"Why!?"
At the edge of Ice Island's massive crater, Bullet frowned as he stared into its pitch-black depths, confusion flashing across his face.
"I remember... you're a Mera Mera no Mi user, aren't you? So why didn't you use Elementalization to avoid my strike? You should've been able to dodge it."
His words echoed into the darkness. For a long moment, there was only silence—until, after several breaths, the sharp sound of cracking ice rang out from below.
"Cough... cough..."
"It's because... I don't like losing either..."
"Just like you, I'm chasing my own path to ultimate strength."
"Strength... speed... vitality... defense... Devil Fruit... swordsmanship... martial arts...Armament Haki... Observation Haki... Conqueror's Haki..."
"Even though a person's energy is limited, I still want to be the strongest in all of them."
"So even if I know I'm no match for you, I still want to see... just how wide the gap between us really is."
As his words ended, brilliant flames illuminated the crater. Yemu's figure rose once more, soaring from the depths.
This time, however, he truly looked battered. His clothes were shredded and tattered, steam rising around him as his bare, muscular body came into view.
But for the first time, Bullet no longer looked at Yemu with contempt. His eyes met Yemu's seriously—acknowledging him as a true opponent.
"Why... If you, like me, are chasing the path to ultimate strength, then you should know..."
"True strength can only exist in solitude."
"Comrades... only make you weak."
Bullet's tone was cold and firm. But Yemu glanced toward the distant Twin Goddesses and spoke calmly.
"That's because we prove our strength in different ways."
"What truly defines the ultimate path to strength?"
"Is it protecting your comrades—or abandoning them!?"
"I don't know the real answer!"
"But if someone as powerful as you believes that having comrades makes you weak..."
"Doesn't that just mean protecting them is a greater challenge than giving them up?"
"Then maybe your so-called path to strength... isn't the strongest at all!"
"The real path—the strongest path—is the one where you can protect your comrades!"
"And my comrades... they're not weak at all. They're people I can trust with my life!"
"!!!"
Bullet froze.
For a moment, his expression shifted as fragments of memory flickered in his eyes—memories of his days with the Roger Pirates, and the man known as Gol D. Roger.
Back then, he had asked himself that same question countless times.
Why? Why was Roger so strong?
Despite all his brutal training and endless battles, he could never reach him. The harder he tried, the wider the distance became—until Roger seemed completely untouchable, invincible.
In those days, he'd felt as if he was close to understanding something. The comrades on that ship—the laughter, the warmth, the bond—they'd made him feel a strength unlike any he'd known.
But then came the news of Roger's illness. Confusion, anger, and doubt clouded his heart.
And after Roger's death, unable to find the answer he sought, Bullet lost himself entirely. When he saw the headlines one day, he went mad—determined to kill the boy he'd once crossed paths with, to prove his belief right.
But now...
"No... I'm the one who's right... Companions only make people weak..."
At that moment, Bullet's mind fell into chaos. He refused to believe he was wrong—refused to accept defeat. His path of ultimate strength could not be questioned.
"Damn it... damn it... I'll kill you..."
"To think you made me show such a pathetic side of myself..."
His eyes turned blood-red, his body radiating an aura as menacing as a demon's. Armament Haki spread rapidly, coating his entire body.
It was clear—this time, Bullet was completely serious. The only thought left in his mind was to kill Yemu.
Yemu took a deep breath, clenching his fists as jet-black Armament Haki enveloped him once again.
"This is going to be a brutal fight."
"But even so... I still want to see how far my limits can go."
In an instant, a deafening roar shook Ice Island once more. The entire landmass began to crack apart as seawater rushed in and the ice slowly started to melt...
...
"Bulary, did you see that?"
"I saw it, but I can't make out much detail. You've got to be kidding me—the guy from the Sky Pirates is actually fighting Douglas Bullet on equal terms..."
Because the distance was too great, even with the Navy's upgraded propulsion systems vastly improving their speed, it would still take nearly an hour for the warship to reach the island at full throttle.
Right now, the only person aboard capable of seeing what was happening on the island was Bulary from CP9—the Shika Shika no Mi user.
When they heard Bulary's words, everyone on the Marine ship froze in disbelief.
"You're joking, right!? Bulary!!!"
"That man's strength rivals that of an Admiral! How could some criminal from the Sky Pirates possibly be that strong!?"
"I know..."
Bulary's voice trembled slightly with shock.
"It doesn't make sense. He's clearly outmatched—he keeps getting knocked down again and again—but somehow, he still manages to stand up and fight back. Those hits should kill an ordinary man instantly. Where is he getting that strength? That vitality... it's unreal..."
His astonishment spread through the crew, leaving every Marine on board speechless.
"Can you record it? Their entire battle?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru, sensing something terribly wrong, turned sharply toward Bulary.
"S-sorry, my ability doesn't work that way..."
A deep unease crept over Vice Admiral Tsuru's face. She barked an order toward the helmsmen.
"Hurry... increase our speed! We have to reach them!"
"I... I'm sorry, Vice Admiral Tsuru... the ship is already at maximum speed..."
"Damn it..."
Tsuru turned to Spandine, her tone sharp.
"Is there any way to get us there faster? Can the Doa Doa no Mi send us through?"
The CP9 agent named Pax looked embarrassed.
"Apologies, my power doesn't work like that. The Doa Doa no Mi can only open gates to places within sight, and this warship's just too big..."
Spandine, however, didn't share her urgency.
"Hehehe, relax, Vice Admiral Tsuru. Those two are fighting to the death. Wouldn't it be better to let them tear each other apart and pick up the spoils afterward?"
The logic was sound, but Tsuru couldn't shake the gnawing sense of dread in her chest.
"What is this feeling..."
Seeing that Tsuru didn't argue back, Spandine only grew more confident.
"Bulary, keep your eyes on them. Don't let them leave your sight for a second!"
"Understood."
But before Bulary could respond further, Gion's expression suddenly twisted in alarm, and she shouted out in warning.
"Watch out—!"
A deafening clap of thunder split the heavens, followed by a blinding flash of lightning that tore through the sky.
"Sorry... but I can't let you go any further, Marines..."
"El Thor!!!"