliant.

Initially, it seemed like a casual suggestion from the mischievous redhead, but it had been adopted with surprising enthusiasm by Hawkeye.

Hawkeye's decision astonished everyone. With no biological children of his own and merely a green-haired Marimo apprentice who wanted to take his head. He had embraced this boy who so closely resembled his younger self.

"If this isn't my son. Who is my son?" Hawkeye mused. A spark of paternal affection had ignited within him.

Initially, Hawkeye intended to let Zoro teach him the basics, but the young eagle had a different perspective. He declared, "I will surpass and will become the strongest swordsman in the world." and promptly showcased a sword technique that mirrored Hawkeye's own.

This display left Hawkeye and even Zoro bewildered. The identical sword skills were a testament to a genuine father-son connection. Plus Zoro who carried Kuina's will to be the strongest swordsman gained a strong competitor.

...

The Buggy Pirates had been diligently honing their abilities. Bullet, in particular, had engaged in numerous sparring sessions with Gabban recently. While Gabban possessed stronger Haki compared to Bullet, the latter's astonishing regenerative abilities had driven Gabban to contemplate eating a Devil Fruit.

It was worth noting that, even with identical physiques, having a Devil Fruit made a significant difference. Despite Gabban's Haki being stronger, his stamina lagged. Gabban's was old hence his stamina was inferior to Enel's, who was young, had undergone systematic training and considerably improved his strength.

Enel's current prowess was impressive, and he could outmanoeuvre Bullet if he relied on long-distance combat and exploited the observation haki bonus and teleportation abilities granted by his goro goro no mi.

Enel had become a formidable force, akin to a second Kizaru in terms of sheer speed.

Currently, Enel has yet to awaken his powers. His Logia Devil Fruit is, without a doubt, the most formidable of its kind. It's safe to say that the awakening of Logia Devil Fruits holds mysteries yet to be unveiled, especially since Vegapunk hasn't managed to replicate them.

Even Kaido's mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits can be replicated, but Logia ones remain elusive. There seems to be a deep bloodline factor involved, possibly reaching into the secrets of gods.

Crocodile has been actively seeking Bullet and Buggy lately, inspired by Buggy's words about mastering Conqueror's Haki. Crocodile is committed to self-improvement.

Moreover, his Devil Fruit powers are advancing quickly, and he's already experimenting with awakening them in the depths of the sea bed. This is essential to compete with the likes of Green Bull in terms of Devil Fruit abilities.

Doringo's progress with his Devil Fruit powers is gradually advancing as well. As for Sunbell and Jinbei, their focus lies in enhancing their Haki and mastering Fishmen karate.

Among the crew members, Moria faces the greatest challenge. His progress lags behind individuals like Rob Lucci. Currently, Moria has only begun scratching the surface of Armament Haki, partially due to his encounter with Kaido, who is a formidable adversary for him.

Kaido remains Moria's nemesis, and Moria's Haki cannot truly develop until he confronts and overcomes this formidable foe. Regarding CP9, their mastery of Haki exceeds Buggy's expectations, possibly because of their Rokushiki techniques and Tekkai, which provide adaptability to both Armament and Observation of Haki.

Some of them have developed Armament Haki, while others have honed their Observation Haki skills. As of now, only Rob Lucci has fully mastered the two colours of Haki, a significant achievement considering the relatively short time frame, just a month or two.

The Buggy Pirates' rapid improvement owes much to Blueno's assistance. The use of his space gates allowed Buggy's crew to alternate between rigorous physical training on Sky Island, Boin Islands, and the depths of the sea, coupled with a balanced diet.

This acceleration in progress was further facilitated by the medical team led by Law, Hogback, and Princess Mansherry, ensuring they could spar and train without reservations. The level of care they received rivalled that of celestial dragons, a testament to their commitment.

Their strenuous training stems from Buggy's revelation about their upcoming plans – a confrontation with Kaido. While the crew always anticipated a clash between their captain and Kaido, they didn't foresee it happening so soon. However, considering that Kaido can anticipate their actions, it's more prudent to commence preparations sooner rather than later.

"After all, from their perspective, they are still at a numerical disadvantage, especially when they're playing away!

Based on the information they've acquired recently, it's likely that the Beast Pirates' strength exceeds 5,000! This is still an approximate figure, not accounting for the slaves from Wanokuni. On their side, they are at most a few dozen people, excluding Moria's zombie army.

It's safe to say that Moria suffered significant losses during the encounter with Luffy's gang, resulting in a considerable reduction in his strength. If Moria could access the impel down to gather shadows, it would be a game-changer. Unfortunately, Blueno hasn't been to that location. Otherwise, Moria's zombie army would be truly invincible.

If Buggy had any concerns about Kaido's vast army before consuming the Mori mori no mi, he has none now. It can be said that nobody excels at clearing mobs better than him.

Furthermore, facing Kaido's average pirate army might not be as challenging. Keep in mind that all of Kaido's 5,000 troops have consumed man-made Zoan Devil Fruits. Despite the significant side effects, a Zoan is still a Zoan, with strength, agility, and power far surpassing ordinary soldiers.

So, the reliance remains on Buggy himself. As he contemplated the intricacies of the impending battle with Kaido and his crew, he ascended to the midair of a desolate island strewn with only boulders, then clapped his hands together and exclaimed:

'Foliage Fury!'

As Buggy clapped his hands, a burst of blue light emanated from his body, quickly enveloping the reef-covered island. Within moments, green saplings sprouted from the rocks, growing into towering trees in the sky. Each of these sky-high trees boasted huge red flowers at their centres.

A delightful floral fragrance permeated the air, wafting towards the sea. Soon, a large school of fish gathered around the island, engaging in skirmishes around the reefs. The sea's surface turned crimson with blood for a while.

After a few minutes, the victorious schools of fish floated on the water's surface, their bellies upturned. Of course, these fish weren't dead; they had succumbed to a state of drunkness induced by the fragrance of flowers. In excessive quantities, it could lead to dizziness and eventually coma.

It's not surprising that the Mori mori no mi fruit is also known as the Logia of Logias. 

"It's just too versatile!"

"No wonder Hashirama could defeat Madara again and again."

Especially after Buggy integrated his consciousness into the power of the Mori mori no mi Fruit, this fruit has already taken on his form.

Observing that half of the immense reef island below had transformed into a virgin forest, Buggy couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

He had already planted trees on several reef islands.

Real trees, mind you!

Unless these reef islands are eventually submerged by seawater and the trees drowned, they will gradually attract wildlife and enrich the ecosystem.

Buggy is an environmentalist at heart, after all!

But Buggy still possessed plenty of physical strength today; after all, he had only been training Robin and the others, so it didn't significantly drain his stamina.

With this in mind, the corners of Buggy's mouth twitched, and he casually exclaimed:

"Wood Style Wooden Golem Jutsu!"

"Wood Style Wood Dragon Technique!"

"Wood Style Laughing Buddha Jutsu!"

As Buggy unleashed three consecutive powerful techniques, a colossal wooden golem emerged from the earth, and a massive, drowsy dragon materialized around him.

Immediately after, countless pebbles erupted from the ground surrounding the wooden golem and the wood dragon. Several enormous palms, tens of meters high, surged from the earth.

Crackle, crackle!

Following Buggy's mental commands, these palms began to clench, grasp, and form fists, exhibiting remarkable flexibility in various postures.

After feeling the strong connection between these colossal constructs and himself, Buggy slightly opened his eyes and uttered in a low voice:

"Armed!!!"

Buzz!

In the next moment, whether it was the towering palms or the colossal tree-man and hundred-meter-tall wooden dragon, they all transitioned from green to pitch-black in the blink of an eye!

Terrifying Haki emanated from them, exuding an immensely formidable and dreadful aura!

After executing this technique, Buggy suddenly sensed that his Haki reserves had been reduced by a quarter.

"It's still not powerful enough!"

Buggy sighed.

"I may have overestimated my capabilities; I haven't been able to fully awaken yet. However, these secondary manifestations will suffice. As for awakening, I'll let that go. It won't be necessary for the confrontation with Kaido."

"With that in mind, I'll be setting sail for Wanokuni tomorrow."

Buggy regretted not achieving his awakening before confronting Kaido. He had also attempted the "True Several Thousand Hands" technique before, but only half of it had manifested."

Buggy was aware that mastering this technique would likely require awakening, but he was unfazed.

After his training session, Buggy soared to another space and contacted Blueno.

In no time, Blueno appeared not far from him, creating a spatial doorway.

Back at Thriller Bark, Buggy convened a meeting and allowed his crew to enjoy a good night's rest.

With the addition of Panz Fry, their daily meals feature a variety of flavours, a culinary experience that the Boin Islands couldn't provide.

The reason Buggy had remained in Dressrosa for these days was to assist in stabilizing the political power and governance of the island. Now that Dressrosa had achieved stability, he didn't hesitate to depart the following morning.

Originally, he intended to slip away quietly, but his exit unexpectedly drew attention.

As a result, more and more people gathered, and countless residents of Dressrosa expressed their gratitude.

This heartwarming scene was captured by Morgans, and it was bound to make headlines once again.

After Buggy and his crew left Dressrosa, there was no need to suppress Morgans' news any longer.

Therefore, a day after the Buggy Pirates departed from Dressrosa, a news article that sent shockwaves throughout the world appeared in newspapers.

"Shocking! The Big Mom fleet sets sail; destination unknown!"

"Stunning! The Marine's campaign against Amazon Lily was utterly defeated!"

"Unbelievable! The fall of the Marine Admiral attributed to this mysterious figure."

"The era is in turmoil; the world teeters on the brink of unknown changes; perhaps, in this era, we are about to witness the birth of legends!"

The release of this news left the world in awe.

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