On the battlefield, the sky seemed to tear open, lightning of red and blue weaving through the air as two Conqueror's Haki clashed, dividing the island into opposing storms.
"Nice Conqueror's!" Bullet growled, his voice laced with fierce anger.
"However," he added, narrowing his eyes, "just this Conqueror's isn't enough!"
With a tremendous boom, waves erupted and the ground quaked. The stalemate broke, and the two Conqueror's Haki spiraled outward, colliding fiercely. Around Bullet, his Haki churned like a raging sea, rolling and crashing in a tempest of willpower.
Crackle! Crackle!
Dark red lightning danced in the air.
The pressure swelled. From the center, Bullet's Conqueror's surged toward Katakuri until Katakuri's own aura was forced back, confined within a tight two-meter radius.
"Ka! Katakuri-san's Conqueror's can't match Bullet's?" Praline gasped in horror.
"Did he really fail?" Owen whispered, as if stunned beyond belief.
Everyone around was struck with shock.
On the field, Katakuri's calm, watery eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.
"Sure enough," he thought, "a mere Conqueror's clash isn't enough to stop him. If he's to be defeated, it must be by combat."
His face hardened. He fixed his gaze on Bullet, and quietly, war lit in his eyes.
Suddenly, Katakuri trembled. He blurred in a burst of afterimages; behind him, powerful limbs sprouted—six arms in total, thick and metallic, twisting out like a monstrous spider.
The air roared as each of those arms gathered force, shining with a fierce steel sheen. Wind howled around him, and each limb, brimming with strength, struck outward like oaken rubber.
Bullet's expression remained unconcerned, fearless. His own arms surged with power as his body hardened, turned jet-black like iron.
He launched his fist, blocking Katakuri's assault with brutal force.
Bang, bang, bang!
They clashed again, vicious and relentless. The earth ruptured where they struck. Soil shot upward, and trees, flowers, and plants were pulverized in their wake.
They looked like two colossal tyrannosaurs, crushing everything before them.
Though Katakuri fought with tremendous strength, the audience could sense Bullet was struggling. Not visibly retreating, but clearly on the defensive. Every time Katakuri attacked, Bullet didn't dodge—he just endured.
It confused everyone. Is he enjoying being hit? they wondered.
Katakuri's eyes darkened with tension. Neither of them had used their Devil Fruit ability — only Haki and sheer physical power. With each collision, Katakuri seemed to gain the upper hand. But for some reason, a shadow of unease lingered in his heart.
No distractions, he told himself. I know Bullet. Focus.
Meanwhile, Bullet, despite the pressure, remained steady. If one didn't know his past — the scarred face, the brutal reputation — one might think his attacks were unsuccessful. But they weren't.
Katakuri narrowed his eyes. What endurance… he thought. This is beyond normal.
The battlefield lay in dust. Both warriors stood apart, exhaustion and power intermingling in the air.
"Is this really the strength of Big Mom's second-in-command?" Bullet sneered. "Yet here we are."
Suddenly, the ground vibrated rhythmically. Footsteps came, strong and ordered. Katakuri and Bullet both turned.
Wave after wave of biscuit warriors, armed and disciplined, marched forward like a phalanx.
"Reinforcements?" Bullet smirked. "Ah, Cracker. The famous Cracker, one of the Sweet Commanders."
The regiment's leader emerged — Cracker — flanked by a wall of his loyal cookie warriors.
"Cracker!" Katakuri said, a hint of reluctance in his voice. He preferred to fight alone, unlike his siblings.
"Katakuri-san," Cracker called out. "I know your pride, but this isn't the time for honor. Powerful forces are here. We must take him down quickly — or snatch the Eternal Pointer back."
Katakuri frowned. "Who exactly are we fighting?" he asked.
"Plenty," Cracker said, voice tight. "The Shichibukai — Empress Boa Hancock, Hawkeye — and worst of all, the Marines. Admiral Kizaru is here, along with Alternate Admirals Momousagi and Tokikake, and five Vice Admirals from a Buster Call force. It's chaos."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "If we don't stop Bullet soon… things will get much worse."
Katakuri nodded once, sharply. "Then let's end this fight quickly — before the Marines arrive."
"Hmm," Cracker agreed.
At his signal, the biscuit warriors raised their weapons, advancing steadily. Each step was confident, unified.
Bullet laughed coldly. "Using these useless iron tools on me? You misjudge me terribly."
Then, he unleashed a raw, brutal surge of power. His aura exploded outward like an arrow in flight, charging at Cracker's line.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground buckled with each impact. The storm of power roared. Bullet's fists, powerful as meteors, smashed into the cookie warriors. They shattered, crumbling under his blows, as if made of brittle sugar rather than soldiers.
Cookie fragments flew everywhere as the massacre continued. It felt like a sea of blood, but worse — a sea of broken dreams.
Another roar. The black whip-like leg of Katakuri or maybe Bullet's aura swiped across the ground, obliterating more warriors.
Suddenly, darkness blanketed the sky, and two massive fists — enormous, crushing — descended like meteors.
Bullet disappeared in an instant.
Boom!
A deafening sound shook the island. The ground where he'd stood folded inward, crushed under the weight of those shadowy fists.
"Not bad… not bad at all," Bullet said, his voice resonating with exhilaration and madness. "This is the battle I've wanted."
A malicious aura filled the air — blood seemed to drip from it, though no one could be sure. Still, the area within a hundred meters was engulfed in a macabre haze, like a crimson ocean.
Katakuri and Cracker glanced at each other, concern and shock on their faces. It was clear: Bullet's strength was still rising.
Red light coalesced around him. His eyes glowed scarlet, and his dark-blue weapon seemed to hum with his power. His aura was vicious, feral — like a demon king reborn.
"Congratulations," he said softly, yet every word carried weight. "You are the first to witness my true peak."
A faint, chilling smile curved his lips. "This is the result of my fusion of ghost and Haki state."
_____
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