When Dr. Vegapunk first unveiled the Pacifista, the world had been shaken.
Two years ago, a single unit had forced the entire Straw Hat crew into a desperate struggle at Sabaody. Steel skin, Kizaru's laser beams, inhuman durability—back then, it had felt like facing a walking battleship.
But two years had changed the sea.
Haki had become commonplace among rising pirates. The New World had grown harsher. The Pacifista, once terrifying, had begun to look outdated.
At Marineford, they were reduced to tools.
Now—
Sabo claimed they rivaled the Seven Warlords.
Buggy did not dismiss it.
The Revolutionary Army did not exaggerate lightly.
And the "that person" Sabo referred to could only mean one man.
Vegapunk.
Buggy knew enough from inherited memories and scattered intelligence. The Revolutionary Army had long maintained indirect contact with the World Government's greatest scientist. They had attempted to rescue him.
They failed.
Kuma had paid the price.
"What kind of enhancement?" Buggy asked, eyes still on the approaching warships. "Did Vegapunk teach robots to use Haki?"
"Of course not," Sabo replied quickly. "But… have you heard of Lineage Factors?"
Buggy glanced sideways.
"Artificial Devil Fruits?"
Sabo blinked.
"You really know a lot, Captain."
He exhaled.
"The new Pacifista have been implanted with an artificial Paw-Paw Fruit."
Bonney's nails dug into the railing.
"They even stole that from him…"
Sabo's voice lowered.
"They extracted everything from Kuma."
Rage trembled in Bonney's shoulders.
"And you think the Revolutionary Army is innocent?" she snapped.
Sabo did not answer.
Buggy remained quiet.
Artificial Paw-Paw Fruit.
That meant—
Repulsion.
Speed control.
Pain expulsion.
Fatigue removal.
And long-range self-propulsion bordering on teleportation.
A terrifying fruit in the hands of a gentle giant.
Potentially devastating in the hands of weapons.
"Mass production?" Buggy asked calmly.
"Only the Paw-Paw Fruit," Sabo replied. "Every Devil Fruit has a unique Lineage Factor. Mapping it takes enormous time and resources."
He continued:
"And these Pacifista require something else."
"Living hearts."
Buggy's gaze sharpened.
"Ope-Ope no Mi?"
Sabo nodded grimly.
"Only that ability can remove hearts without killing the host."
Buggy remembered.
Trafalgar Law.
The hundred pirate hearts were delivered to the Marines in exchange for Warlord status.
So that was their purpose.
Stockpiling components.
"How much of Kuma's power can they replicate?" Buggy murmured.
No one knew.
The Paw-Paw Fruit was nearly perfected under Kuma's control. Repelling matter was one thing. Repelling abstract concepts—pain, fatigue—was another.
And propelling oneself at extreme velocity.
If even half of that power was replicated—
It would be troublesome.
"We'll test them," Sabo said. "The Revolutionary Army can hold five."
Buggy turned slowly toward his officers.
"Five left for us."
Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses.
"Captain, as you know, I specialize in high-end engagements. Mass-produced weapons lack… artistic stimulation."
Alvida coughed delicately.
"My fruit resembles the Paw-Paw ability somewhat. I might be at a disadvantage."
Mohji puffed up his chest.
"I require a proper beast before reaching peak performance."
He was promptly flattened by Licky's paw.
Cabaji straightened stiffly.
"I have only recently… unsealed my unicycle's limitations."
Buggy stared at them.
So none of you are dependable.
He sighed.
"The four of you and the lion handle one."
They nodded frantically.
"Captain Buggy," Bonney stepped forward, eyes blazing, "I'll take one."
Good.
At least one competent reinforcement.
"The rest," Buggy said lightly, "are mine."
Sabo's expression flickered.
So the Buggy Pirates truly only have one top-tier fighter?
He suppressed the thought.
Perhaps this was hidden depth.
Perhaps.
Ahead, the warships loomed closer.
Five-Orb flags flapped violently in the wind.
On the decks—
Nearly seven-meter-tall figures stood in formation.
Their mechanical faces were expressionless.
"Sentomaru," Spandam's shrill voice rang out from the flagship, "the Gorosei ordered total annihilation. If I deliver Buggy's head, the Celestial Dragons will reward me greatly—"
"Don't issue orders to me," Sentomaru cut in flatly.
He glared at Spandam with open irritation.
"I am here to assist. Nothing more."
Spandam swallowed his anger.
Control remained with Sentomaru.
And the Pacifista.
"Pacifista," Sentomaru commanded.
"Prepare to fire."
Ten massive mouths opened in unison.
Yellow light gathered.
Compressed.
Stabilized.
Kizaru's laser replication.
"Here it comes," Sabo warned.
Buggy drew his sword.
Black sparks flickered faintly along its edge.
He exhaled once.
Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the blade.
"Dragon Claw—Flame Dragon King!"
Sabo's flames erupted forward, forming a blazing dragon that surged toward the warships.
Buggy stepped through the air.
"Kamisari."
The black lightning slash tore outward.
Ten beams of yellow light fired simultaneously from the Pacifista.
The sea became a canvas of annihilation.
Flame.
Black lightning.
Laser beams.
The collision detonated in midair.
Shockwaves roared outward, carving trenches into the sea. Waves rose like walls, ships pitching violently as masts groaned under pressure.
Spray and smoke obscured everything.
Buggy landed lightly on the deck.
"Stabilize the ship!"
He pointed forward.
"We board them."
The Revolutionary Army leapt first, using debris and flame propulsion to cross the distance.
Buggy split into multiple fragments and streaked across the air.
The era of hiding was over.
If the World Government wanted to test their improved weapons—
He would dismantle them piece by piece.
---
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San