One Piece: The Multiverse Simulator

"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, do you realize what you're doing? As a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, you're harboring a pirate and even attacking a Marine Captain!" Smoker wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he glared at Hancock.

Though he had used his Seastone-tipped jitte to block her attack, Hancock's Perfume Femur, infused with Armament Haki, was no easy feat to deflect. Without the Seastone reinforcement, his jitte might have been petrified and shattered on the spot.

"So what if I'm saving Luffy?" Hancock retorted, her tone haughty. "Anything I do can be forgiven. And do you know why? It's because… I am simply too beautiful."

Her narcissistic proclamation left everyone dumbstruck, yet no one seemed annoyed. Instead, they were captivated by the Pirate Empress's charm. Her shy, coquettish demeanor caused the surrounding onlookers to swoon, hearts practically floating in their eyes.

Even Smoker, normally a stoic and practical man, found himself momentarily affected by Hancock's allure and the passive charm of her Love-Love Fruit. Realizing the danger, he struck himself with his Seastone jitte to regain focus.

Despite his efforts, Smoker found himself at a significant disadvantage against Hancock. Unlike Luffy, who lacked mastery of Haki, Hancock was a seasoned expert. Her mastery of all three types of Haki rendered Smoker's Logia powers ineffective.

To make matters worse, fighting the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" posed additional challenges. Her natural charm, amplified by her Devil Fruit abilities, tested even the most disciplined minds.

Though Smoker's willpower helped him resist Hancock's passive abilities, his concentration faltered under the strain. With Hancock's superior combat prowess and his inability to focus, the outcome of their fight was clear from the start.

From the moment the battle began, Smoker found himself at a complete disadvantage, repeatedly sent flying by Hancock's powerful kicks. Though she didn't finish him off immediately, her overwhelming dominance left him struggling to keep up.

Meanwhile, Luffy, taking advantage of Hancock's intervention, had already sprinted toward the execution platform. Just as Smoker was on the verge of collapsing under Hancock's relentless assault, a small, bullet-sized projectile zipped toward her at high speed.

To the truly strong, bullets and cannons posed little threat. However, Hancock's Observation Haki warned her of the incoming projectile's danger. Trusting her instincts, she dodged at the last second.

"Boom!"

The bullet missed Hancock, grazing the edge of her dress before landing in a cluster of prisoners from Impel Down. A deafening explosion followed, and a mushroom cloud of smoke and debris rose into the air. The blast created a powerful shockwave, scattering everyone nearby.

Some of the luckier prisoners merely fainted, while the less fortunate ones were blown apart, their bodies obliterated.

Buggy, still dressed in his prison uniform, stood frozen near the aftermath of the blast. As the dust settled, the sight of a massive crater came into view. Measuring over fifty meters in diameter and several meters deep, the crater's scorched earth still radiated heat. Within it lay charred bodies of pirates, their remains unrecognizable.

The destructive force of the bullet was beyond comprehension. It wasn't just a bullet—it was practically a bombshell. No, even a cannonball couldn't achieve this level of devastation.

The prisoners who had just been laughing and joking moments earlier were now silent, staring in horror at the carnage. Yet their fear soon turned into admiration for the one figure who had stood his ground.

Despite being mere meters from the edge of the blast, Buggy had remained perfectly still. To the prisoners, this was nothing short of legendary bravery.

Now more than ever, they revered him as their captain.

"Captain Buggy, you knew the explosion wouldn't reach here, didn't you? That's why you didn't move!"

"As expected of someone who sailed with the Pirate King! Your composure and foresight are unmatched!"

"You idiots! Captain Buggy didn't just stand there because he thought he was safe! Even if the explosion had reached here, he wouldn't have batted an eye at such a minor attack!"

The sycophantic chatter jolted Buggy back to reality. Moments ago, he had been frozen in fear. But now, hearing the flattery from his newly devoted followers, he couldn't help but feel smug.

The truth was, every prisoner here had a bounty higher than his—sometimes several times higher. But due to a misunderstanding during the Impel Down breakout, they now believed Buggy to be a hidden powerhouse.

After all, he carried the prestigious titles of "Former Crew Member of the Pirate King" and "Close Brother to a Yonko."

Buggy, ever the opportunist, saw no reason to correct them. These escapees were strong, charismatic, and talented—and they all adored him. How could he not capitalize on such an opportunity?

Though he had been paralyzed with fear moments earlier, Buggy couldn't afford to let his new followers see his weakness. In this moment, he resolved to play the role of the unshakable leader, milking their admiration for all it was worth.

"You guessed it right. That attack just now? To someone like me, Buggy, it's nothing more than a joke. I didn't even bother dodging," Buggy boasted, puffing out his chest. "That bullet may have packed a punch, but it's nothing compared to my custom-made Buggy Bomb! Its power is leagues ahead."

Blowing hot air cost nothing, and Buggy seized the opportunity to inflate his reputation further, ensuring the Impel Down prisoners remained devoted to him.

For most, such blatant exaggerations would be easily debunked. However, Buggy carried an aura of credibility—a man with the legendary titles of "former crewmember of the Pirate King" and "Shanks' sworn brother." Add to that his calm demeanor during the explosion, and his claims became all the more convincing. His sycophantic followers cheered his name with fervor.

"Hey, tone it down," Mr. 3 whispered urgently. "What if they ask you to deal with that female Marine?"

Buggy's ego was swelling with every cheer, and his tall tales were becoming increasingly outlandish. Mr. 3, unable to stand it any longer, tried to rein him in. After all, these prisoners, despite their current enthusiasm, were no pushovers. Their bounties far exceeded Buggy's and his own. Should they discover Buggy's deceit, they could easily crush him in an instant.

And as if fate had decided to test Buggy's bravado, one of the prisoners spoke up: "Captain Buggy, that female Marine dared to attack someone as great as you. She killed so many of our brothers—how can we let this slide? Show her the might of your Buggy Bomb!"

The suggestion quickly gained traction among the crowd. Having heard so much about the Buggy Bomb, the prisoners were eager to see it in action.

Buggy, who had been riding the wave of his self-congratulation, suddenly snapped back to reality. Realizing he had overplayed his hand, he found himself in a predicament.

But he was Buggy—the legendary Buggy the Clown. Or rather, Buggy the God! When it came to deception and theatrics, even the Pirate King himself would pale in comparison.

Fighting Ain? That was out of the question. She was clearly a monster capable of standing toe-to-toe with Warlords of the Sea. As someone with a measly bounty of 15 million Berries, Buggy wouldn't last a second against her.

"You fools!" Buggy roared, feigning outrage. "The Buggy Bomb is my trump card! It's not meant for small fry like Whitebeard—or even a mere Navy Admiral. It's for targets that truly matter!

"That Marine Captain? She's not even worth my effort! As a great leader, I don't respond to the provocations of every ant in the ocean. Just like Mihawk sought out the Ancient Weapon Wood, my targets are Whitebeard and the Admirals. Until then, I won't waste my power on the likes of her!"

Buggy's grand declaration, combined with his smug and dismissive posture, left Mr. 3 speechless. To his disbelief, the prisoners lapped up every word, cheering louder than ever.

Mr. 3 couldn't help but wonder if these prisoners had spent too much time inhaling Magellan's poison gas, leaving their minds clouded. If he'd known leading was this easy, he would've done it himself!

What Mr. 3 failed to realize was that Buggy's success wasn't mere coincidence. His exaggerated charisma and accidental triumphs had repeatedly reinforced his followers' faith in him, making even the most absurd claims seem plausible.

"Captain Smoker, are you alright?" Ain's voice cut through the commotion as she approached, one hand holding her blade Kanshi and the other gripping a large-caliber pistol. Her gaze locked onto Boa Hancock.

"I'm fine," Smoker replied, leaning on his Seastone-tipped jitte to steady himself. "Did you finish up on your side? Sorry to say, Straw Hat got away from me."

As Smoker glanced at the battlefield, he saw Inazuma and the rest of the New Humans reduced to unconscious children sprawled across the ground.

Though merely a Captain, Smoker had always prided himself on his strength—both his stellar performance in the Naval Academy and his mastery of a Logia Devil Fruit set him apart from most.

But today had shattered that confidence. Watching the likes of Whitebeard, the Admirals, Mihawk, and Wood fight had been humbling enough. Now, even Ain—a younger officer he'd assumed was simply Gion's protégé—had proven herself far stronger than him.

Smoker realized with bitter clarity how misplaced his pride had been.

"Ain," he muttered, "you're not just following Gion's lead, are you? Your strength… you're leagues beyond me."

Ain's calm demeanor showed no hint of arrogance. Reloading her pistol, she looked at Hancock and declared, "As Vice Admiral Gion said, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are nothing more than opportunistic traitors. Pirates are pirates. There's no such thing as lawful or unlawful among them. If you stand against justice, you must be eradicated."

As she loaded another bullet, Hancock moved. In a blink, she appeared before Ain, her long leg swinging in an arc, coated in Armament Haki.

Sensing danger, Ain raised Kanshi in defense.

"Clang!"

The sharp sound of metal echoed across the battlefield as Hancock's overwhelming strength forced Ain to slide back over ten meters.

Despite the impact, Ain maintained her composure. Tossing her bullet into the air, she flicked open her pistol's chamber and deftly loaded it mid-slide, aiming it back at Hancock with precision.

The two women, each a powerhouse in their own right, prepared for their next exchange in this escalating clash of titans.

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