"What... what in the world is that thing?!"
"Can a Devil Fruit really create something like this?"
Staring in disbelief at the colossal entity emerging from the ground in an instant, both the pirate and the marine were so stunned that they couldn't utter a word.
It wasn't just the overwhelming size that shook them, but also the sheer power emanating from it.
"All Marines! Retreat to the warships!"
Finally, Yamakaji reacted swiftly, barking orders to the surrounding Marines.
"Follow Yamakaji's lead. We're pulling back to the outskirts of the island and sealing off the entire area! Prepare for direct fire!"
Onigumo also yelled in response.
He's part of the faction led by Akainu within the Marines, known for their ruthless pursuit of pirate eradication.
Their immediate response to retreat was to seal off the coastline and unleash a devastating Buster Call!
"Hurry, those purple things are closing in!"
The pirates may not fully comprehend the abilities of the Fruit, but they've pieced together enough from the shrinking island and the rapid growth of the creature.
They can hazard a guess.
— That creature is devouring the entire island!
In the control room of the colossal Gundam, Bullet's gaze turned fierce, and the crimson eyes outside grew increasingly menacing.
Through the recent skirmish, Bullet had gleaned the tactics of the Marines confronting him.
His martial arts, Haki, and swordsmanship had all reached their pinnacle.
Yet, to his dismay, his opponent surpassed him in both strength and speed—traits he prided himself on.
Though caught off guard by the sudden burst of speed, it dawned on him that he couldn't compete solely on physical prowess.
Mastery in physical combat, abilities, and Haki—each at its peak—is ample to make a name for oneself as a renowned pirate in the treacherous waters of the New World.
When every aspect reaches its zenith, you stand unrivaled atop the ocean.
The Sea Emperor embodies this, as do the Marine Admirals.
And now, there's another contender: Bullet!
If the previous Bullet was overshadowed in every aspect by Atlas, now he stands toe-to-toe with him in terms of sheer power.
The increase in size naturally brings about a surge in strength, albeit at the cost of some agility. Yet, it also grants him exponentially greater resilience against attacks.
The true mastery of the Sea Kings in the pirate realm lies not just in their numbers, but also in their colossal stature, which confers certain advantages.
The same slash yields vastly different results when aimed at Crocodile compared to Sea Kings.
Crocodile may sustain serious injuries, greatly diminishing his combat prowess, whereas Sea Kings barely flinch, akin to being bothered by a mere mosquito.
With the aid of his Devil Fruit ability, Bullet can perceive everything in the outside world with clarity, including the fleeing pirates and the Marines preparing to evacuate to their warships.
"...,"
Bullet slowly shut his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, as if savoring the potent energy coursing through his veins.
"What a sensation..."
Abruptly, he opened his eyes, his narrowed gaze taking on a more sinister edge.
"Brace yourselves—!"
In an instant, a dark cannonball slammed into Bullet's colossal frame.
Rumble—!
The cannons roared, and fierce flames erupted around the massive creature.
Bullet made no attempt to dodge; there was no need.
Compared to his immense size, these cannonballs were mere pebbles, easily shrugged off.
"Keep it up!"
Onigumo, back on the warship, meticulously directed the barrage, each cannonball finding its mark on Bullet's body.
"Forget it, firearms won't faze that guy at all. Let's save our ammunition for other pirates."
Yamakaji couldn't help but try to reason with Onigumo, noticing the slight redness in his eyes.
He empathized with Onigumo's sentiments.
Over a decade ago, Bullet had been defeated by the Buster Call commanded by Akainu.
But now, facing a Bullet they thought they had dealt with, was enough to ruffle their composure.
This left Onigumo, who boasted as the second-in-command of the Hawks, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"...Listen to Yamakaji."
"Yes!! Vice Admiral Onigumo!!"
...
"Hulala..."
Before Bullet could make a move, a cloud of sand enveloped him.
Crocodile's figure materialized behind him, a thick blade forming in his left hand, which he swung forward with force.
"Desert la Spada (Desert Adamantine Treasure Sword)!!!"
Clang!
The dark armament Haki gleamed in the sky, deflecting the sharp sand blade, rendering it unable to pierce through.
In the control room, a sinister grin spread across Bullet's face as his body contorted, sending blasts of malevolent wind rushing towards his adversaries.
Swish!
The massive palm loomed, threatening to crush Crocodile's head!
"Ground Death (Erosion Cycle)!!"
Crocodile's voice dripped with icy resolve as his entire body transformed into sand, sapping moisture from the surroundings. The earth beneath them wilted as a result.
Whoosh!
A fierce gust swept through, and the colossal arm poised to grasp Crocodile dissolved into sand, cascading slowly to the ground.
"So, the fruit has awakened too? Impressive, Crocodile..."
Bullet's grin widened, his missing arm regenerating before their eyes.
"The stronger the adversary, the greater the triumph once defeated! That's what I strive for!"
Boom!
Suddenly, Bullet found himself airborne, half of his body sinking as the solid ground beneath him transformed into a quicksand pit, greedily attempting to swallow him whole.
"Desert Girasole (Desert Sunflower)!"
Crocodile's cold voice rang out once more.
Unfortunately, while the quicksand spread far and wide, it was too minuscule compared to Bullet's colossal form.
Moreover, the entire island seemed to be melding with Bullet.
This was his domain!
Swish!
Bullet wasn't merely on the receiving end; his arms swiftly ensnared Crocodile, the wind howling around them.
Whoosh!
Before Crocodile could retaliate, a flurry of purple glyphs materialized around him once more, giant arms closing in.
Each arm was shrouded in a thick layer of Armament Haki.
Boom!
A dull thud reverberated, and in the distance, fine grains of sand gradually coalesced, eventually taking the form of Crocodile.
"Bullet..."
The voice was low, tinged with gritted teeth.
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