Late at night, the Oro Jackson was wrapped in silence.
Most of the crew were already asleep. Only the lookout on the mast-top was still awake, yawning as he kept watch.
The sea was calm as glass. Moonlight spilled across the deck, coating it in a soft silver sheen.
At the stern, Bullet sat cross legged, his right arm held in a half dragon form.
Black scales covered it all the way to the shoulder, and his five fingers had become hooked claws.
He was attempting to guide the Armament Haki he had sensed during the day onto the dragon scales themselves.
"Still not enough..."
Bullet frowned.
He could feel the power within him, but precise control remained difficult.
The scales alone were already monstrously tough. But if he could stack Armament on top of that...
"Cannot sleep, kid?"
The hearty voice came from behind him.
Bullet turned and saw Roger walking over with his captain's coat draped loosely over his shoulders and a bottle of liquor dangling from his hand.
His trademark broad grin was on his face.
"Captain."
Bullet gave him a small nod.
Roger dropped down beside him, pulled the cork from the bottle, took a long swig, then handed it over.
"Want some?"
Bullet accepted the bottle and tipped it back without a moment's hesitation.
The strong liquor burned its way down his throat, but he did not even flinch.
"Haha, good kid!"
Roger laughed.
"Rayleigh says you scared the hell out of Shanks today."
"Simulation, huh?"
"That is one interesting ability."
"It is only similar on the surface."
Bullet replied calmly.
"Shanks' sword intent is the result of years of polishing. I only copied the outer layer. I am still a long way from truly grasping it."
Roger stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly let his smile fade.
"Do you know why I let you on this ship?"
Bullet did not answer right away.
He set the bottle down. His dragonized right claw flexed slightly, scales scraping together with a faint rasp.
"Because you need a monster."
Bullet said.
Roger raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You are headed somewhere that requires overwhelming strength."
Bullet looked out over the dark sea.
"And I can grow stronger at a speed far beyond ordinary people."
"This is a trade. You give me a place to grow and people to learn from. I provide power."
Roger was silent for a moment.
Then he exploded into thunderous laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Interesting! That is so damn interesting!"
His laugh rang out across the night sky, startling a few seabirds into flight.
"You are right... and wrong."
Roger wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"I do need strong comrades."
"But more important than that..."
He stood up and walked toward the rail, turning his back to Bullet as he looked out at the sea.
"I saw the fire in your eyes."
"Not hunger for treasure. Not a craving for fame."
Roger turned back around, his gaze blazing.
"You want to be stronger than anyone."
"You want to stand at the very top."
"You want to... devour this world."
Bullet's pupils contracted.
"Relax."
Roger grinned.
"There is nothing wrong with that."
"We are pirates. Who does not have a bit of ambition?"
"Whitebeard wants a family. Shiki wants to rule the world... everyone craves something different."
He came back and sat down beside Bullet again.
"I like your honesty. And to be honest..."
Roger lowered his voice, a faint depth flickering in his eyes.
"This world is going to change very soon."
"We will need all kinds of monsters."
"The more, the better."
Something stirred in Bullet's chest.
"Captain, you mean..."
"Laugh Tale."
Roger spoke the name softly.
"The last island."
"We are already very close to it."
"But reaching it is not the end. It is the beginning."
He looked straight at Bullet.
"Once we find it, the World Government, the Marines, the pirates... every power in this world will be reshuffled."
"Monsters like you will find a stage of your own."
Bullet was quiet for a moment, then asked,
"What about you? What is your ambition?"
Roger's smile took on a deeper, more elusive meaning.
"I want to complete a voyage."
"I want... to live freely, and then die freely."
The two of them fell into a brief silence.
"So..."
Roger suddenly clapped Bullet on the shoulder.
"Get as strong as you can, kid."
"Use your own way to devour everything."
"When you feel this ship can no longer contain you, go sail out on your own."
Bullet met Roger's gaze head on.
"You are not afraid that I will become your enemy one day?"
"Enemy?"
Roger burst out laughing.
"That would make things fun."
"If you can really become that strong, I will welcome your challenge."
He stood up and stretched lazily.
"Alright, time to sleep."
"Tomorrow we are heading into a dangerous sea. They say there are gigantic Sea Kings there."
"Might be good nourishment for your ability."
Roger turned and started toward the cabins. Halfway there, he stopped and glanced back.
"Oh, right, Bullet."
"Remember one thing. Power is important, but finding comrades you can entrust your back to is just as important."
"That is the most valuable thing I have learned in all my years at sea."
With that, he waved and disappeared through the cabin entrance.
Bullet sat alone on the deck, looking at his dragonized right arm.
"Comrades, huh..."
He murmured under his breath.
Images flashed through his mind...
Rayleigh's serious expression while teaching him.
Shanks' excitement during their spar.
And even Buggy's teeth grinding, helpless face when his treasure was "borrowed."
He gave a small shake of his head, pushing those thoughts down for the moment.
Right now, the most important thing was getting stronger.
"Devour this world..."
Bullet repeated Roger's words, a faint curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
"That is a pretty good goal."
He closed his eyes again and sank his awareness inward.
Deep near his heart, the core pulsed slowly.
He could feel it. After crossing blades with Shanks and training his Haki perception...
The activity of the devouring core had risen another notch.
"Giant Sea Kings..."
A hint of anticipation flashed in Bullet's eyes.
"Let us hope they give me a proper feast."
In the moonlight, the black scales on his dragon arm gleamed with a dim, eerie luster.
On the deck, his shadow stretched out long and distorted, faintly taking the shape of some enormous creature.
Teeth and claws bared, as if it were about to swallow the entire night sky.