After the banquet, the two ships went their separate ways. Pirates never lingered in one place for long.
On the deck of the Oro Jackson, the entire Roger Pirates crew sat in a circle, surrounded by an array of weapons—long swords, short blades, axes, pistols, greatswords, and even a few custom-made weapons with unique designs.
"Alright, brats!" Roger grinned, clapping Shanks and Buggy on the shoulders. "Today's a big day! Time for you to choose your weapons!"
Shanks already knew it wasn't normal for six or seven-year-olds to run around carrying greatswords.
Shanks' eyes sparkled with excitement; Buggy nervously gulped, his red nose twitching.
Each crew member took turns introducing their weapons, hoping the boys would find something that suited them.
Rayleigh gracefully drew a slender rapier. Its blade was noticeably narrower than a typical katana, its edge gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"The essence of swordsmanship lies in precision and speed—one strike, one kill. The downside is that it lacks destructive power, so every strike must be precise." With a flick of his wrist, the tip of his blade pierced through three falling leaves in an instant.
Shanks and Buggy watched in awe. "So… so cool!"
Gaban "clanged" as he drew two short-handled battle axes, their blades thick and razor-sharp.
"The perfect blend of strength and skill! Chopping, throwing, blocking—axes are the romance of a true man! They're versatile, both offensive and defensive. The downside? The techniques are complex, requiring strong combat instincts. Not easy to master." He swung one axe at a wooden barrel, splitting it cleanly in two. The cut was smooth as glass.
Shanks' eyes lit up. "This is awesome!"
Spencer twirled a long-barreled flintlock pistol in his hand, its body adorned with intricate carvings.
"Shooting targets from a hundred paces, killing with a single shot. Marksmanship isn't about brute force but calm judgment." He raised the gun and fired, and a seagull's feather drifted down in the distance.
"We are the hunters from afar. Everything within our range is our prey." He struck a cool pose. "But marksmen need strong Observation and Armament Haki. Your lethality depends on your range and the power of your shots."
Buggy was tempted. "Not bad…"
Rhett leaned lazily against the ship's railing, a dark greatsword materializing amidst a swirling blood mist.
"A heavy sword has no edge, yet its simplicity conceals its mastery." With a casual swing, a wave of sword energy surged, lifting a wave from the sea. "Master it, and you'll possess unmatched offensive and defensive capabilities. The downside? You need a robust physique and immense stamina. It consumes more energy than other weapons."
Buggy: "..."
Shanks' gaze eventually settled on Roger's sword—"Portgas D. Ace." It was a long, slender blade, its surface gleaming with a faint silver hue, the hilt wrapped in red silk.
"Captain…" Shanks took a deep breath. "I want to use a sword like yours!"
Shanks was already inheriting his legacy.
Roger laughed heartily, patting Shanks on the shoulder. "Kahahaha! Good choice! But you're not ready to wield 'Portgas D. Ace' yet." He turned to the pile of weapons and picked out a similar training longsword, handing it to Shanks. "Practice with this first. When you're strong enough, go find your own 'Portgas D. Ace.'"
Shanks solemnly accepted the sword and nodded firmly. "Yes! I'll definitely get stronger!"
Buggy, meanwhile, was paralyzed by indecision. He first tried Gaban's axe—
"Hey-yo!" Buggy's left and right brains were at war. Clearly, swinging the axe felt awkward and unnatural. Gaban's axe techniques required precise strikes and defenses.
After struggling for a while, Buggy had to give up. It was a gut feeling—something deep inside told him this weapon wasn't for him.
Next, he picked up Rayleigh's rapier. He looked somewhat decent holding it, but Buggy clearly couldn't control the precision needed for accurate thrusts, making its lethality limited.
"Ahhh! This is too hard!"
Finally, Buggy's eyes landed on Rhett's Black Tide Greatsword, and he eagerly said, "Hey, Rhett! I want to try that one!"
Rhett's swing... splitting that ship in two, right down the middle, the blade a blur through the wood and the water. The way he moved, the power... I was completely blown away.
Buggy didn't know that pretty much every greatsword master could split a pirate ship.
The main advantage of a greatsword lay in its ability to dominate in clashes. Its sheer weight gave the wielder absolute superiority in combat.
Rhett's Black Sword? I wouldn't know. He just... took it. I saw him with that greatsword, and suddenly he could kill with one hit.
Rhett raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
Buggy puffed out his chest. "O-of course!"
"Alright, first try lifting it."
Rhett was genuinely curious about how Buggy would fare with a greatsword.
"Thud!"
The moment Buggy took hold of the sword, he was instantly dragged to the ground, pinned under its weight, unable to move.
"H-help! Help!" Buggy's red nose turned pale with fright.
Everyone burst into laughter.
But after being rescued, Buggy developed an extraordinary determination for the greatsword. He trained relentlessly, just to be able to lift Rhett's sword. Day after day, he practiced for over a month, but the sword remained immovable, even when Buggy exerted all his strength.
Roger crouched down, watching Buggy struggle to lift the Black Tide Greatsword, and ruffled his hair. "Kahahaha! Buggy, heavy swords aren't for you."
Roger had seen it from the start—Buggy's body wasn't suited for wielding a greatsword.
Rhett could use it because of his monstrous stamina, which solved half the difficulty of wielding such a weapon. Add to that his bone density and muscle mass, which had grown exponentially through training.
Clearly, Buggy didn't have such a foundation. As for why Roger waited this long to tell him—
But now, it was time to be responsible as a captain.
Buggy pouted stubbornly. "B-but greatswords are so cool…"
Roger blinked. "A weapon doesn't have to be the biggest or heaviest. What matters is that it suits you. Besides, Rhett's greatsword is among the best of its kind."
He rummaged through the pile of weapons and pulled out a pair of short daggers. "How about these?"
Buggy took the daggers and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they felt. They were light and easy to wield.
"Whoa! These feel great!" He swung them around excitedly, though with no technique whatsoever. At least he didn't hurt himself.
He even managed to juggle three daggers in each hand, teaching himself on the spot.
Rhett quipped from the side, "As expected, short weapons suit someone… uh, sneaky. Cough, someone agile."
You're truly the Clown King, Buggy.
Rayleigh nodded. "Daggers are good for sneak attacks and rapid combos. They suit Buggy's personality."