Whoosh!
The flying knife launched by Luffy's Heroic Spirit battle form slashed cleanly through Buggy's body, slicing him neatly in half.
Yet even so, Buggy's body didn't fall from the sky. His pupils continued to dart around, clearly showing he was still alive.
"Idiot! Don't use slashing attacks! They don't work on him!"
Zoro clenched his fist and shouted at Luffy.
Seeing Luffy use a slashing move on Buggy, Zoro's initial astonishment at Luffy activating his Heroic Spirit mimicry was instantly dispelled.
"Hehe, sorry, sorry! I accidentally used this power."
"Next, I'm sending this red-nosed guy flying!"
Luffy scratched the back of his head and laughed heartily.
"Damn it! I told you not to call me red nose!!"
Buggy reassembled his body with a grimace, controlling his two hands wielding daggers to stab at Luffy's waist.
"Useless! Watch my Fork Shield!"
Recalling how Genrou had used the Fork Shield, Luffy waved both hands and constructed two energy fork-shaped shields in front of him.
Buggy's flying knives collided with the shields and were instantly deflected.
"Haha, that's so cool! I can use that move too!"
"Now let's try this—Flying Fork!"
Luffy shaped his hands into claws and swung two punches toward Buggy.
Blue-white energy forks instantly formed, piercing straight toward Buggy's body.
With no other choice, Buggy had to split his body again to evade Luffy's attack.
But Luffy was just getting started.
To get used to the power of the Toriko Heroic Spirit template, he turned Buggy into a practice dummy for combo attacks.
Combining his Gomu Gomu no Mi (Rubber-Rubber Fruit) with Gourmet Cells, Luffy unleashed new techniques one after another, landing blow after blow on Buggy.
It continued until Genrou and Nami returned to the battlefield.
"Luffy, are you still playing around? Be careful you don't over-exert yourself in that state."
Genrou walked up carrying two large bags of treasure, calling out to Luffy.
"Oh, Genrou! You're back already! What are those in your hands?"
"Buggy Pirates' treasure. While you were fighting them, I went and grabbed it."
"Treasure? Awesome!"
Luffy raised his arms happily.
"You bastards! That's my treasure!"
"Put it down, you thieves!"
Buggy's eyes bulged as he glared at Genrou like he was about to risk everything for a fight.
"If I send you flying, then this treasure is ours."
Luffy grinned, then suddenly hurled his arms backward.
With the Gomu Gomu no Mi (Rubber-Rubber Fruit), his arms stretched out to a length of ten meters.
"Gomu Gomu no… Rocket Punch: Triple Spike Fist!"
Boom!
With a heavy bang, Luffy's arms snapped back and slammed hard into Buggy's body.
The force of the impact blasted Buggy hundreds of meters into the air.
And he kept flying even farther.
"Waaaaah! I'll be back!!"
Buggy screamed as he was launched skyward.
The pitiful sight caused the remaining Buggy Pirates to flee toward the port.
They couldn't even defeat Luffy and Zoro—now that Genrou and Nami had returned, they had completely lost the will to fight.
"Heh, of course you'll come back. If you don't, I'll be troubled."
Genrou smirked. He tossed the treasure bags to Luffy, who had just exited his Heroic Spirit form due to exhaustion.
Then he leapt into the sky using Geppō (Moonwalk), shooting straight into the air toward Buggy.
At his speed, it took less than a minute to catch up.
"Pfft! You even chased me up here?!"
Buggy's eyes widened in shock as he saw Genrou flying alongside him.
"Hehe, I'm here to help you fulfill your dream, Buggy. Didn't you just say you hate your Devil Fruit power? I'll help you go back to how you used to be."
Genrou chuckled. His right arm began to ripple with fluid-like Armament Haki.
"That's Ryūō (Flowing Sakura)? You can use such high-level Busoshoku? You bastard… You trying to kill me?!"
Genrou didn't answer. He stepped through the air with Geppō (Moonwalk), closing the distance in an instant.
"Fall, Buggy!"
He threw a punch, the force so great it triggered a sonic boom the moment he swung.
Buggy stared in shock, his body continuing along its original path—until the moment Genrou's fist closed in on his face.
Suddenly, just as the fist was about to hit, Buggy's terrified expression vanished. A red flash flickered in his eyes, and he narrowly dodged the attack.
"Huh?" Genrou gasped. "Just now… you used Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)?"
...
(End of Chapter)
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