While the two were fighting, a ship flying the World Government's flag arrived at Galzburg's harbor.
A team of World Government Cipher Pol members slowly emerged from the ship's cabin and secretly infiltrated the town under the guidance of a contact.
"Buzz..."
An invisible force field instantly contracted and bore down on Bullet with its full force. His charging figure faltered, the ground beneath him collapsed with a crash, and his knees bent, but he did not fall.
Instead, he roared and withstood the tenfold gravity through sheer astonishing willpower and a monstrous physique. Though his speed had dropped considerably, he charged toward Roy one step at a time.
"Bring it on!"
Seeing Bullet still charging at him, Roy unleashed his Armament Haki at full power. His figure became like a meteor as he met Bullet head-on and threw a punch with all his might.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided, sending a terrifying shock wave spreading out in a ring. The trees at the edge of the camp snapped in half.
Tesoro flashed in front of Savi and unleashed his Armament Haki at full power, blocking the impact. Stella spread her wings and flew into the air.
Amid the swirling dust, two figures flew backward.
Roy wrapped his whole body in telekinetic power and slowly landed on the ground.
Bullet skidded across the ground for over ten meters before stopping. He got up, patted the dust off himself, and broke into an exhilarated grin.
"Roy, your ability really is troublesome!"
"Look who's talking. You're like a turtle shell that won't crack!"
The two exchanged smiles. The fierce battle, enough to make others turn pale, had been nothing more than an exhilarating warm-up for them.
A real fight to the death was on an entirely different level.
"I'm heading back."
"You're welcome anytime."
Roy nodded and asked no further questions, simply watching him slowly leave the camp.
Watching his figure disappear into the woods, Tesoro couldn't help stepping forward and saying in a low voice, "Boss, will Bullet really join us?"
Roy's gaze was deep. "The final choice is about to be made. Get ready, Tesoro. We'll be able to leave here soon."
Two days later, a group quietly made their way to Douglas Gray's tent.
That evening, Bullet had just returned from training at the camp on the mountain behind the base. As he approached his quarters, a squad of fully armed soldiers delivered a message.
"Bullet, the general requests your presence. There's an urgent matter to discuss. Please come immediately."
Bullet glanced at the soldiers delivering the message, and his heart suddenly sank, as though he sensed what was coming. He took a deep breath, but followed the soldiers to the commander's tent all the same.
Bullet entered the tent alone and saw General Gray sitting in the seat of honor. Several strange fellows stood nearby, including a mysterious masked man.
He could sense that the mysterious man was no weakling.
After glancing at the group, Bullet stepped forward and saluted General Gray.
"General, Bullet reporting."
Douglas Gray merely gave him an indifferent glance without answering. Instead, he said to the Cipher Pol members, "It's time for you to keep your promise!"
At that, Bullet instantly grew alert, his eyes full of caution.
"Douglas Bullet, only thirteen years old, possesses monstrous strength and combat talent far beyond those of an ordinary person. A war hero of Galzburg, known by the title of Demon Heir."
"We now invite you, on behalf of the World Government, to join Cipher Pol and serve the World Government."
The Cipher Pol team leader at the front coldly read from the file in his hand.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this? Didn't we agree you'd get rid of Bullet? Why are you inviting him to join you instead?"
Hearing General Gray's words, Bullet's heart turned utterly cold. His gaze went icy in an instant, and his anger burned.
He forced down his anger and looked at Gray, his voice low.
"Why? I've rendered meritorious service to this country. You said the war would soon be over, and that you'd set me free after we won!!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I let you leave with the title of hero? I'm the leader of this army. How could I allow an unstable element like you to exist?"
After shouting angrily at Bullet, Douglas Gray turned to the Cipher Pol members and yelled, "Why haven't you made your move? Don't you intend to fulfill my agreement with the World Government?"
Just as Bullet assumed a fighting stance,
The Cipher Pol team leader pushed off the ground and flashed into view in front of General Gray. A short blade slipped from his sleeve, and with a flash of its edge, it sliced through General Gray's throat.
"Wh... why?"
The team leader looked at General Gray, who lay on the ground clutching his neck, and replied indifferently.
"Fool. Why would the World Government agree to your pointless terms? And you're a fool who betrayed the sharpest blade under his command, at that."
Having dealt with Gray,
The team leader looked at Bullet again.
"Douglas Bullet, will you join us or refuse?"
"I see. So this is... the final betrayal? Douglas Gray, and you lackeys of the World Government!"
Bullet's expression was icy, the anger in his chest roiling. He clenched both fists tightly as Armament Haki involuntarily coiled around them, and he murmured under his breath.
A wave of violent Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, bursting forth across the area like a scene of carnage.
The team leader glanced at Bullet, then ordered, "Looks like you're not accepting. Attack!"
Six Cipher Pol members quickly spread out and surrounded Bullet.
The masked Cipher Pol member who had stayed where he was moved in an instant, facing Bullet head-on. A powerful aura locked onto him; he was clearly a powerful fighter well versed in Haki.
The battle erupted in an instant.
Bullet let out a low roar and violently punched at the cat-masked Cipher Pol member, his fist covered in Armament Haki.
A year of arduous training had sent his strength soaring, and with his powerful physique, he drove the cat-masked Cipher Pol member straight back.
As he attacked, the Cipher Pol members surrounding him immediately closed in, unleashing Shigan, Rankyaku, and all manner of attacks on Bullet.
Against these ordinary Cipher Pol members, who didn't even have Haki, Bullet simply endured their attacks with his powerful physique.
The moment the cat-masked Cipher Pol member was driven back, Bullet abruptly turned and swept his Armament Haki-clad right hand across, sending two members who couldn't react flying. The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible as they crashed through the tent and fell to the ground outside.
"Monster..." The four remaining ordinary Cipher Pol members turned pale and involuntarily took half a step back.
The cat-masked Cipher Pol member steadied himself, his expression grave beneath his mask. "You truly deserve your title as the Demon Heir, but today you must die here."
Bullet's face twisted, and the fury in his eyes nearly burst forth. "Lackeys of the World Government, rats hiding your faces, and you think you can kill me?"
Before he had finished speaking, the ground beneath Bullet's feet exploded, and he shot toward the cat-masked Cipher Pol member like a bomb. The battle erupted once more. Fighting many opponents alone, Bullet grew fiercer as the fight went on, his violent presence making it hard for the Cipher Pol members to breathe.
For a time, fists flashed and intersected, force surged in every direction, and cracks spread across the walls of the meeting room.
"Buzz..."
A gravitational force instantly descended, leaving everyone there feeling as though they had entered a quagmire. The weaker Cipher Pol members were instantly pressed flat against the ground.
Just then, a lazy voice rang out. "Yo! Bullet, looks like you've gotten yourself into quite a bit of trouble. I've already dealt with the rats outside for you."
Roy appeared at the edge of the battlefield with Tesoro, Stella, and Savi.
Several days earlier, Roy had sensed that the time was drawing near. After Bullet left, he would use his Observation Haki to cover the entire military camp.
When the Cipher Pol members made their move, Roy had already brought the others over.
Bullet forced the cat-masked Cipher Pol member back with a punch and roared, "Roy! Release your ability. This is my fight!"