Before Dougs Bullet's figure could even hit the ground, Sengoku in his golden Buddha form unleashed a full-powered shockwave, sending it hurtling through the air and colliding directly with Bullet. Realizing there was no way to dodge, Bullet's battle-hardened instincts kicked in. His eyes sharpened as he enveloped his entire body in a thick yer of Armament Haki, transf himself into a human fortress of dark iron.

  The shockwave crashed into Bullet, sending him smashing into the earth below. Shards of rod debris erupted around him, scattering like shrapnel. Despite the searing pain, Bullet braced himself, pushing off the ground and propelling his battered form upward. Just as he regained his footing, a bright beam of light shot toward him, detonating the spot he'd just vacated in a fiery explosion. The attack came from her than Borsalino.

  Landing in a crouch, Bullet supported himself with one hand on the ground while wiping the blood from the er of his mouth with the other. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, the earlier impact having taken its toll.

  Before he could terattack, a voied from above. "Dog Biting Red Lotus!!!"

  Sakazuki desded from the sky, one arm transformed into molten magma shaped like the snarling head of a vicious dog. The intense heat radiated in waves as the Admiral aimed his attack straight at Bullet.

  Bullet's eyes glinted with rage, and his already massive frame seemed to expand even more. Without hesitation, he ched his fist, yered in Armament Haki, a Sakazuki's attack head-on. The fiery dog's head shattered uhe impact, revealing Sakazuki's ched fist, which collided directly with Bullet's own.

  The force of Bullet's punch drove his feet into the cracked ground, anch him as he absorbed the blow. Sakazuki, uo brace himself in mid-air, was forced back as Bullet shouted, "Out of my way!" With a twist of his waist and a burst of energy, Bullet hurled Sakazuki to the side with a powerful punch.

  "So Byrnndi World was taken down, huh? You were using me as bait all along? I couldn't figure out why you lot were pulling your punches and missing your ces. Turns out, this whole thing was a ruse," Bullet said, his voice low and dangerous.

  His tone dripped with fury, but it wasn't because World had been captured, it was the realization that the Marines had been holding back, treating him as an afterthought. To Bullet, that was an insult worse tha.

  "Now there's nothio hold back fht? Let's see what you've really got!" Bullet roared, his battle aura fring violently.

  The grouh him cracked and shattered as he lunged forward, charging at Sengoku's golden form like a human tank.

  "Oni-Take Fist!" Bullet bellowed, smming his fist into Sengoku's midse.

  The massive Golden Buddha skidded backward from the impact, while Borsalino appeared o Bullet, his leg raised high.

  "Light-Speed Kick!" Borsalino whispered, bringing his leg down at blinding speed.

  Bullet didn't flinch. He folded his arms over his head just as Borsalino's kick made tact, abs the blow. The force sent him sliding back, his feet carvirenches into the ground, but he held his ground.

  "Rabbit Strike!" Gion appeared , transformed by her Zoan powers. Her hands, shaped into powerful cws, pressed against Bullet's chest before releasing a burst of energy.

  The force made Bullet stagger, blood trig from his mouth, but he remained unyielding. Befion could react, Bullet's foot shot upward, catg her square in the chest and sending her flying backward.

  Airborne, Gion coughed up blood, her chest throbbing with pain. Thankfully, as a user of a Zoan-type Mythical Beast, her durability was higher than it appeared. Just as she stabilized herself mid-air, a pair of strong arms caught her.

  "Bullet really has no idea how to treat a dy, does he? Are you okay, Gion? Wao take a look at that injury?" Cudius's teasing voice met her ears.

  Gion's eyes narrowed, even as she struggled to catch her breath. "He's not the only one. Didn't you stab me once? And don't treat me like some damsel, I'm fine."

  As if I'd let you of all people check me over, she thought. Typical men, trying to take advantage even in a situation like this.

  "Strong-willed women never seem to attract the right kind of men. You'll scare them off," Cudius quipped as he gently set her down.

  "And any man who's scared off by me isn't worth my time," Gion shot back, pulling away from his arms as she regained her footing.

  Cudius's grin widened, but he let her go, fog his gaze on Bullet, who was now locked in bat with Sakazuki again.

  "That guy dared to y a hand on our Marireasure, huh? He should know by now that only I have that privilege," Cudius joked as he prepared to unch himself into the fight.

  Befion could prehend his strange ent about "Marireasure," Cudius had already bee a blur, transf into a gust of wind that surged forward.

  "Breath of the Storm!" Cudius's figure appeared between Sakazuki and Bullet. As the two fighters separated momentarily, Cudius delivered a swift punch to Bullet's chest.

  It looked like a light hit, but Bullet felt as if an invisible force had smmed into him with tremendous power. His feet left the ground as he was thrown backward.

  "Frozen Time Capsule!" Kuzan's voice rang out, and an icy beam shot through the air, eng Bullet in a thick yer of ice as he nded.

  But the ily held for a moment. With a roar, Bullet shattered it, sending shards flying in all dires. Before he could regain his bance, a fsh of golden light appeared before him, and a crushing impact hit the bridge of his nose.

  Bullet's body was sent reeling again, this time courtesy of Borsalino, who nded softly on the ground, brushing off his sleeves and adjusting his sungsses with an infuriatingly casual air.

  Despite Bullet's formidable power, the assembled warriors were relentless, their bined might pushing him to his limits. The injuries piled up, his breathing became bored, and the gleam in his eyes grew ever more frenzied. Even ered, Bullet's resolve did not waver.

  Cudius watched with a newfound respect. As much as he despised Bullet's arrogahe man's sheer tenacity and indomitable will were worthy of admiration.

  "My body is the stro. Where my heart stands, I will never back down!" Bullet roared, ung another punch that sent Sakazuki sprawling.

  ***

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