"Land!"
Gion drew her sword.
The clear ring of steel cut through the lingering smoke and dust as several high-speed warships accelerated at once, charging into the harbor along the channel Bullet had blasted open with a single kick.
But the one who truly charged into the pirate stronghold first was still Bullet.
After the harbor defenses collapsed, the thousands of pirates had yet to recover from that disaster-like blow.
Some sat sprawled amid the ruins, staring blankly.
Others had dropped their swords, yet lacked even the courage to bend down and pick them up.
The dozens of pirates closest to Bullet could only crane their necks up, dumbly staring at the burly figure wrapped in purple-black Haki.
The men who had mocked the Marines for putting on a show in the tavern only moments ago finally understood.
The Three Admirals not appearing did not mean the Marines had no one left to deploy.
The monster before them did not need a fleet's support at all.
He alone was enough to flatten the harbor.
"M-Monster..."
One pirate's teeth chattered as he turned and ran.
That movement seemed to wake everyone else.
"Run!"
"Get to the fortress!"
"Take hostages! Keep using hostages to stop him!"
Chaos erupted in an instant.
Hundreds of pirates fled toward the rear in a mad scramble. Some shoved their companions down, while others yanked slaves beside them over, trying to use them as shields.
The smile vanished completely from Bullet's face.
"Even now, all you can do is hide behind the weak."
His legs bent slightly, and the shattered rock beneath his feet rumbled again.
"Momo—"
The purple-black Haki suddenly contracted, warping the air around him under crushing pressure.
"Thirtyfold Speed!"
"Boom!"
Only a rapidly expanding crater remained where he had stood. Bullet's massive body vanished