A brilliant crescent-shaped moon seemed to sail across the sky as sharp sword energy rippled through the void. Its target: the ruptured gap in the giant's arm, struck moments ago by Marco. The sword's glow was dazzling, its power saturating the air. Then, a white flash—light exploded. A crack opened in the giant's arm, splitting like the metal plates of a titan, fragments falling away as the whole island trembled with a thunderous roar.
Nearby, Hawkeye sheathed Heidaoye without a word, his expression grave. Behind Kizaru, Momousagi's brow furrowed in concern. "Is it enough?" he muttered. "All that weaponry is overwhelming, but compared to a single, powerful adversary, it still feels thin."
"And," another voice added, "when something grows that big, its strength rises—but it becomes slower, easier to hit. It's turning into a massive living target."
"Compared with Kaito, that giant is nothing," Weasel chimed in, voice wavering. "Kaito's strength… his giant form was on a completely different level."
"Indeed," Momousagi agreed quietly. "Kaito didn't just have offense and defense—he had lightning-fast reactions. He was incomparable."
But Kizaru raised a hand to stop them. "Forget that for now. Take down the giant first—then recover the Eternal Pose."
"Understood," Momousagi replied sharply.
Suddenly, the sky-white aura around Bullet surged. His laugh echoed wildly from within the sprawling form of the giant. "As long as I exist, Death cannot touch me!"
The giant's feet lifted, casting a black shadow that stretched a hundred meters across the ground. With terrifying force, it stomped down on Katakuri as though he were a mere pebble.
Katakuri didn't flinch. His expression stayed calm as his arms bulged, morphing into two massive totem-like columns, ready to meet the colossal threat head on.
A gigantic roar echoed, the sky quaked, and a furious storm erupted between the two figures, sweeping across the island.
Bullet's eyes gleamed with wild confidence. "You really think you can stop me with raw strength? You're far weaker than you imagine!"
At his words, the giant's power exploded. But Katakuri's right eye shone red—and in an instant, he vanished, moving so fast it was like teleportation.
Boom!
The ground shattered under immense pressure, and the giant's shadowed foot landed with a world-shaking impact, leaving a massive crater behind.
Meanwhile, the broken arm of the sky-covering giant pulsed with dark blue energy, veins of light wrapping around it as if healing itself. Suddenly, a chant echoed in the air.
Sword energy spiraled out in iridescent purple crescents, slicing through those blue lines of power with brilliant intensity. "I'm sorry," Momousagi said with a steady voice, sword in hand, "but I can't let you recover."
"You're persistent," Bullet cursed from within his massive form.
From above, Marco's voice rang out softly. "So, the Marines are really joining in now."
Dobberman snorted in response.
Tea Dolphin pointed toward Luffy and the others fleeing below. "Kizaru-san, do those mice want us to catch them?" she asked.
Kizaru's eyes narrowed. "They're badly hurt. Their ships—both island and pirate—were absorbed into Bullet's power. Our Marines control those fragments now. They can't get away."
He paused disgustedly. "Clean up Bullet first. This mess… this is personal."
On the field, the giant version of Bullet loomed, its broken arm glowing. Its eyes glowed like living lanterns as it scanned the battlefield.
Suddenly, Bullet's flexible, spring-like arms erupted like snakes, coiling around his massive legs. At the same moment, blue flames burst from Marco's body, shooting through the air like a blazing comet, aiming for the giant's leg.
A piercing war cry rose. Blue flames coalesced and formed razor-sharp claw-like appendages, slicing the air itself. "Sing!" Marco's voice rang.
In perfect harmony, Momousagi brought his sword to bear once again. The sword light flashed, energy surged—and the giant's massive legs tore apart, splitting cleanly in two.
It was flawless teamwork, like old comrades long reunited.
Boom!
Without support from one leg, the enormous blue giant crashed to the ground.
It was the opening they needed.
Without hesitation, every master on the field—Tea Dolphin, Momousagi, Weasel, Katakuri, and Marco—launched their attacks. They roared in unison, focusing their power on the giant's belly.
Blue flames lingered around Margao as his consciousness elevated, summoning a giant bird wreathed in azure fire—a phoenix reborn from the ashes. It hurtled toward Bullet's form, striking with divine ferocity.
Katakuri wasn't far behind. His mochi surged, and six thick arms, gleaming metallically, formed pillars from the sky, crashing down with thunderous force.
On the Marine side, Momousagi led the charge. One by one, fierce sword energies emerged from his hand, raining down on Bullet like a relentless storm of blades.
Boom!
The battlefield erupted. The ground cracked, dust and debris whipped into a cyclone. The attack was volcanic in its ferocity.
Bullet's giant stomach, bombarded with indiscriminate power, was soon riddled with holes.
Click! Click!
Finally, with a tremendous explosion, the giant form disintegrated. A yawning pit opened beneath where he had stood—and Bullet plummeted into it.
From the darkness, Bullet emerged, chest heaving, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. He was wounded—but defiantly alive.
"Hehehe," he laughed. "So it's true… Two Emperors' top officers teamed up with the Marines to bring me down? Do y'all fear me?"
Marco shrugged, voice flat. "You were stubborn. Why didn't you just hand over the Eternal Pose earlier?"
"If you want it," Bullet growled, balled fist raised. "Then beat me to earn it." He revealed the Eternal Pose in his palm, his eyes glinting with defiance, showing no hint of compromise.
A crimson aura engulfed him, his skin turning an unnatural blood-red. Armament Haki flared violently, his gaze becoming a pair of burning red eyes. In an instant, his Devil Form erupted once more.
The small blue giant's body pulsated with wild Haki, the heavy aura rolling outward like a sea in turmoil, pressing down on the air around him.
"Huh! Huh!"
Two figures slipped out from behind Kizaru—one tall, with a spider-like grace; the other slender, his face scarred.
They were Momousagi and Chathon.
At the same moment, the Buster Call's five Vice Admirals, led by Weasel, advanced. The "Six-Style Shave" technique was activated, and they appeared before Katakuri in formation.
Above them, golden light filled the sky. Radiant particles swirled until Kizaru stood before Margao with a grim expression. "I think we should just watch this," he said quietly. "What do you think?"
Marco nodded, voice emotionless. "Yes. My priority is the Eternal Pose. Whether we seize it doesn't matter so much as proving our strength."
On the ground, Katakuri frowned, solemn. "So, the Marines want to claim it for themselves," he said. "We won't let that happen."