....
BUKK!
Zoro landed in the middle of the chaos, swords drawn, eyes sharp.
"How many of you are taking on one girl at once?"
His voice was laced with sarcasm, but the weight of his presence was enough to make everyone freeze.
Even though Nexús knew this was coming, the relief that hit him was like finally getting to a bathroom after holding it in too long. If they had been any later, Nami might've already been done for. He nearly choked from the stress.
From inside a large iron cage, Luffy's familiar voice rang out.
"Zoro! Nexús!"
Hearing Luffy's carefree voice in this situation made Nexús' head hurt, but at least he was alive. Nami, who had collapsed earlier, turned toward them in shock, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
She didn't even register Nexús moving toward her until he reached out and helped her up.Zoro, still calm despite the chaos, asked,
"Are you hurt?"
Nami didn't answer.
He repeated himself, "Do you hurt?"
"N-no, I'm fine…" Nami stuttered, her voice unsteady. Then she realized someone was holding onto her, keeping her from falling again. She turned her gaze toward Nexús, hesitating before mumbling,
"…Thank you."
Nexús noticed her trembling and sighed. She was trying to act tough, but it was clear she'd been shaken.
"My pleasure," he responded without much thought.
Then he turned his attention to the idiot still inside the cage. "Are you alright, Luffy?" He knew the answer, but he still needed to check.
"I'm fine! Shishishi~!" Luffy grinned, as if being locked up was no big deal.
Nexús exhaled, shaking his head. "What a relief."
Luffy, however, was more concerned about something else. "How'd you find us? Hurry up and get me outta here!" He rattled the cage bars dramatically.
Zoro crossed his arms, already irritated. "Why do you keep playing around? First, some bird runs off with you, now you're stuck in a cage with handcuffs on?"
Luffy pouted. "It's pretty interesting, actually!"
"Then just stay there. At least it's better than being in a bird's mouth," Nexús added.
"Hey! Get me out!!" Luffy whined, tugging at the cuffs on his hands.
Nexús, despite everything, couldn't help but smirk. Typical.
Everyone froze.
"Zoro?"
The name echoed through the air, spoken in unison by nearly every pirate in the area. Nami's face paled, a bead of sweat dripping down her temple. As a pirate, if you didn't know the infamous Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, you didn't deserve to call yourself one. Just hearing his name was enough to make their hair stand on end.
Then, out of nowhere—
"ACHOO!"
Luffy sneezed.
One of Buggy's men stammered, "T-that's what he just called him, right?"
Nami, still trying to process everything, felt her stomach twist. One of the members he mentioned... was Pirate Hunter Zoro? She could finally stand on her own without Nexús' help, but her mind was a mess. What's going on!? Her gaze flickered between Zoro and the situation unfolding before her.
A loud voice cut through the silence.
"So, you're Zoro?"
Buggy finally spoke, stepping forward, his expression unreadable. Unlike the rest of his crew, who were practically shaking in their boots, Buggy didn't seem fazed at all.
Nexús couldn't help but feel a bit impressed. He really waited this long without attacking? Is this anime logic?Who knows?
All he knows is he don't know.
But soon he will think that what's reality are mean to him.
Buggy's smirk widened. "What do you want? Are you here to take my head or what?"
Zoro glanced at him with disinterest. "Nope. Not interested. I gave up pirate hunting."
Buggy's grin sharpened. "Oh? Well, I am interested. Killing you would make my name even bigger."
Zoro barely reacted. "I wouldn't try. You'll die."
The air was thick with tension. Nexús, meanwhile, was thinking about how much he would love a bucket of popcorn right now. This was a prime moment for some entertainment.
But he had other things to do. Quietly, while Buggy and Zoro exchanged words, he began sneaking toward Luffy's cage.
Buggy crossed his arms. "Oh, that's so?"
"Guess words aren't enough for you…?" Zoro responded, resting a hand on one of his swords.
Before things could escalate, Luffy, who had spotted Nexús approaching, grinned widely and opened his mouth to yell—
"N—"
Shup!
Nexús clamped his hand over Luffy's mouth, muffling his voice before he could attract unwanted attention. Leaning in close, he whispered urgently, "Don't make a loud noise, idiot, or they'll notice us"
Luffy blinked at him, still grinning behind Nexús' hand.
Sighing, Nexús pointed at Luffy's seastone handcuffs. "You know where the key is?"
Luffy tilted his head before shaking it.
Nexús took a deep breath, rubbing his temples. Damn it. He didn't have a pin, a lockpick, or anything remotely useful. If this were a heist movie, he'd be the worst thief ever.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath.
Could he just pick up the whole cage and run? Nah, that was a dumb idea. Luffy was made of rubber, not him. Besides, even if they did escape, where would they even go?
No, better idea—just wait for the plot armor to kick in. Sigh.
The air trembled with excitement as the entire crew erupted into cheers, their voices echoing like a crazed crowd at a concert.
"BUGGY! BUGGY! BUGGY!"
Zoro, unfazed by the ridiculous display, simply bit down on one of his swords, ready to fight. Buggy, wasting no time, lunged toward him.
But before he could land a single hit—
SHING!
In one swift motion, Zoro sliced clean through Buggy's body, cutting him in half and severing his right foot.
Silence.
The entire crew froze, their eyes widening, mouths hanging open in sheer horror. Their beloved captain—cut down just like that? A few of them started sweating. A few looked like they were questioning their entire life choices.
Meanwhile, Nexús, who had seen this all before in the anime, crossed his arms and internally sighed. Man, this would be more shocking if I didn't already know what happens next. He didn't remember every single detail, but he knew Buggy was about to pull one of his classic tricks.
But the real problem? How could he be the one to tell Luffy and Zoro that Buggy had eaten the Bara Bara no Mi, a Devil Fruit that allowed him to separate his body at will? Wouldn't they just think he was crazy?
Before he could figure out a way to say it without sounding insane, Buggy, still in pieces, played dead. The pirates started murmuring, and some even looked ready to flee.
Nexús narrowed his eyes. Oh, hell no.
Thinking fast, he casually walked toward Zoro, pretending not to notice Buggy's scattered body parts on the ground. Then, with a perfectly innocent expression, he "accidentally" stepped right on Buggy's detached torso—pressing down hard.
"SHIT—!"
"AAAAAAA!"
Buggy's agonized scream shattered the silence.
The entire crew collectively lost their minds.
"WHAT THE HELL!?"
"HE'S ALIVE!?"
"HE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD!?"
Some looked like they were about to have heart attacks. Others visibly aged about ten years. The scene was pure chaos—grown men shaking, clutching each other in fear, and one guy in the back just straight-up fainting.
Meanwhile, Nexús gasped dramatically and pretended to be just as shocked as everyone else.
"!??"
Buggy's dismembered parts shot back together with a snap, his body reforming as if nothing had happened. There were no wounds, no blood—just a perfectly intact, very pissed-off clown.
"You… you little—!" Buggy growled, his eye twitching with rage.
Realizing what had happened, he turned his murderous gaze on Nexús.
Buggy lunged, fists swinging—Nexús barely had time to process what was happening before he had to dodge for his life.
Both of Buggy's detached fists hurtled toward Nexús at high speed, fingers curled into tight punches. From an outsider's perspective, Nexús dodged effortlessly—fluid, calculated, like he was barely trying.
But inside?
OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT—
His heart pounded, and he swore his soul nearly left his body. He twisted, ducked, barely missing Buggy's flying knuckles. The crowd gasped, Buggy's crew yelled in surprise, and Nexús—
—tripped.
His foot caught on absolutely nothing, and his body jerked awkwardly. His left leg twisted the wrong way, sending a sharp jolt of pain through his calf.
"Agh—!"
Then, in true dramatic fashion, his head slammed against a random rock on the ground, the impact sending him into a full Indian drama moment—slow motion, an exaggerated echoing thud, and then—
BLACKOUT.
....
Nexús's consciousness snapped back with a sharp sting.
Pain.
Something jabbed into his arm, deep and piercing. He jolted awake with a strangled gasp, his vision swimming, his body restrained.
He blinked hard. His arms and legs—bound. Thick ropes secured him against a massive spinning wheel, like some kind of twisted circus act. The wheel creaked as it rotated slightly, teasing the full horror of what was about to happen.
And to his left—
Luffy.
His straw hat-wearing friend stood rigid, his entire body tense. But what truly sent a chill down Nexús's spine was Luffy's face. His usual carefree grin was gone, replaced by something dark. His jaw clenched, his eyes shadowed with pure rage.
"Don't touch him!" Luffy's voice was sharp, laced with a warning.
Buggy, completely unfazed, waved a hand dismissively. "Ugh, so noisy! You're gonna make my ears bleed. What a pain in the ass." He sighed dramatically, then grinned. "Actually, I wanted to stab your friend in the head, but whoops! I missed!"
His voice dripped with mock regret, but his wide, wicked grin betrayed his enjoyment.
Nexús's eye twitched.
'WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANTED TO AIM AT MY HEAD!?'
His pulse thundered in his ears. The realization crashed into him like a tidal wave.
Buggy knew.
That creepy, too-interested stare. That eerie fascination. Nexús suddenly felt like an insect under a magnifying glass.
A sickening realization settled in his gut—Buggy had figured out his ability.
"Wow, no reaction?" Buggy snickered, spreading his arms dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Feast your eyes on our newest star attraction! Please, give him a warm welcome!"
A single crew member held up a worn-out cardboard sign that simply said "CLAP."
The crowd, beaten and battered prisoners, obeyed. Their hands clapped sluggishly, their expressions empty. Some flinched as they moved, their wrists bound in chains. Their clothes hung in tatters. Their skin bruised. Their eyes hollow.
Nexús's stomach twisted.
This was worse than seeing it in the anime.
No—this is reality.
Buggy, basking in the forced applause, pulled a small knife from Nexús's arm. He twirled it between his fingers, then waited.
Waited for the wound to heal.
And then, like clockwork—
It did.
The torn skin closed up, smooth and unblemished.
Buggy's grin stretched wider, his eyes gleaming with twisted excitement. "Well, well… would you look at that?" He laughed, giddy, turning back to the silent audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, can we get a thunderous round of applause!?"
The cardboard sign lifted again.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Luffy thrashed against his restraints, his teeth gritted so tightly they might crack.
"STOP INJURING NEXÚS!"
Buggy rolled his eyes. "Ugh, shut uuup! You're gonna ruin the show!" He gestured lazily. "Tighten him up, will ya?"
As Luffy struggled harder, Buggy turned his attention back to Nexús. The excitement in his face was almost childlike—except it was the kind of joy only a sadistic freak would have.
"Now, let's have some fun!"
And then—slash.
Nexús barely had time to brace before Buggy dragged the blade across his skin, stabbing and scratching at him again and again and again.
Every cut healed.
Every wound closed.
And every time—every single time—the pain only got worse.
It burned. It throbbed. His nerves screamed louder with each fresh injury. His mind drowned in agony, barely clinging to reality.
It was wrong.
This wasn't how healing was supposed to feel.
It hurt.
It hurt.
IT HURT.
'STOP! PLEASE STOP—!'
But Buggy didn't.
He didn't care.
A sharp pain.
A sickening snap.
Another wound made and heal again.
His vision blurred, his breath ragged, his entire body trembling.
A heavy silence followed.
Then—
WHAM.
A brutal, earth-shattering impact.
Buggy's entire face caved in from the force of a single punch.
His body flung backward like a ragdoll, skidding across the dirt.
Luffy stood there, fists clenched, his entire body shaking with fury.
His breathing was deep, heavy. His expression dark.
This wasn't the usual carefree Luffy.
This was a Luffy that was going to kill someone.
.....
The moment they broke free, Zoro and Nami wasted no time. They ran.
Following the chaos, the sounds of shouting and fighting led them straight to the heart of Buggy's twisted spectacle.
But the first thing they saw—
Luffy.
He was fighting Buggy.
No—he wasn't just fighting.
His expression. His eyes.
Zoro's steps slowed for just a second, his brows furrowing. Something felt off. This wasn't the usual carefree Luffy, the grinning idiot who fought for fun. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His body shook—not with exhaustion, but with rage.
A rare, terrifying anger.
Even though he just met Luffy and barely know a thing about Luffy,he still know.
Nami, just a step behind Zoro, barely registered Luffy's fury before something else caught her attention.
Blood.
The overwhelming scent of blood.
Her gaze snapped toward the large spinning wheel in the center of the scene.
And there—
"NEXÚS!"
Her breath hitched.
He was tied up, his body slumped against the restraints, his head hanging forward. Blood soaked through his clothes, deep red streaks covering his arms, his chest, even his face.
He was breathing—barely.
She didn't think. Her legs moved on instinct, her heart hammering in her chest as she sprinted toward him.
Zoro was faster.
With a single swing of his sword, the ropes binding Nexús snapped apart.
But the moment his body was free—
His legs gave out.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed.
Nami gasped, but before he could hit the ground, both she and Zoro caught him—one on each side.
His breathing was ragged, uneven, and way too fast.
Zoro scowled, his grip tightening. "What the hell happened while we were gone?"
Nami didn't answer. She didn't know. She didn't want to know.
All she could do was stare at Nexús's bloodied face, her stomach twisting at the sight.
He looked—
No, he felt—
Cold.