On the Sky Screen, because Buggy successfully blocked Hawk Eyes' slashes, the prisoners he had released from Impel Down began boasting wildly, continuously proclaiming Buggy's greatness.
Buggy himself was initially quite pleased seeing these comments.
But as the exaggerations grew more and more outrageous, he began to break out in a cold sweat.
After all, if he drew too much attention and the Marines noticed, his fate would be terrible.
And it wasn't just the Marines some pirates might also take issue with him and want to teach him a lesson.
Thinking this, Buggy immediately began persuading the prisoners to stop commenting.
The prisoners were initially quite unhappy when Buggy stopped them.
But after Buggy's reasoned and emotional persuasion, the prisoners all agreed. Only then did Buggy finally breathe a sigh of relief.
However, the subsequent events in the video made Buggy feel his efforts were wasted.
After all, given what happened next, even if he hadn't persuaded them, those prisoners probably wouldn't have continued boasting.
〖After being slashed multiple times, Buggy angrily looked at Hawk Eyes.
"Damn you! You're Hawk Eyes, right? Unforgivable! I'll definitely make you pay!"
As he spoke, Buggy moved his right foot, kicking his specially made Muggy Ball cannonball toward Hawk Eyes in an attempt to attack him.
Although Hawk Eyes couldn't cut Buggy, dealing with an incoming cannonball was easy for him.
He simply used his sword to deflect the cannonball back.
The next second, Buggy and those who arrived with him were blown up by his own cannonball.
Seizing this opportunity, Luffy escaped again. But Hawk Eyes immediately noticed and prepared to continue intercepting.
Just at that moment, someone suddenly appeared and blocked Hawk Eyes' attack.
A sky full of rose petals fell as Hawk Eyes' black blade Yoru struck against the twin swords that had suddenly appeared.
Hawk Eyes looked at the newcomer and immediately recognized his identity.
"So it's you. Whitebeard Pirates Fifth Division Commander, Flower Sword Vista."
Vista nodded. "Indeed it is. But I'm surprised, Hawk Eyes, you actually know me."
"Does knowing you matter that much? But, are you also protecting Straw Hat?"
"After all, he's Ace's brother." As Vista spoke, he and Hawk Eyes had already exchanged several moves.
While fighting, Hawk Eyes watched Luffy's situation and secretly admired him.
"This man possesses an incredibly terrifying power. Even though it's my first time meeting him, he can turn everyone on the battlefield into his allies. What a remarkable ability." 〗
[Pirate 1: As expected of the World's Greatest Swordsman! Even while fighting a Whitebeard Pirates division commander, he still has attention to spare for Straw Hat's movements.]
[Whitebeard Pirates Fifth Division Crewmember 1: But this Hawk Eyes is too much! Actually being so inattentive while fighting our commander—it shows no respect for his opponent!]
[Pirate 2: Well, Hawk Eyes is just that powerful. I don't think your commander is his match either.]
[Whitebeard Pirates Fifth Division Crewmember 2: What nonsense are you spouting? Commander Vista hasn't even shown his true power yet! He'll definitely demonstrate his might later.]
[Pirate 3: But what did Hawk Eyes mean by those last words? He said Straw Hat possesses some kind of power—I didn't see it.]
[Pirate 4: I think I vaguely understand. Right now, on that battlefield, Straw Hat doesn't have a single one of his actual crew members. The rest are either Impel Down prisoners, Revolutionary Army members, or Whitebeard Pirates crew all from different factions.
But now, under Straw Hat's leadership, these people seem to have been twisted together like a rope, all gathering together and moving toward a single goal. It's as if they've all become Straw Hat's companions, acting with him and protecting him. This was simply unimaginable before.]
[Pirate 5: It does seem that way. Looking at it like this, Straw Hat possesses a power that others can't see.]
Mary Geoise
The Five Elders had also been watching the videos on the Sky Screen since its appearance.
When Rocks suddenly spoke earlier, these men found it troublesome.
Now, hearing Hawk Eyes' evaluation of Luffy, their expressions also changed momentarily.
Of course, they didn't suspect Luffy of having any particular issues because of this rather, Hawk Eyes' words reminded them of a certain legendary figure.
But it was only for a moment. Their current focus remained on Rocks.
Then there was the imminent Summit War. As for other matters, they couldn't leave a lasting impression yet.
Meanwhile, in the Sky Screen video, other scenes had already begun playing.
〖Just as Luffy and the others were striving to charge up to the execution platform to save Ace, the Marines actually planned to carry out the execution early.
The two executioners had already made preparations, waiting only for Fleet Admiral Sengoku's order.
Sengoku then began his speech:
"Now, cut the signal from the visual Den Den Mushi. This war was launched by the Marines and the World Government in the name of absolute justice. There can be only one outcome: we must achieve victory.
No matter what methods are used, there can only be this one result. As for the process, there's no need to inform the civilians. They only need to know that the Marines won in the end."
As soon as Sengoku finished speaking, enormous noises and dazzling flames erupted in the distance.
Countless laser beams shot across the battlefield, followed by the appearance of familiar figures.
They were countless Bartholomew Kumas—an army of Warlord Tyrant Kumas.〗
[Civilian 1: What do the Marines mean by this? Didn't they say from the beginning that this execution would be publicly broadcast? Why cut the transmission now?]
[Golden Lion Shiki: Gehahahaha, that's obviously because some scenes simply can't be shown to you civilians.]
[Civilian 2: Why can't we see them? Aren't the Marines supposed to protect us? Then why can't we know the truth?]
[Big Mom Charlotte Linlin: Mamamama, how naive. Whether it's the Marines or the World Government, isn't that just how they are? You civilians just live in the world they've arranged for you.]
[Pirate 1: Oh my god, look! How did so many Tyrant Kumas appear?]
[Queen the Plague: You actually replicated so many Tyrant Kumas? Sometimes you Marines and the World Government are even more terrifying than pirates.]
[Big News Morgans: Another huge story! Is this the World Government's secret weapon, the Pacifistas? They look incredibly powerful! Can the Whitebeard Pirates handle what comes next?]