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At that moment, the entire island was almost completely enveloped in a black and red aura, the Conqueror's Haki thick in the air, making the space around it feel heavy and still.
Standing at the centre, Arashi and Bullet locked eyes like sparks were flying between them.
Bullet's blood-red eyes, filled with rage and the spirit of a demon, glowed fiercely. His fighting spirit had reached its peak.
The memory of his short but devastating defeat last time weighed heavily on his heart.
"Roar!" Bullet let out a low growl like thunder, and with a powerful stomp, he launched himself from the ground, disappearing instantly.
Simultaneously, Arashi moved, his figure vanishing just as quickly. Their speed was unbelievable, a testament to their extraordinary physical abilities.
A split second later, they stood face-to-face. Bullet, filled with fury, swung his fist violently.
Arashi grinned, clenching his right fist, which emitted a soft cracking sound as black and red lightning crackled around it.
In the next moment, their fists collided with a thunderous boom. The impact echoed across the island, sending ripples of energy, accompanied by flashes of lightning, surging in all directions.
Bullet's face twisted in shock as his right arm, coated with Armament Haki, gave a sharp crack and snapped under the pressure, unable to withstand the terrifying force of Arashi's blow.
'Conqueror's Haki imbued attack!' Bullet's mind screamed in rage. This was the same overwhelming power he had once felt from Roger.
In the next second, an even more intense force surged toward him, the black and red lightning travelling up his arm and threatening to engulf his entire body.
His muscles quivered, and out of reflex, he leapt backwards.
"Boom!" His massive body landed heavily, causing the ground beneath him to cave in.
Crocodile, puffing on his cigar, stared at Bullet's limp right arm.
After just one exchange, Bullet's arm was useless, completely shattered. It was clear that Arashi's power was overwhelming.
"Hahahaha!" Arashi laughed.
"Bullet, your reactions are sharper than last time!" He shifted positions mid-air, stomping down as he changed direction, now above Bullet.
His right hand clenched again, bending at the elbow, preparing for another powerful strike.
Bullet's expression changed slightly. He could recall the destructive power of Arashi's punch.
His eyes flashed red as he tried to predict the next move using Observation Haki.
In an instant, a fierce and wild gust descended upon him, the air pressure shifting as black and red lightning shot down from the sky.
Arashi's speed was like lightning, his punch descending with terrifying force.
"Boom!" The air thundered as the powerful punch sliced through the sky, the area within a radius of thousands of meters blanketed in a storm of destruction.
Bullet quickly dodged backwards, but everything in front of him—the ground, trees, and bushes—shattered like broken glass, the cracks spreading rapidly.
Too fast! Everything was happening too fast! And with it came the horrifying realization of the sheer destructive power in Arashi's punch.
"This guy!" Bullet's heart trembled.
In direct combat, he could feel the terrifying pressure from Arashi bearing down on him, every breath feeling like he was being crushed beneath mountains.
His iron fist struck with lightning speed, his attacks relentless like a storm. Yet, in just their second clash, Bullet could only dodge!
"Hahahaha!" Another burst of laughter echoed above him, followed by the crushing force of Arashi's presence.
Bullet looked up, his pupils shrinking as he took in the sight: a sky filled with black and red lightning and Arashi's fist descending toward him like a meteor.
At that moment, Bullet realized he had retreated nearly 2,000 meters from his original position, but Arashi was still faster!
"Iron Fist: Meteor!" Arashi roared, his right fist engulfed in black and red lightning.
The punch, packed with unstoppable force, hurtled down toward Bullet.
"Boom!" Though the fist was still several meters from the ground, the shockwave from its force rippled out instantly as if a giant stone had been thrown into the centre of a lake, sending up layers of dust and debris.
The ground rippled outward, creating massive cracks in its wake.
Bullet's entire body twisted as he was pounded into the earth, embedded deep into the ground without a moment's pause.
His consciousness faded into nothingness. In a split second before losing consciousness, this man—once iron-willed and obsessed with strength—was filled with shock and a primal fear, as if facing a natural disaster.
The black and red lightning that accompanied Arashi's fist reminded him of when he faced Roger.
The same unstoppable force. The same overwhelming dominance.
He had lost, completely and utterly lost.
At the same time, deep within Bullet's heart, his unwillingness finally gave way to a sense of submission.
Faced with such overwhelming strength, even a feeling of helpless fear rose within him.
Just three punches! This time, it only took three punches! Arashi stood on the shattered ground, his white cloak fluttering behind him as he looked down.
"Take him away, Croc!" Arashi called out. "This guy's tough enough—he shouldn't die from this!"
Crocodile approached, puffing a smoke ring as the sand in his hand lifted the bloodied and severely broken Bullet.
His gaze swept the area, taking in the destruction around them.
His eyes widened slightly as he saw the two giant craters spanning thousands of meters as if meteors had struck.
Looking toward the surrounding forest, the sight of the broken trees left an even greater impression.
"Three punches! He's already changed the entire ecosystem of this island!" Crocodile muttered to himself as he took another drag from his cigar.
He recalled his former ambition to challenge Whitebeard, Edward Newgate. Did that man also possess this kind of power?
Back aboard the warship, the crew couldn't help but gape at the bloodied form of Bullet.
"Sir, didn't you say this mission was for recruiting new members?"
"Is this guy dead?"
"With all his bones shattered, he might as well be. Even if he's not dead, he's close."
"The famous Douglas Bullet, reduced to this after fighting the Commander? How strong is Arashi?"
The officers marvelled, and Arashi waved them off. "He should still be salvageable! The guy's got a tough body—fix him up, and he might still be useful."
After a pause, he grinned. "I believe this time, he'll accept defeat."
A moment later, after examining Bullet's condition, the crew was astonished.
"His body is incredible!"
"He's unbelievably strong. He must've been through thousands of battles."
"Maybe he really will survive."
Three days later, Bullet's eyes snapped open. The devilish man instantly locked onto the figure standing with his back to him—Marine Vice Admiral Arashi.
"Arashi!!" Bullet growled, his eyes turning blood-red.
Instinctively, his bandaged body leapt forward, and he appeared behind Arashi in a flash.
At the same time, his left arm tensed, his fist clenching tightly as he swung it forward.
The sudden gust of wind alerted Arashi, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"That stubborn nature of yours!" Arashi muttered. "I have to say, I admire it, Bullet!"
As he spoke, an invisible force radiated from his body, hardening every inch of his skin and muscle as if turning into steel.
Tekkai! Armament Haki!
The combination of the two made Arashi's body tougher than ever before.
"Boom!" A dull impact rang out, sending shockwaves across the entire warship.
Bullet's punch landed squarely on Arashi's left cheek, but to his shock, the man was completely unscathed.
"But the defeated should know their place!" came Arashi's cold voice.
In the next instant, Bullet felt a heavy blow to his abdomen, his body bending in half like a shrimp as he spat out blood.
He was sent flying, crashing into the ship's mast before sliding to the ground.
Only then did Arashi finally turn around, his gaze fixed on Bullet, blood staining his lips.
"Douglas Bullet!" Arashi called out. "Join me!"
Hearing this, Bullet grinned, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his left hand.
Despite the violent pain churning in his stomach, he responded with a fierce glare.
"Who do you think you are?" Bullet sneered. "Roger?"
"A mere Marine like you isn't enough to make me submit!"
Then, with a cold laugh, he continued. "Since I'm in your hands now, either kill me or send me to Impel Down."
Arashi, however, remained unfazed by Bullet's words, simply offering a faint smile. "I won't kill you, nor will I send you to Impel Down."
Pausing for a moment, he sneered. "And who do you think you are, Bullet? Just a defeated soldier under my command—what right do you have to boast in front of me?"
"If you can't accept defeat, you can rechallenge me!"
"I'll prove something to you," Arashi chuckled. "I will conquer you!"
This bold declaration left Crocodile speechless, but surprisingly, Bullet's anger eased slightly, and he began to laugh.
"You're starting to interest me!" Bullet admitted.
He couldn't help but be drawn to the strange combination of Arashi's overwhelming power, confidence, arrogance, and commanding attitude.
It oddly resonated with him. In a daze, Bullet recalled the time he had challenged Roger.
Like this young Marine before him, Roger had been confident, powerful, and radiated an immense charisma.
The only difference was that Roger was a pirate, while the man standing before him was a Marine.
Bullet became much quieter in the days that followed, though Rosinante felt that this menacing presence wasn't truly subdued.
Rather, he seemed to be biding his time, waiting for another chance to challenge his superior.
And indeed, that was the case. On the third day after regaining consciousness, Bullet challenged Arashi once again.
But he lost quickly, almost instantly, suffering even more severe injuries this time.
After regaining consciousness, Bullet silently focused on his recovery, thinking about how to approach his next challenge and seeking a more effective attack.
This time, he remained quiet for seven days. However, when he challenged Arashi again, the result was the same—another defeat.
Arashi showed no particular reaction, seemingly content with the repeated challenges.
He soon realized that each sparring session with Bullet's raw combat techniques was helping him improve his mastery of the Rokushiki.
At the same time, he also noticed that each defeat left Bullet increasingly dejected.
For someone as proud as Bullet, who constantly pursued the strongest title, each loss was a fatal blow to his spirit. It left deeper and deeper scars on his psyche.
With each defeat, Arashi's presence loomed larger in Bullet's mind, growing increasingly imposing until it became an insurmountable figure—leading Bullet to eventual submission.
It was like training a falcon, wearing it down until it accepted its handler. This method resembled the approach Whitebeard would one day take when facing Ace.
As Bullet's injuries gradually healed, he recovered fully and once again issued a challenge. But this time, the sense of defeat weighed even heavier on him.
Arashi's strength seemed unbeatable, and in Bullet's mind, the shadow of Arashi had begun to eclipse even Roger.
With a terminal illness, Roger could no longer bear the crown of the strongest.
But this Marine before him, still young and close in age to Bullet, was thriving.
During those days, every time Bullet thought about their similar ages, he felt a deep sense of frustration.
"How can he be so strong at the same age?" he thought. "He's truly a monster among monsters!"
This inner conflict deepened Bullet's respect for Arashi, even as it tormented him.
As the warship neared Marineford, about half a month after Bullet had joined the ship, Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, asked with a smirk, "So, Bullet, do you still think you can defeat him?"
Crocodile had witnessed all of Bullet's challenges and knew one thing for sure—Arashi's strength was almost absolute.
Bullet's lips twitched, and after a glance at Crocodile, he fell silent. There's a kind of strength that feels insurmountable.
Whether it was Roger back then or Arashi now, both gave Bullet a tremendous sense of pressure, as if a towering mountain stood in his way.
"I know why you've been so reluctant to submit all this time," Crocodile said softly.
"Oh?" Bullet scoffed.
"I'll tell you something," Crocodile said, puffing out a smoke ring, completely unfazed by Bullet's dismissive attitude. His voice lowered slightly.
"What is it?" Bullet asked, intrigued. He was surprised that someone like Crocodile had submitted to a Marine.
If Crocodile had a reason that could convince him, perhaps following someone as strong as Roger but younger wouldn't be such a bad idea.
"The Celestial Dragon Massacre," Crocodile whispered, his voice almost too quiet to hear. After saying those words, he glanced vaguely at the figure standing ahead.
Bullet froze for a moment, and then it hit him. He quickly understood what Crocodile meant.
"Did he do it?" Bullet's heart was filled with shock and disbelief.
"He did something Roger never dared to do!" Bullet muttered to himself. "And he did it as a Marine!"
"Isn't that even more interesting?" Crocodile chuckled.
Upon hearing this, Bullet spun around to stare at Crocodile's smirking face. After a long pause, Bullet broke into a grin and made his decision.
"You're right!" Bullet said. "This is interesting!"
Suddenly standing up, Bullet strode over to Arashi's side and deeply breathed.
"From today onward, I'm yours! I'll follow you wherever you go!" Bullet declared.
"But if there ever comes a day when you no longer have the strength to defeat me," he added with a grin, "then I'll make you my subordinate! Because I admire you as well!"
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