Buggy the Clown controlled by Kaido dragged his severely injured body back to his crew's position. At this moment, the pirates were systematically looting treasures throughout Loguetown.
The townspeople had fled so hastily that they couldn't take most of their possessions, leaving everything for the Buggy Pirates to claim.
"Hehehe, everyone prepare the ships immediately," Buggy commanded through gritted teeth. "The Marines will catch up soon enough."
"Captain Buggy, we're getting the ship ready, and the others are loading supplies aboard," Mohji reported dutifully. "There's so much to carry—it's taking longer than expected."
Mohji had been the first to consider replenishing their ship's stores. He explained that other pirates were pillaging throughout the town, packing anything valuable for transport. This opportunity was simply too rare to waste.
Loguetown served as the only gateway to Reverse Mountain, boasting a relatively developed maritime economy and trade network. It was considered an exceptionally wealthy town. Previously, White Hunter Smoker's presence had deterred any pirate crews foolish enough to attempt conquest—they were swiftly captured and imprisoned.
Having this chance today, the pirates behaved like mice in a granary, looting supplies throughout the town without restraint, which slowed their escape preparations considerably.
The Marines had failed in their duty by allowing the townspeople to evacuate Loguetown while neglecting to sink the Buggy Pirates' ship, giving these criminals the opportunity to flee.
Kaito observed the chaos through enhanced vision. I can see Alvida emerging from a women's clothing boutique, carrying shopping bags and wearing a new outfit. The others are indulging in similar free shopping throughout Loguetown.
"Mohji, recall everyone immediately," Buggy barked with desperate urgency. "Anyone not aboard within ten minutes stays in Loguetown forever."
After issuing this ultimatum, Buggy raced toward his pirate ship at such velocity that he became a mere afterimage.
"Hurry and call for help! Can't you see the Captain's extremely injured?" Alvida had originally planned to visit a jewelry store, but current circumstances forced her to abandon that goal. Carrying her carefully selected clothing, she chose to follow her captain.
"The Captain has really changed dramatically, don't you think, Richie?" Mohji asked his companion.
The lion beside the beast tamer had been cowering behind Mohji since their captain's return, trembling constantly. Such behavior from a wild predator seemed inexplicable—what could possibly frighten such a creature so thoroughly?
Meanwhile, I need to get much further away, Kaito realized with growing concern. If Artoria is about to use Excalibur at full power, the blast radius could be enormous. The Grand Tale System's summons don't mess around.
Just as the Buggy Pirates prepared their ship for departure, all attention on the Marine side focused entirely on the mysterious blonde girl.
Wearing a solemn expression on her beautiful features, Artoria slowly closed her emerald eyes and visualized her technique's execution.
"Even our fallen comrades are becoming light?" one Marine whispered in awe.
"The entire ocean is glowing!" another exclaimed.
Spots of radiance floated upward from the ocean's depths. More emerged from the Marine Branch's cemetery, others from the corpses of Marines who had recently died in battle, and still more drifted over from Loguetown's direction. Light particles from every direction converged upon the golden sword.
Gripping her weapon with both hands raised high overhead, blessed by countless luminous fragments, the blade had completely transformed from its original appearance into a pillar of light reaching toward the heavens. The intense radiance pierced the sky, extending hundreds of meters in length. This devastating technique continued growing stronger—the light-transformed sword kept expanding in both length and thickness.
"What a terrifying monster," Borsalino muttered, observing the lightsaber that now stretched thousands of meters into the sky. Fortunately, he had brought sunglasses before departing headquarters.
The other Marines weren't so fortunate. Due to their proximity, the lightsaber's blazing radiance burned their eyes so intensely they couldn't keep them open, as though the light itself was illuminating their very souls.
"It appears Loguetown will no longer exist," Sakazuki declared, keeping his eyes wide open throughout the display, drinking in the dazzling brilliance.
This righteous man perceived fragments of ultimate truth within the light and experienced a lofty faith he had never felt before.
That shining blade embodied the tragic yet noble dreams carried in the hearts of all warriors who had died on battlefields—past, present, and future—during their final moments. She took pride in this collective will and would carry this sacred trust to its ultimate conclusion.
"If this girl became a Marine Fleet Admiral, I wouldn't mind serving as Admiral forever," Sakazuki found himself thinking with shocking clarity.
He felt overwhelmed by her sword's magnificence, conquered by her appearance, and utterly impressed by her unwavering will.
With Artoria as the epicenter, tremendous winds swept the surrounding area, bathing the entire ocean in golden light while emanating a terrifying aura of absolute destruction. The blonde girl opened her emerald eyes, and the Ever-Victorious King radiated absolute certainty of triumph.
Noble Phantasm True Name Release: Sword of Promised Victory
"EX...CALIBUR!!!"
The lightsaber, extending over a thousand meters in length, descended with apocalyptic force. Everything in its path vanished completely within the overwhelming radiance. The Marine Branch, already reduced to ruins, was instantly bisected.
Then came Loguetown itself. Under the unrivaled luminous assault, earth trembled and buildings shattered. Wherever the light touched, everything throughout the town was reduced to fundamental particles. This represented absolute power beyond all comparison.
Some Loguetown residents who hadn't traveled far witnessed a pillar of light reaching the heavens strike their former home from more than ten miles away. The all-consuming destructive force caused every survivor to collapse to their knees in supplication. Such divine punishment completely exceeded ordinary human comprehension.
When the dazzling radiance finally dissipated, the once-prosperous maritime town of Loguetown had been erased from existence entirely—not even a foundation stone remained. Seawater rushed in to fill the void, completely submerging all traces of previous human habitation.
GOD DAMN….
Kaito marveled from his safe distance. She actually deleted an entire island from existence. The Grand Tale System's version of Excalibur is even more broken than I expected. This is beyond Anti-Fortress level—this is Anti-Country class destruction.
This represented power the Marines had never controlled before. The girl's technique rivaled Ancient Weapons in scope and seriously challenged the worldview of every witness present. They hadn't expected such overwhelming force to exist anywhere in their reality.
Artoria resheathed her blade, her entire form floating serenely above the ocean's surface. The recent devastation appeared to have no effect on her composure—her expression remained largely unchanged. If anything had changed, she felt slightly hungry and now craved a meal.
"The entire island is gone—Buggy the Clown must be dead," one Marine observed with certainty.
"If he survived that, our Marine would be powerless against him forever," another added grimly.
"Such terrifying power... thank god it wasn't directed at Marine forces," a third whispered.
While the surviving Marines discussed the implications aboard their warship, Sakazuki addressed the girl directly: "Do you have somewhere you need to go? I can arrange Marine transport."
The blonde girl gracefully flew across the water to land on their ship, responding to the sailors: "After drawing this sword, I have been traveling alone."
"Would you be interested in joining the Marines?" Sakazuki inquired hopefully.
Morgans' broadcast signal had never been interrupted throughout these events. The girl's world-ending attack was captured by his camera-equipped Den Den Mushi and transmitted across the globe.
Additionally, Artoria's boarding of the Marine ship prompted this sensation-seeking journalist to personally write the news release, urging his staff to print newspapers immediately so this earth-shaking development could reach every corner of the known world...