Conqueror's Haki!

"Give up struggling, Bullet. This time, there's no escape for you!"

Georgia Mota looked coldly at Bullet. "This is the price of rejecting me!"

"Someone who refuses to face reality is doomed to die!"

Bullet paid no attention to Mota's words. His eyes remained fixed on the six former teammates hiding behind Mota and the others. Hatred surged within him. No matter what, traitors had to die!

The six men felt their scalps tingle under Bullet's stare. After all, they had been the ones to stab him in the back. Even if they had acted under orders from their superiors, what they had done was indeed disgraceful.

Beyond their shame, they also felt a measure of sympathy. Today, they could betray Bullet under their superior's orders. Tomorrow, others could betray them under those same orders...

"Lord Mota, our mission is complete. We'll leave him to you. We still have to report back, so farewell." With that, the six turned to leave.

The next second, Mota's words froze them in place. "You can go, but leave the weapons behind."

"This... wasn't what we agreed on beforehand." Their faces turned livid. Their mission was not only to betray Bullet, but also to bring the weapons and ammunition back.

"Heh, we helped you deal with Bullet. What's wrong with taking a little payment? Put down the weapons and get lost!"

In the end, the six still put down their weapons and fled in disgrace.

"Traitors, don't run!"

Bullet was consumed by rage and tried to stop them, but Mota and the others blocked his way.

"Bullet, we're your opponents!"

"Though I'd like to see you kill those guys too, I'm afraid someone might lash out in desperation, so..."

Listening to their conversation, veins bulged on Bullet's forehead. A terrifying suspicion arose in his heart. "Weren't they bought off by you?"

"Bought off? Heh." Mota did not answer. A cold smile rested on his lips. "How naive, Bullet."

Naive?

At those words, Bullet suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. Coldness swept through his entire body, making him tremble slightly.

Thinking of this mission, the personnel and route had all been arranged beforehand. He suddenly understood something.

Lord Hade, was it you?!

Bullet found it impossible to believe. His breathing became more hurried and uneven. Why? Why did Lord Hade betray me?! What did I do wrong?!

Looking back on everything that had happened, it seemed this was not even the first time he had been betrayed...

But—

I refuse to accept this!

A deep unwillingness and hatred welled up in Bullet's heart. I can't die. I have to live. I'll make everyone who betrayed me pay the price!

No one could betray him!

The moment that thought settled—

Suddenly, an invisible pressure spread from Bullet's body. Everyone present shuddered as if struck by lightning.

"Is that... the one-in-a-million Conqueror's Haki?! How is that possible?!"

Mota's eyes widened in disbelief, utterly shaken.

Conqueror's Haki... If the one who had awakened it were him...

Even as envy rose in Mota's heart, even stronger jealousy followed.

After all, powerful figures in the seas were as numerous as carp crossing a river, yet only a handful had successfully awakened Conqueror's Haki. And now, one stood right before him.

Then, Mota looked at Bullet with a cold sneer, murderous intent bursting from his eyes. "Heh, so what if you awakened Conqueror's Haki? Today, you will still die!"

"Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!"

Bullet's expression was savage, but he was in terrible condition. Even though he had accidentally awakened Conqueror's Haki, it changed nothing.

Moreover, the pain in his abdomen and the dizziness in his head grew worse with every passing moment.

"Hmph!"

Mota did not take Bullet's threat to heart. What kind of trouble could a man suffering from severe poison possibly cause?

"Die!"

Mota stopped wasting words. His body shot forward like lightning, and his charged fist blasted toward Bullet's face.

Wracked by pain, Bullet had no strength to fight back. At the critical moment, he raised both hands to protect his head. A tremendous force struck him, sending him flying instantly.

"All of you, attack!"

Perhaps Bullet's threat had made Mota wary, so he called for his companions to strike together.

As the saying went, better a dead friend than a dead self. If Bullet truly wanted someone to die with him, that person could not be Mota.

Mota was full of confidence.

The next second—

Several figures suddenly crashed down between Mota's group and Bullet. Mota focused his eyes. Weren't they Hade's subordinates from earlier?

"My, my, what are you planning to do to my beloved subordinate?"

As those words fell—

The sky instantly darkened.

Dark clouds blanketed the land. Gale-force winds and lightning came together, while an invisible aura swept across the battlefield, bringing overwhelming pressure.

At that moment, Xia Luo emerged slowly from the forest with his hands behind his back. His six-meter-tall figure gradually came into view.

A monster with two horns on its head and scales covering its body?

No, he should be a Devil Fruit user!

Mota and the others looked at him warily, not daring to move for the moment.

Xia Luo walked straight to Bullet, pulled him up from the ground, and asked, "How is it, Bullet? Can you still hold on?"

Under Bullet's baffled gaze, Xia Luo continued:

"Sorry. It took me a little time to catch those traitors for you, so I arrived a little late."

"Who are you? And who sent you?" Bullet's eyes were filled with vigilance. Having just suffered betrayal, he looked at everyone with suspicion.

Smack!

Xia Luo slapped Bullet across the head. "What kind of look is that, brat? I'm your lifesaver—and your future boss!"

"You—"

"Hm?"

One look from Xia Luo made Bullet swallow the words that had reached his lips.

"This is the antidote. I found it on those guys. Take it."

Bullet stared blankly at the antidote before him. Countless questions filled his mind, as though his brain had crashed.

"Not good! Stop him! We can't let Bullet take the antidote!"

Seeing this, Mota could no longer remain still. He rushed toward Xia Luo, attempting to stop him.

The others reacted quickly as well, attacking one after another.

Bang!

Clang!

Their attacks landed on Xia Luo almost simultaneously, scattering sparks.

Mota and the others stared in horror. What kind of monster was this? Their attacks had not even broken a single scale!

Xia Luo looked down at them with a savage grin. "Are you scratching an itch for me?"

"Retreat!"

Mota and the others realized something was wrong and hurriedly pulled back, but Xia Luo was far faster than they were. Before they could react, a dragon tail swept toward them with lightning speed, carrying immense force as it sent them flying.

Then—

Wind Scythes!

Xia Luo used his palm like a blade and swung out dozens of wind blades toward Mota and the others.

Splat...

"Aah—!" Mota and the others screamed as their hands and feet were severed. Blood gushed out in torrents, and they collapsed on the ground, grievously wounded.

Xia Luo casually glanced at them and paid them no further attention. If they were not still useful, the wind blades would have severed their heads instead!

Nearby, Bullet was already dumbfounded. He turned his head toward Xia Luo with difficulty and swallowed. So strong!