"...Such a powerful attack. Seems like that Hancock or whatever was taught by the same master." Douglas Bullet's lips curled into a vicious grin. "How… interesting!"
"Ahh, truly worthy of the legendary genius—the Demon's Heir, Douglas Bullet… As a former member of the Roger Pirates who openly roamed the seas, you are indeed a warrior shocking enough to leave anyone in awe."
Stella drifted weightlessly in midair like mist.
But between her brows burned unrestrained fighting spirit.
As Garp's final disciple, Stella lacked Conqueror's Haki, so she was slightly weaker than Hancock, who had mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion…
But among all of Garp's disciples…
She was the one who inherited his true essence the most.
Even if Hancock used Conqueror's Haki Infusion and attacked at full power… she could only barely win against Stella—about a 60–40.
And without using Conqueror's Haki Infusion…
It would be less than 20–80.
It could be seen: whether one possessed Conqueror's Haki made a tremendous difference in their upper limit.
But…
Conqueror's Haki was not absolute.
Just like Bullet before them…
His most iconic fighting method was fully merging his Haki with his body—gaining hardening, and massively boosting strength and speed.
Though it looked like simple Armament Haki coating, it was far more profound.
This was one of the reasons he was called "Demon's Heir."
His body, pitch-black with purple aura, looked like a demon from hell.
Although this Haki application could not be used on the huge robot made through the Clank-Clank Fruit due to the sheer energy required…
It was still an extremely rare Armament Haki variant.
In truth, aside from Bullet, no one else had ever achieved this.
But everything had limits…
He possessed a truly "unique" Armament Haki usage—
Yet Bullet had never learned Conqueror's Haki Infusion…
Even though on Roger's ship he had been second only to the Pirate King's two right hands.
The one who inherited that power instead… was Red-Haired Shanks.
This had long become Bullet's inner demon.
"Genius? At this point, it feels like you're calling me an idiot to my face." Bullet let out a cold laugh. The hundred-meter-tall combined robot creaked.
"If I were a genius, why am I still not the strongest? 'Genius'… is nothing but consolation for losers."
"If even you aren't a genius, then what does that make the rest of us?" Crocodile re-formed at Stella's side. "Trash?"
Of everyone here, Crocodile understood Bullet most intuitively.
He had once faced the young, fearless Bullet—untouched by inner demons.
Their battle back then ended in a draw.
But Crocodile knew… if it had gone to a true life-or-death fight…
He would almost certainly have died.
"Whether you're trash or not doesn't matter—do you understand?" Bullet's voice carried an eerie danger. "What matters is… I want to kill every last one of you!"
"You all know what Devil Fruit Awakening is, right? At least heard of it—or achieved it yourselves."
"Then next… I'll show you what the strongest fruit really is!"
"Logia? Conqueror's Haki Infusion? ALL OF IT CAN DIE!"
"ACTIVATE!"
As soon as he spoke, the medium-sized Bullet Robot released another wave of bizarre adhesive substance.
His target…
Was the countless nearby pirate ships—and the seawater.
When he was defeated by the Buster Call long ago… this was the form he used.
But back then he had far fewer materials to combine.
Now, aside from hundreds of steel battleships…
He wrapped Armament Haki around the adhesive secretions from the Clank-Clank Fruit—
Allowing him to incorporate seawater itself.
Thus… his materials became limitless.
Stella reacted instantly. She and Crocodile exchanged a look—strike first!
They weren't idiots who would sit and wait for the final boss to transform.
But—
"You think I'll let you interrupt Bullet?"
A blood-red figure flashed past, chilling blade-light forcing Crocodile back instantly.
Having transformed into his Vampire Form, Red the Aloof blocked the two of them at absurd speed.
Though covered in smoke burns and lightning-charred wounds…
They were healing rapidly.
And Red the Aloof…
Looked even younger.
Stella instinctively looked toward Smoker and Enel.
Though they had few injuries…
They looked visibly older.
"The Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire can speed up aging by drinking the opponent's blood… and put them to sleep," Red the Aloof said, with some surprise. "But your companions are impressively strong-willed… Even under aging and sleep effects, they're still barely conscious…"
Smoker and Enel arrived a moment later.
"Sorry… Didn't understand his fruit ability and got caught off guard."
"But don't be fooled by how energetic he looks… He's barely holding himself together."
Stella nodded. Accidents in a battle were the norm.
But even in the short moment Red the Aloof blocked them—
Bullet's awakened Clank-Clank transformation was nearly complete.
The recombined super-gigantic monster…
Looked like an island made of steel and seawater.
And this… was without the More-More Fruit enhancement.
At the base, Byrnndi World had already closed his eyes.
"You people are insane…"
"But luckily, I'm not normal either."
He smiled faintly.
"Multiply… Hundredfold!!"
In an instant—expanding with the wind!
Even the sea could no longer support the monstrous mass.
It sank into the ocean—
Yet two-thirds still towered above the surface!
Estimated height…
Over 30,000 meters.
Not quite as tall as Zunesha… but not far off.
"So this is the shock of two Paramecia awakenings combined…?"
Stella looked up at the giant that pierced the clouds…
Only two words remained in her mind—
Natural Disaster.
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg