Chapter 18: Cross Guild
"That doesn't feel like the Buggy I know. Better check it out.," Luffy said as the atmosphere began to warp with Shanks looked astonished at what he saw-
Luffy managed to split the area in front of him in half to open a rift in space leading directly to the town generated by white Haki with a blue outline.
"Oly. Min...Mom. Let's go.," he said as they went through the portal.
"I'll join you. But in my own way.," said Shanks as he vanished in a flame of black with a red outline Haki along with Rockstar.
"Let's catch up later.," said Muffy to Dragon as the portal closed.
Dragon then proceeded to generate his own rift but it took the form of a materialized ornate door.
"Let's go."
Dwarf Main Town Square
Luffy and Shanks arrived to see Buggy but he looked much different-
The naturally much taller man had a blue mustache and short scruffy beard with his iconic blue color, a ruffled collar around his neck, a blue vest with a striped undershirt, a blue overcoat over his shoulders, and a blue pirate hat. He was accompanied by Cabaji who was now wearing an all-green version of his usual outfit with a green checkered scarf and green facial mask and Galdino who now had a mustache.
"I was hesitant to listen to Gaban's advice but the training paid off.," the clown said with a more resolute tone of voice.
"More like he dragged you THERE while you bawled as you were kicking and screaming.," Galdino said bluntly.
"You're right.," said Buggy with a small chuckle.
He then noticed his rivals as he stood over a defeated Dwarf.
"I just want to know about the Poneglyph location. You guys get out of the way. I'll get your help to defeat THAT person some other time. Otherwise, my Cross Guild will make mince meat out of you.," Buggy told them.
"You've gotten more of a spine since I last saw you.," Shanks said.
"Of course, I've trained for 70 years to get this far.," Buggy replied as Luffy smiled.
"What's so funny?," asked the clown.
"900., Luffy answered.
"900 what?," asked Buggy as he barely blocked a punch in time.
"I trained for 900 years. To make up for that day.," he said as Buggy was propelled into some buildings to Galdino and Cabaji's shock.
"How?," asked Shanks.
"There's special places where time goes really slow. I trained in one on Laugh Tale. He must've trained on one as well.," said Luffy.
"How did you know about Vira's Special Forest?" Buggy replied as he got out.
"So that's where you trained.," Luffy replied as Buggy gritted his teeth.
"Don't be so snide, kid.," he said as he generated swirl markings on his feet as did Luffy.
They then vanished as Shanks was barely able to keep up with seeing them.
"The entire Cross Guild is here. We'll get the rubbings no matter what.," said Cabaji.
"That Haki...," said Luffy mid-fight.
Usopp's Group
"That looks like me but with a pointer nose.," said Usopp as he saw a mural of a man alongside a Dwarf and a Giant on Elbaf.
"Well, that's Aesopp. He's probably your ancestor.," said a voice from behind Usopp's group.
Yasopp was shocked to see who it was
"You're Champion Nate. What're you doing here?," asked the sniper as he saw a man in his autumn years with a gray muttonchop mustache dressed like a sheriff with a red scarf.
"Here to do what I'm paid for in the Cross Guild. Finding the Poneglyph for my boss. Sorry it had to come to this.," he said as three others appeared from behind him-
A bluish-green rounded creature with a single eye with a yellow iris with six eye stalks on the sides of its head with yellow sclera eyes. It wore an orange bandana with two floating hands of the same color as its head. It bared black teeth.
A pink-haired, green-eyed woman with square glasses, a red facial mask, and a hooded red robe that was two-piece to show the midriff with billowing sleeves and four-season patterns on the lower part of the robe.
And a large man with very puffy blond hair resembling a lion's mane, who wears a metallic mask over the top of his face with red star markings over the eye holes. He also wears a light brown jacket with four pockets and the number "499" above them, pants with the same pockets, an orange tie, and a belt. He also has a dark arm strap with some kanji for "Death" written on it. He wields a scythe.
"I don't know the others but that's Drug Peclo. He's the best assassin and bounty hunter in the world.," said Gab,
"So Cross Guild is taking action eh?," asked Yasopp.
However, Usopp and the others while slightly unnerved were not pant-wetting terror that they'd normally be.
"So who seems to be the most dangerous?" asked Eugene.
"You were just a kid on an island before all of this so this is still a bit new to you. Don't judge by their bounties. That's usually based on their perceived threat based on how crazy they are to people, how illegal their activities are, or how many connections they have. Use your Haki sense to gauge.," said Usopp.
Eugene closed their eyes for a bit and then opened them-
"9 Billion, 6 Billion, 4 Billion, and 900 Million.," observed Eugene.
"That's some insane bounties-," said Gab.
"Damn, brats. They've guessed our Haki Levels.," said the blue creature.
"Gugigigugi. Must mean you're as weak as you look, you damn invader.," Peclo said before seeing Eugene going after him.
"I'm not that strong. I hope I live up to my crew's expectations.," they said as they took a bow.
Peclo began to seethe with rage as the blue creature gave an audacious grin at him.
"Anicetus...you damn Descry. Just because you can read Poneglyphs with ease...," he snarled as he pointed his scythe at the pixie.
"Aninininininini. And you're just a mere public "best" assassin and bounty hunter. How the public can be duped.," Anicetus replied.
"Cool your heads. They were in the presence of GOD. They must have several tricks up their sleeves.," said the woman.
"Gosh. These varmints.," said Champion as Yasopp went for a gunshot which the latter responded by automatically firing in the same moment, leading to both their Advanced Conqueror Haki shots generating a shockwave that forced away the weaker Cross Guild members and blowing away the Red Hair Pirates. The Straw Hats were unaffected.
As both men got to their feet, Gab fired a Haki energy blast from his mouth- only for it to be blocked by Anicetus who generated a barrier.
Peclo took the opportunity to attempt a strike at Yasopp who was observing enough to easily dodge it but to his shock- Eugene materialized into his Observation to block the strike.
The assassin grunted as he struggled to pull out the weapon.
"I was worried he might hurt Mr. Usopp's father. So I got in the way.," said the pixie.
What the fuck? How do you just appear in an Observation? It's the predicted future unless it's altered by another observation..., thought Yasopp.
"Guess, you really did improve.," he said as he saw Carrot bypass Anicetus' barrier and Chopper pinning down the pink-haired woman on the ground in spite of her turning into ice.
Champion and Usopp had their respective weapons to each other's temple.
Franky's Group
"That robot was on Egghead. What is it doing here?" he said before instantly blocking a strike from a purple stag-beetle-like humanoid that appeared out of nowhere from attacking Roux.
"As if I'd-," Roux replied before noticing he had almost been attacked by an insect being and had been saved by Jinbe.
Vega 40 went and blocked a strike from a bell wielded by a green-haired woman with odango-styled hair and wearing midriff-exposing attire.
"Sorry, but Buggy-pie wants you out of the way.," said the bun-haired woman with gray eyes.
Polly was fighting in the air with a blue-furred monkey with feathered wings wearing a blue vest with red trimmings and a red sash.
And Franky clashed with a large-winged man dressed like a monk.
"You're Urouge. You're a Super Nova like my captain.," he said as Beckman fired from behind.
"I'd be careful about making me angry.," said the monk with a grin.
Sanji's Group
Sanji did battle with a weird man with bluish-gray skin, a long nose ending in a round bulb, and dressed like a chef- the latter wielding a massive spork. Instead of blue flames, he utilized rainbow flames.
"Sanji...you're holding back...you really hate that power?" asked Anne.
Sanji looked to the side with a revolted look in response.
"Keep them distracted for my trump card.," said Nami as she summoned Zeus and storm clouds began to emerge from her body.
"She's a Logia now?," asked Snake.
"Yeah, we got new powers and clarifications on what those we already had...," Robin replied as she summoned a massive fist to punch down Alvida- except it was blue and masculine in shape. It diverted away from her.
"I was expecting an easy fight but you're still monsters.," the raven-haired woman replied as Anne turned into her winged angel form to battle Richie who had become a leonine humanoid.
"So you're after the Poneglyph as well?" asked Robin.
Zoro's Group
Zoro did battle with Mr. 1 while Vivi in her angel form fought a muscular Mohji who had somehow manipulated giant moles to fight for him.
Brook was fighting a green, lean-bodied goblin, the latter using his kicks to block the former's sword.
Yamato was striking at the summoned pawns of a large man dressed like a king piece in chess.
Bonk and Monster aided in warding off the other chess pieces summoned by the large man.
Luffy's Group
Buggy split his body to avoid Luffy's strikes as they reformed into multiple fists.
"Rain Barrage!," Buggy declared as they hit Luffy, but Luffy utilized a special kind of Armament with spirals, black flame tattoos, the white cross makes, and jagged lightning marks to block the strike.
"Nika...Lightning Strike.," Luffy said as he stretched out his metal arm as it generated electricity into Buggy's gut, causing him to crash into the square.
Luffy somehow utilized static to remain afloat.
Before Luffy could launch another strike, it was blocked by a familiar ax.
"You've gotten better.," said Gaban as he forced Luffy away.
"So you are working with Buggy.," said Shanks.
Gaban nodded as he said-
"We're just here to stall till we get it"
"Gaban. He was with Roger's crew.," said Rockstar.
"You're all doing nothing while Roger goes unavenged...you saw what happened...," Buggy said with bloodshot eyes.
"And why not? He was a Privateer that knew too much and got too uppity for his own good.," said a voice as a dot appeared in the space in the square.
Another dot with a hand emerged from behind Buggy, which Luffy kicked away.
"That voice...," said Luffy.
A figure emerged- an indigo-haired youth wearing a bowler hat, a dark overcoat, a vest, dark pants, and an indigo tie. Several dots appeared in the sky.
"You're...," said the Straw Hat.
"Yeah, it's been a while-," said the youth before Luffy spontaneously punched him.
"What was that for?" asked Tom.
"That's for bullying me! To think I'd see you again!," shouted Luffy.
"Wait, Tommy?" asked Shanks.
"Sorry, Shanks but HE wants you dead for what you did. By the order of the Oracion Seis, you'll be eliminated.," Tom said.
Shanks used his Conquerors' Haki to attempt to pin him but the boy broke free without moving a muscle.
"Don't think something like that will work on me. We've been trained to fight against your tactics in case you ever turned on us.," said Tom before seeing Luffy blitz and punch him.
"You're still a jerk. Now, you're a Government jerk.," said Luffy.
"Been thinking about me all this time?" asked Tom.
"Nah. Just seeing you reminded me of how you bullied me and how I need to get payback from that time. I had more important things to worry about.," Luffy replied.
This gave Tom an angry vein.
"I'm not the only one here. There's the other five that are here.," said Tom much to Shanks' shock.
"Don't worry. My crew's strong enough to handle this on their own.," said Luffy.
He then began to pull on his mouth much to Tom's bewilderment.
"Gear 6: Bone-Man.," Luffy declared.
Next Chapter: Oracion Seis
Author Notes: Things are getting more and more hectic as several players get involved in the conflict. Cross Guild finally makes its debut fighting the Straw Hats but old enemies from Luffy's past show up.