Meanwhile.
On the third combat island, earth-shaking roars continued unabated.
Douglas Bullet's burly frame resembled a humanoid beast.
Each punch he threw unleashed terrifying shockwaves that carved deep trenches across the entire battlefield, tossing aside challengers like toys.
"Revolutionary Army scum!"
Bullet roared with manic laughter, sending a Revolutionary Army soldier flying dozens of meters with a single punch.
"You dare challenge me with such pitiful skills?"
Sabo's figure darted nimbly through the dust, the Armament Haki wrapping around his steel pipe gleaming with a dark purple light.
Seizing an opening in Bullet's assault, he closed in suddenly.
"Dragon Claw Fist!"
His fingers formed a claw, coated in Haki, aimed straight at the opponent's throat!
BOOM!
Bullet reacted with astonishing speed, blocking the lethal strike with his thick arm, though three bloody gashes still appeared on his skin.
His crimson eyes flickered with surprise. "Oh? Not bad!"
In the distance, Belo Betty raised her flag high, her passionate shouts echoing across the battlefield.
"Comrades! Do not falter! Fight for your future! Fight for the power to change the world!"
Pump-Pump Fruit Ability Activated.
Under the enhancement of her inspiring fruit ability, the Revolutionary Army soldiers' muscles swelled, and their morale surged dramatically, allowing them to stand back up despite their injuries.
Lindbergh continuously harassed Bullet with modified weapons, his jetpack buzzing as he flew around.
"Take this!"
ZAP!
Laser cannons left charred marks across Bullet's massive body.
"Hold on, everyone!" Lindbergh's small figure weaved back and forth. "This guy's stamina isn't infinite!"
Bullet was thoroughly enraged by these hit-and-run tactics.
He threw his head back with a furious roar, his Conqueror's Haki erupting like a physical force, instantly knocking out dozens of nearby Revolutionary Army soldiers who lacked sufficient will.
"Damn insects!"
He stomped hard, shattering the ground and sending massive rocks and steel debris flying into the air.
"Fusion!"
Using his Gasha Gasha no Mi, he fused the debris together into a colossal rock-and-metal fist that blotted out the sky!
"DIE!"
At this critical moment, a gust of wind unnatural for the arena swirled violently.
Monkey D. Dragon suddenly appeared at the center of the battlefield.
The face he had always kept hidden beneath his cloak was finally revealed, the red geometric tattoos strikingly visible in the raging wind.
"Dragon's Breath!"
Dragon thrust his palms forward.
A concentrated blast of hurricane-force wind and Haki collided with the giant fist mid-air.
KABOOM!
Two cataclysmic forces collided, the resulting shockwave flattening all buildings within a kilometer radius!
The giant fusion fist crumbled into dust.
Bullet stared in astonishment, realizing this figure who had been hiding among the Revolutionary Army ranks possessed such unfathomable power.
"Interesting! This is truly interesting!" Bullet trembled with excitement.
He was completely unaware that far on the horizon, a Marine warship was slowly sailing away with Crocodile in custody, nor did he know that Enel was fleeing in panic.
At this moment, his eyes saw only the worthy opponent before him.
Bullet's body steamed with scorching heat, his Haki causing the air to distort.
The power of the Fusion Fruit made his frame stand immovable as cast iron.
His gaze fixed on Dragon like a starving beast discovering prey of equal strength, a ferocious grin splitting his face.
"The Leader of the Revolutionary Army... Monkey D. Dragon! I've always wanted to crush you!"
Just as tension reached its peak, Sabo suddenly flashed between the two combatants.
His steel pipe was already glowing red from the heat of the battle, yet his eyes remained determined.
"You want to challenge our Leader?" Sabo wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. "You'll have to get through us first!"
As his voice fell, Revolutionary Army commanders like Belo Betty and Lindbergh stepped forward in unison, forming a human wall before Dragon.
Lindbergh's mechanical arm clicked and transformed, revealing dark cannon barrels; Belo Betty's flag fluttered loudly, her red vest bright against the dust.
Bullet's gaze swept across their faces.
Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Surprisingly, the Haki surrounding him began to slowly recede, and the steel armor condensed by the Fusion Fruit dissipated.
"Interesting... truly interesting!" He rubbed his chin, a cunning, arrogant glint flashing in his eyes.
"Since you're all so eager to play..."
Bullet suddenly spread his arms wide, his voice booming across the entire arena.
"Let's make this more entertaining!"
"There's an unwritten rule in this competition—the Devil Fruit reward belongs to the last person standing on the field, or..." He deliberately drew out his words, "...the last remaining organization!"
The entire arena fell into dead silence.
The surviving independent pirates' expressions shifted from shock to wild delight, exchanging knowing glances with one another.
This meant they wouldn't have to face the monster Bullet directly right now—they only needed to eliminate the other competitors.
"So..." Bullet leisurely retreated to the edge of the arena, crossing his arms as if watching a play.
"You decide among yourselves who gets the reward! Kill the Revolutionaries, and maybe I'll fight the winner!"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire arena turned eerie.
The pirates unanimously aimed their weapons at the Revolutionary Army—this well-trained force was clearly the biggest threat to them obtaining the fruit.
A one-eyed pirate licked his blade and sneered. "Let's take care of these Revolutionaries first, then we can settle things among ourselves!"
Dragon's cloak billowed without wind as he calmly observed the gradually encircling pirates.
Sabo's steel pipe was already coated in black Armament Haki as he muttered, "Seems we've become the public enemy..."
"Perfect!" Belo Betty slammed her flag into the ground. "Let these scum of the seas witness the will of the Revolutionary Army!"
A chaotic battle was about to erupt.
Bullet leaned against a broken stone pillar, wearing a pleased smile as if enjoying a theatrical performance.
His rough fingers lightly tapped against his arm, waiting for the show to begin.
Meanwhile, Gecko Moria crouched in the deepest shadows at the edge of the arena, his massive form strangely blending into the darkness.
"Kishishishi..."
He suppressed a low chuckle, the corners of his mouth stretching almost to his ears.
The plan he had nearly abandoned now sparked with renewed hope.
That monster Bullet had actually stopped fighting and was letting them battle it out.
Whoever emerged victorious would get the Devil Fruit.
This was like a gift from heaven!
Why not take it? Especially since it was nighttime... and a chaotic battle at that!
For a shadow user, this was the perfect opportunity—this was his domain!
Moria secretly glanced at Bullet leaning against the distant stone pillar.
The aura radiating from that man was still suffocating.
Just half an hour ago, he had witnessed Bullet punch "The Ripper" Jonathan—a pirate with a bounty over 100 million berries—sending him flying.
The poor wretch had lost consciousness before he could even scream.
"Now... it's my chance," Moria licked his dry lips.