A tie! It was a tie yet again. Not only were their physiques, martial skills, and Haki evenly matched, but even their stamina had reached a stalemate. This reality shocked the spectators. Some were stunned by Luffy's strength; knowing how terrifying a figure like Bullet was, the fact that Luffy could stand toe-to-toe with him proved that his position as one of the Five Emperors was well-earned and absolute. Others were simply stunned by Bullet's power, as he had been imprisoned for 20 years, and few people truly understood the depth of his capability until they saw him draw against the current Luffy.
The Straw Hat crew held their breath, clearly nervous. Carl, however, remained unsurprised. He knew the strength of both fighters was within expected parameters, and he understood that the next phase would be the true test—the winner would be decided by whose ultimate technique proved superior.
"It seems the 'Devil Form' cannot defeat you; I must use my fruit's true power!" Bullet's tyranny radiated outward.
"What are you talking about? Did you not use your Devil Fruit ability just now?" Luffy asked, struggling to steady his breathing. He offered a smile and said, "Are you going to give it your all? If that is the case, I will do the same, or we will be fighting endlessly."
As he spoke, he wrapped his left forearm in Armament Haki, bit into his skin, and blew hard.
"Gear Fourth: Boundman!"
Luffy's body swelled instantly. His skin glowed with the red hue of Armament Haki, misty ribbons of energy floated around his shoulders, and his expression became as stern and angry as Fudo Myoko. When his feet touched the ground, he was immediately launched upward, demonstrating the terrifying level of elasticity he had achieved.
Bullet did not hesitate. He slammed one hand onto the ground, and the rocks and debris instantly began to assemble and combine, gathering in the blink of an eye into a massive, unparalleled giant.
"Large Bullet Form!"
The spectators stared blankly, many paralyzed by horror. This giant was so colossal that its body size was nearly half the scale of the island, and its head seemed to pierce the sky. Giants like Oars and massive battleships would be completely eclipsed by this figure.
"What kind of monster is this?" "The Combined-Combined Fruit is truly terrifying!" "How can anyone fight a guy like this? Where is Bullet? Why is he gone?"
Even on the Sunny, Usopp, Chopper, Nami, and Brook were agape; they had never witnessed such a sight, and their fear was palpable. Zoro and Law shared looks of concern. Although they had witnessed Pica's stone giant in Dressrosa, compared to this, that giant was like an infant standing before an adult. It was not on the same level at all.
"Jinbe, head to the sea! If the island is destroyed, be ready to salvage Luffy at any moment!" Carl commanded. "Get Momoo into the water as well—pull the ship away immediately, or we will be caught in the wake!"
The crew moved without delay. Jinbe dove into the water without hesitation, proving once again the value of having a powerful swimmer on the team. Momoo was thrown into the sea by Franky, immediately towing the Sunny and the submarine to safety. Seeing the Straw Hats' caution, Mihawk, Crocodile, and the nearby Marines followed suit, retreating to a safe distance.
However, some onlookers were foolish enough to stay, seemingly failing to grasp the scale of the impending destruction.
The moment Bullet's giant took shape, it slammed its fist downward without hesitation. Before the strike even made contact, the force of the punch created a hurricane, whipping up massive waves on the sea. The spectators who refused to flee were instantly swept away by the resulting surge.
"Boom!"
The giant fist landed, creating a deafening, thunderous explosion out of thin air. The onlookers watched in horror as half of the deserted island was instantly sunk by the impact. The surrounding sea was shaken so violently that a massive tsunami erupted on the spot, drowning those who had remained too close.
"Monster! This is scarier than Pluton!" someone shouted.
This comment caused Crocodile's face to darken. He had spent his life searching for the Ancient Weapon Pluton, never imagining that a single man could become a weapon of that caliber himself. If a punch from a strong man could sink an island, then his previous obsession with Pluton felt like a joke.
"Gomu Gomu no... King Kong Gun!"
Luffy retracted his massive, Haki-coated rubber fist deep into his body before launching it forward with the force of a terrifying projectile. The strike connected with the giant, but against such a massive structure, Luffy looked like an ant.
A roar echoed out as a small crack appeared on the giant's frame. Luffy's expression soured—he had dealt damage, but it was minimal. The giant was not just massive; it was completely coated in Armament Haki.
"Hiss! This Bullet is too scary!" the observers cried. "A giant several thousand meters tall, completely covered in Armament Haki? His Haki capacity is simply outrageous!"
The Straw Hat crew was particularly stunned, as they were all Haki users who understood that Haki reserves were finite; maintaining a full-body coating on a structure of that size was a feat beyond comprehension.