Across Buggy's life, he's the kind of guy most people know: desperate for attention, forever stuck in someone else's shadow.
On Roger's ship, he tried every trick to be noticed—
but the one everyone watched was Shanks.
Roger left his straw hat to Shanks.
Shanks accidentally made Buggy swallow a Devil Fruit.
Buggy lost his chance at undersea treasure, and his grudge calcified into something bitter and loud.
"Straw-hat brat—hand over your life!"
Buggy roared and lunged. Luffy met him head-on.
Fisherman started worried… but within a few exchanges his frown dissolved into confusion.
This is a former Roger crew trainee? He's… not that strong?
Without the original-world gags and detours, Luffy's growth felt explosive.
Once he read Buggy's gimmick, the rubber kid simply pressed him—nonstop.
Swordshadow Flowyear stood there, petrified.
[Bro… YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. That's it?!]
[He thought Buggy was Shanks-tier and then—bonk.]
[Refund his expectations, please.]
The chat howled as Swordshadow's starry-eyed faith collapsed in real time.
Party on the Red Force
"Pfft—seriously, guys?"
On the Red Force, Xiaokaka leaned on the rail, sea breeze tousling her hair while the Red-Hair pirates feasted behind her.
The chat fed her the play-by-play and she burst out laughing.
"So that crying clown from earlier—Buggy—got steamrolled?"
She remembered him "punching" Shanks at the bar.
Right—Shanks was clearly holding back. Not pulling his punches—pulling the ocean.
The multi-stream view swung back to Orange Town.
[Update: Buggy's DOWN.]
[No, really. It was fast.]
[Breaking: Chop-Chop Fruit has a hilarious hard counter—]
[SAY IT.]
[His FEET can't fly. Only the upper body floats. The little legs must toddle on the ground.]
Screens showed Buggy's torso and arms buzzing through the air… while two lonely feet shuffled across the cobbles.
The internet lost it.
[Those tiny feet are… kind of cute? why am i like this]
[Weakness level: comedic.]
[And Luffy's battle IQ is cracked. Goofy outside, lethal inside.]
Swordshadow stared at the defeated Buggy, eyes completely dim.
On the street, Luffy lifted his straw hat, wincing.
Buggy's knives had punched three holes straight through the brim.
Luffy's jaw set; the last exchange had carried pure anger.
The Straw Hats hurried off to buy needle and thread.
What remained of the Buggy crew stood trembling.
Swordshadow finally moved. He walked over, lifted the scattered captain, and set him upright.
"Family… I chose the Buggy Pirates. I won't ditch them just because we lost today. He's still a Devil Fruit user. I'm not abandoning my captain."
The chat went quiet—then filled with thumbs-up emojis.
[Okay, respect. Loyalty buff unlocked.]
A flicker of slyness touched Swordshadow's mouth as Buggy, genuinely moved, clapped him on the shoulder and praised his guts.
Two crisp prompts rolled up his vision:
[Ding! Congratulations, player Swordshadow Flowyear: You have officially joined the Buggy Pirates and earned Captain Buggy's trust. Achievement unlocked: "Circus Performer."]
[Ding! In the battle against the Straw Hats, you stood your ground beside your captain. Your loyalty under defeat is commendable. Reward: 1,000 Points!]
He snapped open the achievement details:
[Achievement — Circus Performer]
Your body's flexibility, agility, comprehension, and recovery are enhanced across the board. To trigger multiple buffs, you must consistently embody the Circus Spirit.
Swordshadow blinked. "Family… what the heck is the 'Circus Spirit'?"
Explanations exploded through chat:
[Think: a creed—chasing dreams, pushing limits.]
[Teamwork, relentless practice, showmanship, optimism.]
[It's not flashy at first, but there's no listed cap. If you grind it right? Could rival a Devil Fruit.]
[Exactly. Rubber sounded mid too, until Luffy turned it into a monster.]
['Stretch freely isn't impressive' — says the only man who's never wished for it. Stay focused, people.]
Swordshadow swallowed, eyes lighting again—different this time.
Not worship of borrowed legends, but the spark of a path he might carve himself.
Somewhere across town, needle and thread tugged through straw.
Luffy's hat would wear its scars like medals.
And Orange Town's night breeze carried two very different laughs:
one rubbery and bright, one clownish and raw.
Tomorrow, both would be back for more.
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