"The blade was damaged by a devil fruit user? That only shows your strength is not yet sufficient!" Mihawk remarked coldly.
Tashigi stood her ground, though her voice wavered slightly. "At that time, my strength was truly lacking, and my technique was immature. But from now on, I will protect my blades!"
"Hmph, with your strength?" Mihawk challenged.
"I can do it!" she insisted.
"Really? I fail to see where you are strong," Mihawk replied dismissively.
Tashigi choked on his words, unable to offer a rebuttal. Compared to the World's Strongest Swordsman, her power was insufficient, and claiming she could protect her blades felt somewhat brazen.
Zoro could not stand by any longer. The "wife-protecting" swordsman stepped forward. "Hey, Mihawk, you cannot bully the Straw Hat crew. Otherwise, how about I fight you right now?"
Law's hand hovered over the hilt of Kikoku as he glared dangerously at Mihawk. The Warlord simply took a calm sip of his drink. "You are not my opponent yet. Keep practicing. However, if Carl is willing to compete, I would look forward to it."
Carl merely yawned and offered no response.
Nearby, Miss Golden Week personally delivered biscuits to Crocodile and Mr. 1, while Mr. 3 poured two glasses of Darjeeling tea.
"Original boss, Mr. 1, are you here to watch the battle?" Mr. 3 asked.
Crocodile's face darkened at the title. "Original boss? What kind of name is that?"
"Mr. 3, you and Miss Golden Week are doing quite well," Crocodile noted. "Why did you not perform this well back in Baroque Works?"
Mr. 3 pushed his glasses up calmly. "Because I was truly weak before. After joining the Straw Hats, I was taught by Mr. Carl. If I do not become stronger, I am useless. If you wish to join the Straw Hat crew, I could introduce you, though I doubt Captain Luffy would agree. After all, what happened in Alabasta is still vivid in his memory."
Mr. 1 could not listen to the insolence any longer. "Mr. 3, you are doing well for yourself now, but you dare to speak to the boss like that?"
Mr. 3 spread his hands. "He is my former boss; I have no need to fear him. I did not realize it until I joined this crew. In Baroque Works, I was just an employee, but here, I am a partner. I am no longer dominated—I am trusted, protected, and depended upon."
Crocodile was taken aback, staring at Mr. 3 for a long time. It seemed his former subordinate had truly changed.
Miss Golden Week pushed the biscuits forward again. "Mister, eat the biscuits."
She remained as calm as ever, not intimidated by Crocodile. She stood tall, not just because she was backed by one of the Five Emperors, but because she now possessed enough strength of her own. Crocodile and Mr. 1 exchanged glances before silently picking up the biscuits. Luffy ignored them; there was no need to focus on them, and since Mr. 3 and Miss Golden Week were handling the situation, he did not feel the need to intervene.
One day later, a Marine warship arrived, causing a stir among the observers. Yet, the Straw Hats remained on the island. Even with two Marine Admirals on the approaching ship, they did not move, waiting in silence.
When a small boat finally drifted into view, the crowd held its breath. A muscular man in an old military uniform stood upright on the deck. The pressure radiating from him was suffocating.
"The Heir to the Devil, Douglas Bullet!"
"He actually came!"
"Straw Hat Luffy is waiting for him; this is going to be an incredible fight!"
The onlookers whispered, some swallowing their nerves while others grew excited. Bullet glanced at the nearby warship where Kizaru and Fujitora stood, merely snorting in response.
Fujitora smiled, his voice deep. "I sense a strong killing intent. This person is terrifying, and the scent of blood on him is overwhelming. He is a monster who has taken countless lives."
Kizaru lost his usual sloppy demeanor, nodding solemnly. "Indeed. He is called the Heir to the Devil for a reason. This guy is dangerous."
Bullet then looked toward Hawkeye and Crocodile, his gaze lingering on Crocodile for a brief second. Only he knew the truth of their past $50/50$ stalemate, and he had no intention of sharing it. He considered Hawkeye a target for another time, but his focus finally landed on the Straw Hat crew.
He locked eyes with Carl and Luffy—the two he intended to kill. He was eager to see exactly how strong this boy was.
"Douglas Bullet!"
Luffy suddenly roared, "My name is Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will be the Pirate King! I know you want to surpass Roger, but first, you have to beat me! I have been waiting for you—come on!"
The audience erupted in an uproar. This was a battle for the title of Pirate King. Morgans, hiding in the sky, laughed wildly as he plotted his exclusive report.
Bullet grinned, his laughter manic. "Hahahaha! You are interesting, brat, and you certainly have plenty of Haki! But you are still far behind Roger! Today, I will kill you and then dismantle the rest of your crew. These so-called new Emperors are just a flash in the pan—I hope you do not cry when the beating starts!"
"Too much talk! Hit me or get out of the way!"
Luffy unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki. Bullet laughed, releasing his own in response. The two forces collided in mid-air, shaking the entire island. The sea churned violently, threatening to trigger a massive tsunami.
Carl quickly escorted the others to the ship to keep them clear of the battlefield. The ensuing duel would be earth-shattering, and any interference would only cheapen the clash. Still, to guard against cowards, Carl secretly kept a small black blade manifested, ready to protect Luffy.
Crack! Purple lightning fractured the air as the two Conqueror's Haki clashed.
Boom! The very foundation of the sea seemed to reach its end.
Luffy and Bullet stared each other down. Neither would yield, both pouring their full power into the clash. The deserted island groaned under the pressure, appearing as though it might be torn apart at any second.
"Gear Second! Gomu Gomu no..."
"Jet Gatling!"
------------------------
While this story unfolds here chapter by chapter, the complete journey—from beginning to end—is already waiting on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Mythic_Muse