As the saying goes, two fists are hard to beat with four hands, let alone thousands of arms. Douglas Bullet, the "Demon Heir," found himself facing an overwhelming force of countless enemy soldiers.
Forced into a corner, Bullet activated his Armament Haki to its fullest, reinforcing his entire body in an impenetrable black sheen. His chilling aura alone made weaker soldiers tremble, their breath hitching in their throats.
"My God, it's terrifying... Is this the true strength of the two of them?"
"Monsters... they're all monsters! I—I can't keep watching, my head feels like it's going to explode!"
The battle between Bullet and the Marine general escalated to an intensity far beyond the initial clash. The sheer pressure of their duel churned the entire sea surrounding the Prodence Kingdom, sending towering waves crashing against the shores. Even deep-sea creatures instinctively fled from the battlefield, sensing imminent destruction.
The Marine general was relentless, launching precise and devastating attacks. However, Bullet's mastery of all three types of Haki, combined with his monstrous physical prowess, made him nearly untouchable. His Observation Haki allowed him to anticipate attacks, while his Armament Haki ensured his defense remained unshaken.
Realizing he could not gain the upper hand, Bullet decisively activated his Devil Fruit ability—the Gasha Gasha no Mi. The surrounding earth and debris converged upon him, forming an enormous battle colossus.
"Hmph, child's play!" The general scoffed and struck first, his attacks tearing through the newly formed giant like paper.
Yet, with a deafening roar, Bullet infused his creation with advanced Armament Haki, solidifying it to an unparalleled hardness. The general's strikes no longer shattered the titan so easily.
From within his armored colossus, Bullet unleashed a devastating punch. Feeling the force behind it, the general had no choice but to retract one of his golden energy arms, manifesting a shimmering light shield reinforced with Haki.
For a moment, the battlefield stood still as the two titanic forces clashed in a deadlock.
"Phew... this is the most intense battle I've ever seen."
"The general must win... It's our only hope!"
"Is that Bullet's true power? Even against the general, look at the shockwaves! If we were hit directly, we'd be obliterated!"
Away from the battlefield, the citizens of the Prodence Kingdom huddled at a safe distance, some using binoculars to glimpse the colossal fight unfolding before them.
"Don't celebrate just yet! This is merely one of Caesar's men. If they were truly planning to conquer our kingdom, wouldn't their full force already be here?"
Among the crowd, sharp-minded individuals quickly realized the truth—this was a test, a skirmish before the real battle began. The World Government had only sent a single general, knowing one alone wasn't enough to stop Caesar's forces. Likewise, Caesar had only dispatched Bullet. The real power struggle had yet to unfold.
On the battlefield, a sudden golden radiance erupted from behind the general, pulsing with an aura of serenity. Bullet immediately sensed it—an energy unlike anything he had faced before. It was a presence of absolute compassion, reminiscent of a Bodhisattva embracing all life.
The instant this power emerged, Bullet's battle frenzy wavered slightly. His mind, for the first time in years, hesitated.
But his warrior instincts screamed in defiance. He immediately unleashed his Haoshoku Haki, flooding the battlefield with raw dominance. The mysterious influence on his mind weakened significantly, proving the limitations of his opponent's power.
Observing from afar, Caesar's eyes gleamed with interest. "A power that affects the mind? This ability... it's an Animal-type Mythical Zoan, without a doubt."
Flipping through his vast knowledge of Devil Fruits, Caesar quickly identified the general's power—
"The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Senju Kannon."
A Mythical Zoan, comparable in rarity and might to the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Angel. A fruit not just of raw power, but also of divine resilience and mind-affecting abilities.
"This fruit must be mine."
With this conclusion, Caesar made his move. Seeing a critical opening in the battle, he stepped onto the battlefield with overwhelming presence.
"Look! Caesar has arrived!"
"It's the Heavenly King!"
"It's over... We had no chance before, but now... now it's truly hopeless!"
Soldiers and civilians alike despaired. If Bullet alone was nearly unstoppable, how could they hope to resist Caesar himself?
Even Bullet remained silent, knowing exactly what his master intended. Rather than resisting, he fought even more ferociously, understanding that his true role was not just victory, but securing the fruit for Caesar.
The battle raged on, but with the combined might of Caesar and Bullet, the Marine general was inevitably pushed into a purely defensive position. Despite his prowess, he was slowly but surely losing ground.
Days later, the exhausted general finally faltered, and in that crucial moment, Caesar and Bullet struck in perfect unison—sealing his defeat. Shackled in Seastone, the general was officially captured, and with his fall, the Prodence Kingdom succumbed to Caesar's rule.
In the aftermath, Caesar addressed the kingdom's citizens with calculated words.
"Fear not, citizens. We have not come to conquer—we have come to liberate! Join the Central Kingdom, and I will ensure your safety and prosperity."
His promise, coupled with the reputation of the Central Kingdom's wealth and stability, quickly eased the resistance of the populace.
Meanwhile, deep within the fortress, Caesar prepared to extract the mythical fruit from his captive.
The Fake Avalokitesvara Fruit
Using precise methods perfected over years of study, Caesar successfully extracted the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Senju Kannon. Holding the Mythical Zoan in his hands, a rare smile crossed his face.
"Perfect..."
He had long envisioned the ideal Devil Fruit distribution among his children—Logias and Paramecias for his sons, and Mythical Zoans of the Hito Hito lineage for his daughters. These fruits not only enhanced physical prowess but also granted near-immortal resilience, ensuring his family's legacy would stand unshaken.
Kaido was living proof of the Mythical Zoan's endurance. No matter how many fatal injuries he sustained, he remained unbroken.
"My daughters must inherit this power."
Though he had secured the Asura Model of the Hito Hito no Mi, he hesitated in assigning it, knowing a better fit might still be out there. Now, with the Senju Kannon fruit in his grasp, the future of his lineage was clearer than ever.
Meanwhile, within the halls of the World Government, the Five Elders convened, their faces grim.
"This was merely meant to be a show of force," one muttered, "and yet... Caesar stole our strongest asset."
They had underestimated him once again. And in doing so, they had lost a Devil Fruit of immeasurable value.
Caesar had won.
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