Chapter 31

"Whatever, just take care of your body. Don't drag the fight on for too long. If I feel we're being encircled by Marines later, I'll pull you back into the ship and leave immediately. Is that understood?" Rayleigh's tone turned stern as he issued a warning to his friend, fully aware of Roger's tendencies.

"Fine, fine, I get it. I haven't had a decent fight in the past couple of months. Garp sure knows when to come knocking, hahaha," Roger replied, his tone light as he quickly jumped in the direction of the island where Garp had left earlier.

As Garp and Roger moved towards the largest island chosen as their battleground, I found myself facing the young Douglas Bullet, my opponent. The island we selected for the fight was close to where the ships were anchored. Although the island was of medium size, it would suffice for our clash.

"Kid, give up now before we start. I tend to go all out against all my opponents, so if you value your life, heed my words." Bullet warned, tossing aside the coat he was wearing and standing with his bare upper body facing me. In response, I mirrored his actions, removing the Marine shirt I was wearing. A collective gasp rippled through the spectators who had decided to witness our fight, while most others chose to focus on Roger and Garp's battle.

I was aware of the reason for their gasps—it was the mark on my back. However, I paid no mind to their reactions. I simply wanted to flex. Fighting Garp had never given me a feeling of superiority, as he always knocked me down when I felt arrogant about my strength. But now, I had a chance to show off, and I intended to make the most of it to carve out a name for myself.

"Ready or not, pirate, here I come," I whispered, then immediately used Soru and flickered in front of Bullet. He didn't expect me to go on the offensive from the start, and though he momentarily faltered, he quickly crossed his arms. Just before I made contact with my fist, he instinctively coated his arms with Haki.

"Boom!" My fist, clad in Haki, connected with his crossed arms, sending a shockwave that caught many spectators by surprise, including Bullet himself. Despite blocking my attack, Bullet flew through the air and crashed into the forest behind him, toppling quite a few trees in the process.

"Pheeeeew!!!, What a monster! The kid has grown even stronger since the last time we met." Scopper Gaban, who had surprisingly chosen to observe my fight, whistled loudly as I sent Bullet flying through the air.

Bullet, having crashed, stood up, pushing aside a fallen tree. He dusted himself off and eyed me with a glint in his eyes. Being new to Roger's crew, he didn't know about me. Initially, he thought I was just bluffing, but now he realized I am not mere talk.

"Kid, you are good. You already have such dense Haki at such a young age. No wonder Roger praises your talent. Come, then, let's see how much of a genius you are." Bullet rushed forward, coating his arm with Haki. He had yet to use his Devil Fruit powers, believing it beneath him to do so against a kid at least half a dozen years younger than him.

As Bullet rushed forward with momentum and punched, I simply tilted my head to dodge, countering with a ferocious jab, "Busoshoku Koka," aiming for Bullet's chest. However, he dodged with surprising agility; his movements were fluid like water. Undeterred, I followed up with a swift hook, aiming for his head, but he blocked it effortlessly, his arms coated in a shimmering haki of his own.

"Rapid Strike!" I shouted, unleashing a barrage of haki-clad punches, each one aimed with precision. Bullet countered with a series of punches of his own, his attacks coming fast and furious. We traded blows, the sound of impact echoing through the air like thunder.

With a burst of energy, I launched myself into the air, flipping over Bullet's head and landing behind him with a graceful thud. I appeared behind Bullet despite his Observation Haki was on. "Rankyaku!" I cried out, my foot connecting with Bullet's back with enough force to send him stumbling forward. Seizing the opportunity, I followed up with a powerful uppercut, aiming for his chin.

"Meteor Punch!" I exclaimed as my fist connected, the impact sending Bullet flying through the air. He crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, but to my surprise, within seconds he sprang back to his feet with a fierce growl and spat.

"Is that all you've got?" Bullet taunted, his eyes burning with determination and anger. "I expected more from someone whom Roger himself praised."

Despite him acting cool, I knew that my last attack had done quite some damage, evident from the bloodstains on the side of his mouth. To be honest, I was just getting warmed up. From the initial exchange, it was evident to me that Bullet was not the monster that I had hoped for.

In the future, if anyone told me Bullet had fought the Dark King to a tie, then I would punch those people. The current me was superior to Douglas Bullet in every way. Even his Armament Haki, was still in the initial stages of imbuement, which could be called a medium level technique. I didn't know when he started training Haki, but I was sure he was never going to catch up to me in the future.

Meanwhile, on the central island, a clash of entirely different magnitudes was unfolding. Unlike the gradual buildup in my fight, this battle erupted at full throttle from the very start. The clash between Garp and Roger's Haoshoku was unleashing continuous shockwaves, creating an aftershock that reverberated through the island. The pressure emitted by their conqueror's Haki created a barrier, making it difficult for most spectators to remain standing.

With a mighty swing, Roger unleashed his signature technique, "Divine Departure." His cutlass, imbued with ferocious Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, sliced through the air with such force that it seemed to affect the very surroundings.

However, Garp, never one to be outmatched, countered with equal ferocity. He coated his fist in a pitch-black layer of Haki, infusing it with his own Conqueror's Haki. With a thunderous roar, he launched his attack to intercept Roger's incoming strike.

"Meteor Punch!"

The clash of their techniques created an explosion of power, the impact echoing across the island. The ground shook beneath their feet as the sheer force of their blows collided. It was a battle between two titans, each refusing to yield an inch.

"You're one stubborn Marine, Garp," Roger chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow as he eyed his opponent warily. "Most Marines would've given up the idea of catching me by now."

Garp's gaze narrowed, his expression hardening as he locked eyes with his long-time adversary. "Stubbornness runs in the family, Roger," he retorted, his voice tinged with a hint of challenge. "But unlike you, I have a duty to uphold."

Roger's grin remained undeterred by Garp's stern demeanor. "Ah, duty," he mused, his tone dripping with mockery. "Always getting in the way of a good time, aren't you, Garp?"

Garp's grip tightened, his fists clenching, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. "It's not about fun, Roger," he shot back, his voice firm and unwavering. "It's about justice. Someone has to keep the peace in this chaotic world."

Roger's laughter echoed across the battlefield, a stark contrast to Garp's steely resolve. "Justice, huh?" he replied, his tone laced with skepticism. "I always knew you were a stickler for the rules, Garp. But tell me, how's that working out for you?"

Garp's jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin. "Better than being a lawless pirate," he countered, his words laced with contempt. "At least I can sleep at night knowing I'm doing what's right."

Roger's expression softened, a flicker of something akin to respect in his eyes. "Fair enough, Garp," he conceded, his tone taking on a more serious note. "But just remember, sometimes doing what's right means challenging the status quo."

As the clash between Garp and Roger continued, the intensity of their battle seemed to defy the laws of nature itself. Each blow they exchanged resonated like thunder, echoing across the island and sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Roger, his eyes gleaming with determination, launched another devastating strike. With a swift motion, he unleashed a flurry of slashes with his cutlass, each one infused with his formidable Armament Haki. The air crackled with energy as the blade sliced through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake.

Garp met Roger's assault head-on, his fists moving with blinding speed as he countered each strike with his own formidable techniques. With a roar of effort, he unleashed his signature move, the "Blue Hole," channeling the full force of his Armament Haki into a single, devastating punch. The impact reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

But Roger, ever the resilient opponent, refused to yield. With a defiant grin, he unleashed a powerful counterattack of his own, his cutlass glowing with an otherworldly aura as he channeled his Conqueror's Haki into the blade. With a mighty swing, he unleashed "Royal Execution," a technique renowned for its sheer destructive power.

The clash of their attacks sent shockwaves reverberating across the island, shaking the very ground beneath them. Spectators watched in awe as the two titans clashed, their battle reaching a fever pitch as they unleashed their most powerful techniques.

But even as the battle raged on, neither Garp nor Roger showed any signs of backing down. With each passing moment, their attacks grew fiercer, and their movements became more fluid and precise. It was a battle of wills as much as it was a battle of strength, with each combatant pushing themselves to their absolute limits in pursuit of victory.

The sun beat down mercilessly on the battlefield, its harsh rays illuminating the intense clash between Garp and Roger as they locked horns in a battle of titans. Meanwhile, on the medium-sized island, I danced around Douglas Bullet with the agility of a panther, my movements fluid and precise.

With every step, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, heightening my senses and sharpening my focus. Bullet, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up, his massive frame laboring under the weight of my relentless assault. Despite his formidable strength, it was clear that he was outmatched in terms of speed and agility.

As I darted around him, landing quick and calculated strikes, I could see the frustration building in Bullet's eyes. His breathing grew heavy, and sweat glistened on his brow as he attempted to anticipate my next move. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to gain the upper hand.

Beside the battlefield, Scopper Gaban observed the exchange with keen interest, his expression unreadable. It was evident that he, too, had underestimated my abilities, but now he watched with growing respect as I outmaneuvered their newest recruit with ease.

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," I murmured to myself, drawing inspiration from the legendary words of a boxing icon. The phrase seemed to encapsulate the essence of my fighting style perfectly—swift, agile, and deadly.

With each passing moment, the gap between us widened, and my attacks wore down Bullet's defenses little by little. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to mount a significant counteroffensive, and it was only a matter of time before my relentless assault proved too much for him to bear.

"Oye, Bullet, do you still think I'm not worth Garp's tutelage?" I couldn't resist taunting my opponent, who had been belittling me since the outset. Bullet's face contorted with anger at my words, his eyes almost glowing red with humiliation. I could practically hear his teeth grinding in frustration as he longed to tear me apart, but it was clear to both of us that I held the upper hand.

"You little bastard! Is dodging all you know? If you've got the guts, try facing my attack head-on. Let's see if you can still talk after taking a single strike from me!" Bullet's voice was laced with fury as he shouted, his pride preventing him from using his full abilities, including his Devil Fruit powers.