During a lull in the battle, he glanced at Buggy, his mind racing:
"What terrifying cunning!
That guy has hidden himself too deeply. His threat is no less than that of Straw Hat Luffy!"
He had originally believed that the biggest variable in this war would only be Luffy, who had awakened Gear Fifth.
But he had never imagined that Buggy the Clown, overlooked by everyone, would suddenly unleash such terrifying power and even conceal the shocking identity of a former crewmate of the King of the Pirates.
The situation had long since spiraled beyond his control, hurtling toward an even more chaotic and unpredictable direction.
Just as Sengoku's heart grew heavy, his gaze inadvertently swept toward Buggy's direction. Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and his expression grew increasingly grim.
He noticed that after delivering that Divine Departure and wounding Akainu, Buggy did not press his advantage. Instead, he quickly retreated, joining a group of Impel Down escapees who followed him, reuniting with his underlings.
What surprised and unsettled Sengoku even more was that among those escapees, one pirate held a snail that looked all too familiar.
It was an Image Transmitting Snail!
And not just any—it was the very one dedicated to broadcasting live to the entire world!
"Wait!"
Sengoku's heart sank like a stone as a terrifying thought flashed through his mind:
"Isn't that the Photography Den Den Mushi for worldwide broadcasts? How did it end up in Buggy's hands?!"
In that instant, a powerful sense of foreboding gripped Sengoku's heart, chilling him to the bone.
He knew all too well the purpose of that Den Den Mushi.
Once the broadcast began, every scene from the Marineford battlefield—the Navy's disarray, the Admirals' setbacks—would be transmitted simultaneously to every corner of the world.
The prestige of the Marine Headquarters would suffer an unprecedented blow!
He wanted to immediately order his soldiers to charge forward and destroy that Den Den Mushi, but it was already too late.
Sure enough, the next second, Buggy leaped up, landing atop a ruined section of the fortress wall.
It was the highest vantage point on the battlefield, offering a clear view of all Marineford that would be captured perfectly by the lens.
Cloaked in a dark red robe, his five-meter-tall, imposing figure radiated pressure. Behind him, a crowd of Impel Down escapees gathered, his underlings all wearing expressions of fervor, their eyes filled with worship.
Buggy planted one hand on his hip and raised the Image Transmitting Snail high with the other. He deliberately cleared his throat and, in a tone brimming with enough arrogance, began shouting into the Den Den Mushi.
His voice was both cocky and boastful, every word dripping with undisguised ambition. Through the transmission of the Den Den Mushi, it reached every corner of the world.
"Wahahaha! Listen up, everyone in the world! Open your eyes wide and see clearly who's on your screen!"
He paused, grinning wildly at the lens, his voice growing even louder:
"That's right, it's me—Buggy the Clown!!"
This shout, transmitted through the Image Transmitting Snail, reached the ears of every person watching the broadcast worldwide.
From the small towns of the East Blue to the ports of the West Blue, the villages of the South Blue, the merchant ships of the North Blue, the islands of the Grand Line, the temples of Skypiea, the auction houses of Sabaody Archipelago, and even the distant Mary Geoise...
Everyone staring at the screens was captivated by that arrogant, domineering voice, their eyes locked on the red-nosed clown on the screen.
Buggy laughed even more maniacally. He deliberately slowed his speech, word by word, revealing a secret that could shake the entire world:
"Let me tell you a huge secret—I'm no nobody, and I'm certainly not the clown you all think is just a petty trickster!
Back in the day, I was an apprentice crew member on the ship of the King of the Pirates, Roger!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire world erupted into an uproar.
No one had expected that this clown, whom everyone looked down upon, had such a glorious past—that he was connected to the King of the Pirates and the Four Emperors!
Through the Den Den Mushi, Buggy could almost feel the shock of the entire world.
His smile grew even more arrogant as he continued boasting to the camera:
"Didn't expect that, did you? Back on Captain Roger's ship, I was a core member!
That guy Shanks had to follow behind me back then, listening to my orders, calling me 'Big Brother Buggy'!
Navy Admirals, Four Emperors, Seven Warlords of the Sea—in my eyes, they're all nothing but worthless trash!
Today, I'll show you what a true powerhouse really is!"
With that, he raised his hand and pointed toward the chaotic battlefield of Marineford below. The camera followed his finger, revealing the brutal scenes of the battlefield to viewers worldwide.
Then, the camera cut back to his face.
Buggy roared with laughter:
"Look at this place! The Marine Headquarters has thrown everything it has into besieging the Whitebeard Pirates, fighting to the death, with rivers of blood flowing!
But do you know what?
The true star of this war isn't Whitebeard, it isn't the Navy Admirals, and it certainly isn't that Straw Hat kid—it's me, Buggy!
I, Buggy, am about to become the greatest pirate of this era, to rule these seas, to become the new King of the Pirates!"
The escaped convicts from Impel Down behind him erupted into cheers upon hearing this, shouting in unison:
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy! King of the Pirates Buggy! King of the Pirates Buggy!"
The cheers rose and fell, echoing across the battlefield and spreading throughout the world via the Den Den Mushi.
Buggy raised a hand to quiet his underlings, then continued speaking to the camera:
"See? Just now, with a single move—Divine Departure—I repelled Navy Admiral Akainu and sent him running with his tail between his legs!
Next, I'm going to take on a Navy Admiral one-on-one and rescue the captain's son, Ace!
Today, right here at Marineford, I'll make a name for myself and ensure the name 'Buggy' echoes in every corner of the world!
I'll use this war to make everyone remember—Buggy is no trash! He's the king who will soon rule these seas!
Wahahaha! Open your eyes wide and watch!
The era of Buggy begins now!
From this day forward, these seas will be ruled by me, Clown Buggy!"
With that, he made an outrageously arrogant gesture at the camera.
As he finished speaking, his underlings behind him erupted once more, their cheers and shouts growing even louder, clashing starkly with the sounds of battle on the battlefield.
Sengoku trembled with rage, his fists clenched tightly, the fury in his eyes nearly igniting.
Buggy's words had dealt a severe blow to the Navy's authority.
If not handled properly, all the Navy's efforts in this war would be in vain.
And he, along with the other high-ranking Navy officers, would undoubtedly be held accountable by the Gorosei!
Amid the ruins, Akainu rose to his feet once more.
Clutching his chest, he glared at the arrogant and overbearing Buggy, the killing intent in his eyes surging.
Is this guy trying to use me as a stepping stone?
Hah, I'm being underestimated!
But that's just fine. Since you, Clown Buggy, are so full of yourself, that arrogance will become your epitaph!
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