69novels Chapter 109: Bucky's Advanced Preparations – Has He Really Obtained the Command Seals?
Chapter 109: Bucky's Advanced Preparations – Has He Really Obtained the Command Seals?
Chapter 109: Bucky's Advanced Preparations – Has He Really Obtained the Command Seals?
Beyond Alabasta, the Grand Line, the boiling ocean...
Morgans' World Economic News headquarters was buzzing with energy.
The news bird, which narrowly escaped death and left behind a blurry yet powerful film reel, was venerated as a hero.
Morgans himself was so excited that his feathers stood on end, and he danced around in his office, which was filled with photos and reports.
"Breaking news! Breaking news of the century!!"
He roared at the Den Den Mushi, his voice echoing throughout all the printing presses and radio stations.
"Exclusive! Absolutely exclusive! Fleet Admiral Sengoku and one of the Five Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, engage in a fierce battle!"
"The location is right off the coast of Alabasta, where a mysterious smoke has enveloped the area! Photos prove it! And there's that arbitrator tearing through the smoke!"
Based on all available information, this president, in the name of the King of News, asserts...
Alabasta is the site of the final battle in this Holy Grail War that has swept the world.
The fate of the world will be decided here! The ownership of the Holy Grail will be revealed here!
Newsbirds flew like dark clouds across the world, and newspaper headlines were filled with striking photos and sensational headlines from Morgans.
The final battlefield is locked! Who will claim the Holy Grail? The Navy, the Five Emperors, and otherworldly heroes gather in Alabasta!
Arbitration Unravels the Fog: Who Caused This Earth-Shattering Change?!
The news swept the world like a tsunami!
While Morgans' assertion may seem somewhat headstrong, in the straightforward world of One Piece where strength is revered, it's practically official confirmation!
Moreover, all merchant ships and expeditions attempting to enter Alabasta were blocked by that strange smoke barrier, further confirming the extraordinary nature of this place!
For a time, the waters surrounding Alabasta became the focus of the world's attention!
Countless ships, like sharks attracted by the smell of blood, swarmed in from all directions.
Beyond the smoke barrier, heroes gather, and undercurrents surge!
The once relatively open sea is now densely packed with all kinds of ships.
Pirate flags, merchant ship flags, and even secret symbols of the Revolutionary Army were mixed together, forming a chaotic floating city at sea.
The most striking feature is undoubtedly the confrontation between two enormous forces, which stand like behemoths.
The Moby Dick resembled a sea fortress, with Edward Newgate, the white-bearded captain, seated at the bow, his massive sword, Murakumogiri, planted beside him.
His expression was solemn, and his imposing gaze swept across the smoke barrier ahead.
Marco, Joz, Vista, and other captains stood on either side, creating a tense atmosphere.
"Ace is fighting inside for his wish. It's what my son wants; how can I allow anyone else to touch the Holy Grail?"
"Ready, sons! The barrier opens, let's bring Ace home!"
Not far away, the Queen Mother Hymn exuded a nauseatingly sweet aroma.
BigMom Charlotte Linlin sat on the throne, her enormous body gleaming with a mixture of greed and rage in her eyes.
"Mmmmmm! So many weaklings, yet they dared to use the all-powerful wish-granting machine. Unforgivable! The Holy Grail? I'm taking it!"
"Did you hear me, Newgate?! Anyone who dares to block my way, hand over your soul!"
Katakuri stood calmly beside her, his trident gripped tightly, wary of the Whitebeard Pirates and other forces eyeing them with predatory intent.
On the naval front, Admiral Kizaru Borsalino's flagship warship was positioned a little further away, but with excellent visibility.
He crossed his legs and leisurely sipped his tea, but his sharp gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, swept across the room.
"How terrifying~ So many monsters have come. The Sengoku commander's orders are to provide support and observe. Hmm~ What a troublesome task."
He appeared lazy, but his entire being was on high alert, like a sharp blade of light hidden in its sheath.
"However, it's more comfortable here."
The revolutionary army's ships were hidden among numerous merchant ships, keeping a low profile and remaining secretive.
The dragon stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze deep beneath his hood.
"Sabo and Luffy—and the winds of change that will sweep through this suffering world may truly begin here."
Other forces are an even more mixed bag.
Besides Crocodile and Hawkeye, who were already inside, everyone else came.
Empress Boa Hancock stood proudly at the bow of the Kuja Pirates, her gaze fixed solely on Luffy.
Gecko Moria's Thriller Bark exuded a sinister aura, while Jinbe stood motionless like a statue.
Doflamingo was squatting at the bow of the ship, his fingers moving unconsciously, seemingly guessing what would happen next.
Not only them, but Kidd, Rowe, Hawkins, Drake and others each led their own fleets, their eyes filled with ambition and vigilance, waiting for their chance to strike.
Compared to pirates, the underworld giants appear to be much more cautious.
Shipping magnate Umet, moneylender Dufeld, and warehouse tycoon Gibson, among others, only sent representative ships; they did not arrive in person.
Although the Holy Grail contains infinite possibilities, it represents endless business opportunities for them.
But I don't want to fight those monsters to the death.
Countless small and medium-sized pirate crews, like hyenas smelling carrion, roared: "Whoever gets the Holy Grail, we'll steal it from them!"
They dreamed of a sudden rise to power, completely unaware that monsters like the Whitebeard and the Charlotte family were lurking in the shadows.
On the edge of this sea teeming with monsters and filled with murderous intent, a massive pirate ship decorated with extreme extravagance stands out as an oddity.
The prow resembles a giant red-nosed clown, and the sails are painted with exaggerated skulls and red-nosed symbols—it is none other than the flagship of the thousand-year-old Baji!
Bucky was hiding in the cabin, hugging his knees and trembling, snot bubbles coming out of his nose from fright.
"Waaaaah! Whitebeard! Big Mom! Kizaru! And so many monsters! Why are they all crammed here?! I just wanted to... just wanted to..."
Ultimately, he realized he was just a person with little fighting ability, and he recalled the reason he left Captain Roger.
Back in Loguetown, he witnessed the awe-inspiring return of Captain Roger!
After escaping, Captain Roger solemnly told him that the Holy Grail War was extremely dangerous and that he should get as far away from it as possible.
But who is Buggy? He's the crew member who idolizes the Pirate King the most!
He relied on two prestigious titles in the East Blue: "I personally witnessed the return of the Pirate King Roger" and "I was a member of Roger's crew".
Coupled with his ability to exaggerate and turn straw into gold, he successfully fooled tens of thousands of henchmen who longed to get rich overnight!
Even some wealthy locals from the East China Sea were swayed by his nonsense about "investing in the Holy Grail War and getting a share of the profits in the future."
They spent a fortune building this super pirate ship for him, which can be described as a floating palace!
"Captain Buggy! You were the man most valued by Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King!"
"Yes, Captain! Even the Pirate King personally spoke with you, asking you to leave this dangerous place. This clearly shows he values you highly!"
"The next Holy Grail War! No, perhaps this time the Holy Grail will sense your regal aura and choose you!"
"Captain Buggy! Lead us to the Holy Grail! You will be the future Pirate King!"
On the deck, tens of thousands of brainwashed henchmen were shouting fervently, their voices deafening.
They completely believed Bucky's boasts about Captain Roger entrusting him with an important mission, keeping a low profile and waiting for the right opportunity.
Amidst the deafening, hypnotic fervor of the praise, a strange warmth actually flowed through Bakina's body, which had been frozen and stiff with fear.
Especially when the Holy Grail uttered the phrase, "The Holy Grail senses your kingly aura!"
A burning sensation suddenly came from the back of his right hand.
"!! Hot hot hot!" Bucky screamed and jumped up, instinctively looking at the back of his right hand.
There, three scarlet Command Seal symbols made of magic suddenly appeared!
It was similar to the thing on the back of Luffy's hand that he had seen before in Loguetown.
"Command Seal?!" Bucky's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his chin slammed onto the deck.
The entire deck fell into a deathly silence!
All the henchmen stared in disbelief at the pattern radiating a mysterious light on the back of Captain Bucky's hand!
The next second, a shout a hundred times more frenzied than before erupted.
"A miracle! A miracle!!"
"Even though the party was full, the Holy Grail chose Captain Buggy again!!"
"See that?! I told you the captain is the chosen one!!"
"Long live Captain Bucky! The Holy Grail is ours!!"
Bucky looked at the real Command Seals on the back of his hand, felt the clear magical connection, and listened to the thunderous adoration around him.
Suddenly, Bucky's body seemed to freeze.
A sense of absurd unreality instantly overwhelmed his reason.
Fear? What is that? I'm the man chosen by the Holy Grail! Captain Roger must be testing me!
"Hahahahaha!" Bucky suddenly stood up straight, put his hands on his hips, and stuck out his signature red nose.
He let out an unprecedented, self-assured laugh that exuded kingly authority.
"My men! Do you see that?! The Holy Grail has recognized my worth! This is destiny! Follow Captain Bucky! The Holy Grail is within our grasp! Set sail! Headquarters, Alabasta!"
"Ooooooooo!!!" The frenzy of tens of thousands of henchmen reached its peak!
However, the sudden Command Seal light and Bucky's maniacal laughter were like a lighthouse in the night.
The sound instantly attracted countless greedy, suspicious, and envious glances from those around!
Those pirate crews that were already eyeing Buggy's fat sheep ship, as well as some forces with ulterior motives, all revealed naked killing intent in their eyes!
"Command Seals?! That guy has Command Seals!"
"Kill him! Take it!"
"The Holy Grail is mine!"
Several fierce pirate ships immediately turned around and charged toward Buggy's extravagant behemoth with murderous intent!
The muzzle of the cannon was already flashing.
"Misunderstanding?!" Ribaki's maniacal laughter froze instantly, and cold sweat poured down his face like a waterfall.
Only now did he realize what the consequences would be of obtaining a Command Seal from this pack of wolves.
"Wait! It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! I can explain! Fire! Run!!"
He was terrified and scrambled towards the cabin.
"Men! Full speed ahead! Charge into the smoke! Only those who get in will survive!!"
The Buggy Pirates' giant ship, pursued by the cannon fire of several other pirate ships, resembled a frightened fat goose.
In their panic, they crashed straight into the seemingly impenetrable smoke barrier that shrouded Alabasta.
"Idiot! You can't get through that barrier!"
"You're asking for it! Just wait until the ship is smashed to pieces and falls into the sea."
The pursuing pirates let out mocking laughter.
However, just as the bow of Pakistan's boat was about to hit the smoke...
hum!
The Command Seal flashed again!
The smoke barrier was originally indestructible, and even the Navy Admirals were helpless against it.
The moment it touched the bow of the Pakistani behemoth, it rippled out like water, allowing it to pass right through without any obstruction!
"They're in—they're in?!"
"How is that possible?!"
"That red-nosed guy actually went in! Quick! Follow him! Maybe we can get in too!"
This scene was like setting off a powder keg.
The countless forces that were originally observing or waiting for an opportunity outside even though they knew they couldn't get in went crazy the moment they saw Bucky's ship successfully break in!
"Charge! Follow that ship! Maybe we can get in!"
"The Holy Grail is inside! Go in quickly!"
"Don't let those small fry get there first!"
"For the Holy Grail, for wealth, for power! Charge in!"
The white-bearded man stands at the bow of the boat, his expression showing no fear despite his old age.
The Big Mom Pirates, the Revolutionary Army, the Supernovas, underground ships, and countless small and medium-sized pirate crews—like a flood bursting its banks.
All the forces anchored outside, except for the Kizaru fleet which remained on standby, its expression instantly turning extremely solemn.
The rest of them went all out and charged towards the unstable, fluctuating smoke barrier without regard for anything else!
Chaos! Unprecedented chaos!
Countless ships jostled, collided, and even fired at each other, all in an effort to squeeze into that increasingly unstable entrance.
"Kurarararar! Sons! Follow me!" the white-bearded man ordered with a loud laugh, and the Moby Dick took the lead.
"Mama mama! Get out of my way!" BigMom roared, accompanied by thunder.
The dragon's figure moved like a ghost amidst the chaos, while the revolutionary army's ships skillfully maneuvered through the area.
Kidd laughed wildly as he used his magnetic force to pull the ship, while Kira calmly slashed away those in his way.
The Empress's ships, elegant yet swift, evaded all the terrifying ships that rammed into Moria, their shadows looming over them as they surged madly into Alabasta in the instant the smoke barrier briefly failed for unknown reasons.
They poured into this hellish kingdom, which had long since become a battlefield of the Age of Gods and a place of rampages by Devil Fruits.
More monsters and more variables have arrived.
Above Alabasta, Dilt's playful smile faltered for a moment when he saw the giant ship with the red-nosed figurehead.
And then there were the countless ships that followed, swarming in like insects; his face froze.
Unexpectedly, his seemingly joking words actually persuaded Tescatlipoca.
Was it his power that granted Bucky the qualification? Or something else entirely?
"Command Spells... A new Master? No... This isn't within the rules—"
Joan of Arc's eyes flashed rapidly as she tried to decipher this sudden change.
"Is there a loophole in the record of Lord Bucky's Command Seals originating from the Holy Grail? Or was someone interfering?"
Dieter remained silent.
Tescatlipocana's warning about the foreign seed and the awakening of something echoed in his ears once again with unparalleled clarity.
His lazy smile vanished completely as he looked down at Alabasta, which had instantly turned into a boiling pot of porridge.
Instead, he wore a complex expression that blended seriousness, excitement, and chilling murderous intent.
"Things have really gotten a little too interesting."