Douglas Bullet, user of the Gasha Gasha no Mi.
This fruit granted Bullet the ability to 'assemble' himself with most inanimate objects.
For example, his pirate ship, the [Catapult], or soil, bricks, stones, even an entire island.
It could be said that if Impel Down's building materials weren't mixed with Seastone, he could have merged with the entire prison the moment his Seastone shackles were removed.
His mastery of the Devil Fruit's Ability had long reached the Awakening level.
It was precisely because of this that Bullet was able to perform his next move.
"Brat, I acknowledge your strength."
As he spoke, Bullet once again covered his body with Haki. But unlike before, this time the purple-black Haki covering Bullet's body rapidly dissipated...
No, it 'merged' completely with his body!
Covering the body's surface with Haki and completely merging with Haki were not the same thing.
Bullet's already robust physique instantly became even stronger, even reaching a somewhat terrifying degree.
His skin color also turned completely dark blue. Combined with his ferocious smile, he looked like a devil climbing out of hell.
Demon Form!
This was precisely the origin of Bullet's epithet, [Demon Heir].
"But next-"
The last word of Bullet's voice faded into the distance, and the next instant, he abruptly appeared in front of Naruto.
"-Don't die on me!"
Facing the oncoming Bullet, Naruto showed no intention of retreating.
He didn't even dodge or evade, meeting the other's attack head-on. Simultaneously, his own fist was covered with a thick layer of Haki.
Boom!!
Two loud booms sounded almost simultaneously, so much so that they seemed like just one.
Their fists had now solidly hit each other.
Naruto's forehead bore a fist several times larger than his head, yet he only tilted his head back slightly.
Bullet's chest, however, was dented by Naruto's punch, and the fist was now stuck in Bullet's muscles, unable to advance further.
"Not bad!"
"Ha!"
Both laughed simultaneously, and the next moment, their arms turned into a flurry of fist shadows.
Both possessed considerable Observation Haki, ensuring their fists could accurately hit the opponent during the exchange.
But at the same time, neither made any attempt to dodge the other's incoming fists.
...As if dodging would mean admitting defeat in terms of spirit.
Fists striking flesh sounded like giant bells being struck. The dispersed force even reached Redfield and Byrnndi World, who were watching from a distance.
"Ho… Such formidable physiques, truly enviable! It makes my hands itch too."
After saying this, Redfield also transformed into a red streak and charged forward.
Clang Clang Clang...
While continuing to trade punches with Bullet with one hand, Naruto actually found time to draw Mushoukou and exchange blows with Redfield.
"Get lost! Don't get in the way!"
The moment Bullet saw Redfield attacking Naruto, the exhilaration on his face turned to anger. Without thinking, he threw a punch at Redfield.
Bang!
Ting!
The first sound was the explosion of the bomb inside Bullet's flesh. However, since he was now completely merged with his Haki, the explosion was like shooting a bullet at his skin… utterly incapable of breaking his defense.
The second sound was Redfield's umbrella-sword precisely blocking Bullet's fist and deftly redirecting its force elsewhere.
It could be said that in terms of pure strength, the aged and physically weakened Redfield, even doubled, wouldn't come close to Bullet.
But when it came to combat skill, Redfield hadn't lived all those years for nothing.
"Since your restriction has been removed, I no longer have a reason not to attack you."
Redfield smiled confidently, then his umbrella-sword became a blur, simultaneously striking Bullet's forehead and neck.
Although it was still blocked by the terrifying physique, Redfield had proven his point.
Attacking Bullet now wouldn't trigger the bomb… not that Redfield was particularly afraid of it anyway.
"Then I'll deal with you first!"
Bullet roared, then his fist suddenly slammed downward. After Redfield dodged, a chain extended from somewhere, quickly wrapping around Redfield's calf, restraining him in place.
Redfield looked down and saw that, at some point, Bullet had merged his arm with the chain, granting himself a temporarily extendable 'body'.
Seeing this, Bullet decisively threw a powerful punch. Redfield, without the slightest hesitation, thrust the tip of his umbrella like a sword towards Bullet's eyeball.
If Bullet didn't change his action, no matter how strong his defense, he would lose an eye.
Of course, conversely, if Redfield took that punch head-on, he might lose half his life.
After all, he didn't have the physique of Bullet or Naruto.
"Hey hey! Don't ignore me, you two!"
Naruto's voice suddenly cut in. Blocking Bullet's fist with one hand, he simultaneously used his sword to precisely meet the umbrella tip with his own sword tip.
"Uzumaki Naruto, do you really think you can take on two of us at once?"
After his fist was blocked by a single hand, Bullet felt the immovable, mountain-like palm before his fist, and his face immediately showed displeasure.
Redfield took the opportunity to transform into an afterimage and leap back. He then looked at his umbrella tip, which had been partially severed, his eyes turning serious.
That wasn't an ordinary umbrella, but one made with special metals and reinforced with Haki.
'This kid really has some skill.'
"Kid, is that really what you think?"
While inwardly appreciative, the expression on Redfield's face also showed displeasure.
"I think… we can give it a try. Just like I said from the beginning, both of you, come at me together."
The tension between the three escalated once more. But at that moment, Byrnndi World, who had been ignored all along, completely snapped.
"Damn it! You bastards, what kind of joke is this?!"
Byrnndi World let out an unprecedented roar.
In his vision, Naruto, Redfield, and Bullet had transformed into the crew members who betrayed him and the Marines.
Old and new hatred nearly burned away the [World Destroyer's] already scarce reason.
So he threw caution to the wind, no longer caring about his limits, and fully unleashed the power of the Moa Moa no Mi.
Byrnndi World's already large frame expanded once more.
Soon, the horned helmet on his head was scraping against Level 6's ceiling. The completely enraged Byrnndi World paid no mind, desperately using his fruit to enhance himself further.
"Moa Moa... Million Giant!!!"
Unlike before, this time Byrnndi World didn't choose to amplify his speed. Instead, he multiplied his size, strength, and mass a hundredfold.
This way, his reflexes were sufficient to control this body in combat.
Completely indifferent to his horn decorations carving two deep gashes into the Level 6 ceiling, Byrnndi World decisively launched an indiscriminate attack on the three below.
This was terrible news for the [Level 5.5] Newkama Land.
"Yee-haw! What's going on!?"
The Revolutionary Army's officer and 'Queen' of the Kamabakka Kingdom, Emporio Ivankov, looked exaggeratedly at his subordinate, Inazuma.
However, the other clearly didn't know the cause of this sudden 'earthquake' that seemed intent on destroying the entire Level 5.5.
Back on the battlefield, detecting an attack on an 'ally', the bomb implanted in Byrnndi World's neck detonated.
But unfortunately, when Byrnndi World activated his ability, he didn't incidentally enlarge the bomb as well.
This resulted in the finger-sized bomb exploding within Byrnndi World's flesh, now several meters thick. The damage caused was probably less severe than a canker sore.
Looking at the mountain-like fist crashing down, the three below all showed expressions of pity.
They understood that the moment Byrnndi World, driven by rage, chose to break his limits and use his ability, the first one to be eliminated was already decided.
"...The old waves of the era."
Redfield nimbly sidestepped, avoiding the full of openings attack, then softly sighed.
Unlike Naruto and Bullet, who were still full of vitality and fighting fiercely, both he and Byrnndi World were perhaps nearing their time to exit the stage.
'In that case, let me bloom one last time.'
The next moment, the Red Count widened his eyes sharply, gripping his umbrella with one hand and holding it vertically in front of him, as if he had become a knight.