"Ugh!!"
Bullet spat out fresh blood, his eyes turning completely red, as if they were about to explode.
The dozens-of-meters-tall giant was blasted away by a single punch. Before he even fell into the sea, his massive body had completely collapsed.
What kind of power was that!?
Bullet pulled himself out from the giant's wreckage.
Clutching his chest, the blood spilling from his mouth stained his entire chin a deep red.
He stared at Ian in disbelief, not even realizing when Ian had flown above him.
"Is that… Roger's Haki?"
"You mean the Conqueror's Haki?"
Ian raised his fist, lightly clenching it. The dark Haki lightning began to dance excitedly, triggering round after round of explosions as it swept across the sea surface.
"That's right."
Ian smiled cheerfully.
"In that case, I'll reward you with a punch."
So strong!!
Bullet stared blankly at Ian.
This guy was ridiculously strong!
So—
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"
Bullet suddenly laughed wildly. His entire upper body was instantly enveloped in a purple-black Haki!
"Come on! Ian the Skyfire—"
Bang!!
A punch slammed down, sending a meteor crashing into the sea.
Torrential waves rose high across the ocean.
Ian hovered in midair, stepping on thin air, glanced at his fist, and blinked. "What was he trying to say again?"
Never mind, it doesn't matter.
"Jinbei!"
Ian called out toward the beach.
"I'm here! Lord Ian!!"
Jinbei hurriedly ran over from beyond the shore.
"Pull this guy out."
"Yes!!"
Later, on the beach, now a little torn up from the fierce battle,
Ian sighed, "Look at what you've done to this place. This is the Golden Coast, the number one spot on Hive Island. How do you plan to pay me back for this?"
The one Ian was demanding compensation from sat on the ground not far in front of him.
His wrists were shackled with high-purity Seastone cuffs, forcing this incredibly muscular man to slump helplessly.
Luckily, because of the height difference, he didn't have to raise his head to see Ian clearly.
So, Bullet could still glare at him fiercely.
He had just been pulled out of the sea, still dripping wet.
After Ian landed a heavy punch on his chest, a deep fist mark remained, and his teeth were stained bright red with blood.
This man simply stared back at Ian without saying a word.
"How about this," Ian said slowly, wearing the expression of someone who's taken a big loss but tells the other to quietly enjoy their gain, "I don't think you've got much money on you anyway. Why don't you just work for me? Then I'll forgive the damage you caused to this island."
"Here we go again."
Law, watching nearby, tugged the corner of his mouth.
"Hahaha!"
Yamato, sitting beside Ian, laughed outright, "I knew Ian spared this guy just for that!"
Everyone around nodded softly.
Who didn't know Ian had a thing for collecting people?
Bullet's eyes finally shifted with some change as he sneered, "Only the weak gather in groups. Relying on others' strength only makes you weaker!"
"Is that so?"
Ian chuckled, "I think no matter how strong someone is, they can't do everything alone, so we need partners."
"Learning to rely on others' strength—how is that not a kind of strength?"
Bullet's pupils suddenly contracted.
So familiar.
Roger once told him something similar!
This guy!!
Not only does he possess power close to Roger's, but—
However,
"That's only because you're not strong enough yet!"
Bullet sneered coldly.
Roger never changed his views, and naturally, Ian was no different.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore," Ian just looked at him. "So, what's your answer to my invitation?"
"Get lost!"
Bullet sneered disdainfully.
"That bastard!"
Hancock instantly flew into a rage. "Ian! Let me turn him to stone!"
How dare he refuse Ian's invitation—damn fool, he's already courting death!!
Ian waved his hand.
Someone as naturally gifted as Bullet—wouldn't it be a pity to just kill him outright?
Just as the others suspected, Ian had a collector's instinct.
"Hey, Bullet, I'm pretty strong, right?"
Ian asked.
Everyone was slightly taken aback—why was he suddenly bragging about himself?
Bullet looked at Ian in surprise.
He said nothing, but in his heart, he couldn't deny Ian's strength.
This guy had left him completely powerless.
Ian's strength reminded Bullet of Roger.
"Of course, I'll get even stronger. That shouldn't be hard to understand," Ian said. "After all, I'm only sixteen this year. In a few years, surpassing Roger shouldn't be impossible, right?"
Surpass Roger!!
Bullet's eyes suddenly widened as he stared intently at Ian.
Of course!
For someone so young to already possess such power, it was only natural he would surpass Roger.
So, if he could defeat this guy, would that prove he really had surpassed Roger?
Ian saw the change in Bullet's expression and smirked.
Bullet's weak spot was Roger.
Speaking of which, Roger was practically no different from a succubus.
On the seas, he was a well-known figure with a name everyone remembered.
Whitebeard considered him both a lifelong friend and rival.
Kaido-sensei thought he was one of the five strongest.
Aunt Linlin could never forget the time Roger stole her Red Poneglyph.
Golden Lion Shiki wanted to prove he had defeated Roger, so he planned to destroy the East Blue.
Hero Garp was willing to help him raise his son.
And Bullet's lifelong dream was also to prove he had surpassed Roger.
"A guy like you dying just like that would be such a waste."
Ian said, "How about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
Bullet frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I'll give you three chances."
Ian held up three fingers. "Three chances to challenge me."
"If you lose all three, how about becoming my partner?"
Just like Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven times in ancient times, today I, Ian, will capture Bullet three times!
Somewhere on Hive Island, Enel quietly exercised his Haki and tugged the corner of his mouth.
Such a familiar line, such a familiar routine.
Before Bullet could say anything, Ian continued, "If you don't have confidence in yourself, I can even help you become stronger."
"For example, advanced Haki techniques."
Ian clenched his fist, and the pitch-black Haki lightning began to flicker again.
"Hey, Ian?"
Law couldn't help but speak up. "Are you really sure about this?"
Bullet was already incredibly strong now.
If he learned to wield advanced Armament and Conqueror's Haki, this guy might really gain strength close to that of the Emperors.
"Doesn't matter."
Ian said casually, "Do you honestly think anyone in this world can catch up to me after I've left them behind?"
Law was momentarily stunned.
Then a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
This bastard really is full of himself.
But—
"Of course not!"
Law said confidently, "There's absolutely no way!"
This is Ian we're talking about!
"Ian!"
Hancock's excited face flushed slightly.
Even someone as arrogant as Ian—
"He's so cool! Ian!"
Yamato immediately jumped onto Ian's back, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing against him. "But I'll definitely catch up to you!"
Ian just smiled.
Then he looked at Bullet.
Bullet stared blankly at Ian.
This guy!!
So arrogant!
Impossible to catch him again?
"How about it, Bullet? Want to bet on it?" Ian chuckled lightly.
The Demon Heir clenched his teeth.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!!"
**********
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