Leroy suddenly whipped his hand up in front of him! Something flying out from his palm! They were small and looked almost like opaque marbles! The entire time Hornigold had been talking, Leroy had snuck his hand in his pocket!
The Ex-Marshal used his claws to slice through the mere distraction when, BANG BANG BANG! The Spheres exploded into a dazzling collection of flashes and sparks! They were the Firecrackers that Mar-Syl had given to the Captain a day before!
"Agh!" Hornigold winced as he slammed his eyes shut, his vision going white! "Gum Gum!"
"Arbalist! ! !" In the mere moment after the Lights blinded Hornigold, Leroy got to his feet and stretched his arms far behind him before slamming his fist into the Golden Man's Abdomen! Causing him to lurch forward as he could feel that his ribs had cracked from the force! "Ack!"
"Zloto Wasp!" Hornigold hand formed into the Spire of gold that had been used against the Woman still within the same room where the two fought! Hornigold attempted to pierce Leroys Flesh but Missed! Only grazing his limb as they snapped back into place!
"How?!" He said, wiping his face with his golden hand, eyes still attempting to adjust to his surroundings as he repeatedly blinked! "Because! Like I already said! I'm the Man who's gonna become King of The Pirates!" Leroy declared Proudly!
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25 Years ago.
Louge Town.
The Papers had been in a stir. From the Smallest of Journals to Even World Governments News Outlet. All of them in a Frenzy for one Reason.
Gold Roger had been Arrested and Sentenced to death. It was to be Public. A display and message to all pirates and criminals alike across the entire world. Brand New Broadcasting Technology was debuted just to be able to show it to as many Islands as Possible. Every Island Associated with the Government or Rich enough had the Devices Rented to them. Projected through Den Den Mushi. And those that didn't have it, went to Islands that did.
Everyone in the World knew about it.
Hornigold himself had attended the Execution in Person. He hadn't even been apart of the Royal Marshal Privateers. That wouldn't come about for him for another quarter of a decade. And by all accounts he was a totally different person at that time.
But he wasn't the Only Notable person. So many faces that over the next two and half decades that would become famous and infamous were there, tucked into the shadows, hidden amongst the sea of faces.
Everyone of them Watched as that man walked those steps and was raised through the Scaffold by lift where he was met at either side by the Naval Executioners. Two men adorned in brown uniforms with the tips of their helmets hiding their eyes. Said to be a symbolic gesture of the Blindness yet absoluteness of their justice they enacted. They held long Polearms in their hands. They seemed almost Dwarfed by the Stature of the man who'd come to be known as King of The Pirates, and yet, he took it upon himself to kneel.
Next to them. Was another face that nearly every person on the Planet recognized. The Hero of The Marines. Vice Admiral Jack. The Man touted as being the Man to have captured and arrested Roger himself. As well, In attendance was the Admiral Muromachi, now known in current day as the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, and the Previous Fleet Admiral, now Commander in Chief: Rex.
In the Next moments after Roger Kneeled, they spun their Executioner Blades, going through a well rehearsed motion like that when a Marine Bares arms, before being pointed downward and aimed at the back of Roger
"Wealth! Fame! Power!" Those were the words stricken into Every Paper around the world. Know being retold by the very man they were attributing them to. Roger himself "I obtained everything this world has to offer!" The words Echoed over the crowd of Millions, and caused murmurs to erupt. "Free yourselves! Take to the Seas! My Treasure is yours to find! I left it all in One Piece!"
The Declaration had caused the Entire Crowd to erupt! Jeers and Cheers. Cries of Joy and Resentment to the Pirate. But Chaos erupted nonetheless! The man that finally gave the word was The Hero. Giving a simple nod to the Naval Exectuioners who Plunged their Blades into Roger, only to be met with resistance of the Kings body, forcing them to push harder, blades piercing through his chest! Blood Pools and Dripping through the wood! The Entire Crowd beginning to Run, taking the Kings Declaration to heart.
It was not what the Marines nor the Government had Wanted
It even inspired the young Hornigold to Take up his own arms and make a name for himself…
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All of that to say, that will. That Drive and Ambition that had been in the Words of the Dead Pirate King. Reverberated through Hornigold when he Heard Leroy's own Words!
"You Really think you can do it!? Conqueror this sea! Obtain that Treasure! Twenty-Five Years and not a Man has come close?! And a Snot Nosed Bastard with a Shit Eating Grin thinks he could do it!"
"Don't make me Laugh!" With a Deep Grit of his teeth he reeled his hand to the side, hair matted against his face, hands turning to long claws! "I will! I just Gotta Kick your ass first!" Declared Leroy as he reeled back his own fist!