_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The warship pulled away from Dressrosa. Shipwright Kaku spun the wheel, checked the eternal pose in his hand, and set course for Punk Hazard.
"Douglas Bullet… that man is terrifying," Crocodile muttered. "He's also the strongest opponent I've ever met since going out to sea."
Remembering that battle weighed down his voice. Even as a Logia Sand-Sand Fruit user, Bullet had been the toughest foe he'd ever faced. That fight ended without a victor—and in a way, Crocodile's name spread across the seas because of it.
"Sounds like that fight carved itself into your bones," Kyle smiled.
"If we can get him on our side, our strength would skyrocket," Crocodile said, taking a long drag from his cigar before exhaling. "Whatever you're planning for the future, you'll need stronger people at your back."
Since regaining his broken memories, Crocodile had begun to understand just how ambitious his superior—this young Rear Admiral—really was. And spending time with Kyle had gradually made him respect that powerful aura and overwhelming strength.
Kyle was young, about the same age as him, yet already one of the world's top-tier fighters. How far would he go in the future? It was impossible to imagine.
"You seem to know what I'm planning?" Kyle glanced over with interest.
"I can't guess it, but I know you're not the type to sit quietly," Crocodile said with a faint grin as he blew out smoke.
"Little Sand… after merging those memories, this change in you has been quite a surprise," Kyle said with real emotion.
Before losing his memory, Crocodile was every bit the classic pirate—idealistic, cold, ruthless. After the amnesia, he'd become righteous, gentle, even kind. Now, with both sets of memories combined, he'd become something entirely new: a Marine with his own brand of justice, ambition for the future, and the willingness to use harsh methods when needed.
For Kyle, this version of Crocodile would make many things much easier.
"But for now, you just need to play your role as a Marine properly," Kyle said with a small smile.
Crocodile nodded, cigar between his fingers.
They arrived at Punk Hazard five days later.
The island now looked nothing like the version in the original story. It was barren yet lush with forests, filled with wild beasts. From the center of the island, faint smoke drifted upward—someone was definitely camped there.
"Little Sand, just the two of us is enough," Kyle said.
Crocodile nodded. "We're not here to fight, after all."
Kyle jumped off the ship, leaving footprints in the sand as he walked toward the island. Crocodile followed close behind.
Moving deeper into the forest, guided by the column of smoke, they soon spotted a group of silent, gloomy-looking pirates gathered around a campfire.
At the center sat a massive, hulking man—like an iron tower. But what truly froze the air around him were his eyes. Ghostlike. Predatory.
Douglas Bullet. The Devil's Heir.
Sensing their approach, Bullet and the others lifted their heads. When they recognized the newcomers, shock flashed across their faces, replaced by cold hostility.
"Sand—Crocodile," one pirate spat. "Rumor is you joined the Marines. Looks like it's true."
Most eyes were on Crocodile. Only Bullet stared at Kyle—his pupils tightening, a dangerous light flaring to life.
Then his lips twisted into a grin.
"So I finally get to see you again… Kyle!"
The moment he spoke, a violent, overwhelming force roared through the air. Bullet's Conqueror's Haki twisted the space around them, rattling the leaves in the forest.
Crocodile's expression hardened. The pressure was immense, yet noticeably weaker than the presence he'd felt from Kyle before. When it came to the sheer force of will behind their Haki, Bullet was far behind his superior.
Bullet's eyes burned red with fury and frustration that had been festering inside him all this time. All he could see was Kyle—nothing else.
He would never forget that battle. It had haunted his dreams ever since.
Not even when he'd fought Roger had he suffered a defeat so humiliating.
One punch. Just one punch had knocked him unconscious and ended the fight.
A low hum rippled through the air as Bullet's Haki warped the space, flooding everything in a purplish-blue aura. The air grew heavy and suffocating.
"I've waited a long time for this," Bullet growled. "Today, I'm wiping away that shame."
He slowly stood, his mouth twisting into a feral grin, knuckles cracking like gunshots.
Crocodile exhaled a slow breath of smoke, face tensing. Bullet was terrifying. Worse than before, stronger than when they last fought.
How are you planning to tame this… demon? he wondered, glancing at the calm Kyle beside him.
And then—an instant later—Crocodile's heart jolted. A violent shockwave blasted outward from Kyle. A ring of raw, explosive pressure burst from him, sweeping across the island in the blink of an eye.
The purplish-blue aura shattered and was instantly devoured by a blackish-red tide. Cracks split across the ground, rocks snapped apart, and trees groaned under the weight of the force.
It was Conqueror's Haki far more oppressive, far more terrifying than Bullet's—pressing down on everyone present.
Several pirates around Bullet collapsed silently, knocked out cold by the pressure alone.
Kyle smiled.
"Bullet," he said. "I'm not here to fight you."
He extended his right hand toward the giant.
"I like your style. Come join me. Be a Marine under my command."
Crocodile froze, then pinched the bridge of his nose.
This is the plan? This is how he's trying to recruit an unbreakable monster?The method was… terrible.
Sure enough, Bullet burst out laughing—angry, wild laughter.
"Make me your subordinate? Beat me fair and square first!"
Kyle laughed too, cracking his knuckles.
"Oh, that's the easy part."
"..."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________