"So . . . what now?"
"Well, give me some time, will you. I need to recover for a bit."
". . . You're weak."
". . ."
It's not like I want to be weak . . .
Bullet looked at Shuunya who was trying to get back up on his feet, stumbling while doing so, and nearly falling, realized that for the first time in his life, he overestimated his opponent.
". . . I got riled up for nothing then?"
"Just give me some time to collect myself. And then we can fight all you want."
"But you're weak . . ."
"Do you not have anything else to say, you bastard"
"I want to, but you're too weak to handle them"
". . ."
"Bwahahaha~"
Shuunya ignored Garp who was dying of laughter and examined his body. He is not seriously hurt, just out of touch. He hasn't fought a hard battle for a long time, and most of his fights in the Preliminaries were solved using Wit instead of Might.
"I can't imagine someone of your personality actually awakened Conqueror's Haki."
". . ."
Shuunya still decided to ignore the dissing Bullet and steadied himself. He wanted to test the extent of his capabilities in a true battle, and only while fighting against someone who has an insurmountable gap of power compared to him is the best for him.
So he isn't going to give up this fight anytime soon.
"Hssh~ . . . Fuu~ . . ."
"You ready?"
"Yeah"
Shuunya's and Bullet's gazes clashed in the air. Shuunya was hesitating whether to enhance his Lung capacity and body capabilities through concentrated breathing in the fight because it was just a prototype, but Bullet is far stronger in comparison to him.
He cannot hesitate anymore if he even wants to have a slight chance in at least exchanging some moves with Bullet.
"Oh? That's nice. You grasped some basics in fighting after 30 years of living. How wonderful~~."
"Hssh~ . . Pfft- Cough. . . You know how to enhance your breathing?"
"Don't most fighters know?"
"They do, but not as focused as what I did. At Least, none that I met knew"
"Is that so? But almost all those I fought after Joining Roger knew this."
Roger Pirates aren't the standard for the world's combat capacity, dude . . . But this also means that most of the strong ones already found ways to enhance their strength one way or another. . .
". . ."
". . ."
". . . So, are you going to come at me or . . ."
"Yeah, yeah. Just give me a second"
Swish~
Bullet charged towards Shuunya right after he finished speaking and swung his fist towards him. Shuunya knew that he cannot clash with Bullet head on, he isn't capable of that yet. So he ducked to escape the fist, and jumped back after the fist passed above him, narrowly avoiding the sweep performed by Bullet.
"I asked just for a second"
"And I never said I would give you one"
Bullet charged towards Shuunya right after he finished speaking and arrived right above Shuunya's head in just a moment. He then stomped hard to smash Shuunya's entire body.
Shave~
Crash~
As soon as Shuunya dodged the attack, the stomp landed on the stage causing quakes throughout the colosseum. The Colosseum was modified by Shuunya because he considered such disastrous fights, but it couldn't stop the panic in the audience.
"They're screaming"
"I cannot stop them from being afraid. Of course, it just means I am not powerful enough to give them the courage"
". . . I hate it"
"What?"
"Your personality. You are not really focused on your resolve. You are still confused, so you will never be my opponent"
Shave~
Shuunya instantly moved to the place above Bullet in the air and swung his fist down at him. Bullet casually blocked the fist but couldn't completely block it resulting in him being embedded in the arena. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes since he didn't expect Shuunya to use such strength.
"My Resolve wasn't really strong, as you have said. But I have strengthened it multiple times over the past couple decades. At least, it isn't weak enough that it would collapse just because of a few of your words."
Bullet swiped near the end of his mouth and looked at the hint of red on his glove. His face slowly contorted into a wide grin as he spoke,
" . . . Nice!"
Waiting Area--------------------------------------------------
"Who do you think will win?"
"Bullet"
"Is that even a question you should ask?"
Roger looked at Garp and Chinjao and wondered how these two are much closer to Shuunya than himself.
"Are you not even going to consider Shuunya?"
"It is as Bullet said, He's weak"
"Just as he said"
"You can speak properly without quoting me, you bastard!"
"You're going to decide what I can do, huh?! Trying to pick a fight?!"
"As Expected of a Pirate. You can't even speak proper sentences. Do you want the Navy to teach you?! Maybe after I catch you?!"
"Huh~?!"
Roger looked at the two idiots who escalated a normal conversation into a conflict and suddenly felt that he wasn't the worst when compared to others in keeping in control when necessary.
He saw that the two of them actually started to fight and quickly intervened to stop them.
"I'm stopping only because I don't want to destroy something that I would partially own. Not because I am afraid of you."
"You think I am afraid of you?! I'm only stopping because I still need to capture this bastard in front of me."
Why do you want to drag me for this . . .
Roger cannot even describe how hard it is for him to stop these two idiots on his own.
I hope you will work harder to help me escape later, Shuunya. You don't know how much I am suffering because of you.
Arena-------------------------------------------------
"You done?"
"I can do this all day"
"Nah, you look like you will collapse in the next second"
Thud~
"And there you go."
Bullet looked at Shuunya who was lying down on the floor, breathing heavily. He knows that this fight is going to end soon, and frankly, he is not satisfied at all.
"Surrender"
"No"
"I don't want to hurt you any more than this. Captain's orders"
"How about we . . . hah hah . . . settle this fight in another way?"
"Hmm? And what do you suggest?"
". . . Rock Paper Scissors?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course not!"
". . ."
Shuunya looked at Bullet who was slowly walking towards him without caring anything about his counterattack. Not that he would need to, though. Now it is difficult for Shuunya to even stay conscious if he did not try his best.
Although he cannot see Bullet's face, he can feel the disappointment. This is very new to him, since he hasn't felt it since his previous life. He has always tried his best to meet the expectations others had on him, and he would always meet them too.
He never thought there would be a time when people would be disappointed in what he did. He worked hard for a Utopia, even if it is a false dream. He did what he had to, and he gave it his best.
I . . . don't want to end this yet . . .
Shuunya looked at the people around him who can change the current scenario. The only people nearby who can influence Bullet are Garp and Roger, one through anger and other through admiration.
Although I can trust Roger to keep secrets, should I? Frankly, I don't know him much, and I think I will definitely fight him in the future if I want to end piracy.
Shuunya decided to ask for Garp help. He can ask Garp to Rile Bullet up, and since Bullet won't break the rules because of Roger, he would definitely use Shuunya to vent all the anger, and the fight can go on.
I feel like I might regret this but, I think I need to fight for life. Something tells me it will change a lot of things for the future.
(A/N: I'm that Something)
[Garp]
Garp, who was watching Shuunya get beaten up while munching on Crackers from the snack area, is suddenly shocked by the sudden voice in his mind.
"Who is this?! Talk to my face! Don't hide like a Coward!"
Roger and Chinjao looked at Garp speaking to air while looking around frantically and are suddenly sure of who the biggest Idiot of the three of them is.
[It's me, Shuunya. I'm talking directly to your mind right now. Think as if you are speaking to me]
[Like this?]
[Yes. I need you to do something for me. Bullet has no intention of hurting me because Roger told him not to, but it won't really be a fight. I need this fight.]
[Ok sure. You can leave it to me]
[I need you to do something to attract his anger]
[Yes Yes. I know. You can trust me on this]
Shuunya looked at Garp giving him a Thumbs Up and suddenly felt that it would be better to entrust it to Roger even if he didn't trust him, rather than asking for Garp. Anyway, Thought Communication isn't something he can stop even if he wants to.
No, maybe Conqueror's Haki might be capable of interfering with it, though it needs to be tested.
Bullet, who arrived near Shuunya and Standing in front of him, looked in confusion at Shuunya who had been quiet for the past few seconds thinking about something. He suddenly heard someone from his right calling him.
"Oi, Bullet!!"
"Huh? . . . Garp? What do you want?"
Bullet is confused by the sudden interference of Garp and looks at Garp. He looked to the side of Garp for answers, but he also found Roger standing there confused.
"Did you get weaker since we last met?! Why are you so weak now?! You can't even break the bones of your opponent, What a Shame!!"
". . . Huh?"
"Garp, What happened to you?!"
Garp ignored Roger's Question and looked at the confused Bullet and started taunting again.
"You got cotton for fists these days?! Why don't I ask the Marshal to reduce your Bounty?! Did being with Roger decrease your power?! Why don't I let you join the Navy? You know what?, forget it. It's not worth recruiting you."
"Stop it, Garp!!!"
Roger stopped Garp from speaking any more. Garp could have escaped it but he was also held down by Chinjao. Both of them could understand it. If Garp had riled up Bullet normally, it would be fine.
But Garp riled up Bullet on the point of him not being able to hit Shuunya hard. Now, although Bullet would be angry at Garp, he would be even enraged at Shuunya because he is the cause of all this.
Frankly, Shuunya isn't the cause of it, but Roger is, since he asked Bullet to not hurt Shuunya too much. But Bullet wouldn't get angry at Roger, his Idol. So, he would get angry at Shuunya.
Although they made a move as soon as they realized it, and they stopped Garp from spouting even more curses, the damage was done. Bullet is angry, very angry.
Shuunya, who snapped out of his thoughts as soon as Garp started speaking, regrets his decision very much. Even though he is looking at Garp who is held down by Roger, he can feel the rage radiating from Bullet.
"It seems that some people . . . think that I am weak because I won't break your bones. What do you think?"
"There is something I have to tell you"
"Oh? What is it?"
"Actually, I wasn't joking about the 'Rock Paper Scissors' thing"
"That was a very good Joke, Shuunya"
"No, as I said-"
"But I think we need to end this properly"
As Bullet stopped speaking, he raised his hand and punched hard downward. Shuunya looked at the oncoming fist and tried to convince Bullet not to hit him.
"No No NO-"
Shit~!
Shuunya barely managed to roll out of the way before the fist fell. He has already expended all the energy he has recovered from his short rest.
Bullet looked at Shuunya who was lying down, breathing heavily and not even able to move his fingers, and for some reason his sadistic urges he kept under control since he joined Roger, have started to rise again.
"This is going to be fun"
No, it's not! Not for me!
"I will break each and every bone of yours slowly while you scream until your throat dies out."
Wow, I did not need that!
Crack~!
"Arghh~!!!"
Bullet stepped hard on Shuunya's right hand, causing it to break. Although Bullet doesn't know, Shuunya is very clear about his body. Healing broken bones, even with the help of Life Return.
So, for the near future, Shuunya will be handicapped.
I need to do something about this. Anything. As long as I can do it, I need to. There is no time to hesitate.
Crack~!
"Arghh~!"
Bullet proceeded to break Shuunya's left leg, and Shuunya screamed again.
Moonwalk~
The pain kept assaulting the brain, but Shuunya kept performing Moonwalk to stay mid air. He could see Bullet looking at him with interest. He wants to see what Shuunya can do in this situation.
And that Smug . . .
I will wipe it out from his Face!
Shuunya stopped performing Moonwalk and fell towards Bullet. Bullet didn't dodge and kept looking at the incoming person. He wants to see his next move.
Just when he got close to Bullet, Shuunya vanished from mid air and reappeared behind Bullet and made a punching motion with his fist.
Bullet, seeing this, turned back while swinging his fist towards Shuunya. Shuunya disappeared again, appearing not far from his previous position on the ground.
"So you are just running around to buy time? For what? You will get beaten either way"
"I know that. I have a goal in this fight."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Oh~ You'll know. Don't worry, it will be good, very good~."
"Kahahaha. We'll see."
Bullet ran towards Shuunya and swung his fist at him. Shuunya disappeared again, but this time he appeared right in front of Bullet's face and threw some dust into Bullet's eyes.
Bullet, not expecting Shuunya to use this sort of low blow, is caught off guard and blinded by the dust. Shuunya used this opportunity to strike Bullet's mouth.
"Mmm~! Ahh~!"
Bullet composed himself and started using observation Haki to fight against Shuunya.
Waiting Room-----------------------------------------------
"What are they doing?"
"Fighting"
"Just as he said"
"Huh~?!"
"Are you trying to pick a fight?!"
". . . Do you guys have the memory of a Goldfish?"
(A/N: It's a common myth. But they don't know the truth of it)
"Hmph!"x2
"But seriously, What ARE they doing?"
"Well, It looks like Bullet is just playing around now. He's still angry because of Garp, but at least he probably won't kill Shuunya before we can save him."
"And Shuunya is doing something weird. He is risking his fight, which he has no chance of winning, but all he is doing is injuring Bullet's mouth."
Roger drew the same conclusion as the two of them while watching. No, he is sure that anyone who can follow this fight will have the same opinion as his.
"But why is Shuunya doing that?"
Garp was in deep thought for a while before answering "Maybe he just doesn't like Bullet's Smug smile?"
Roger looked at Garp with the look of an Idiot and spoke "So, you're telling me that the person who makes meticulous plans for every action he takes, at least from what I have seen, is risking his life just to wipe the smug look off of his opponents face"
Garp replied, "Maybe, maybe also hates Bullet's Smile just like me"
"Whatever."
Arena----------------------------------------------------------
"Sho, do~nhe?"
"Yeah, I think so. I want to say 'I can do this all day' again but I really can't do anything anymore"
"Thenh I willh jusht breakh tha resht ofh yur bhodi pharts"
"You know, I can't even understand what you are saying anymore, and I don't think anyone does too. Why don't you just stop talking until you get your mouth healed?"
". . . Ih hathe yu"
"Ah!, I understood that one! Maybe it's just a small thing. I think there is nothing wrong with speaking this way. Maybe you'll attract someone special with such a . . . unique~ accent"
". . ."
So, this is how it feels to do something impossible. It's actually fun, not going to lie about that. Maybe it's fun just because I was sure I couldn't die?
Shuunya wasn't just trying to hit Bullet's mouth. He was also trying to find ways to defeat him. But the more he tried, the more he realized the difference between them. He cannot defeat him. This is a fact.
He had some hope that he could make impossible things possible, but probably not this one it seems.
Crack~
". . ."
"Nhot evhen going tho mhake ah shound?"
"Hey Bullet . . . Kill me"
"What?"
"I'm not going to repeat it again"
". . . Mhadmhan"
Crack~
Bullet listened to Shuunya's words and stepped hard on his chest. Even though Bullet is killing Shuunya, nobody stopped him. The audience were shocked to see the Vicious pirate Douglas Bullet killing his Challenger Masked Man, but the security wasn't making any move.
Garp, Roger and Chinjao looked at the scene without batting an eye.
[Is it fine?]
[Yes]
[You already made a plan for it]
[I did, yes. But I am not sure of its success]
[What's the chance?]
[As per my current calculations . . . 0. It depends on someone to make a move for me. Someone I don't trust at all]
[You can still be saved!! You shouldn't trust a pirate with your life, especially her!!]
[. . .]
The Referee looked at Shuunya who was still alive and waited for his boss to take his last breath.
Shuunya started to feel difficulty in breathing. His lungs are pierced by broken ribs. His heart isn't damaged, but this only makes his death even more slow and painful.
His last thought before he lost his breadth is, I hope the solution works, if not, I don't know if I can be reincarnated once again. This really isn't my style but doing reckless things without thinking about consequences is fun to do once in a while . . .
The Referee looked at the dead Shuunya and declared the victory of Douglas Bullet. But there were no Cheers from the audience, only silence.