99. The Demon Heir And The Straw Hats

"Hey, Straw Hat Kid," Bullet bellowed.

His body looked imposing, but that didn't mean he was slow.

From his previous fight with Marco and the others, it was clear that he was flexible and fast despite his strong muscles.

In no time, a deep pit appeared on the ground, and Bullet's imposing figure was already in front of Luffy and the crew.

His massive shadow loomed over them, but they remained calm.

Bullet threw a punch.

His arm muscles bulged, and the speed of the punch created a powerful wind.

But Luffy watched calmly, making no move.

Beside him, Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbei radiated intense auras.

Bullet felt a sudden sense of danger.

Boom.

Just as Bullet's fist was about to connect, a sturdy figure stood in front of Luffy.

Boom.

A loud thud echoed, and ripples spread out like waves in space.

The ground cracked beneath Luffy's feet from the impact.

"Jinbei?" Bullet was surprised to see the merman's hand blocking his attack.

"That former Warlord?"

Bullet had been away for a while, but he still knew about the powerful fighters of the sea.

There were only a few with Admiral-level strength, and among the Warlords, only Hawkeye matched that level.

So, Jinbei shouldn't be among them.

Yet here he was, stopping Bullet's attack.

Marco and the others were astonished.

Was that really Jinbei?

He had easily blocked Bullet's powerful attack, which had previously overwhelmed them.

It seemed impossible for someone like Jinbei to resist that easily.

But now, Jinbei's strength seemed even greater.

"Fascinating, Jinbei," Bullet said, excitement in his voice.

The thrill of battling a strong opponent.

"Put me down," Bullet commanded, still in the air but ready to unleash his power.

Jinbei's expression changed, and he braced himself, sinking into the ground.

It was hard to imagine just how powerful Bullet's attack was without experiencing it firsthand.

But compared to Jinbei's steady stance, Bullet realized Jinbei's level of experience and strength.

"He's too strong. Even if we give it our all, we can barely hold him back."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, you bastard."

Two menacing voices echoed in front of him.

Bullet spotted a gleaming sword and a foot engulfed in black flames.

"Two Sword Style: 720-Pound Phoenix."

"Black leg style: Ryusei Osoba Kick."

Bullet's expression shifted as his relaxed demeanour vanished instantly. His fist, still powered by Jinbei's grip, moved swiftly despite his bulky frame.

In a split second, he adjusted his position mid-air and launched a punch infused with Armament Haki.

Boom.

In an instant, red lightning erupted as their attacks clashed, cracking the earth around them.

Black flames scattered as meteors and razor-sharp waves sliced through the ground.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Bullet's sturdy body was knocked back by the impact, landing heavily on the ground before steadying himself after several steps.

"Blackleg, Roronoa, I didn't expect you two to be so close," Bullet remarked gravely, examining his injured fist and arm.

Though the wounds were superficial, they showed the immense strength of his opponents. Bullet hadn't anticipated this.

Each of the three fighters surrounding Straw Hat was stronger than Marco, the Whitebeard Pirates' captain. While not on his level, their combined strength was formidable.

It was daunting to face such power. Even with his own strength, being cornered by two opponents of this calibre meant certain defeat.

It was hard to fathom that a crew of just ten could harbour so many monsters.

Despite being repelled earlier, facing the terrifying strength of the Straw Hat Pirates only fueled Bullet's eagerness for battle.

"What a formidable opponent," Sanji muttered, his ankle throbbing slightly.

You only truly grasp the fear of your opponent in combat.

Bullet's strength and physical prowess were beyond Admiral level, even with his enhanced abilities. His formidable combat skills, unlike the Logia users among the Admirals, made him even more menacing, especially in one-on-one fights.

"That Armament Haki is troublesome," Zoro observed grimly.

The opponent hadn't even used Conqueror's Haki, but their mastery of Armament Haki was enough to make Zoro question its human origin.

Despite his own proficiency in Armament Haki, Zoro felt the gap between them and Bullet.

Luffy, not engaging directly, questioned Bullet's motives.

"Why are you attacking us, Bullet? Aren't you friends with Uncle Rayleigh and Shanks?"

During their peak, Bullet had fought alongside them against the Marines, and their bonds with Shanks and Rayleigh made Luffy hesitant to see him as an enemy.

So, he was puzzled by Bullet's aggression towards them.

"Friends? What's that?" Bullet raised an eyebrow. "Friends only weaken people. If you carry worries, your punches lose speed and strength."

"Captain Roger and monsters like Whitebeard died because of their partners and family. Without those ties, they'd be even stronger."

"My goal is to be the strongest, beyond everything. I won't be tied down. Survival, for me means fighting. It's in combat that I feel truly alive."

"So, let's fight, Straw Hat," Bullet laughed maniacally.

Zoro, Jinbei, and Sanji eyed him while Marco, Fire Fist Ace, and Diamond Jozu loomed behind.

Bullet sensed their formidable auras and tempered his grin. He liked challenges but wasn't foolish.

This battle, surrounded by such powerful foes, wouldn't strengthen him. It would only lead to pointless death.

With that thought, Bullet created a massive crater in the ground and vanished with a powerful leap, reappearing on a steel submarine by the sea.

Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbei made no move to stop him, respecting their captain's decision not to engage.

"There are too many distractions here. Come to Wano, Straw Hat Boy, for a real fight. I'll be waiting," Bullet grinned, his body emitting a purple light as he melded into the Iron Submarine.

"What ability is that?" Sanji wondered, eyeing the purple glow.

"Such power in physique and Haki, and he has a Devil Fruit, too? How strong is he really?" Zoro mused, turning to Luffy.

"What do you think, Luffy?" he asked.

"It's war now," Jinbei declared solemnly.

Negotiation was no longer an option; Bullet's madness for battle made that clear.

"That man's heart isn't what he claims," Luffy said quietly, his gaze following the submarine's disappearance. "It's filled with pain and confusion."

"Pain? Confusion?" Sanji couldn't reconcile those words with the monster they faced.

Bullet's pressure was unparalleled. Even Kizaru couldn't match it.

And this was after Sanji's own breakthrough. The sheer terror Bullet evoked was unimaginable.

"To inherit Gol D. Roger's will, one must have incredible resolve," Marco interjected, his tone serious. "Douglas Bullet, the Demon Heir. I know him well."

Born in a land of perpetual war, Bullet earned his reputation as a hero. At fifteen, he even bested King Rayleigh.

By seventeen, he was hailed as the Demon Heir, embodying Gol D. Roger's strength.

A year later, he left Rogers's crew and gained infamy. After Roger's death, he caused chaos, prompting Garp to chase him.

"He's been a force to reckon with since," Marco finished, his words heavy with history and warning.

"During the Summit War, I learned he'd been imprisoned on the sixth floor of Impel Down for years. Given his current terrifying strength, it's hard to imagine the kind of rigorous training he underwent there," Marco's revelation gave Luffy and the crew a deeper insight into Bullet's history, resembling that of a relentless Demon.

"This pursuit of strength borders on obsession," Luffy said with rare seriousness. "I'll face him in Wano."

He hardly ever wore such a solemn expression. He felt no pain or confusion, only the drive to fight and grow stronger.

"I'll show him that strength isn't about abandoning Friendships," Luffy thought of Rayleigh, regret etched in his memory. "I'll do what Rayleigh couldn't."

As for how Luffy knew: by awakening Bullet from his self-imposed darkness.

In the depths of the sea, a whale-like submarine cut through the darkness. Inside, Bullet sat silently. His smile vanished.

"Friends?" he murmured, memories flooding back. "Zoro, Jinbei, Sanji... they reminded me of the past."

Familiar voices echoed in his mind, memories of laughter and camaraderie. Three years on Roger's ship were his happiest.

For over forty years, his life had been bloodshed and betrayal, and his existence was defined by fighting. But those three years with Roger were different.

He had friends once until Roger fell ill.

But Bullet refused to be weakened by illness or emotions. He vowed to be the strongest, alone.

His eyes gleamed with madness, suppressing memories of warmth and friendship.

"I'll become the strongest, Captain Roger," Bullet declared, his voice echoing in the silent cockpit.

In that moment, amidst the darkness, there was no madness—only solitude and determination.

"This is the true meaning of my existence," he whispered, his resolve unshakeable.

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