Bullet didn't retaliate immediately. Instead, he straightened his earmuffs, which had been kicked askew, before slowly walking back. Against a speed-type opponent like Vic, jumping in directly to attack wouldn't be very effective and might even lead to a counterattack. Vic wasn't a Supernovas- type player who could jump in from a distance and be caught off guard.
"You are an enemy to be taken seriously! I just don't know how long you can last!"
Bullet stood opposite Vic, stretched his hands out in front of his chest, and cracked his knuckles together, making a snapping sound. Then he tilted his head slightly to the sides, making a similar cracking sound.
"Then I overestimated you. I've heard a lot of rumors about you and thought you had no rivals now, so you were going to turn the world upside down?"
I didn't expect you to be in the same boat as me, a latecomer. What makes you so arrogant? You don't even spare ordinary people? Did they offend you? Or do you believe the weak don't deserve to live?
If Roger had had that thought back then, you probably wouldn't be alive today. Even if your fighting strength surpasses Roger's in the future, your mindset will never be as good as Roger's!
Vic replied bluntly that he didn't need Bullet's approval now; he only needed self-approval. After all, his biggest opponent was himself. He, a transmigrator, had cultivated diligently for so many years, wasn't it all for the sake of facing everyone equally and going anywhere freely? Now he had achieved half of that goal.
Vic didn't think Bullet hadn't improved over the years; of course he had. But the fact that he could fight Rayleigh to a draw back then was highly unreasonable.
This line was spoken by Buggy during Stampede. When Bullet was still on Roger's ship, Buggy was just a child. Did he have the insight to discern whether their fight was a draw or how much of their strength they used?
If Oda really wanted to show how powerful Bullet in his youth, it would have been more convincing if he had Fujitora or Garp say it. But having Buggy say it is somewhat intriguing.
Another intriguing aspect is Bullet's Conqueror's Haki. Keep in mind that Shanks joined Whitebeard's crew two years prior, and back then, Shanks's Conqueror's Haki alone was enough to crack the ship's hull.
When Bullet unleashes his Conqueror's Haki, it only hits the group like a light drizzle. This is Oda's way of showing that Bullet is inferior to the Four Emperors, at least in terms of Conqueror's Haki.
Judging from Bullet's performance in Stampede, he seems stronger than one of the Four Emperors, but is that really the case? I think any of the Four Emperors could achieve the same result.
Moreover, those who are defeated by the Four Emperors find it very difficult to get back up. Not everyone can do sit-ups. The Worst Generation describes lawlessness, not strength.
Judging from Bullet's performance, he didn't know how to Conqueror's Coating; he didn't even use it until he was defeated by King Luffy, which shows that he really didn't know how.
Would Rayleigh know it? As Rayleigh 'Roger first mate, the two had always been on adventures together. It's impossible that Roger would know it Rayleigh wouldn't; Rayleigh isn't someone who doesn't know Conqueror's Haki.
Therefore, when Bullet fought Rayleigh, Rayleigh definitely didn't go all out, at least he didn't use the Conqueror's Coating. Perhaps he felt that Bullet wasn't one of them, and he hadn't even taught Conqueror's Coating.
If Rayleigh had used Conqueror's Coating to fight him a few times, Bullet should have learned Conqueror's Coating long ago given his talent. Therefore, in the years since leaving Roger Pirates, Bullet's main training focus has been on Haki, Devil Fruit abilities, and physical fitness. As for Conqueror's Haki, it is very difficult to improve through training. Bullet's strong Armament Haki is the result of his training.
"This world is one where might makes right. The World Government is the strongest in the world, so it can rule the world, set the rules, and enjoy the most resources. Therefore, strength naturally represents everything."
Isn't your power a result of enjoying these resources? Now you're talking to me about moral character? Where were you when I was betrayed by the entire country?
Where were you when I was adrift at sea? Now that I've disrupted the balance of the ocean, you've come looking for me?
"For you who control the seas, shouldn't I just find a place to die quietly and without a trace? What use are philosophical ideas to me?"
Bullet wasn't angry at Vic's words. His experience was somewhat complicated. He grew up in a country in a state of endless war and was betrayed by the entire country before he even reached adulthood. His values were very different from those who grew up in a peaceful environment, so his actions couldn't be judged by common sense. He was even more different from Vic, who had received more advanced ideas. Therefore, the two of them were in a state where neither could convince the other!
After hearing Bullet's words, Vic knew he couldn't reason with him. There's a saying, "Don't advise others to do good without experiencing their suffering," so Vic didn't want to say anything more.
Having experienced hardship, do you have the right to impose that hardship on others? Does the dragon slayer become the Arlong himself? How is this any different from the perpetrators of violence? If everyone thinks like this, the world will never be at peace!
Both men gave a cold laugh and vanished from their spots in an instant. When they reappeared, they collided again. Vic's heavy punch was blocked by Bullet's arm, Bullet's other hand almost simultaneously slammed towards Vic's head.
He swung his fist, which was much larger than Vic's head, and kicked it away, while his other foot followed closely behind, ready to stab Bullet in the throat.
Bullet didn't dodge; instead, he ducked and bumped his forehead into Vic's toes. After a few unsuccessful moves, Vic used the recoil to perform a backflip and retreat a distance.
However, Bullet had no intention of letting Vic escape. As Vic did his backflip, Barrett jumped into the air, positioned himself above Vic, and got face-to-face with him.
Bullet grinned at Vic, his massive fist already slamming down. If that punch landed, Vic would be instantly killed, followed by countless more punches.
However, Vic was no pushover either. He lightly tapped his toes a few times and darted out, the advanced Geppo proving extremely useful in the air.
Bullet's punch slammed into the ground, creating a large crater, and the resulting dust and debris obscured Bullet figure.
Vic landed back on the ground, casually catching a few pebbles that were splashing towards him, instantly covering them with his Haki before flinging them into the dust.
As Vic's Haki flying stone reached the edge of the smoke and dust, it was swept away by a large hand emerging from the smoke and dust. In the next instant, Bullet's massive figure appeared in front of Vic, his fist slamming down on his head. Vic crossed his arms to block above his head.
Bang