The two sides had been fighting for two hours, and the area around the street was a wreck.
The four fighters were evenly matched, and neither side could gain the upper hand.
Borsalino forced Roy back with another light-speed kick and rose into the air. He glanced at the ravaged battlefield, then at Bullet, who had retreated to Roy's side and was still eager to fight.
"Honestly... what a troublesome pair. Doesn't look like I can take you down quickly!"
His lecherous face looked a little troubled, but he showed no great urgency.
Roy took the opportunity to catch his breath. Maintaining such intense concentration and using his powers had put a considerable strain on him.
Against a speed-oriented opponent like Borsalino, he couldn't afford to let his guard down for a second, or he would be seriously injured in an instant.
"Bullet! That's enough!"
He spoke quietly to Bullet. Though Bullet was somewhat reluctant, he understood the situation and nodded his agreement to Roy.
"See you next time, Glitter Man!"
After calling out to Borsalino, Roy took a deep breath. His vast psychic power erupted once more, sweeping across the battlefield. The dust and sand it kicked up covered the entire battlefield like a sandstorm.
"Are they trying to escape?"
Vice Admiral Varmo frowned at the sight and started forward as he spoke.
"Now, now~ Forget it, Vice Admiral Varmo."
Kizaru landed beside him and stopped him. Seeing that Walu still wanted to give chase, he explained.
"In conditions like these, the price of keeping two capable guys with Conqueror's Haki here could be pretty steep~ Besides, the wounded Marines need prompt treatment."
Hearing that, Walu could only give up.
Besides, his Observation Haki could sense Roy and Bullet's presences rapidly moving away. At his speed, he had no hope of catching them.
The dust slowly settled, leaving behind only the ruined street and unconscious Marine soldiers scattered across the ground.
Looking in the direction the two had gone, he said helplessly, "We failed to capture them this time. I don't know if Admiral Sengoku will punish us when we get back to Headquarters."
"It's all right, Vice Admiral Varmo. It's not like this is the first time... 'Heavenly Dao' Roy, was it? And that newcomer who just joined him... These seas are going to get lively again~ How scary~"
Borsalino picked at his ear and gazed out over the distant sea. A ship was raising its sails and speeding away from shore, slowly disappearing over the horizon.
Aboard the White Dove.
Roy and Bullet boarded the ship one after the other.
Savi immediately rushed over to greet them with a cheer, while Tesoro and Stella breathed sighs of relief.
"Are you all right, Boss Roy, Big Brother Bullet?" Savi asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Just warmed up a little." Bullet rolled his shoulders. Though he was a little dusty, his eyes were bright. Clearly, he had enjoyed the fight.
Roy smiled too and looked toward the Endless War Country as it receded into the distance. "A send-off from one of the Marines' three great monsters and a Headquarters Vice Admiral. That's quite the reception."
Tesoro looked at the two of them, particularly sensing the fighting spirit and Haki that had yet to fully subside around them.
He was shaken, but a surge of bold ambition also rose in his heart. Following a captain like this, his future was bound to be anything but ordinary.
"Raise the sails! Full speed ahead!" Roy ordered.
The White Dove rode the wind and waves toward the boundless sea.
On deck, Roy brought out the treasure chest containing the Devil Fruits. Looking at the three fruits inside, he gave a meaningful smile.
New companions had come aboard, and a new adventure had only just begun.
When the others saw Roy take out the Devil Fruits, they gathered around curiously.
Tesoro was the most impatient of all. After all, he had been the first to hear about the Devil Fruits.
"Boss, come on, tell us what Devil Fruits these are."
Savi and Bullet stared intently at the fruits in Roy's hands. Clearly, after learning what the fruits could do, they were both interested.
"Don't rush me. Let me take a look first."
Roy took out the fruit encyclopedia and compared it with the one he suspected Bullet had eaten in the original story. Sure enough, on the Paramecia page, he found that the dark gray fruit was the Combine-Combine Fruit.
But Roy had no intention of letting Bullet eat this fruit again. Although Bullet had developed it to Awakening in the original story and had been quite powerful,
Roy thought that, given Bullet's physique and fighting style, he should find him a Mythical Zoan or a powerful Paramecia Devil Fruit.
He put the fruit down and compared the other two one by one. They were both very good fruits.
"Boss, hurry up and tell us!"
Tesoro spoke anxiously. He desperately hoped that one of the three fruits would have an ability suited to him.
"Mm, these three are the Paramecia Pocket-Pocket Fruit that the Giant Axe Pirates found, this Paramecia Combine-Combine Fruit, and this Ancient Zoan, the Iron-Bone Giant Ape Model."
Seeing the others staring blankly at him, Roy continued.
"This Paramecia Pocket-Pocket Fruit doesn't have much offensive power, but after eating it, you can open a pocket on nonliving things. It's like a separate space that can hold nonliving things."
"Don't choose this one. I have other plans for it."
With that, Roy picked up the Combine-Combine Fruit and gave Bullet a peculiar smile.
Bullet was utterly baffled by the look. "What's wrong, Roy? Is that fruit a good fit for me?"
"No, no~" Roy quickly made his position clear. Good grief, if this got Bullet interested and he insisted on eating it, I'd regret it to death.
"This one is also a Paramecia-the Combine-Combine Fruit."
"The Combine-Combine Fruit can fuse and arrange inorganic matter to create larger weapons or alter the terrain, but it makes considerable demands on stamina and Haki."
As they listened to Roy's explanation, Tesoro and the others all looked at Bullet with peculiar expressions. Good grief, it sounded like the fruit had been made especially for him.
Savi scratched his head, looked at the Combine-Combine Fruit, then turned to look at Bullet.
"Boss Roy, no matter how I look at it, this is perfect for Big Brother Bullet! Why did you say it wasn't right for him?"
"Heh heh heh~" Roy chuckled. "I have my own plans for Bullet's fruit, and this one isn't right for you or Tesoro either, but..."
Roy picked up the last fruit, the Zoan, and handed it to Little Savi.
"Little Savi, this Ancient Zoan, the Iron-Bone Giant Ape Model, suits you pretty well. After eating it, you can transform into an Iron-Bone Giant Ape and gain tremendous strength and a powerful physique. And you can tell from the name, 'Iron-Bone,' that it has strong defenses."
Savi excitedly accepted the fruit and grinned foolishly. "Boss Roy, if I eat it, will I be able to trade blows with enemies like Big Brother Bullet?"
Good grief, Roy hadn't expected the small, skinny Savi to have that kind of interest-to enjoy meeting enemies head-on!
Hearing that, Bullet reached out a big hand and rubbed Savi's head, smiling as he said, "Go on and eat it. If you want to fight like me in the future, I'll train you hard."
Little Savi looked around and saw the others smiling and nodding at him. Without another word, he lifted the Devil Fruit and took a bite.
Then came the familiar spectacle: Savi struggled to swallow the flesh, then stared at the Devil Fruit with an expression of utter disbelief that made everyone burst out laughing.