Chapter 15: Exposure
Morgans, that birdman, had caught the Marines off guard. Most of the Marines in Loguetown had withdrawn, leaving truly no manpower to spare to catch his reporters. Cut off one signal, and another would pop up, endlessly like cockroaches.
Even Admiral Akainu received criticism from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, urging him to cut off the video signal. This was not just Sengoku's order, but also an order from the World Government.
The number of viewers for this live broadcast had already surpassed that of any song and dance festival on the seas. Anyone capable of receiving the video signal had put down what they were doing to watch a Marine Admiral battle a former Roger Pirates crew member. Most people hoped the Marines would win, while some pirates were more eager to see the Marines suffer a setback.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, as long as I personally kill Buggy the Clown live on air, none of the current issues will be a problem."
Executing a former Roger Pirates crew member live on air, especially one who was a friend of Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Emperors of the Sea, would demonstrate the Marines' power and intimidate those petty scoundrels.
"Akainu, I believe in your strength. Don't disappoint me this time."
Sakazuki hung up the Den Den Mushi call with the Fleet Admiral. His Logia Magma-Magma Fruit gave him absolute confidence. Even if it meant destroying all of Loguetown, he was determined to kill Buggy the Clown today.
"Since he hasn't come out of the prison yet, let him take a bath with magma first."
"Hound Blaze!"
Sakazuki's right arm, in its magma state, suddenly came alive. A hound made of magma, carrying its master's absolute will, charged towards the Loguetown Marine Branch Prison. If the opponent couldn't even withstand this move, then let them turn to ash along with the magma.
The Buggy Pirates, inside the prison, witnessed a scene of despair. Magma, carrying terrifying heat, instantly poured onto the prison walls. But these hard outer stones only held up against the magma for a few seconds.
"The magma is flowing in! Oh god, I don't want to die yet!"
"My leg! My leg is gone!" Magma rushed into the prison, letting the pirates at the very front be the first to experience the "warmth" from the Marine Admiral.
Even Zoan Devil Fruit users feared magma, let alone a group of the lowest-level pirates. They squeezed together, piling on top of each other in the deepest part of the prison. But what made them despair even more was that the magma seemed endless, continuously seeping from the ceiling.
The Buggy Pirates members huddled around Buggy, tears streaming down their faces as they wailed, "Captain Buggy, stop playing around! If you don't act now, we're all going to die!"
Alvida was cuffed with Seastone, the woman too weak to move. She was starting to doubt her life choices there. If she hadn't allied with Buggy back then, would she still have ended up like this today?
At this point, Buggy the Clown could barely keep up his act. He never thought his dream of finding the great treasure would end here today. He hadn't even gotten revenge on Shanks yet. "I'm so unlucky! Sky Screen, what grudge do you have against me, to mess with me like this!"
Amidst cries and sounds of despair, the scorching magma completely submerged everything. This was the scene all the Marines witnessed. Indeed, when an Admiral makes a move, you know it's serious; this terrifying power was like a natural disaster.
Smoker lit a cigar, and the Marine Captain took a deep drag. "Trash is trash, after all. All pirates deserve to die."
As for an Admiral destroying a Marine Branch Prison, they could just get reimbursement from the World Government later. It would come out of the Marine budget anyway. Before leaving, they could even build a new prison for Loguetown; it was a win-win situation.
Sakazuki stopped the flow of magma. This strict Admiral wouldn't celebrate prematurely. His Observation Haki was fully active, searching for any fish that might have escaped the net, not even sparing the ground beneath the branch.
Akainu's expression suddenly turned grave. He commanded loudly, "All Marines, on defense! Brace for impact!"
From the prison that had just been submerged in magma, a cutting sound was heard. Not only the walls and floor but even the magma itself was being torn apart. A man's voice came from within: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku really gives me face, actually sending a Marine Admiral to kill me. Am I really that valuable?"
A powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki surged from straight ahead. The clouds in the entire sky were dispersed. Wherever it passed, the walls of Marine buildings cracked, dust was blown away, and waves churned on the sea.
Some Marines who had just learned Haki, although able to resist the instant knockout effect of Conqueror's Haki, were severely shaken both mentally and physically. Some unlucky ones were even knocked into the sea. Buggy the Clown actually possessed such powerful Conqueror's Haki! For him to have hidden it until now truly made him a terrifying enemy.
Marine Captain Smoker, although not proficient in two types of Haki at this time, had the advantage of being a Logia Devil Fruit user and wasn't knocked out on the spot by the clown's Conqueror's Haki. He had already shed his disdainful expression. "How is this possible? I clearly arrested him myself."
The Buggy Pirates made their official appearance. A tall, red-nosed man stood at the forefront of the group like a god, followed by a band of subordinates whose eyes were filled with tears. Captain Buggy was truly invincible!
"Can't you Marines just follow the script? Send me to Impel Down, it's good for you, good for me, good for everyone. You always have to ruin my plans."
Buggy the Clown had a smile on his face, but his eyes were filled with overwhelming killing intent. Another soul within his body had completely merged with the role.
The sharp-eyed Smoker noticed something. "He still has Seastone on him! Why can he still use his Devil Fruit ability?"
Seastone and seawater are the natural enemies of Devil Fruit users. Upon contact, Devil Fruit abilities are lost; there has never been a second scenario. But the splitting power just now definitely came from a Devil Fruit. Buggy the Clown had actually become an exception.
"Mr. Future Admiral, you don't need to be surprised. Seastone and seawater have no effect on me. If you don't believe me, watch."
Buggy grabbed the Seastone shackle on his neck with one hand. Seastone, which no one had ever broken before, instantly crumbled into a pile of fragments in his hand. The handcuffs and footcuffs received the same treatment. The undefeated myth of Seastone was shattered today!
"How could a demon from the world be afraid of some broken stones and that flimsy seawater?"
When Sakazuki came as reinforcement from Headquarters, he brought a batch of high-purity Seastone handcuffs. Looking at the current scene, they wouldn't be needed today. Unaffected by seawater, unaffected by Seastone—this was the first time such a Devil Fruit user had appeared in all of history.
"Is this the ability of your Devil Fruit Liberation?"
"Is there? Why haven't I heard that name before?" Buggy the Clown put on a puzzled expression, as if he knew nothing and was hearing this for the first time.
The Sky Screen had already exposed Buggy the Clown's abilities. Playing dumb at this moment was simply an insult to the Marines' intelligence. Devil Fruit Liberation, for all Devil Fruit users, not only opened up a broad path but also meant everyone had limitless potential in the future.
"Since you don't want to say it, I'll help you remember."
Sakazuki infused his hands with magma. "Meteor Volcano!"
Dozens of magma fists rained down from the sky. This terrifying, disaster-like scene shocked every viewer watching the live broadcast...