One month after the end of the Battle of Edd War,
the Roger Pirates enjoyed a rare stretch of peace, except…
"Bang—"
"Bullet's still as reckless as ever."
Knowing he can't win yet still fighting to the death—that's a stupidity called stubbornness.
Aos felt the words fit the current Douglas Bullet perfectly.
What made him think Gol D. Roger was someone a kid not even twenty could defeat? Charging in without even mastering Conqueror's coating, getting one-shot every time.
Watch long enough and everyone aboard gets used to it.
All thought the farce would go on forever—until a landfall by the Roger Pirates.
After Bullet was once again cleaved away in a single slash, his expression wasn't the usual. It was as if he'd made up his mind,
and only Aos noticed.
"Leaving, Bullet?"
Aos chewed a ham stick, leaned on the doorframe, and watched Bullet pack.
There wasn't much to pack—just a few clothes, some headphones, and a bit of treasure.
"Mm…"
Bullet turned and faced the one whose strength he acknowledged. "Roger's time is short. I no longer have hope of surpassing him in this life. It's time to go."
"So what's your plan next?"
Aos asked, though he already knew Bullet's choice.
As the final boss of the film "Stampede," Bullet's power was beyond question—practically a perfectly balanced all-rounder,
the man dubbed the "Heir of the Devil" after facing multiple Buster Calls.
Gear Fourth Luffy looked feeble before him; Supernovas were toys in his hands.
What struck Aos most was that oceanic Armament Haki—enough to blanket half an island.
But then Bullet took a wrong path—fixating on a colossal combined titan, the dead end of "bigger yet not stronger," a sitting target for everyone.
If he'd studied Conqueror's coating instead of "oceanic Armament and giants," he'd have been at least Yonko baseline.
"Plans? Not sure—probably get stronger first."
"And after you're stronger?"
"Challenge the next 'strongest in the world.'"
Bullet spoke with conviction, glancing at Aos as he did—leaving Aos momentarily stunned.
"Will you become someone who surpasses Roger, Dotor Aos?"
"Uh… don't tell me you're planning…"
Aos raised a brow, a bad hunch prickling. He half-regretted coming to see Bullet off.
"I can see your spirit and talent—not beneath anyone's. When you step onto the world stage, maybe we can fight again."
"Eh? I don't want to shoulder anything for Captain Roger… go fight Shanks."
Bullet didn't answer, but Aos could read his eyes—there'd been no change of heart.
But still,
Roger leaves and then you come for me—how's that make sense?
Aos figured he might well become one of the world's strongest down the line, but that didn't mean he liked inviting trouble.
They knew each other, after all. Killing Bullet for challenging him would be going too far.
But even if he won, he'd get stuck with the guy—like Bullet lingering on Roger's ship: a small challenge every three days, a big one every five. Annoying as hell.
After a short chat, Bullet left of his own accord once they made port. Surprisingly, no one tried to stop him.
(Chapter not finished; please click next page to continue reading) Chapter 14: Will You Be the Next Strongest in the World? Aos! (Page 2/2)
Even Captain Roger only watched him go.
Aos was no exception—Bullet had never truly been one of them.
He didn't believe in comrades, only his own absolute might. That clashed with everyone else's creed aboard; going separate ways was only a matter of time.
Besides, even if Bullet didn't leave, the crew would dissolve in two years anyway.
Rayleigh stood at the rail, watching Bullet's silhouette fade in the sunset. Any sentiment was cut short by Aos.
"Vice-Captain, when will you teach me Conqueror's coating?"
"You little brat…"
At that, Silvers Rayleigh's mood evaporated. He rubbed his temples, regretting the offhand promise he'd once made.
"There's no 'trick' to that power, Aos. Your Haoshoku has to reach sufficient strength first."
"Eh? Then how do I get it strong enough?"
"As your overall strength rises, your spirit will follow. It's still too early.
Prodigies who awakened Haoshoku in childhood aren't unheard of—but have you seen anyone that young using Conqueror's coating?"
Well, uh…
Aos had no comeback. Thinking it over, it was true.
Whether Doflamingo, Ace, Yamato, or Katakuri—
some awakened even earlier than Aos, and yet by middle age still couldn't wield coating.
In the New World, those with Haoshoku are as common as carp, but those who can coat? Only a handful of thunderous names.
Maybe that power truly leans on talent.
After a long silence, Aos let go of the fantasy of mastering coating at twelve.
Rayleigh wasn't just placating him, though—he explained how, once Aos's Haoshoku was sufficient, to wrap it around body or blade like Armament,
the gist being: here's the technique; whether you can pull it off is on you.
As a bonus, it even included tips on Divine Departure—how coating complements supreme-grade swordsmanship—useful learning for Aos.
Buggy and Shanks watched from not far away.
Seeing Aos and the vice-captain discuss things they couldn't yet touch, the two had the same thought:
Would they ever catch up to this guy…?
"What are you two looking at?"
Aos came up and slung an arm around both their necks, grinning as he asked.
"Nothing… Captain Roger said to hurry the resupply—we're sailing for the next destination."
"Where?"
"Wano Country."
Wano… without noticing, they'd already sailed this far?
Seems the "finish line" was truly close.
"My time's running short, Aos."
Behind the trio, Captain Roger walked up smiling and ruffled the interns' hair, not a hint of the gloom or defeat a dying man might have.
"Go test yourselves on some islands in the latter half of the New World. Who knows—maybe you'll find a surprise."
Aos had no words.
Because the result was that Roger really did, in his remaining time, find the place and the people who could read the Poneglyphs.
Guess it was all fate's guidance.