Chapter 64 – [64] : Great Terror Incarnate

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Loguetown, Execution Platform!

“Hahahaha! Can’t move now, can you?! Monkey D. Luffy!” Buggy cackled maniacally.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble I went through to get my body parts back?! You damn bastard!” Buggy snarled, his expression turning vicious.

“I can’t pull free!” Luffy struggled, his head and hands firmly locked in the stocks on the execution platform.

“Behold! My thousands, no, billions of servants worldwide! The flashy public execution is about to begin!” Buggy roared, laughing at the crowd of townspeople held captive by his crew in the plaza below.

“Monkey D. Luffy! Consider it an honor! To die in the same place as the King of the Pirates! Hahahaha!” Buggy gloated, relishing Luffy’s struggles.

Luffy wasn’t even listening to Buggy, still desperately trying to break free from the stocks.

“Monkey D. Luffy! For the grave crime of boldly pissing me off, you shall hereby be flashily executed! Let the festivities begin! Men!” Buggy laughed grandly.

The Buggy Pirate grunts surrounding the platform erupted in cheers and jeers.

“Whoa, cool! This is my first time seeing an execution!” Luffy suddenly grinned, looking at the celebrating Buggy Pirates.

“YOU’RE THE ONE BEING EXECUTED!” Buggy roared, transforming into his sharp-toothed angry state.

“Me?” Luffy’s smile froze, pointing at himself.

“EH?! Are you kidding me?!” Luffy’s eyes bulged out as he yelled back, adopting his own angry, sharp-toothed expression.

“YOU’RE THE ONE KIDDING ME!” Buggy roared back furiously.

This airheaded brat! Still infuriating him just as much!

“The flashy public execution begins now!” Buggy announced loudly to the crowd.

“No! Stop! Help!” Luffy finally realized the gravity of the situation and started wailing desperately.

“Gyahahahaha!” Buggy cackled, hearing Luffy’s cries.

That’s more like it! Now this feels like a proper public execution!

After suffering so much to get here and exact revenge on this rubber bastard, this was the sound he wanted to hear.

Suddenly, Buggy wasn’t in a rush anymore. He wanted to savor this beautiful sound a little longer.

Eventually, Luffy’s cries weakened; he was exhausted.

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again! Please save me,” Luffy pleaded weakly.

“Like hell I’ll save you! You idiot!” Buggy flared up again.

Even now, he was still spouting such naive, infuriating nonsense!

“But… any last words? Seeing as you have such a large audience,” Buggy taunted, hoping to hear more desperate cries from the rubber brat.

Luffy lifted his head, looking out at the crowd below.

“Mah, whatever. Doesn’t matter if you have last words or not. You’re dying either way,” Buggy said impatiently when Luffy remained silent.

“I…” Luffy began slowly.

“Oh?” Buggy leaned in, interested.

“AM THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME KING OF THE PIRATES!!!” Luffy roared, his voice thundering through the plaza.

The crowd below stared, utterly stunned.

“He… he said Pirate King!”

“And in this town, of all places!”

“How bold!”

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“Time for you to go, rubber bastard,” Buggy sneered, raising a large executioner’s blade.

“Nngh!!!” Luffy strained against the stocks with all his might.

“Hey! Hold that execution!” Two angry shouts echoed from the edge of the plaza.

“Zoro! Sanji! Rowen,” Hearing their voices, Luffy’s face lit up with immense relief and joy.

“Hey! What’s with that pathetic look? There’s a limit to joking around, Luffy,” Zoro called out, tying his bandana around his head as he looked up at Luffy on the platform.

“If this is supposed to be entertainment, mind if I join in?” Sanji added, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He had heard about Luffy’s execution and rushed over, meeting up with Rowen along the way.

“Buggy, you really don’t learn, do you?” Rowen remarked, looking at Buggy with a faint, knowing smirk.

Towards Buggy, Rowen only had one thought: ‘Your Trait is really useful, thanks.’

Back in Orange Town, Rowen, possessing only his Conqueror’s Haki as a reliable offensive tool, couldn’t do much against Buggy directly. He had needed Luffy, his ’employee’, to handle the fight so he could acquire the Born of the Sea

Trait.

But now… things were completely different.

Rowen focused his gaze on Buggy, a crimson-black light flickering in his eyes.

“Rowen?! Well, long time no see!” Buggy laughed loudly.

“R-Rowen?! Is that Sky Sovereign Rowen?!”

“The great pirate with a 100 million Beri bounty!”

“Y-Yeah! That’s him! Looks exactly like his wanted poster!”

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Hearing Buggy call out the name, the captive townspeople erupted in panicked murmurs.

Someone pulled out Rowen’s wanted poster, compared it, and broke out in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably. Some even collapsed weakly to the ground.

The great pirate with a 100 million Beri bounty!

“D-Damn it! Even ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen showed up?! A pirate worth 100 million Beri!” One of the Marine officers, wearing the standard ‘Justice’ coat of a Loguetown branch officer rank, felt sweat pour down his brow.

A contingent of Loguetown Marines had surrounded the plaza earlier. They had initially planned to let Buggy the Clown and Straw Hat Luffy fight it out, then arrest the weakened victor.

But now, with the appearance of Sky Sovereign Rowen—a 100 million Beri pirate… the situation had spiraled completely out of their control.

“Still no contact with Captain Smoker?! A 100 million Beri pirate isn’t someone we can handle!” the Marine officer yelled frantically at the communications soldier beside him.

“N-No sir! Still can’t reach him!” The communications soldier stammered, equally drenched in sweat, staring with terrified eyes at the man who, despite being on the periphery, seemed to be the absolute center of attention.

Sky Sovereign’ Rowen—So this was the presence of a 100 million Beri pirate!

So terrifying… Just standing there, he made them feel weak, wanting only to flee.

“Rowen! Don’t think you can save this rubber bastard with your Conqueror’s Haki! Even for you, it’s too late! What a shame!” Buggy cackled gleefully.

His crew couldn’t withstand Rowen’s Haki, but he could!

Once this rubber idiot was dealt with, the strongest fighter left in Rowen’s crew would be Roronoa Zoro.

And against a swordsman without Haki, Buggy, the user of the Chop-Chop Fruit, had no fear!

Victory—this time, it belonged to him, Buggy!

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“Just gotta take out these pirates, right?!”

“Cut down the execution platform!”

Sanji and Zoro charged towards the platform simultaneously.

Buggy’s pirate grunts immediately swarmed forward, blocking their path.

“Hahaha! Realized your Conqueror’s Haki can’t stop me, feeling helpless now, are you?! Rowen!” Seeing Rowen not even bothering to unleash his Haki, Buggy laughed with triumphant malice.

Swoosh—!

The next moment, Buggy swung the executioner’s blade down towards Luffy’s neck.

“Rowen! Zoro! Sanji! Nami! Usopp!” At that final moment, Luffy beamed, a truly stunning smile spreading across his face.

“Sorry guys… looks like I’m dead.”

“He… he smiled?!” The townspeople watching the execution, who had already started fleeing to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, froze in absolute shock.

“White Out!”

FWOOSH!

Rowen’s arms dissolved into swirling white smoke, shooting forward with incredible speed, instantly ensnaring Buggy.

“I didn’t give you permission to die, Luffy,” Rowen stated, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Rowen! Y-You ate a Devil Fruit?!” Luffy stared in amazement at the smoke binding Buggy.

“White Blow!”

FWOOSH! WHOOSH!

Rowen’s eyes narrowed, unleashing more of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit‘s power.

From the smoke originating from his arms, countless smoky tendrils erupted, shooting out and capturing all of Buggy’s nearby crew members.

“Mmph! Mmph!” The smoke continued to spread, enveloping the faces of Buggy’s captured crew.

Amidst muffled, pained gasps, Buggy’s pirates began to suffocate.

The Smoke-Smoke Fruit, while not adding much raw offensive power, possessed the terrifying ability to suffocate anyone trapped within its dense clouds!

Without Haki, being caught by the smoke meant certain death.

Even a lower-tier Logia fruit… was effectively invincible in the East Blue.

“Th-This is—!” Sanji stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding.

“The Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit. The ability Rowen acquired,” Zoro explained grimly, watching the spectacle.

So strong!

He had underestimated the power of this ability when Rowen defeated Smoker so easily earlier.

Without Haki, getting caught by this power meant complete helplessness, even suffocation.

Logia fruits… truly powerful abilities!

And according to Rowen, the Smoke-Smoke Fruit was considered relatively weak among Logias. Stronger ones were like forces of nature.

Zoro gripped Wado Ichimonji tightly.

No more messing around. I have to learn Haki… as soon as possible.

“Th-That’s?! A Logia ability! No! That ability… doesn’t it belong to the captain of this branch, Smoker?! How… How do you have that ability?!” Buggy stared in disbelief at the smoke holding him captive.

He was completely powerless against it.

Having been an apprentice on Roger’s ship, Buggy certainly understood the power of Logia Devil Fruits.

Without Haki, you were nothing but a lamb to the slaughter before a Logia user.

But! That wasn’t the main point!

Buggy’s eyes widened in absolute horror as he stared at Rowen.

This ability—It was famous in the East Blue!

It belonged to the captain of the Loguetown Marine branch, the man known as ‘White Chase’ Smoker!

The Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit!

How?! How did Rowen possess this ability?!

“Heh… How do you think I have this ability?” Rowen smiled.

That smile, in Buggy’s eyes, was utterly terrifying.

Cold sweat drenched Buggy’s entire body. The horror in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

“You… you can steal other people’s abilities?!” Buggy swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

That was the only explanation!

A power like that… he thought he’d heard whispers of something similar from Captain Roger…

Buggy’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat as he looked at Rowen, as if gazing upon some Great Terror incarnate.

“Who knows?” Rowen replied, having no intention of satisfying Buggy’s curiosity, his lips curling into a smirk.

——

—[Kingly Disposition increased. Conqueror’s Haki intensity increased.]—

——

Just as expected. Demonstrating overwhelming power serves as a deterrent… and boosts Haki too!

Rowen relished the look of absolute terror in Buggy’s eyes, a domineering curve forming on his lips.

This feeling… is really good.

“Hah!” Then, under Buggy’s despairing gaze, the smoke fully enveloped his face. Deprived of oxygen, he lost consciousness.

“S-Smoke-Smoke Fruit! That’s Captain Smoker’s ability! W-What in the world happened?! What’s going on?!” Outside the plaza, the Marine officer was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

They couldn’t reach Captain Smoker… and now the 100 million Beri pirate possessed Captain Smoker’s ability?!

What… what the hell happened?!

“Sir! What do we do?!” The surrounding Marines were panicking too.

Their greatest source of confidence in Loguetown, Captain Smoker’s Smoke-Smoke Fruit… was now in the hands of ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen?!

Nightmare! This has to be a nightmare!

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“Shishishi! Thanks, Rowen! Still alive! Score!” Freed by Rowen, Luffy grinned broadly.

“Alright, let’s prepare to set sail. A storm’s coming,” Rowen announced, sensing the unnatural intensity of the wind and rain that had begun to fall.

Having acquired Nami’s Climate Sense Trait, and now possessing the Smoke-Smoke Logia ability, Rowen could clearly perceive that this storm was ‘unnatural’.

This was the power of a Devil Fruit. Unquestionably, it belonged to Luffy’s father, the Revolutionary Leader, Monkey D. Dragon.

Dragon hadn’t intervened to save Luffy directly as he might have in other circumstances. There was only one possibility.

Dragon’s Observation Haki had reached a level where he could briefly glimpse the future.

He must have ‘seen’ that Rowen would save Luffy, hence his non-intervention.

Observation Haki perfected to see the future… truly a troublesome power.

Once I have more Trait materials to spare, I need to upgrade my Observation Haki to that level too.

Rowen’s own Observation Haki couldn’t detect any trace of Dragon’s presence.

He wasn’t surprised. At his current level, sensing a master who had perfected Observation Haki was unrealistic.

Unless Dragon chose to reveal himself, Rowen couldn’t track him.

I wonder if his ability is a Logia, or a Mythical Zoan that controls storms?

Rowen wasn’t disappointed, though. They were destined to meet eventually, anyway.

“Let’s go. Back to the Merry. Nami should be there already,” Rowen instructed; he had already arranged these details.

“Damn it! Move—Arrest ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen and Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy! Regardless, we are Marines!” Seeing Rowen’s group preparing to leave, the Marine officer grit his teeth and roared the command.

“WAIT!” A sharp command stopped the officer in his tracks.

“Captain Smoker!” Seeing the extremely weakened Smoker approaching, supported by Tashigi, the officer felt a surge of relief, as if finding his anchor.

“Captain Smoker! Those are pirates worth 45 million and 100 million Beri! We… we can’t let them enter the Grand Line!” The officer was terrified but resolute. As Marines, how could they retreat?

“My ability… has been taken by ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen. Fighting further will only lead to pointless sacrifices!” Smoker stated, his voice filled with bitterness and frustration.

He was so furious, so humiliated, he felt like grinding his teeth to dust!

But should he send his subordinates to die for the sake of his own wounded pride?

‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen! He actually stole his Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability!

And along with it, his physical strength too!

What a terrifying man!

Smoker still felt a lingering sense of horror.

What kind of ability—was that?!

Watching Rowen’s group depart, Smoker clenched his fists.

“Arrest Buggy’s entire crew!” Smoker roared, channeling his frustration into the command.

Watching Rowen leave unchallenged… this feeling of powerlessness drove Smoker nearly mad.

“Sir!” The Loguetown Marines, despite arresting the now defenseless Buggy pirates, shouted their response with tragic solemnity.

Humiliation! But—before that man… he’s powerless!

“Let’s go, Tashigi. Back to Headquarters—with me,” Smoker said, looking at the silent Tashigi beside him, then tilting his head back, letting the rain fall freely on his face.

“Yes, sir,” Tashigi replied quietly, her head bowed.

“You feel frustrated too, right? Remember this frustration. Then, get stronger. I apologize for not respecting your identity as a swordsman before, Tashigi,” Smoker said gruffly.

The one who truly understood Tashigi—turned out to be Rowen.

The irony—was bitter. Smoker closed his eyes.

Tashigi bit her lip hard, tears mixing with the rain streaming down her face.

That man, Rowen! The first person to truly acknowledge her dream, treat her as an equal, respect her as a swordsman!

He made her realize that wasting time here wouldn’t help her achieve her dream.

She had to get stronger!

Then—she would capture him! And finally, tell Rowen… thank you…

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