As Luffy and the others ran toward the west port, the lightning-struck and comatose Buggy regained consciousness.
Buggy's men were amazed he could still be alive after being directly struck by lightning.
Reflecting on recent events, even Buggy felt Luffy's luck was incredible. But he didn't think Luffy could leave the island alive because he had already sent someone to burn the Straw Hats' ship.
Seeing many Marines closing in, Buggy confidently declared they couldn't handle a red nose like him. Then he suddenly realized, remembering that someone had just said the words "red nose." Enraged, he punched a nearby subordinate to the ground, accusing him of daring to call him red nose.
Ignoring his aggrieved subordinate, Buggy used his Devil Fruit power to split his body, combining it with two axles and a rear jet engine to form a small two-axle, four-wheeled cart. Alvida ordered her men to set up a smooth board, using her zero-friction ability to pursue Luffy's crew.
"Bomb Engine!"
"Smooth Jet!"
Buggy, having formed his cart, ignited the rear jet engine with a fuse. Alvida used her Smooth-Smooth Fruit ability to slide forward at high speed across the ground.
Unfortunately, they hadn't gone far when Smoker used White Blow, turning his entire body into a smoke clamp that engulfed Buggy and the others, rendering them unable to move.
"I don't have time to play with small fry like you." Smoker ordered his men to use Prison Bullets to arrest the pirates caught in his solid smoke. He also called for his large water scooter, intending to pursue Straw Hat.
Prison Bullets were a Marine invention—nets embedded with seastone shot from guns, specifically designed to deal with Devil Fruit users.
Thus, Buggy, Alvida, and their crew were captured in one sweep by Smoker.
Smoker took less than a minute to clean up the pirates left in the square. Such overwhelming strength left the watching civilians in awe.
Near the west port, Mohji and his pet lion, Richie, waited on the shore. Mohji intended to set fire to the Straw Hats' Going Merry, but the moment he lit a match, the howling wind and torrential rain from the sky extinguished the tiny flame. He couldn't light it at all.
Mohji was soaked from head to toe by the storm. He changed the gunpowder over a dozen times but couldn't get it to ignite. He complained to Richie beside him, but his pet was only thinking about food and ignored him.
Just then, Usopp—carrying a huge bag of tools and dragging the big fish—was the first to reach the west port. Seeing a man and a lion acting suspiciously near their ship, he shouted loudly, "Get away from that ship!"
"Huh? Who?!" Mohji was startled by Usopp's voice. Turning around, he accidentally slipped and fell straight from the shore into the sea. Richie, seeing his master fall in, was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out.
Usopp hadn't expected his shout to scare someone straight into the sea. He was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the ground.
Recovering quickly, Usopp boastfully shouted to Nami running up behind him, "See?!"
Nami looked at Usopp with black lines all over her forehead, reminding him, "That lion is about to charge."
Richie, furious that Mohji had been knocked into the sea, let out a low roar and lunged at Usopp with jaws wide open.
Usopp, seeing the lion charging fiercely, hurriedly pulled out his slingshot. "Special Attack: Fresh Egg Star!" The eggs were bought today; Usopp hadn't had time to make them rotten, so he had to make do.
Because of the rain, the egg fired hastily missed the charging lion and landed in front of Richie instead.
The lion, having been hungry all day, was about to pounce when it saw a fresh egg drop in front of it. It immediately began licking the spilled yolk with delight, savoring it happily and completely forgetting its purpose.
Usopp initially thought he was doomed, but seeing this development, he couldn't help but grin smugly at Nami. "See? Everything went according to my plan."
Nami, standing nearby, knew exactly what had happened but said nothing. After all, it wasn't her first day knowing Usopp, and his bragging was nothing new.
Thus, Usopp and Nami, watching the lion lick the egg yolk, returned to the Going Merry. Soon after they boarded, a large number of Marines arrived at the port and began firing guns at them. The artillery emplacements on the high ground also began firing at the ship.
BOOM!
With the shelling continuing, the Merry would eventually be hit. Nami made a decisive call, telling Usopp to help sail the ship. As they boarded, several shells landed in the nearby sea, causing the ship to shake violently; both she and Usopp fell.
Though Luffy and the others hadn't arrived yet, sailing now was the wisest choice—better than letting the Merry be sunk.
Thinking this, Usopp didn't hesitate, raising the anchor and setting sail.
Meanwhile, Luffy and the other three pushed forward through the fierce storm toward the west port, with a large group of Marines behind them swinging blades in pursuit.
Zoro wanted to stop and cut down the pursuing Marines, but Sanji said there was no time to get entangled. Earlier, with Nami, he'd heard her say a storm was coming; if it got worse, leaving would be very difficult.
As they ran, a woman in a dark-blue jacket with short blue hair stood alone blocking their path.
"Who's that beauty?" Sanji's old habit kicked in immediately upon seeing a pretty woman, his eyes turning into hearts as he asked excitedly.
"She's a Chief Petty Officer of Marine Headquarters," Tom said, recognizing Tashigi at a glance.
"You know her?" Sanji asked, then seemed to remember something. "Hey, you rude fisherman who never respects women—you didn't do anything to her, did you?"
"What are you talking about, you woman-fawning pervert cook? That's a ridiculous thing to say!" Tom nearly jumped in anger. Though he'd fought Tashigi, he hadn't done anything excessive. He naturally rejected Sanji's accusation.
Ping! Pang! Dong! Kuang!
Before long, Sanji and Tom came to blows while running, arguing over nothing.
"You two, stop it!" Zoro shouted helplessly at the brothers fighting at such a time.
"What are you doing?!" Luffy didn't stop them; instead, he laughed happily.
"Roronoa Zoro!" Tashigi stood in the street as the torrential rain poured down, water streaming down her pale face. She clenched her teeth and shouted Zoro's full name, recalling the weapon shop where she had discussed "Roronoa Zoro" in front of him—and how he'd asked if she wanted to take his Wado Ichimonji.
Remembering those events made Tashigi feel tricked. Staring at Zoro, she shouted angrily, "So it was you! And a pirate! You dared to toy with me! Unforgivable!"
"What? So you're the one who angered that charming lady? You moss-head have some nerve!" Sanji immediately turned his anger toward Zoro, stopping his fight with Tom.
"Seems she really has a problem with you. Didn't expect you to be that kind of person," Tom said, looking at Zoro strangely. She said he toyed with her… Did Zoro flirt with her? Tom immediately began adding stains to Zoro's image in his mind.
"You're really despicable. I despise you."
Tom and Sanji gave Zoro a thumbs-down together.
"I'll cut both of you down!" Zoro snapped.
"Roronoa Zoro!" Tashigi called again firmly. "I will take back your Wado Ichimonji!"
"She's after me. You guys go ahead," Zoro said, then turned to Tashigi. "If you want to fight, then try!" The two clashed blades.
In the torrential downpour, the man and woman stood locked together, gripping their swords and staring at each other.
"That guy actually dares to attack a woman!" Sanji exclaimed, nearly charging in if Luffy hadn't held him back.
Meanwhile, Tom said to Zoro, "Finish her quickly."
"You still don't understand the manners a gentleman should have. Have you caught too many fish lately? Has your brain rotted from the fish smell?" Sanji shot back.
"You yellow-haired curly-brow cook! That yellow hair really suits your personality. Is your abnormal brain also filled with yellow stuff?" Within two sentences, Tom and Sanji were fighting again as they ran.
Soon, Luffy's group was getting farther and farther from Zoro. After exchanging a few moves, Zoro knocked Shigure away with one strike.
With a clang, Zoro forced Tashigi into a corner, his blade embedded in the wall beside her face. Shigure fell to the ground nearby.
The rain poured relentlessly. Tashigi pressed her back to the wall, Zoro's blade inches from her left cheek; she could clearly feel the cold edge radiating a chilling presence.
"No matter what happens, I can't give you this sword!" Zoro said firmly, rainwater covering his face. Wado Ichimonji was in his hand.
"Chief Tashigi… lost?"
"How is that possible?"
The Marines who arrived saw Zoro defeat their instructor in just a few moves and dared not block his departure.
"Goodbye. I have to go." Zoro sheathed Wado Ichimonji, bid farewell to the still-stunned Tashigi, and turned to leave.
Tashigi bit her lip tightly. Remembering her earlier encounter with "Deadeye" ending the same way, being shown mercy by two men in one day made her feel looked down upon, leaving her deeply upset. Clenching her fists, she suddenly shouted at Zoro's back, "Why didn't you kill me?!"
Zoro slowly turned and looked at her without speaking.
"Because I'm a girl?" Tashigi's voice was weak, filled with bitterness. Rain slid down her face like tears from her eyes—indistinguishable whether rain or tears.
"It's so unfair, Zoro… because you're a boy." Those were Kuina's words from years ago, spoken as she cried. She wanted to become the world's greatest swordsman but had heard her father say a woman's strength would fall behind a man's with age. Knowing this, Kuina cried.
Zoro remembered those words. Now, this girl who looked almost exactly like Kuina said something similar, unsettling his heart.
"A woman's strength isn't as great as a man's. Being shown mercy in a match is humiliating! You don't understand my desire to be treated as a man!" Tashigi stepped forward, speaking earnestly. "I don't wield a sword as a game!"
Hearing her, and remembering Kuina's longing to be male, Zoro snapped. His face darkened completely.
"I find your very existence annoying!" Zoro shouted, pointing at her. His sudden outburst stunned her.
"Listen. You look exactly like my dead friend! And you say the same things she did!" Zoro roared. "Stop imitating her, you counterfeit woman!"
"You… how childish! That's incredibly rude! I've lived my own life! I don't even know your friend!" Tashigi snapped back, furious at being called a replacement.
"Maybe she was the counterfeit!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, woman?!"
They argued loudly in the storm-lashed streets of Loguetown. The raging wind and rain had no effect on them. The Marines nearby, seeing their superior arguing with a pirate, didn't know what to do.
On another street, a man with silver hair blocked Luffy's path, an amphibious tricycle scooter beside him.
"You're here. Ahead is the west port. Your ship is there. But I won't let you pass," Smoker said.
The rain intensified, black clouds filling the sky as lightning struck repeatedly. The flashes illuminated Smoker and Luffy's faces—neither showing the slightest intent to yield.
"Smoke Guy."
"He's tough."
"You know him?"
Luffy and Tom had experienced Smoker's strength; Sanji hadn't yet, so their reactions differed.
"Be careful. He's a Headquarters Captain, a Logia user. Find a chance to run. Don't waste time," Tom said, taking out his fishing rods.
"Straw Hat… 'Deadeye'… you two will not escape my grasp," Smoker said, stepping forward.
For Smoker, there was no chance he would let them go. Seeing Luffy survive by miracle hardened his resolve. The same went for Tom.
Smoker had seen the square clearly. If the thunderbolt hadn't struck Buggy, Tom's long-range punch could have destroyed the platform. Saving Luffy wasn't impossible.
What Smoker feared wasn't a man blessed with luck—but a man with great luck and a powerful, dangerous companion. That combination was terrifying.
With both luck and strength, Smoker could not let Luffy go.
As for Tom, even if Smoker couldn't defeat him now, he still sensed a vague danger. When Luffy was on the brink of death, the power Tom unleashed—even briefly—felt threatening.
If the lightning was the blazing light, then Tom was the shadow lurking beneath it.
"Sanji, go ahead. We'll catch up," Luffy said simply.
"Check on Nami and the others," Tom added.
Sanji hesitated but obeyed. Mentioning Nami sealed it. He dashed forward at full speed.
"I won't let you reach the port!" Smoker's arms turned into thick smoke, surging toward Sanji.
"What is this?" Sanji, fighting a Logia user for the first time, couldn't immediately understand the attack.
"Gum-Gum Pistol Barrage!" Luffy's fists hammered the smoke, the fierce wind blowing away the rain.
"Grab my fishing rod!" Tom shouted, extending it.
Sanji grabbed on. Tom extended it to full length, flinging Sanji nearly forty meters—far enough to escape Smoker.
Tom felt regret; with his attachments, he could have sent Sanji a hundred meters.
"One got away. No matter." Smoker turned back. "You two are finished. This is your end."
"Once we cross here, we can reach the Grand Line! We can't stop now!" Tom said, more to himself.
"Of course! I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!" Luffy replied confidently.
As they fought, Sanji reached the west port. The Going Merry was already sailing while Marines fired at it.
"Nami-san! I'm back!" Sanji shouted, eyes turning to hearts.
"Sanji! Where are the others?" Nami asked anxiously.
Before Sanji could answer, Marines surrounded him.
"So many Marines! I'll cover him!" Usopp said, then jumped into the sea to help.
The waves were violent—but he did it anyway.
Back with Luffy and Tom, a voice echoed on the wind:
"The will passed down through ages…"
"The changing of eras…"
"The dreams of people…"
"All will never cease…"
Smoker pinned them down. "Understand? You can't go to the Grand Line."
As Smoker raised his jutte, a green-cloaked man seized it. "That's not necessarily true!"
Tom felt an overwhelming pressure.
Lightning revealed a red tattoo on the man's face. Smoker's eyes widened. "You…!"
A massive wind swept the island, blowing everyone away—including the cannons targeting the Merry.
When calm returned, Luffy's group was reunited.
Only Tom's bruised face stood out.
"What are you doing?! Get over here!" Nami shouted.
Luffy stretched his arms and rocketed toward the ship.
Chaos ensued. Everyone collided aboard.
"Great! Everyone's okay!" Tom said.
"Get off me, idiot!" Nami snapped.
Fights broke out instantly.
"Hahaha! We made it!" Luffy laughed.
Smoker watched the ship fade away. "Why did you do that… Dragon?"
"What reason is there to stop a man from running to the sea?" Dragon replied.
"Prepare to pursue Straw Hat!" Smoker ordered.
"I'm going too!" Tashigi declared.
Buggy also set sail for the Grand Line.
On the Merry, Nami pointed to the lighthouse.
"Ahead… the Grand Line!" Luffy shouted.
The six gathered around a barrel and declared their dreams.
Lightning roared as the Going Merry sailed onward.
"Let's go! Destination—the Grand Line!"
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T/N :
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