"Brother Tsubasa, what was it you said you were going to give me?"
It was still dark the next morning. Kaoru Tsubasa hadn't even gotten out of bed yet when Buggy came bursting into his room, shouting as if his life depended on it.
In truth, Buggy didn't care much about the "something else" Kaoru had mentioned last night. What he really wanted was for Kaoru to take him back to the mountain of gold again.
After all, it was Kaoru who had led him there yesterday—and Buggy had been flying so fast, eyes full of gold, that he hadn't paid any attention to the route. Now, he had absolutely no idea where the treasure was.
Bonk!
A familiar Iron Fist of Love smacked him square on the head.
"Buggy, it's not even daybreak yet."
"But I couldn't sleep, Brother Tsubasa!" Buggy clutched his head, pouting miserably. "I kept thinking about what you said last night—that you'd give me something!"
Kaoru sighed. The way Buggy's eyes sparkled told him exactly what that "something" was.
"You're thinking about the treasure again, aren't you?"
"Ehehe…" Buggy laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright, stop drooling over your gold for now and come with me," Kaoru said, standing up. He didn't explain where they were going and simply led Buggy toward the coast of Redoria.
Buggy blinked at the endless sea before them. "Uh… Brother Tsubasa? Why are we here?"
"Tell me, Buggy," Kaoru asked, his gaze sharp as the waves crashed against the rocks, "do you want to become stronger?"
"Stronger? No, no, no!" Buggy shook his head frantically. "I just want gold! Who cares about strength?"
Kaoru stared at him in disbelief, lips twitching. "Typical Buggy," he muttered under his breath.
"Then tell me," Kaoru said, pointing out toward the vast ocean, "with your current strength, do you really think you can protect your treasure out there?"
Buggy fell silent. After a few seconds, he frowned. "...Probably not."
He knew exactly how weak he was. Forget defending his treasure—there were plenty of pirates out there who could crush him without even trying.
"So," Kaoru continued, voice low and persuasive, "don't you want to change that? Don't you want to gain the same strength as Captain Roger once had?"
Buggy's eyes widened.
Kaoru smirked inwardly. Why do I sound like one of those shady masters in old martial arts movies? he thought. Eh, whatever. As long as it works.
Truth was, once he left Redoria, Kaoru would stand at the top of the world—invincible. But even the strongest could feel lonely. Training a few loyal subordinates to share the journey didn't sound so bad.
"I… I want it," Buggy said firmly, fists clenched. "I want to have the same power as the Captain!"
"Good." Kaoru nodded in satisfaction. "Then this is for you."
He stretched out his hand, and a radiant golden sphere appeared, pulsing softly with divine light.
"What's this?" Buggy asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Absorb it," Kaoru said. "Once you do, you'll gain the strength to rival Roger himself."
Buggy gulped. "Got it."
Without hesitation, he reached out and absorbed the glowing orb.
The moment the light entered his body, flames erupted from his skin.
"Wha—What's happening to me?!" Buggy cried out in alarm as fire coiled around him, forming a ring that expanded rapidly.
Kaoru's eyes narrowed. He understood immediately—this was the clash between the divine energy he had given Buggy and the will of the One Piece world itself.
The world's will was rejecting it, trying to expel power that didn't belong here. But the divine light fought back, forcing itself deeper into Buggy's being.
Even so, Kaoru wasn't worried. This wasn't just any foreign energy—it was the Grace of the Sun, a blessing from the Supreme God of another world.
Even the will of this world couldn't erase it.
In the world of The Seven Deadly Sins, the Demon King had cursed Meliodas with eternal life. The Supreme God, his equal and opposite, wielded the same authority—to grant immortality and divine power.
So it was impossible. The will of the Pirate World could never overpower the grace of the Supreme God.
Buggy's scream grew louder as the flames engulfed him.
And then—
Boom!
The ring of fire around him exploded upward, transforming into a colossal pillar of flame that pierced the sky.
Marine Headquarters
"Marshal Sengoku! Sir—wake up! Something's wrong with the sky!"
"What now…" Sengoku grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"A second sun has appeared!"
"What?!" Sengoku shot up and sprinted outside.
In the heavens above, a blazing second sun burned fiercely beside the original.
"How terrifying," murmured Admiral Kizaru lazily as he trimmed his nails. "There really is another sun in the sky."
"What on earth is going on?" Aokiji muttered, staring up solemnly. For the first time in years, he felt the chill of death itself emanating from the heavens.
Mariejois
"Quickly! Get CP0 to investigate that second sun!" barked one of the Five Elders.
Moby Dick
"Dad! Look! There's another sun in the sky!" Marco shouted.
Whitebeard rose from his seat, his expression grave. "That direction… it's coming from Redoria. Could it be Kaoru Tsubasa?"
"Prepare the ship. We're heading there," he commanded.
Redoria
"My god…" Kaoru muttered, staring at the second sun blazing overhead. "Buggy absorbed the Grace of the Sun… and caused that?"
He had known the grace was powerful—but not this powerful.
Then his Observation Haki flared. He sensed multiple presences approaching Redoria—fast.
A squad of agents wearing white suits, white masks, and white gloves was heading straight toward the island.
Kaoru's lips twitched. "Really? CP0? You're supposed to be a covert organization. Why the hell are you dressed like ghosts? And sailing warships straight at me? Subtlety, ever heard of it?"
Moments later, the agents leapt off their ship, dashing through the air with Moon Step toward his position.
Kaoru exhaled slowly and drew the twin blades at his waist.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I promised Sengoku I wouldn't appear on the seas for ten years. So, to keep that promise…"
His aura flared, sharp as a hurricane of steel.
"Please stay here."
He raised his swords high.
"One sea, one sword, one world.Unite the oceans and blades—into a single realm.Purge the world of evil.Let my blade judge right and wrong."
"Dual Sword Style: Secret Technique—World of Judgment!"
BOOM!
A thunderous slash split the air.
CRACK!
The entire Redoria Sea—sky, surface, and seabed—was sliced cleanly into four. Warships, waves, and men alike were swallowed by the chasms that stretched from heaven to ocean floor.
"What… what a terrifying strike…" whispered one dying CP0 agent before his body was consumed by the abyss.
Kaoru slid his blades back into their sheaths and exhaled softly. "Done."
Mariejois
"Five Elders! The CP0 team sent to investigate the second sun… they've all gone silent!" reported a trembling agent.
"You useless fools!" snarled Topman Vochuri, the God of Law. "The World Government pours endless resources into you, and you can't even handle a simple task?!"
"Enough," said Saint Marcus Mars, the God of Environment. "Inform the Navy. Let them handle it."
"Yes, sir!" the agent stammered before rushing out.