"So this is Wano?"
Bullet stood at the bow of the Golden Dragon, gazing up at the towering cliff walls ahead.
He had heard about this country many times before, but this was the first time he had set foot so close to it.
"Oh?"
Ian stood not far in front of him, a telescope in hand as he peered into the distance. "The passage leading to the underground harbor has been sealed. Looks like they're not planning on letting us dock so easily."
Normally, anyone wishing to enter Wano would need to switch ships at the secret harbor.
But now, the great gates at the waterway ahead were shut tight. With the harbor sealed, there was no way to move inland from there.
"Hehehehe! Want us to blast that door wide open?"
Solem stomped forward heavily, laughing aloud.
Even a gate that thick—he and Himir could blow it apart with a single joint strike.
"No rush."
Ian chuckled softly. "Even if we break into the harbor, if they've stopped the lift, we still won't be able to get up."
"Then how are we supposed to land?"
Jack frowned. "Don't tell me, Big Brother Ian, you plan to carry the ships up one by one?"
There were twenty-nine ships in total!
And that was without mentioning the heavy cannons mounted along the cliff walls, and the countless pirates lurking with their eyes fixed on them.
To make Ian, their commander, play the role of a porter would be beyond humiliating. A fleet admiral reduced to hauling ships? Ridiculous.
Ian didn't answer right away. Instead, he lifted his telescope again, staring at the top of the cliff.
A tall figure clad head to toe in leather stood there, a squad of armed pirates gathered behind him.
"Uncle King himself came to block our path?"
Ian smiled faintly. "Quite the grand welcome."
From atop the cliff, King silently looked down at the fleet spread across the sea.
It was almost absurd.
Nearly thirty ships, with a total force of over twenty thousand men. And this wasn't even Ian's full strength.
That little brat from back then… had truly grown into a pirate of terrifying caliber.
But even so—
"Don't think you'll break through my defense so easily!"
King's voice was cold.
Since Boss Kaido has declared this a full-scale war, there will be no mercy shown!
Come then, Ian!
I'll sink every ship that dares to cross this natural barrier! No matter how strong your power may be, my speed is not something to be trifled with!
Onboard the Golden Dragon.
Ian chuckled. "Bullet, go ahead. Clear a path for us."
"Any way I like?"
A cruel smile crept across Bullet's face.
Though his true interest lay only in fighting the strong, tormenting the weak was still an entertaining pastime.
"They're all our own people from here on out, so there's no need for slaughter," Ian said with a smile. "Just knock them out."
Bullet gave a barely noticeable smirk of disdain, but in the very next moment, he launched himself into the sky, stepping on air as he sped toward the distant edge of Wano.
"Hm?"
Standing atop the cliffside, King frowned.
Someone was approaching.
But it wasn't Ian.
If it was just one person, the coastal cannons would be useless.
After all, you couldn't really fire artillery at a single, fast-moving target.
That meant he had to handle this himself.
King's hand rested on the hilt at his waist.
But in the next instant, his eyes widened in shock.
He had finally seen the face of the figure flying toward him.
But how could it be him? How could it possibly be him?!
"The Demon Heir… Douglas Bullet!"
King gasped in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?!"
Why on earth was this guy on Ian's ship? Could it be… that he had joined Ian's crew?
The thought struck King's mind like a hammer, leaving his head ringing.
If that was true, then the battle to come would be disastrous!
But…
King gritted his teeth.
There was no way he could back down now. If he did, no one would be able to stop Ian's fleet from landing!
In the next moment, King spread his wings wide and transformed into his Human-Beast Form.
His jet-black wings flapped with force, sending out a barrage of massive wind blades.
"Pointless."
Bullet, who was charging forward through the air, only sneered. With a single punch, the overwhelming shockwave of his Haki shattered every blade of wind in an instant.
The fierce gust that followed even forced King back several paces.
"Stand still!!"
The flames at the back of King's head suddenly flared faster, and his body shot forward like a bolt of black lightning, appearing right before Bullet's eyes.
As the fire reignited behind him, King's massive wings swung down like blades, slashing toward Bullet.
"Heh."
Bullet only let out a cold chuckle as his right fist, wrapped in crackling lightning, slammed forward.
BOOM!!
Dark thunder split the sky.
King's body convulsed as though struck by a real lightning bolt, sent spiraling away through the air.
Such overwhelming power… such terrifying Haki!!
Struggling to steady himself midair, King could not help but feel awe. This man truly was a monster among monsters!
And yet… Bullet himself was slightly surprised.
What was with this guy's body?
His Haki, his strength—they were decent enough. His Devil Fruit was nothing more than an Ancient Zoan.
And yet… that punch just now hadn't left so much as a scratch on him.
Could it be that this guy has some terrifying physique?
It didn't matter anymore.
Bullet had already reached above the mountains, crashing down like a meteor at that moment.
As he fell, his rampant Conqueror's Haki surged violently from his body.
The Beast Pirates defending on the mountain cliffs instantly began foaming at the mouth, one after another, and collapsed to the ground.
Only a few of the Shinuchi could withstand Bullet's Conqueror's Haki.
By the time Bullet slammed onto the mountain cliffs, very few remained standing.
Then, the Awakening of the Clank Fruit activated!
A purple substance immediately swept across the entire platform, affecting even the cliffs below.
The pirates' weapons, the cannons placed here, and the entire cliff—all were under Bullet's control.
The whole cliff began to reshape itself, transforming directly into a massive staircase.
And this staircase was even moving upward like an elevator.
An artificial elevator, indeed.
"What kind of joke is this!!"
Uncle King, who had just been punched away, flapped his wings angrily, trying to destroy the staircase.
But.
"GET LOST!!"
Under Bullet's control, a massive arm suddenly shot out from the ground, crashing toward King in the sky.
King could only grit his teeth and flap his wings to dodge.
Then, he saw warships rapidly approaching across the sea.
"Uncle King!"
Ian's voice shouted from the deck, "If you don't go back now, you won't be able to leave later."
"…"
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