4: Let's keep fighting to the death, Era Xiu!
The location was still the deserted island beside Loguetown...
Oh, no, the island had now been given a name: Crimson War Island.
Perhaps it was because of Xiu's battle with Katakuri,
or perhaps it was because of Xiu's red eyes.
In any case, this deserted island had enjoyed a burst of fame.
But today,
this deserted island would meet its end...
Tap!
A pair of pointed leather shoes came into view.
That same familiar figure
appeared on the deserted island.
Xiu looked at Bullet across from him.
Known as the [Demon Heir],
he was someone who could match Rayleigh in his younger days...
Well, Xiu was rather looking forward to this.
A faint smile played at the corners of Xiu's mouth,
and he beckoned to Bullet with a finger.
"Come on, try to defeat me, Bullet."
As his words fell, Bullet could no longer
resist the temptation of battle!
His powerful right foot shattered the ground,
and with that tremendous thrust,
Bullet appeared before Xiu in an instant,
hurling both fists, coated in Armament Haki, at him!
Xiu raised an eyebrow.
Feeling the Armament Haki on Bullet's fists,
It really was extraordinary!
After all, Bullet could
project his Armament Haki outward,
even forming a flowing ocean of Armament Haki!
His thoughts returned to the fists before him.
Seeing Xiu remain utterly unmoved,
a trace of disappointment flashed through Bullet's eyes.
"Can't you even dodge an attack of this level..."
Bang!
Under Bullet's shocked gaze,
Xiu caught both his fists in a vice-like grip!
He looked up at Xiu,
and a hint of mockery surfaced in those scarlet eyes.
"Do fists of this level even need to be dodged?"
Bullet understood what Xiu was conveying.
But at that moment, those slender hands
were like the strongest shackles in the world!
No matter how hard Bullet strained,
he could not break free!
Bullet's gaze changed.
Armament Haki immediately covered the top of his head,
and he tried to slam his head into Xiu!
Xiu saw through Bullet's intention at a glance.
While Bullet leaned backward,
preparing to gather his strength,
Xiu instantly released his fists,
raised his right foot,
and smashed it hard into Bullet's chin!
Bang!
The tremendous force traveled through his chin to his brain.
Bullet felt his head ringing!
Before he could recover,
Xiu watched Bullet slowly descend,
then drove a whipping side kick straight into his abdomen!
In an instant,
Bullet became a human cannonball,
flying toward a distant mountain peak!!
Still airborne, Bullet struggled to open his eyes.
He shook his still-dazed head
and looked at the mountain peak not far away.
In desperation,
Bullet hurriedly wrapped himself in Armament Haki!
Boom!
The sound of a mountain splitting apart came from the distance.
Bullet's entire body was embedded in the mountain peak!
Naturally, Xiu had no intention of ending things here!
Whoosh! Shunpo!
He appeared directly before Bullet,
blue-white explosive flames flickering in his right hand!
[O ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, soaring wings, that which bears the name of humanity!
Truth and temperance, upon the sinless wall of dreams, stand alone!
Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!]
As Xiu chanted, the fully incanted Sōkatsui
erupted with extraordinary power!
Bolstered by Xiu's Reiatsu, those explosive flames
blasted toward Bullet at tremendous speed!
His pupils constricted.
His Observation Haki frantically warned him: danger! Danger!
Bullet dared not take this lightly either.
"Demon Form!"
Hum!
As his voice fell, Bullet's body
became covered in a dark-purple coating!
This was Bullet
merging his own Demon Aura with his Haki,
a power belonging exclusively to the [Demon Heir]!
Bang!
The ferocious blue flames slammed hard into the front of Bullet's body!
He gritted his teeth,
desperately resisting the pain that reached deep into his soul!
After smashing through who knew how many mountain peaks,
Bullet finally came to a stop!
Feeling the excruciating pain in his chest,
Bullet looked down.
The defenses in front of his body had been completely breached,
and the power of the blue flames had blasted his abdomen to shreds.
More than half the organs in his belly had turned to ash.
It was even possible to see clearly through his abdomen
to the scenery behind Bullet!
"Huff... hah... huff..."
"Even in this form,
I can't block it completely!"
Bullet said, struggling to endure the pain.
Whoosh!
Xiu's figure appeared a short distance from him once again.
"Douglas Bullet, you're quite tenacious..."
Xiu said, glancing at the horribly mangled Bullet.
Bullet let out a long breath,
enduring the pain that kept surging from his abdomen,
as well as the blood that would not stop flowing!
He slapped his right hand against the ground.
A mass of rock surged up from underground toward Bullet's abdomen,
temporarily plugging that horrifying wound!
Feeling the slight easing of his agony,
Bullet twisted his neck.
"Phew... five minutes at most...
Otherwise, I'll die here..."
Then he fixed his bloodshot gaze on Xiu:
"Era Xiu! Let's keep fighting to the death!!"
PS: Flowers, hehe, I want flowers... rating votes, hehe, I want rating votes. Tips, hehe, I can't get any... (crying)