After the banquet, the two ships parted ways. Pirates never stay in one place for long.

Aboard the Oro Jackson, the entire Roger Pirates crew sat in a circle on the deck. In the center lay a wide assortment of weapons long swords, short blades, axes, pistols, greatswords, and even a few uniquely crafted specialty weapons.

"Alright, brats!" Roger grinned broadly as he clapped Shanks and Buggy on the shoulders. "Today's a big day! Time for you to choose your weapons!"

Shanks and Buggy had just turned six the right age to pick a weapon to specialize in. That was what you'd call normal genius development. The first six years were all about building up the body.

Running around with a greatsword at six or seven? That's not normal. Right, Ritter?

Shanks' eyes sparkled as he eagerly scanned the weapons, while Buggy swallowed nervously, his red nose quivering ever so slightly.

Each crew member stepped forward to introduce their weapon, hoping one would resonate with the boys.

Rayleigh elegantly drew his slender rapier. Unlike a typical katana, his blade was narrower and gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"The essence of swordsmanship lies in precision and speed one strike, one kill. Its weakness, though, is low raw damage. You have to make every strike count." He gave his wrist a subtle twist, and the sword tip pierced three falling leaves midair with perfect accuracy.

Shanks and Buggy stared, wide-eyed.

"Whoa… that's so cool…"

Jabba stepped up and unsheathed two heavy short-handled battle axes with a dramatic clang.

"Power and technique combined! Chopping, throwing, blocking axes are a true man's romance! They offer offense and defense in one. The downside? Complex techniques. You need solid combat instincts and awareness. Not easy to master." As he spoke, he brought one axe down on a wooden barrel. It split cleanly in two with a smooth, mirror-like cut.

Shanks lit up. "This one's super cool too!"

Spencer gave his flintlock rifle a theatrical twirl. The long barrel was adorned with ornate engravings.

"A hundred paces, one shot. Death from afar. A sharpshooter doesn't rely on brute strength, but on calm, precise judgment." He raised his gun, fired, and a distant seagull lost a single feather that drifted down gently.

"We're hunters of distance. Anything in our range is prey." He struck a stylish pose. "But remember being a marksman means relying heavily on advanced Observation and Armament Haki. Your killing power depends on your range and the strength behind your shots."

Buggy was intrigued. "That sounds... kinda awesome."

Ritter leaned lazily against the railing. Blood-red mist swirled around him as a dark greatsword slowly materialized beside him.

"A blunt blade holds no edge. True mastery lies in raw technique." He gave it a casual swing, and the sword energy sent a wave crashing against the side of the ship.

"Once you've mastered it, you'll have a level of destructive power and defense unmatched by any other weapon. Of course, the downside is obvious you need a powerful body and massive stamina to support it. Combat consumes more energy than most styles."

Buggy: "..."

Shanks' gaze eventually landed on Roger's own sword Ace. It was a long, elegant blade with a faint silver sheen, the hilt wrapped in a crimson ribbon.

"Captain..." Shanks took a deep breath. "I want a sword like yours!"

Ritter glanced at him. Passing the torch already, huh? No surprise there, Shanks.

Roger laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.

"Kuahahaha! Good taste! But you're not ready for Ace yet." He turned to the pile and picked out a similar-looking training blade.

"Start with this. When you're strong enough, go find your own Ace."

Shanks accepted the training sword solemnly and nodded with determination.

"I will! I'll get stronger definitely!"

Buggy, meanwhile, was having a full-blown crisis. He picked up Jabba's axe first.

"Hiyaaah!"

He tried dual-wielding the axes, but it was a disaster. Jabba's fighting style emphasized one block and one strike a precise rhythm.

Buggy tried swinging for a while, but it all felt clumsy and off. He couldn't explain it, but deep down he knew it wasn't the right fit. He gave up, frustrated.

Then he tried Rayleigh's rapier. He actually looked pretty good holding it, but when it came to aiming precisely, it was a total miss. His attacks lacked both force and accuracy.

"Argh! This is way too hard!"

Finally, his eyes locked onto Ritter's dark greatsword. He couldn't resist.

"Big bro, I I want to try that one!"

In his mind, nothing was cooler than a greatsword. He still remembered the moment Ritter cleaved an entire pirate ship in two with a single swing. The sea itself split from the sheer force. It had left a massive impression on little Buggy.

What Buggy didn't know was…

Most greatsword masters could split a pirate ship in two.

Greatswords excelled in raw power perfect for weapon clashes. The sheer weight gave users a dominant edge in direct confrontations.

And yeah, about Ritter's sword being black…

No comment. He may have stolen that one. The greatsword gave him his lethal advantage clean, one-strike kills.

Ritter raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

Buggy puffed up his chest. "O-of course!"

"Alright then. Try holding it first."

Ritter was genuinely curious to see what a greatsword-wielding Buggy might look like.

Thud!

The moment Buggy grabbed it, the sword slammed him flat on the deck. It pinned him down, completely immobile.

"H-help! I'm stuck!" His red nose practically turned white from fright.

The crew burst out laughing.

But even after they got him out from under it, Buggy became weirdly obsessed with the greatsword. He started training relentlessly every day for over a month just to try and lift it.

No matter how hard he worked, it never budged. Not even a wiggle, even with all his might.

One day, Roger crouched beside him as he struggled again and gently ruffled his hair.

"Kuahahaha! Buggy, that sword's not meant for you."

Truth was, Roger had known from the very beginning. Buggy simply didn't have the body for a greatsword.

Ritter could use it because of his monstrous stamina. That alone solved half the weapon's difficulty. On top of that, his bone structure and muscle density had increased exponentially through his training.

Buggy clearly didn't have the same physical foundation.

But Roger had let him try anyway because no one should have their future denied before it's even begun. And those weeks of training hadn't gone to waste either.

Still, now was the time to be honest. It was a captain's responsibility.

Buggy mumbled stubbornly, "B-but greatswords are so cool…"

Roger gave him a wink.

"A weapon doesn't have to be big or heavy. What matters is that it fits you. And Ritter's sword isn't just any greatsword it's one of the best out there."

He rummaged through the weapon pile and finally pulled out a pair of short daggers.

"Here, try these."

Buggy took the daggers and was surprised by how natural they felt in his hands. They were light, quick, and easy to control.

"Whoa! These feel great!" He started swinging them around in excitement. He wasn't exactly coordinated, but at least he didn't hurt himself.

He even managed to stuff three in each hand, trying to dual-wield six like he'd just invented something new.

Ritter, watching from the side, couldn't help but mutter,

"Figures. Short weapons suit sne ahem, I mean, agile folks."

Only you, Buggy. Only you could pull this off, future Clown Emperor.

Rayleigh nodded thoughtfully.

"Daggers are ideal for ambushes and rapid strikes. Honestly, they suit Buggy's style quite well."

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