Chapter 75: Bullet Disembarks

"Well then, may fortune favor you all in battle." Standing on the cloud shore of Angel Island, Gan Fall stroked his long beard and bid farewell to Roger and his crew.

"Oh! Thanks for having us, Gan! I'll come drink with you again next time!" Roger hoisted a huge sack stuffed with Sky Island specialties over his shoulder, not the slightest bit embarrassed.

Kyle: Gan! You're a goddamn genius! (wrong show)

"Captain, how are we getting down?" Buggy tugged at Roger's sleeve, staring anxiously at the bottomless sea of clouds beneath their feet. "We're not just jumping, are we? We'll be splattered!"

Gan Fall smiled faintly and clapped his hands.

From beneath the clouds in the distance, a massive pink object slowly floated upward.

It was a giant octopus the size of a small island, its head shaped like a hot air balloon, countless thick tentacles swaying gently through the sea of clouds.

"This is Sky Island's unique 'Octopus Balloon,'" Gan Fall explained. "It'll wrap around your ship and use the gas in its body to regulate buoyancy, bringing you safely back to the Blue Sea."

"An... an octopus?!" Buggy's face went white instantly. He hated these slippery, squishy creatures more than anything.

Shanks, however, jumped up excitedly. "Amazing! We're riding an octopus balloon ship back down?"

Soon, with the help of Sky Island residents, the Oro Jackson was gently wrapped by the giant octopus's tentacles, leaving only the deck and mast exposed.

The octopus's head began releasing hot air, and the massive vessel slowly lifted away from the sea of clouds, beginning its descent toward the Blue Sea.

The initial process was fairly smooth. The crew stood on deck, watching the churning clouds around them with fascination, as if sailing through a vertical waterfall.

"Hey, Shanks, doesn't that cloud look like Captain Roger's beard?"

"Gu ha ha ha ha! That's nose hair, not a beard!"

"???"

"Pfft, and that one over there looks just like your red nose, Buggy!"

"You idiot! What did you say!"

Just as the two kids were roughhousing, a sudden violent air current struck without warning.

The octopus wrapped around the ship seemed startled. Its massive body shuddered violently, releasing a pitiful, aggrieved cry.

"Wuboo—!"

The entire Oro Jackson shook violently along with it, sending everyone on board stumbling.

"Waaaaah! We're falling! We're gonna die, we're gonna die!" Buggy clutched the mainmast for dear life, snot and tears streaming down his face, his whole body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"Gu ha ha ha! This is fun! Go faster, big octopus!" Roger laughed heartily into the howling wind, as if enjoying a roller coaster ride.

"Roger! Now's not the time to laugh!" Scopper Gaban shouted while struggling to steady the helm.

Another violent jolt followed. The ship tilted beyond forty-five degrees, and several crew members who couldn't keep their footing screamed as they slid toward the rail. Kyle's eyes narrowed. He stomped hard on the deck with one foot.

An invisible shockwave rippled outward from him as its center, forming a gentle yet resilient repulsive force field like a giant air cushion, stabilizing both the tilting ship and the sliding crew members.

Immediately after, he pressed his hands forward in the air, releasing an extremely subtle soothing wave toward the frightened octopus.

"Don't be afraid, big guy."

The wave seemed to communicate with the octopus's nervous system. The panicked giant octopus gradually calmed down, its eight tentacles tightening again, restoring the ship's stability.

The storm came quickly and left just as fast.

When the ship broke through the final layer of clouds and blinding sunlight and salty sea breeze hit their faces, everyone felt reborn.

"Splash—!"

Accompanied by a massive splash, the Oro Jackson landed steadily on the azure sea.

The giant octopus released its tentacles, bobbed its head at everyone as if saying goodbye, then slowly ascended and disappeared from view.

Sayonara, octopus buddy!

"We're saved..." Buggy lay sprawled on deck, feeling like his soul had nearly been shaken out of him.

Shanks wiped the seawater from his face and laughed heartily. "That was thrilling! I want to ride it again!"

"Shut up!"

The pirates' laughter echoed across the vast sea, dispelling the earlier danger.

The ship set sail again, riding the wind and waves toward their next unknown destination. Night fell, moonlight spilling across the sea like liquid silver.

After the revelry, the deck returned to tranquility, with only the footsteps of the night watch and the rhythm of waves lapping against the hull.

Douglas Bullet stood alone at the bow like a silent statue, his muscular frame gleaming bronze in the moonlight.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes holding neither longing for treasure nor anticipation for adventure, only a pure, burning will to fight.

Roger appeared behind him at some point, an unlit cigar between his lips.

"Whatcha thinking about, Bullet?"

Bullet didn't turn around, his voice low and powerful. "Roger... Captain."

Bro glanced at Kyle, Silver, Bronze, and Iron lurking in the shadows and wisely added the honorific.

He paused, then finally turned to face Roger directly.

Their eyes met as equals, without a trace of fear.

"I'm leaving the ship."

The words were spoken with absolute finality, leaving no room for negotiation. The air itself seemed to freeze.

In the nearby shadows, Rayleigh's hand paused mid-wipe on his sword. Scopper Gaban, leaning against the rail with his drink, also stopped. Kyle crossed his arms, watching the scene quietly, unsurprised.

The smile vanished from Roger's face. He didn't ask why, simply looked at Bullet calmly, waiting for him to continue.

"I have no interest in that final island or whatever." Bullet continued, each word resolute. "The truth of history, the great treasure, none of it matters to me."

His fists clenched unconsciously, knuckles cracking, a powerful aura rising from within him.

"I have only one goal: challenge the world's strongest, then surpass them all and become the world's strongest! Including you, Roger!"

At these last words, his gaze struck like an unsheathed blade, piercing straight at Roger.

This was no longer a request. It was a declaration!

The deck fell deathly silent.

Shanks and Buggy poked their heads out from the cabin. Hearing this, they were too scared to even breathe.

However, Roger's reaction was beyond everyone's expectations.

He froze for a moment, then suddenly an earth-shaking roar of laughter shattered the night's stillness.

"Gu ha ha ha!"

He laughed so hard he doubled over, tears nearly streaming down his face, as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"I see! So that's it! Good! Excellent!" Roger wiped the corner of his eyes, stepped forward, and slapped Bullet's shoulder heavily. "That's the kind of ambition a man should have!"

Looking into Bullet's eyes burning with ambition, far from being angry, Roger's gaze was full of admiration.

"If you want to walk your own path, then walk it! If you want to become the strongest, then go challenge them! Without at least that much spirit, you wouldn't deserve to be on my ship anyway!"

Roger's boldness and magnanimity caused a flicker of complex emotion in Bullet's eyes.

He'd expected a fierce battle, but never this outcome.

"Go on then." Roger withdrew his hand and grinned. "But before I reach the end, I'm not handing over the title of 'World's Strongest' to anyone."

"I'll be waiting for you at the top." Bullet left this promise and turned toward the rail.

The crew silently prepared a small boat and ample supplies for him.

No one tried to stop him or criticize. They all understood that this ship gathered a bunch of lawless monsters, each with their own dreams and paths.

Bullet jumped into the small boat. Without looking back, he hoisted the sail and headed straight into the vast moonlight, in the opposite direction from the Oro Jackson.

"Hey, that guy... just left like that." Buggy muttered quietly, his feelings complicated.

Shanks gazed at the sail growing smaller in the distance and gripped the sword at his waist tighter.

Roger looked up at the star-studded night sky, as if he could see that invisible route leading to the final island.

"All right, lads! Stop spacing out!" he shouted. "Our adventure isn't over yet!"