Chapter 483: The Light and Shadow of Marine
Time passed swiftly.
Soon, Contestants approaching Mythical Beast Island began to clash.
The reason was straightforward.
Only two passages led to Mythical Beast Island from the front: the reverse sea flow ladder and the soaring sea current nearby.
As the number of ships arriving increased, the limited access points caused tension.
At the front of the Mythical Beast layer, many ships had gathered.
The sea beasts and Sea Kings had been heavily defeated, and the ships in the forward direction were the most numerous, forming groups to pass through the beast level.
Most significantly, all the Banana Crocodiles at the end of the beast layer lay defeated on the sea.
This caused many sea beasts and Sea Kings to react passively.
After all, without the threat of the Banana Crocodiles, who were known to prey on sea beasts and Sea Kings, why would they be so determined to block the ships?
In such circumstances, any ship that passed the second level could generally clear the third.
With so many ships, trouble was inevitable.
Both passages could only accommodate a limited number of ships at a time.
As for the reverse sea flow ladder, only the bold dared to ascend within the first minute of its appearance. After that, few risked it.
Navigating it was a race against death itself.
"Get out of the way! Our Buggy Pirates are here. If you do not move, you are looking for death." a voice shouted.
Near the sea flow ladder, many ships waited.
They were anticipating the ladder's reappearance.
The larger groups would go first, leaving others to follow.
At that moment, a loud voice echoed around.
A pirate ship bearing a large red-nosed skull emblem approached slowly, and someone on the deck shouted through a loudspeaker.
They seemed determined to ensure everyone heard.
"The Buggy Pirates? The pirate group that delivers express from East Blue?" someone asked.
"It seems so. Damn, pirates these days do not do their jobs properly. Instead of collecting protection fees or robbing, they deliver express." another remarked.
As the Buggy Pirates arrived, discussions erupted among the ships.
"What should we do? Should we let them go first?" one person asked.
"Let them? To hell with that! Who knows if we'll fall from the sky at that height?" another retorted.
"They want to go up? Let them wait in line!" a third voice demanded.
Many forces were unhappy that the Buggy Pirates sought to cut the line upon arrival.
Numerous groups were present, all eager to reach Mythical Beast Island quickly.
They wanted to seize their chance at wealth.
How could they yield just because of a few words?
Though the Buggy Pirates had some fame in East Blue, many forces here did not respect their methods.
As a pirate group focused on deliveries, their intimidation paled compared to the Four Emperors.
"Hey, hey, hey! Have these guys eaten a bear's heart or a leopard's gall? How dare they not make way?" the shouting pirate exclaimed.
The pirate, proud of the Buggy Pirates' dominance in East Blue, was taken aback by the resistance.
This defiance upset him.
"You bastards in front, make way quickly, or believe me, we'll kill you!"
His words made Buggy break into a cold sweat.
Among the forces ahead were various Demon Pattern Guilds that had arrived first.
Even more daunting was the official Magic Pattern Guild, the Magic Alliance.
Rumors held that the Light and Shadow of the Demon Pattern Guild was privately established by the Marines, independent of the World Government.
This guild, besides hunting monsters, was notorious for targeting pirates.
Known as the bounty hunter guild among the Demon Pattern Guilds, it struck fear into pirates.
As a pirate, facing such a guild was humiliating.
Was something wrong with this subordinate?
Was he trying to get me killed?
Buggy, facing the hostile glares from the ships ahead, felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
His mind raced with thoughts of self-preservation.
Finally, a spark of inspiration struck, and he devised what he believed was a brilliant plan.
"Hahahaha, kids!" Buggy called out.
"Let me steer the ship over there. I want to ride that soaring sea current!"
Hearing Buggy's sudden words, his crew was stunned.
"But, Boss Buggy, it seems more dangerous over there!" one subordinate protested.
"If we go up, it'll be like riding the top of a volcano. It's too risky!" another added.
Buggy's declaration prompted his crew to shift their focus, urging him to reconsider.
"Idiots!" Buggy roared.
His outburst carried the aura of a conqueror, leaving his subordinates in awe.
"What kind of pirate shies away from risk?"
"Waiting slowly here isn't my style. If we're going up, we take the fastest route!"
"I saw the Beasts Pirates riding that soaring sea current. How could I be outdone by them?"
Hearing these words, many in the Buggy Pirates lit up with excitement.
As if gazing at their idol, they began praising Buggy loudly.
"I see! He's truly Boss Buggy. His thinking is different from others!" one exclaimed.
"Exactly! Sitting on this slow sea ladder is nothing compared to soaring through the sky. A real man takes that route!" another cheered.
"Kaido of the Beasts is riding it, which shows our boss is on his level. The Four Emperors' title is well-earned!" a third added.
Amid the crew's enthusiastic praise, the pirate ship turned toward the soaring sea current.
This left the Demon Pattern Guilds, who had been ready to confront the Buggy Pirates, bewildered.
What was with that pirate group? They spoke boldly and then fled?
They seemed like cowards!
The Buggy Pirates' shift in direction sparked ideas among smaller Demon Pattern Guilds.
Perhaps they could follow and take advantage of them.
Rumor had it the Buggy Pirates had amassed wealth through their express delivery business.
However, after weighing their options, they prioritized the Mythical Beast Conference, though the idea lingered in their minds.
The larger Demon Pattern Guilds, meanwhile, waited intently.
Whoosh!
Buggy breathed a sigh of relief as they departed without incident.
Galdino, standing nearby, looked at Buggy with exasperation.
Though Buggy had resolved the immediate crisis, his actions had thrust them into a greater danger.
The soaring sea current loomed closer.
Fewer ships waited here compared to the sea flow ladder.
After all, the risks were clear to anyone with eyes.
Only those with exceptional confidence and strength would choose this path.
Kaido of the Beasts Pirates, for instance, could transform into a azure dragon and lift his ship into the sky with flame clouds, even without these passages.
Thus, he had chosen the soaring sea current without hesitation.
His confidence was absolute.
Yet Buggy had just compared himself to Kaido.
Now, he faced the consequences.
Boom!
In a short time, several ships rode massive sea columns skyward.
"Ahhh!" the crews screamed, as if on a roller coaster, reveling in the sensation of flight.
Among the cries, Buggy stood out.
Instead of screaming, he laughed exaggeratedly.
With many of his subordinates watching, he masked his urge to scream with laughter to preserve his image.
Galdino, using his candle ability to anchor himself to the ship, looked at Buggy's forced smile and the tears glinting in his eyes, sighing inwardly.
If only Buggy had known, why had he acted so recklessly?
( End of this chapter)