Before long, the Sea Kings had closed in on their targets. Without hesitation, they snapped open their colossal jaws and swallowed the "food" whole, their massive bodies surging up from the ocean surface.
That was the moment. Shiryu, Weevil, Dadi, and Lafitte launched their attacks.
Shiryu had already activated his Devil Fruit's invisibility to avoid drawing attention. As a hippo-like Sea King burst from the sea, he used Soru to flash above its head. From high above, he swung down with full force, unleashing an invisible wave of sword energy.
As a true swordsman of the highest caliber, Shiryu's strike split the beast's skull clean. With a deafening crack, blood and brains—yellow, white, and red—erupted skyward. The Sea King didn't even have time to scream before its titanic body collapsed back into the sea.
Weevil fared just as well. Although not a swordmaster like Shiryu, the raw might of his great naginata was devastating. His first swing split the head of an octopus-like Sea King, and before the beast could even react, his second strike finished it off.
This time, Weevil didn't let the corpse sink. With a grin, he dragged the massive carcass back toward the pirate ships—it would serve perfectly as food for the crew.
Dadi and Lafitte's battle was harder. Dadi stood firm on the deck, his gunfire hammering the beast's vital points, while Lafitte took to the skies as a golden eagle, harassing and enraging the Sea King, preventing it from retreating.
Shiryu and Weevil soon rushed to their aid. With everyone striking together, the last Sea King was brought down.
Though the immediate threats were gone, nobody relaxed. Who knew how many more lurked in the depths? The groups advanced cautiously, keeping a safe distance and tossing fresh bait into the waters at intervals. Buggy's ship kept pace, ever ready.
At last, they reached the edge of the fog. No further attacks came. It seemed the remaining Sea Kings had been dealt with.
Without hesitation, the fleet pressed forward. And then, finally, they broke free—into open sky and boundless sea. The suffocating mist was behind them. They had escaped.
Buggy released Gott's surviving men without further punishment. Most of them, according to their own accounts, had only been forced into service. The real core members of Gott's crew had already perished during the Snow Woman battle. These survivors had mostly been relegated to logistics and garrison duties. With little blood on their hands, Buggy had no reason to keep them.
Once the prisoners had departed, the Buggy Pirates feasted on their Sea King kill, ate their fill, and cleaned up the rest. Then, they set sail once more.
Lafitte produced a permanent Log Pose to fix their next route. But the moment he checked it, his expression froze.
"Captain… what's going on here?"
Everyone crowded around. Shock spread across their faces. The Log Pose wasn't pointing toward the open sea—it was pointing straight back into the mist.
Buggy's brows furrowed. After some thought, he spoke.
"The Log Pose can't be wrong. Which means… we're no longer on our original route. That compass is pointing back to our old line of travel. Passing through the mist… must have thrown us onto an entirely new course."
The crew exchanged uneasy glances.
"So, Captain… what do we do?"
Returning was not an option. The mist was far too dangerous. Their escape had been sheer luck the first time. Who could say they'd survive another attempt?
Buggy turned one last time to look at the mist. His decision was firm.
"We sail forward. Forget the old route."
The others agreed readily. None of them wanted to risk that cursed fog again. Another sea lane would serve just as well. Their goals hadn't changed.
So the Glory cut away from the mist, heading boldly into the open seas.
Life at sea quickly became monotonous again. Unlike the desolation of their old route, this stretch of the Grand Line was livelier. They even crossed paths with other pirates. Some were cautious, steering clear of the moment they spotted Buggy's ship. Others kept their distance but carried on their own way.
Then Lafitte's voice rang down from the sky, filled with excitement.
"Captain! There's a town ahead!"
All eyes turned in the direction he pointed. On the horizon, a small black dot was visible—growing steadily larger. A settlement. A proper town.