The combatants watched each other cautiously, neither side intervening in the skirmishes of the distant fighters. To them, the battles below were mere spectacles; only the Four Emperors truly warranted attention.
"Yo! Isn't that Katakuri? What? BIG MOM is after the Eternal Pointer too?" Marco sneered, crossing his arms.
"Mama wants it badly; otherwise, she wouldn't send us," Katakuri replied calmly. "Whitebeard seem interested either."
"No, no! Pops sent us here just for the fun of watching. You're different — with BIG MOM's temper, she must have issued a kill order!" Marco said bluntly.
Though the Four Emperors' crews — the Whitebeard Pirates, Red Hair Pirates, and others — were on relatively friendly terms, the BIG MOM Pirates and the Beasts Pirates had long-standing tensions. Their conflicts had simmered in recent years, and it was normal for them to exchange blows when meeting.
Boom!
A sudden shockwave shook the ground, sending participating pirates flying in a spray of blood. Margo and Katakuri's expressions shifted. They knew full well that none of the Supernovas were capable of causing such a disturbance. Something extraordinary had occurred.
Hum! Katakuri's right eye flared red.
"What did he see? Do you know who the opponent is?" Marco asked urgently. They were familiar with Katakuri's abilities.
"Humph! I think you already know what Brother Katakuri perceived," Cracker, hidden within his biscuit form, spat angrily.
"Cracker?" Diamond Jozu clenched his fists, frustration evident.
"Step aside, I'm not afraid of you!" Cracker retorted.
"Quiet, Cracker," Katakuri said coldly, his gaze intense. Then, his voice deepened with authority. "He is immensely powerful. You've seen him before — he's an old friend. He was a crewmember of the Roger Pirates, the legendary Bullet, a force comparable to Pluton Rayleigh!"
"Bullet? The one who sparked the sea riot back then?" Marco frowned. "Wasn't he captured by the Marines and imprisoned in Impel Down? How is he out?"
"I don't know," Katakuri said icily. "It seems he is the mastermind behind this Expo."
Marco wiped his forehead, the enormity of the situation sinking in. This individual's reputation rivaled even the greatest figures of the sea. Had it not been for that infamous riot, Bullet might have risen to the status of Emperor.
"Forget it. Since he's controlling events behind the scenes, let's stop this fight. Pops asked us to come, but you cannot interfere," Marco said with a small smile.
"We'll step back and allow the Eternal Pointer to fall into your hands. Good luck," Marco said, guiding the division captains back to the Whitebeard ship.
"Marco! Why? Why are we giving up?" Jozu growled, his voice filled with reluctance. The other squad leaders exchanged similar expressions; as powerful members of the Four Emperors, it was unthinkable to retreat at the mention of one person.
Marco's expression remained unreadable, his eyes sharp. "Jozu, you've been a pirate long enough. You must know who Bullet is."
"He's strong, yes. But we're no pushovers. Together, we can handle him," Jozu replied confidently.
"You understand his strength, but you have no idea how immense it truly is," Marco said, his voice heavy with memory. "Before that sea riot, Bullet fought Kaido on an unnamed island."
"Fought Kaido? Beasts Pirates? When? Why haven't I heard of this?" Jozu frowned.
Marco continued, "Pops sent a message, and I witnessed it firsthand on a deserted island. Their fight was terrifying. Neither used Devil Fruit abilities — only their raw bodies clashed. They battled for a full day and night."
"In the end, Bullet lost due to physical limitations. Kaido offered him a position among the Beasts Pirates as one of the Three Disasters, but Bullet refused and caused the ensuing chaos himself," Marco explained.
"So the mastermind behind Bullet's actions isn't him, but the Beasts Pirates?" Jozu asked, eyes narrowing.
"I don't know. I suspect the true mastermind is the one who freed Bullet," Margao said.
"The defenses of Impel Down are renowned across the seas. To release Bullet without alerting the Marines — even Kaido couldn't manage that," Jozu added in awe.
Marco's mouth twitched. "That's why we step back. If we can capture the Eternal Pointer, great. If not, our safety comes first. This year's Supernova alone are challenging enough; adding Bullet to the mix is unnecessary risk."
Treasure Island was in chaos. The once-lush island now bore the scars of violent clashes. Bullet's muscles tensed, radiating indifference as he surveyed the defeated Supernovas — including Luffy and Zoro, whose strength was still limited two years prior, before training with Rayleigh.
With a casual disdain, Bullet knocked them unconscious, rendering them powerless.
"This year's Supernova… what a waste of time. I haven't even had a chance to warm up," Bullet muttered, stepping on Urouge's head with contempt.
Humph! "Boring," he added, holding the Eternal Pointer in his hand. "I expected some worthy opponents, but it's just a bunch of children," he snorted coldly, dissatisfaction flickering across his expression.
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