A violent storm rippled across the land, spreading in waves. Purple and crimson auras clashed fiercely, making the two wild and overbearing figures seem like demons from hell.
The intensity of their collision sent shockwaves radiating outward at terrifying speed. Cracks split across the island's edges, trees, and the ruins of buildings. The force was so tangible it felt like a solid weight bearing down, bringing even full-speed warships to an abrupt halt.
Many of the weaker Marines aboard collapsed silently, overwhelmed by the pressure of the aura.
Their eyes flew open in horror as they stared at the town, now resembling a hellish battlefield. Black and red lightning streaked across the sky.
"A clash of Conqueror's Haki!"
"Commodore Daren has awakened Conqueror's Haki!"
"This is insane!"
...
At the bow of the ship, Sakazuki stood unmoved against the oncoming wave of power, like an unshakable cliff. His white cloak whipped in the wind, and deep in his eyes, a faint glint of light flickered.
"Kahahahahaha! This is the feeling!!"
Douglas Bullet's bloodshot eyes burned with madness. His grin widened in excitement.
"Come on, Marines! Let's have a real fight!"
As he shouted, Bullet's demonic red eyes gleamed even fiercer. His aura surged once more.
"Roar!!"
With a roar like a devil's howl, the muscles on Bullet's right arm, locked in a clash with Daren, bulged violently. A more intense and domineering Haki burst forth.
Daren's pupils shrank.
"Try and stop me, Marine!"
Bullet sneered. His thick, beast-like arm pulsed as a ring of white shockwaves erupted from it. Power exploded out.
Enduring Daren's monstrous strength—greater than even a Giant's—he landed a crushing punch that sent Daren flying!!
Boom!!
A shockwave burst outward. The unleashed Armament Haki tore through earth and ruins, carving a massive trench in its path.
Daren's body shot back like a cannonball, crashing through several collapsed buildings before slamming into the ground, sending dust spraying outward in rippling waves.
Dust filled the air.
Bullet's eyes burned with growing madness. Without a word, he stomped hard on the ground and vanished.
His speed was unbelievable. This maniac, who once wiped out an entire nation's army, had pushed his body to truly superhuman levels!
In the next instant, Bullet appeared at the spot where Daren had crashed.
He drove his fist toward the barely visible silhouette in the dust, face twisted in a snarl.
Since childhood, Bullet had fought on battlefields, surviving countless brushes with death and staining his hands with the blood of many. He understood one thing:
There's no need to hold back in battle. Wasting time with words is idiotic. If you want to kill, strike. Giving your enemy a chance to breathe is digging your own grave.
"Kahahaha! Die, Marine!"
Crack—
Suddenly, the ground split open with a sharp crack.
Bullet's expression shifted. A flash of red light from his Observation Haki flared deep in his eyes as he quickly altered his move.
Boom!!
The ground in front of him erupted. A crimson glow—like a sign of hell and annihilation—exploded in Bullet's eyes.
Lava gushed from the cracked earth. A figure burst out like a beast of magma breaking free, its molten fist glowing with deadly heat as it lunged forward.
The next second—
Bullet's Haki-clad fist and the blazing magma fist collided in midair!
A heavy, dull thud rang out.
Purple Armament Haki and the red arc of magma clashed, creating a violent cyclone that crushed and melted the ground beneath them.
Waves of force swept outward, flinging rubble, twisted metal, and debris in all directions.
The standoff lasted only a second.
With a loud boom, both men grunted from the impact.
The lava-wreathed figure unleashed a spray of molten rock. Bullet stumbled back, instinctively retreating.
Thud, thud, thud...
His feet pounded the ground, each step caving in the earth and leaving deep craters behind.
"Here comes an even stronger one..."
A scorching heat pulsed from his fist. The black gloves had already been charred. Bullet narrowed his eyes, a savage red light flickering deep in his pupils as he licked his cracked lips with anticipation.
The lava, burning at thousands of degrees, had a strange, searing penetration—strong enough that even his Armament Haki couldn't fully block it.
"Looks like I can finally go all out this time."
He stared at the two figures within the drifting dust, cracking his knuckles as he grinned with unrestrained delight.
"What a mess..."
The wind blew the dust away. Daren stepped slowly out of a deep, jarring crater, blood dripping from his right arm.
Bullet's strength was truly overwhelming. In terms of raw physique, power, and martial skill, he might be on par with Daren—but his Armament Haki was clearly a level above, enough to suppress him outright.
"Headquarters' intel was off. Leaving aside the destructive power of his Devil Fruit, this guy's close-quarters combat ability likely already surpasses Byrnndi World."
A low, steely voice rumbled out.
The bubbling magma surged across the ground, rapidly rising and condensing into a towering figure.
Rivulets of crimson magma slid down Sakazuki's hard-edged face like sweat, revealing the white cloak beneath as thick black smoke billowed from his body.
Daren wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned.
"Yeah."
He had once fought Byrnndi World one-on-one. Although he'd had the firepower of the North Blue Fleet backing him, there had definitely been some luck involved.
But Sakazuki was right—when it came to hand-to-hand combat, Douglas Bullet, who had grown up on the battlefield, was indeed stronger than Byrnndi World.
In truth, much of the fear surrounding Byrnndi World, and the reason he was considered a legendary Great Pirate, came from the devastating power of his Moa Moa no Mi.
But from their earlier clash, even though he'd been suppressed by Bullet's Haki, Daren had managed to get a solid read on his strength.
At this point in time, Bullet—only fifteen and not yet part of the Roger Pirates—definitely hadn't reached the level of someone like the Dark King Rayleigh.
That kind of terrifying strength he would come to be known for in later years likely came from Roger repeatedly "feeding him moves" during countless failed challenges... combined with Bullet's relentless drive to improve.
Looking at it that way, maybe Roger really was a pretty good "teacher."
And now, Bullet...
Was his strength just shy of Admiral-level?
Daren spat out a mouthful of blood. A twisted grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He could fight!
...
(70 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake