I'm Yours Now / A Little Legend

"I believe he'll accept defeat this time!"

After a while, everyone who examined Bullet exclaimed in amazement.

"His constitution is incredible!"

"He's built like a fortress. He must have fought thousands of battles."

"He might actually survive."

Three days later, Bullet opened his eyes.

The devilish man instantly fixed his gaze on the marine rear admiral standing with his back to him.

I'm Yours Now

"Xia Le!"

A low growl escaped Bullet's lips, and his eyes turned bloodred.

Almost by reflex, his bandage-wrapped body lunged forward. He reached Xia Le's back in an instant, his left arm driving a clenched fist toward him.

Xia Le sensed the rush of wind behind him at once.

A smile tugged at his lips.

"That refusal to admit defeat!"

"I have to admire it!"

"Bullet!"

As he spoke, an invisible force radiated through his body, turning every inch of skin and muscle as hard as steel.

Tekkai!

Armament Haki!

Together, they made Xia Le's body unimaginably tough.

Bang!

A dull impact rang out, and a wave of air swept across the entire warship.

Bullet's fist struck Xia Le squarely on the left cheek. To Bullet's shock, Xia Le was completely unharmed.

"But a loser should act like one!"

The cold words came a heartbeat later.

At the same moment, a heavy blow slammed into Bullet's abdomen. He doubled over and spat blood, then flew backward into the warship's mast and slid down it.

Only then did Xia Le turn around and fix his gaze on the bloodied Devil's Descendant.

"Douglas Bullet!"

"I admire you. Come work for me!"

Bullet grinned, wiped the blood from his mouth with his left hand, and fought through the wrenching pain in his abdomen to answer with a fierce glare.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Roger?"

"You're just a marine. That's not enough to make me submit!"

Then he sneered.

"Now that I'm in your hands, either kill me or send me to Impel Down."

Xia Le took no offense. He merely smiled.

"I won't kill you, and I won't send you to Impel Down."

After a brief pause, his smile turned cold.

"And who do you think you are, Bullet?"

"You're a loser I defeated. What gives you the right to talk big in front of me?"

"If you can't accept your defeat, challenge me whenever you like!"

"I'll show you one thing through my actions."

Xia Le smiled.

"I will make you submit!"

Crocodile was speechless at Xia Le's domineering declaration. Bullet, however, froze. Some of the anger left his face, and he actually laughed.

"I'm starting to find you interesting!"

There was no denying it: Xia Le's tremendous strength and his confident, proud, domineering manner suited Bullet's tastes.

For a moment, Bullet remembered challenging Roger years ago.

Roger had been like the young marine before him: confident, powerful, and full of charisma.

The only difference was that Roger was a pirate, while this man was a marine.

Bullet grew much quieter afterward.

But Rosinante didn't think the intimidating man had truly settled down. He was looking for another chance to challenge his superior officer.

And sure enough, he was right.

On the third day after waking, Bullet challenged Xia Le again.

He lost almost instantly and suffered even worse injuries.

Once he woke, Bullet quietly nursed his wounds, thinking hard about his next challenge and searching for a more effective angle of attack.

This time, he stayed quiet for seven days.

Seven days later, he challenged Xia Le again. He still lost.

Xia Le had no objection. He welcomed the challenges, soon discovering that their exchanges in pure Hand-to-Hand Combat were improving his Six Powers.

He also noticed that Bullet sank further into despair with every defeat.

For someone as proud as Bullet, who constantly sought to become the strongest, each loss was a devastating blow. Each left a deep mark on him.

The more Bullet lost, the larger Xia Le loomed in his mind, until he would seem impossible to surpass and Bullet would submit completely.

It was like training a hawk to obey, much as Whitebeard would one day handle Ace.

Bullet's injuries gradually healed. Once he had fully recovered, he challenged Xia Le again, only for another defeat to leave him more dejected than ever.

Xia Le seemed impossible to beat. In Bullet's mind, he was even beginning to surpass Roger.

Terminally ill, Roger could no longer bear the crown of the strongest. The marine before Bullet, however, was still young, roughly his own age.

Whenever Bullet thought about that, a crushing sense of defeat washed over him.

We're the same age. How is he so strong?

He's a monster among monsters!

Those thoughts left him increasingly conflicted—and increasingly in awe of Xia Le.

Half a month after Bullet boarded the warship, shortly before it reached Marineford, Crocodile approached him.

"Well, Bullet? Do you still think you can beat him?"

Crocodile asked with a cigar between his lips and a faint smile.

He had watched every one of Bullet's challenges and understood one thing all the more clearly: Xia Le's strength was nearly absolute.

Bullet's lips moved. He glanced at Crocodile, then fell silent.

Some kinds of strength seemed forever beyond reach.

Both Roger in the past and Xia Le now felt like mountains blocking his path.

"I know the main reason you've refused to submit all this time," Crocodile said softly.

"Oh?"

Bullet scoffed.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Crocodile blew a smoke ring. Unbothered by the scoff, he lowered his voice.

"What?"

Bullet was interested now, and still surprised that Crocodile had submitted to a marine.

If Crocodile truly had a reason that could persuade him, why shouldn't Bullet follow a man as strong as Roger, yet younger than him?

"The Celestial Dragons bloodbath."

Crocodile's voice was barely audible.

After saying it, he cast a subtle glance at the figure standing ahead of them.

Bullet heard him. He froze, then quickly understood what Crocodile meant.

"He did that?"

Shock surged through him.

He actually did something even Roger never did!

And he did it as a marine!

Bullet murmured the words aloud.

"Doesn't that make it more interesting?"

Crocodile chuckled.

Bullet spun around and stared at Crocodile's smiling face.

After a long moment, he grinned and made his decision.

"You're right!"

"That really is interesting!"

Bullet sprang to his feet and strode behind Xia Le, drawing a deep breath.

"From today on!"

"I'm yours. I'll follow you wherever you go!"

"But if the day comes when you no longer have the strength to beat me, then—"

Bullet grinned.

"I'll make you my subordinate instead!"

"Because I admire you too!"

Thanks to Ji Yuxuan, Guarding You, Life Is About Daydreaming, and Imagining a Joint Offense for the monthly tickets!

A Little Legend

The sea breeze stirred Xia Le's coat.

He slowly turned to look at the burly figure before him, white bandages wrapped around his head and body, and smiled.

"I'm afraid I won't give you that chance!"

Bullet's gaze sharpened. Then he snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir!"

Xia Le pointed to Crocodile behind him. "Go to him and get yourself a uniform."