The man who had suddenly appeared in the plaza outside the Dawn Division's dormitory was none other than Douglas Bullet, the so-called "Heir of the Devil."

This man had once served as a crewmember on Gol D. Roger's ship. But at some point, for reasons unknown, he had disappeared from the Pirate King's crew.

Now, appearing without warning inside Dressrosa's Marine base, Borsalino couldn't help but draw several unsettling connections in his mind.

Yoriichi who seemed to have a peculiar connection to Roger. A former Roger Pirate showing up in the heart of the Marine base. And himself, a Vice Admiral not assigned to this base.

Borsalino's thoughts naturally formed a terrifying conclusion.

"Did Yoriichi send him to kill me?"

"What exactly is his relationship with Gol D. Roger?"

As the blond youth emerged from the smoke, Borsalino's expression turned grim, more ominous than the night sky itself.

Bullet noticed the figure standing on the dormitory walkway. Hearing Roger's name from the man's mouth, he tilted his head to look at Borsalino.

"Where is Captain Roger?"

Douglas Bullet had no idea what Borsalino was talking about. All he wanted now was to know where his captain was.

Ever since learning that Roger had been arrested by the Marines in Dressrosa, he had rushed here nonstop. Now that he had arrived, he didn't bother resting, he immediately launched an assault on the base.

His goal was simple: to rescue Roger from the clutches of the Marines.

His relationship with Roger was complicated. In his youth, Bullet's strength had alienated him from his homeland and comrades. Wandering alone, he had lived in isolation, until he met Roger, a man even stronger than himself. Only then did he feel like he had found a home, serving on Roger's ship for many years.

It wasn't hatred or conflict that led to his departure. It was denial.

The man stronger than him, the man known as the Pirate King, was dying?

He couldn't accept such a cruel joke of reality.

Watching Roger's life gradually fade each day had only made him more agitated. So, he left the ship.

But in his heart, Roger was still the one he respected most.

If Roger was going to die, it should never be at the hands of the lowly, spineless Marines.

Marines like these… were pathetic. That was how Bullet viewed them.

"Roger…?"

"…Who knows?"

Hearing Bullet's question, Borsalino was slightly surprised. Had he misunderstood? Did Bullet not actually know where Roger was? Was he not sent by Yoriichi to kill him?

While doubts filled his mind, Borsalino offered a vague answer.

By now, the ruckus Bullet had caused at the port had woken most of the Marines from their sleep.

And not just Marines. Even Dressrosa's stationed Royal Guards were suiting up and heading toward the rising flames at the Marine base.

The commotion caused dormitory doors to fling open. Soldiers peeked out to assess the situation.

Despite being a Vice Admiral, Borsalino was housed in the same building as the others, single rooms for all. And at the top floor, one door opened quietly.

Yoriichi stood in the corridor, overlooking the plaza. His eyes locked on Bullet. No words. But the cold glint in his gaze betrayed a faint killing intent.

He made no sound, and Bullet's attention remained on Borsalino. Simple reason: Borsalino had a powerful aura, and had mentioned Roger's name.

To Bullet, this man surely knew something. And he planned to extract it, forcefully if needed.

"Not going to talk?"

"I'll make you."

With a sinister grin, Bullet clenched his fists and bent his knees.

Sensing his intent through Observation Haki, Borsalino's body turned into golden particles, instantly rising above Bullet's head.

A golden light flared.

Borsalino materialized mid-air and unleashed a vicious roundhouse kick.

A deafening sonic boom accompanied the strike.

"Oh~ So quick to act!"

"Even off duty, you're this diligent. You'll be a fine employee, Borsalino."

Atop the dormitory, Yoriichi chuckled as he observed.

Down below, Bullet reacted quickly, coating his arms with Armament Haki and raising them in defense.

BOOM!

Borsalino's light-speed kick slammed into Bullet's forearms.

The plaza's stone pavement cracked instantly. Dirt shot up between the cracks. The shockwave rippled out hundreds of meters.

Even Marines inside their dorms felt the tremor.

The cracks spread rapidly, snaking toward the dorms. Walls began to fracture.

"…Tch."

Yoriichi looked at the damage and sighed. His freshly built dormitories were already cracking.

"Oh, so strong!"

Mid-air, Borsalino held his pose, eyes narrowed with mild surprise. Bullet, meanwhile, felt the pressure building against his arms.

Suddenly, his left hand darted forward to grab Borsalino's ankle.

"So scary!"

"A former Roger Pirate!"

Borsalino praised, but didn't hesitate. He twisted mid-air. His right leg retracted while his left shot forward, slamming into Bullet's temple.

BOOM!

Bullet vanished in a blur, crashing through several base walls before embedding himself into the outer wall.

Dust exploded. His silhouette vanished from view.

"Did he win?"

"Incredible!"

"The intruder's been beaten!"

The Marines on the dormitory floors erupted in cheers.

Seeing Bullet get launched, even Yoriichi rubbed his chin in surprise.

Douglas Bullet, the "Heir of the Devil." A nightmare for the Marines.

In the future, it had taken a full-scale Buster Call followed by a joint assault from Sengoku and Garp just to subdue him.

Years later, even the Supernovas of Luffy's era couldn't last a round against him. It was only with the help of Boa Hancock, Sabo, and others that Luffy managed to bring him down.

Even now, pre-Impel Down, Bullet's strength was peaking.

Yet Borsalino had just casually kicked him across the base.

Impressive.

Though still in his early thirties, Borsalino was undoubtedly reaching his own peak. He might not yet match his future self at Marineford, but he wasn't far off.

"This should be fun."

"…Though if I let them keep fighting here, my shiny new base might not survive."

As Yoriichi muttered, Borsalino was already moving.

He had sensed that Bullet wasn't finished. His Observation Haki pinpointed the target in the smoke.

Crossing his arms, beams of golden light shot from his fingers.

Yasakani no Magatama.

The divine scatter attack rained down like a targeting machine gun, homing in on Bullet's location.

A storm of explosions erupted behind the base. Smoke thickened until visibility dropped to zero.

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, a black figure burst from the smoke.

A massive fist, wreathed in intense Armament Haki, rocketed toward Borsalino's face.

It was Bullet.

His clothes were shredded. His skin was scorched. Blood oozed from burns, but none of the injuries looked lethal.

He'd used Haki to guard himself during the barrage.

He was hurt, but far from done.

Enraged, Bullet's punch howled through the air.

Borsalino vanished into golden light.

He reappeared behind Bullet, smirking slightly. His finger pointed at the pirate's back.

BZZT!

A laser shot out, striking Bullet in the back.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion lit up the plaza.

Borsalino flickered out of range, admiring his handiwork with a smug grin.

CRACK!

That grin didn't last.

A black blur erupted from the flames, a carbon copy of El Thor, Bullet's thick arm smashing directly into Borsalino's face.

BOOM!

He vanished in a burst of light, crashing into a distant wall and disappearing from view.

Bullet landed, breathing heavily. Blood streamed from a fist-sized hole in his back.

But he wasn't done.

He stepped toward where Borsalino had vanished.

He still hadn't forgotten why he was here.

He came for Roger.

He needed to know where Roger was.

"Timely use of intangibility… That really reduced the damage."

"His fruit mastery is exceptional."

"Kuzan looks like a rookie compared to this."

"Borsalino… no wonder he becomes an Admiral."

Yoriichi rested his arms on the railing, eyes narrowed.

As he spoke, Borsalino emerged from the cratered wall, brushing off debris.

Unlike the future version of him who got benched by Marco's kick at Marineford, this Borsalino was putting in real effort.

But effort had motive.

Bullet wanted to extract Roger's location.

Borsalino wanted to know Yoriichi's connection to Roger.

Sengoku's mission remained fresh in his mind.

"Hm?!"

Wiping some blood from his nose, Borsalino glanced toward the dormitory.

He spotted Yoriichi standing on the rooftop.

"…So you've noticed."

"If you keep watching and don't help, it'd be quite rude."

Understanding the signal, Yoriichi gently leapt from the railing.

BOOM!

He unsheathed his sword mid-air, landed, then blasted forward.

WHOOSH!!

The sonic boom reached Bullet's ears.

He turned, just in time to see a red-haired boy hurtling toward him.

In a blink, Yoriichi closed the gap. His blade swung straight for Bullet's neck.

"You, !"

Bullet reacted instantly, coating his left arm in Haki to block.

Lightning cracked. The crimson blade struck true.

Blood sprayed.

The blade sank into Bullet's arm, grinding to a halt at the bone.

Yoriichi's eyes narrowed.

Now he understood.

Why Kozuki Oden could take Roger's Divine Departure to the chest and live.

Why Luffy could tank Kaido's Thunder Bagua with his head.

Because true monsters weren't just powerful in attack, they were monsters in defense too.

✦✦---------------------------------------------------------------------✦✦

100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter

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