Roger sighed heavily. They'd found a few rubbings of the Poneglyphs, but they couldn't understand a single word. Ritter knew that in the Roger Pirates, it had been Oden who could decipher the ancient text.

Lazily lying on the deck, Ritter called out to Roger, "There's a samurai from Wano named Kozuki Oden on Whitebeard's ship. He can read the Poneglyphs."

Roger's eyes lit up with a rare flash of excitement at the news.

"Captain, what scheme are you cooking up now?" Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"If Ritter told me about him, then that means he's fated to be one of us!" Roger burst out laughing. "That guy's on Whitebeard's ship right now we'll just go and 'borrow' him for a while!"

Ritter raised an eyebrow. "Whitebeard isn't exactly the reasonable type. How do you plan on convincing him?"

Roger clenched his fist, battle spirit blazing in his eyes. "How else? We'll fight him first and talk later!"

Rayleigh shook his head in exasperation. "Here we go again another spectacle in the making..."

Shanks and Buggy eagerly crowded around. "Captain! Are we going to fight the Whitebeard Pirates again?!"

The last time, they'd shamelessly ganged up on them. Shanks and Buggy had been fuming for days over it.

Can't win? Then mob them. If the little guy can't fight, what else is he supposed to do?

Roger ruffled their hair and laughed uproariously. "Kuahahaha! That's right! Just don't go crying when those brats on their side get scary!"

Shanks clenched his fists, a fire lit in his eyes. "I won't lose!"

Buggy chimed in confidently, "I-I won't either!"

Ritter stretched and stood up. "Buggy, this time you better fight properly. If you run away, I'll spin you like a top."

He cracked his neck, looking out over the sea. "Let's go. I've been wanting to see just how strong the Whitebeard Pirates really are."

With the Roger Pirates actively searching, the Oro Jackson cut across the azure sea, racing toward the Whitebeard Pirates.

Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick—

"Pops! The Roger Pirates have been spotted ahead!" the lookout shouted from the crow's nest.

Whitebeard sat atop his custom chair, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "Gurararara... Roger, that rascal. Never thought we'd bump into them here."

Two legendary ships gradually drew near and finally made landfall on the same island.

Roger stood proudly at the prow, hands on his hips. "Whitebeard! Long time no see!"

Whitebeard let out a low chuckle. "Gurararara... Roger, what kind of trouble are you bringing this time?"

Roger's eyes burned with battle lust. "Nothing much just felt like fighting you again! We'll talk after!"

Whitebeard snorted. "Gurararara... Roger, then bring it on!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than their Conqueror's Haki collided with a deafening roar. The sky instantly darkened, storm clouds rolling in, and massive waves churned across the sea.

Marco and Jozu headed straight for Shanks and Buggy.

"This time you're not sand-blinding me again," Marco said, blue flames sprouting from his wings as he hovered midair, his tone teasing.

Shanks grinned. "Don't worry. This time I'll beat you head-on!"

Without warning, Shanks charged. His blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for Marco's chest! Marco flared his wings, narrowly dodging, and whipped his right wing like a burning whip, forcing Shanks back with a searing gust of wind.

Shanks' swordplay had lost its earlier roughness each strike was sharp and precise. His nascent Observation Haki let him faintly predict Marco's evasions.

But Marco had the edge in experience. Using his phoenix form's agility, he danced around Shanks' attacks.

Suddenly, Shanks changed his rhythm his blade coated in a slick black sheen!

"Swish—!" One slash split Marco's flames apart, leaving a cut on his shoulder!

Marco's eyes narrowed. "Armament Haki?! You little brat…"

Panting, Shanks grinned wildly. "Ritter told me—'To hurt a Mythical Zoan, you need real Haki!'"

Marco finally got serious. The kid's growth was terrifying. His phoenix flames surged, eyes fierce. "Then I'll show you... the real power of the Phoenix!"

"Phoenix Brand!"

His wings unfurled and burst into flames, slamming toward Shanks like a fiery missile!

Shanks didn't dodge. Both hands gripped his blade as he focused every bit of Haki into the tip—"Divine Departure!"

Well, it was a simplified imitation of Roger's technique, but it looked the part.

Boom—! The fire was split in two.

Marco managed to claw Shanks away at the last second, putting some distance between them.

But Shanks was visibly spent. That "Divine Departure" was far too draining.

Marco's flames slowly healed his wound. Mythical Zoans really were monsters when it came to stamina. His eyes, though, no longer held mockery.

Shanks vs. Marco. Shanks lost, but it looked like the start of a future friendship.

Now, let's shift the focus to Buggy—

He stood before Jozu, a large bundle strapped to his back—full of throwing knives, if one looked closely.

There was no trace of the fear from the original timeline. His eyes brimmed with confidence. He grinned at the diamond-skinned Jozu. "Hey, diamond freak! Don't expect to get flattened by this great lord again!"

Jozu cracked his fists together, sparks flying. "Don't get cocky, red-nose! You're just a cheap trickster!"

"Who said I'm using cheap tricks?" Buggy crossed his arms. "Come on. Less talk, more fighting."

Jozu's gaze sharpened. With a heavy stomp, his diamond-coated fist came crashing down on Buggy!

Boom—!

The ground cratered, dust flying—but Buggy's body had already scattered. Jozu's punch hit nothing but air.

"Can't hit me~ can't hit me~" Buggy's head floated above Jozu, grinning cheekily while one of his disembodied hands made a face at him.

Buggy (internal monologue): Ritter bro, your promises really came true. Ehehe...

Jozu roared in fury. His arms expanded, diamond coating gleaming viciously. Spinning around, his fists rained down like a storm!

"Diamond Meteor Fists!"

Buggy's scattered pieces weaved through the barrage effortlessly. With a little bit of Paper Art from the Six Powers, he floated like confetti in the wind. All the while, he taunted, "Harder! I haven't even broken a sweat!"

Veins bulged on Jozu's forehead. He changed tactics and slammed the ground.

Boom—!

Chunks of rock exploded outward, forcing Buggy's parts to regroup.

Seizing the chance, Jozu's diamond arm swept in from the side!

"No escape this time!"

At the last moment, Buggy smirked devilishly.

His body scattered again—but this time, every piece held a knife.

From every angle, blades stabbed at Jozu!

Shlick shlick shlick—!

Even his diamond armor showed thin cracks. Jozu winced, faltering, just as Buggy's right hand snuck behind and shoved him hard!

"Off you go!"

Jozu staggered and nearly fell. Regaining his balance, he looked back in disbelief. "You… you actually hurt me?!"

Buggy's floating head beamed. "How about that? Every knife's coated in Armament Haki. You know how many months I trained for this, huh?!"

Jozu's expression turned serious at last. He took a deep breath, diamond glow intensifying. "Then try this!"

He charged like a tank—no longer flailing, but aiming his crushing blows with precise force.

Buggy now moved with practiced ease. His constant splitting made brute-force attacks almost useless.

(in dramatic narrator voice) "Buggy—free to split however he wants!"

But Buggy wanted to test something new. He suddenly reached out and touched Jozu's diamond arm—

"Split!"

A bizarre scene unfolded! Cracks spread across Jozu's diamond surface like something was trying to pry it apart!

Only for an instant—but enough for Buggy's knife to slip into the fissure!

Shlunk!

Blood spurted! Jozu grunted and leapt back, staring in shock at his wounded arm. "You… you can affect my powers too?!"

Buggy retrieved his knife and casually wiped off the blood with a handkerchief. "So? Want another round?"

Ritter had theorized: If Buggy can split himself, could he split someone else's attack? If his fruit awakens, could he even disrupt Haki like Law's Room cuts things that resist logic? Why not? The Chop-Chop Fruit never said it only works on himself...

Jozu gritted his teeth, about to charge again—when—

BOOM—!

An explosion blasted between them! From the smoke, one of Buggy's disembodied hands dangled a round bomb.

"Damn! Just a little bit more! Gotta make quieter Buggy Bombs next time."

Buggy's fighting style was shamelessly underhanded. With so many pieces floating around, who would notice if one went missing mid-fight?

As the smoke cleared, Jozu knelt on one knee, his diamond body scorched but otherwise unharmed. Still, he had to admit he couldn't do anything about Buggy.

He glared up, only to see Buggy reassembled and laughing loudly.

"Victory secured! A flawless win for Lord Buggy!"

Jozu stayed silent for a moment then chuckled. "Interesting... next time, I won't lose."

Buggy waved as he walked back to his crewmates. "Bring it on anytime!"

Internally, Buggy was already exploding with joy.

Guys, it happened. IT HAPPENED.

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Things are just heating up. Read ahead in Unbound Evolution and stay ahead of the crowd.

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