One Piece: Buggy the Great King of the Sea

Roger stepped onto the execution platform, and the solemn look on his face finally relaxed.

It was as if he had arrived at the banquet he'd long been waiting for. A smile broke across his face.

Without waiting for the Marines to force him down, he calmly sat himself in the execution chair.

With an almost casual air, he smiled and said,

"Alright then—get it over with!"

His face was radiant with joy as he looked down at the sea of people gathered below.

Watching this unfold, Buggy knew exactly what was coming next—the most iconic line in the history of the Pirate King.

This was the moment that would ignite the Great Pirate Era.

As expected, nothing had changed.

His presence in this world hadn't caused a butterfly effect. The story was unfolding just as he remembered it.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the otherwise silent crowd:

"Hey, Pirate King! Where did you hide all your treasure?!

You found that legendary treasure, didn't you?!

The One Piece—the great treasure that ties the world together!"

Roger's smile widened. He couldn't hold back his laughter anymore.

Then, with a booming voice that echoed across the square, he shouted:

"You want my treasure? If you want it, it's yours!

Go find it! I left everything I have… in that place!"

The Beginning of the Era

As soon as Roger spoke those fateful words, the high-ranking Marines immediately realized what had just happened.

They gave the order—"Execute him now!"

The executioners raised their long blades without hesitation and drove them into Roger's body.

There were no miracles.

No unexpected turn of events.

The blades pierced deep into his body.

Roger, still wearing that radiant smile, lowered his head slowly… and after a moment, collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Shanks and Buggy couldn't hold back their tears.

Buggy had known this would happen, but the weight of the moment overwhelmed him.

Shanks even tried to rush toward the execution platform, but Rayleigh reacted instantly, grabbing him before he could act on impulse.

The crowd didn't even wait to confirm if Roger was truly dead.

A thunderous roar erupted from the people, shaking the entire square.

Their faces lit up with smiles, eyes full of greed and dreams.

Many couldn't even contain themselves—they wanted to set sail right now, to chase after the Pirate King's final words.

Pirates in particular were already itching to leave, ready to hunt for the treasure of legends.

The Marines, realizing the chaos that was about to unfold, immediately ordered the arrest of every pirate on the scene.

But it was too late.

The crowd scattered in every direction.

They ran toward the sea. Toward the One Piece. Toward the unknown.

And just like that…

The Great Pirate Era began.

Quiet Farewell

Buggy, Shanks, Rayleigh, and the other former crewmates did not linger.

They didn't stay behind to recover Roger's body.

This was the peak of the storm.

If they showed their faces now, the Marines would stop at nothing to bring them down.

Rayleigh believed Roger's body would be treated with dignity.

After all, Garp was still in the Marines.

He was someone Roger trusted enough to entrust his child to. There was no way he'd allow the body to be desecrated.

The crew quietly slipped away from the crowd, avoiding every Marine search team, and gathered in a secluded forest on the edge of Loguetown.

Doubt and Disbelief

"Vice-Captain… So the Captain gave up his life just for this?"

"He's a fool! Couldn't we have changed the world with our strength?! What can a bunch of nobodies even accomplish?!"

Barrett, enraged by the crowd's frenzy, now understood Roger's intent.

Roger had used his death to ignite a new wave of pirates, to push people to sail the seas, to find Laugh Tale, to uncover the truth of the world, to finish what he couldn't.

But to Barrett, it was pure stupidity.

How could these weaklings change the world?

If they had all banded together, even in Roger's final days, they might've finished what he started.

Rayleigh sighed.

"Barrett… The Captain's body couldn't hold out any longer.

He had no other choice.

This was the best solution he could think of.

And don't underestimate people. Wealth, fame, ambition—those things hold real power, too.

Maybe, just maybe… someone will finish what he started."

Barrett didn't respond.

He simply turned and left.

The matter was finished. There was no point in staying.

Rayleigh didn't stop him. Everyone must walk their path.

And Barrett… was not someone who could be swayed by mere words.

One by one, the former members of the Roger Pirates also departed, until only Rayleigh, Buggy, and Shanks remained in the forest.

Rayleigh turned to them:

"So… what will you two do now?

Will you continue training with me, or do you have other plans?"

Shanks answered first:

"Rayleigh-san… I've decided. I'm setting sail.

I want to find Laugh Tale.

I want to finish what the Captain started."

Rayleigh wasn't surprised.

The moment he asked the question, he'd already expected this answer.

Shanks was ready.

His training had reached a point where he could sail on his own. There was no reason to hold him back.

The eagle had grown strong wings—it was time to soar freely into the sea.

Then Rayleigh turned to Buggy.

Before Rayleigh could speak, Buggy said:

"I'm heading out to sea as well, Rayleigh-san.

I've learned everything I needed.

It's time for me to explore the world, too."

Shanks' face lit up.

"Come with me, Buggy! Let's go together!"

Buggy rolled his eyes.

"As if! Why would I want to be your lackey, idiot?"

Buggy knew exactly what Shanks meant—"Follow me. Be my crew."

And to be honest, it was a tempting offer.

Shanks' future was bright. Buggy could've become a right-hand man to a future Emperor.

But that wasn't what Buggy wanted.

He didn't come to this world just to become someone else's number two.

Even the Buggy of the original story never chose that route. Why would he?

"Come on, Buggy. Think about it!

The position of Vice-Captain is waiting for you!"

Shanks tried again, hopeful.

Buggy simply crossed his arms:

"Not a chance, Shanks. I'm not being your Vice-Captain."

Seeing the unwavering look in Buggy's eyes, Shanks knew… it was hopeless.

Buggy was never going to join his crew.

Rayleigh stepped in, smiling:

"Alright, alright.

You both have your paths to walk.

There's no need to force anything.