“Do not come any closer.”
Roy wanted to personally test whether his current physical strength could contend with a monster like Bullet.
Instead of retreating, he stepped forward and threw a punch of his own.
Bang
Their fists collided with a heavy impact.
The surrounding air surged violently, and the campfire flickered under the pressure.
After a brief clash, Roy was forced back several meters, his feet dragging across the ground and carving deep grooves before he stabilized himself.
He shook his arm slightly, the numbness spreading through it.
Bullet, however, remained firmly in place.
“As expected, there is still a gap in raw strength.”
Roy narrowed his eyes slightly, but there was no frustration.
Compared to a monster like Bullet, someone who would one day stand among the strongest, this level of difference was only natural.
Bullet’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
Although he had not used his full strength, that punch was not something an ordinary fighter could block.
“He has some ability.”
“Again.”
A grin spread across Bullet’s face, his fighting spirit rising even higher.
His figure blurred as he charged forward once more.
His fists, legs, elbows, and knees all became weapons, his attacks pouring out like a relentless storm.
Bang
Roy was struck again and forced backward.
“Boss…”
Tesoro stepped forward instinctively, unable to hold himself back.
“Tch.
If this is all you have, then this ends here.”
Bullet folded his arms, casting Tesoro a dismissive glance before looking back at Roy.
Roy stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes.
During that brief exchange, he had already understood the difference.
Even if their physical strength was close, Bullet’s combat instincts, sharpened through constant warfare, far surpassed his own.
Roy exhaled slowly.
“It is only getting started, Bullet.”
As his words fell, his Observation Haki spread outward.
At the same time, his mental power surged forward.
His speed increased sharply as he stepped back into the fight.
Facing Bullet’s attacks again, Roy pushed his perception to its limit.
Observation Haki captured intent, predicting movements before they happened.
His mental power subtly invaded, disrupting Bullet’s rhythm and causing slight deviations in his attacks.
Their fighting styles were completely different.
Bullet relied on overwhelming strength and direct combat.
Every strike was fierce, straightforward, and crushing.
Roy relied on precision, Haki, and interference.
His movements were lighter, more fluid, constantly adjusting.
For a time, the two figures clashed repeatedly in front of the campsite.
The sound of impacts echoed continuously, and the shockwaves forced Tesoro and the others to retreat further away.
Tesoro watched with a racing heart.
Since leaving Sabaody Archipelago, Roy had rarely struggled in battle.
Aside from his encounter with the Marine officer that left him injured, he had always dominated his opponents.
This was the first time he had seen someone push Roy this far.
Savi stood frozen.
To him, the battle in front of him had already surpassed human limits.
They looked like two monsters colliding.
Stella gripped the knife in her hand tightly, her eyes fixed on the battlefield, unable to relax.
“Hahaha”
Bullet laughed loudly.
“Not bad.
You really are interesting.
Much stronger than the useless soldiers in the barracks.”
The longer the fight continued, the more excited he became.
Roy kept surprising him.
Sudden bursts of speed, sharp predictive ability, and that strange mental interference that occasionally made his mind lag for an instant.
“Haha.”
Roy laughed as well.
“You are not bad either.
Bringing you here was worth it.”
His mental power surged again as he seized an opening.
His fist, coated in Armament Haki, struck forward and forced Bullet back.
Bullet landed, steadying himself before slowly straightening up.
His eyes fell on Roy’s fist.
“What was that power?”
Roy raised his hand slightly.
“This is Armament Haki.
Interested?
I can teach you.”
“Hmph.”
Bullet snorted.
“I do not need anyone to teach me.
My body is already the strongest weapon.”
Seeing that Bullet did not immediately continue the fight, Roy gestured toward the others.
“Set the food.”
Tesoro and Stella quickly moved to arrange the roasted meat near the fire.
Everyone sat down except Bullet.
Roy waved at him.
“Come over.
No need to stand there.”
Bullet hesitated for a brief moment before walking closer.
Stella placed a portion of roasted meat in front of him.
Seeing the others already eating, he picked it up and began eating as well.
Roy watched him quietly.
The earlier fight had already gained a certain level of acknowledgment.
Now came the harder part.
“You are not from this country.”
Bullet spoke after finishing the meat in his hand.
Though his tone was calm, there was no real curiosity in his expression.
Roy smiled.
“None of us are, except him.”
He pointed at Savi.
“But this little guy admires you quite a bit.”
“Tch.”
Bullet clicked his tongue.
“I do not care about the admiration of a weak brat.”
Even so, a faint trace of pride flickered in his eyes.
“Alright, let me introduce us properly.”
“My name is Roy.
I am eleven years old, and I am a pirate.
We are currently wanted by the Marines.”
He pointed to the side.
“This is Tesoro.
He is also eleven.
My companion.”
Then to Stella.
“She is Stella, our navigator.”
Stella smiled politely and nodded.
Roy pulled Savi closer.
“And this one just joined us.
Eight years old.
Still a troublesome brat.”
After listening, Bullet gave a simple nod to each of them.
“And your purpose?”
His gaze returned to Roy.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Roy’s expression turned serious.
“My purpose is simple.”
“I want you to join us.”
Bullet froze for a moment.
Then he suddenly laughed.
The laughter carried clear ridicule.
Tesoro immediately stood up.
“Hey, what are you laughing at?
Boss is serious.”
Bullet glanced at him with clear disdain before looking back at Roy.
“Join you?”
He gestured lightly toward the group.
“With just the few of you?”
His voice turned colder.
“Do you even know who I am?”
“I am Douglas Bullet.
A soldier of this country.
I will end this war.”
“You want me to abandon that and become a pirate?”
“Why would I?”
“You cannot end this war.”
Roy’s voice remained calm.
“And even if you try, there are people who will stop you.”
He met Bullet’s eyes directly.
“With your current strength, you cannot stop them.”
Bullet’s expression darkened instantly.
“What did you say?”