Chapter 39 - 39: Assassination Strike(100 P.S Chapter)

Words : 1465 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

A crimson blade, wrapped in roaring flames, slashed swiftly toward Bullet's neck. Seeing Yoriichi Tsugikuni suddenly appear beside Bullet, Kuzan couldn't help but complain inwardly. The plan had been clear: they would attack together. Kuzan would enter first, drawing attention and freezing the lower-ranking members of the Roger Pirates, while Yoriichi would follow shortly after to cut down the immobilized foes with his sword. But things hadn't gone as planned. He had barely frozen two pirates before someone intercepted him. And Yoriichi only made his move after Bullet had shattered the ice and launched a counterattack—showing up fashionably late, in Kuzan's opinion. "Totally unreliable," Kuzan thought in frustration. But now wasn't the time to argue. Yoriichi wasn't paying him any attention anyway. At this moment, every fiber of his focus was locked onto Bullet. Until he took off the man's head, he wouldn't relax for even a heartbeat. The moment he laid eyes on his opponent, Yoriichi recognized him instantly. He knew Bullet's head wouldn't come off that easily. "A brat?!" "That slash… isn't normal!" The blade was just about to reach its mark when Bullet glanced sidelong at Yoriichi, his expression calm. Without hesitation, he withdrew the hand that had been reaching for Kuzan and turned sharply, reaching directly for the oncoming blade. Yoriichi's pupils shrank. He's trying to catch my blade with his bare hand?! He had seen this kind of insane defense before—once from Zephyr, once from Garp. Could it be that Bullet also possessed such overwhelming Haki that he could block his strike unarmed? "No, I can't gamble on a weak spot!" In a flash, Yoriichi made his decision. The blade, which had been arcing toward Bullet's neck, abruptly shifted course, cutting sideways instead toward his waist and abdomen. "Huh?!" Bullet's hand grasped at empty air. The next second, a searing pain flared across his abdomen, forcing a grunt from his lips. By the time he turned his gaze toward Yoriichi, the strike had already landed. Yoriichi had retreated several meters, standing now alongside Kuzan, who had also withdrawn from his previous position. Both men kept their eyes locked on Bullet, expressions tense and alert. Bullet might look young, but his strength was absolutely monstrous. Despite their coordinated assault, Yoriichi and Kuzan hadn't been able to take him down in the opening strike. And they weren't alone. Other members of the Roger Pirates were still scattered across the icy battlefield. Without exchanging a word, Yoriichi and Kuzan made the same decision—to temporarily disengage. Tangling with Bullet right now would be reckless. "The cut's too shallow… His Haki is ridiculously strong. That defense is terrifying." Yoriichi glanced at Bullet's wound from a distance, and a weight settled in his chest. That last strike had been full force. And yet, it had barely managed to wound the man. The injury wasn't serious—not even enough to impair Bullet's combat ability. Bullet's Haki… was absolutely monstrous. "That little brat… actually cut me?!" Bullet winced at the burning pain in his midsection. He looked down and there it was—a slash, more than ten centimeters long, stretched across his waist. The skin around the wound was scorched black, and the surrounding flesh glowed red, as if seared by fire. It wasn't deep, just muscle damage. The blood loss was minor. It wouldn't hinder him in battle. But even so, Bullet's gaze burned with fury as he looked at Yoriichi and Kuzan. And with it, a rising battlelust. He'd been injured. Since boarding the Oro Jackson, aside from Captain Roger himself, this was the first time anyone had ever wounded him. And the one who did it… was just a kid. Judging by his appearance, the brat wasn't much older than Shanks—a runty, greenhorn rookie! "Bullet! You okay?!" "You're hurt, are you alright?!" At that moment, the rest of the Roger Pirates finally processed what had happened. The assault by Kuzan and Yoriichi had been so sudden and precise that only a few with exceptionally sharp Observation Haki had reacted in time. Most of the crew was just now coming to their senses. Shanks spotted the wound on Bullet's waist, blood still flowing, and couldn't help but call out in concern. Though Bullet wasn't the easiest person to get along with, he was still one of them. A crewmate. And in the Roger Pirates, bonds between shipmates ran deep. "I'm fine." "An injury like this? Hardly worth mentioning!" "Come to think of it, Shanks, that kid looks about your age." "To be that strong at such a young age… reminds me of myself back in the day!" Bullet, a man not even in his twenties, spoke with the airs of a seasoned veteran. Surprisingly, his words carried praise for an enemy—no less directed at none other than Yoriichi Tsugikuni. And yet his tone was entirely relaxed, brimming with confidence, as though neither Kuzan nor Yoriichi posed the slightest threat. As Bullet spoke, the rest of the Roger Pirates had also taken notice of the red-haired youth standing beside Kuzan. Kuzan they'd never met in person before, but they'd at least heard the rumors—he was a rising Navy star, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, the youngest Captain in Navy history. But the red-haired boy beside him, blade in hand, was unfamiliar. Someone that young, with such striking red hair, such formidable strength, and serving aboard Garp's ship? With that kind of presence, surely they would've heard of him, yet not one of them had. "Who the hell is that kid? He's the one who slashed Bullet just now!" "He's insanely strong… Is he a new recruit under Garp?" "Wait, wasn't his sword glowing red just a moment ago? Why is it black now?" Each member of the Roger Pirates focused on something different, eyeing Yoriichi with curiosity and murmuring amongst themselves. Yet their tones were far from tense—relaxed, even amused. Meanwhile, the two pirates Kuzan had frozen were carried over and laid before Bullet. Without a word, Bullet activated his Devil Fruit ability, absorbing the ice from their bodies into his own and then expelling it harmlessly. The Merge-Merge Fruit, certainly handy in moments like this. Ellio and Yamon weren't frozen for long. Once the ice was gone, they were stiff but otherwise unharmed. After regaining their composure, they rejoined the crew, eyes locked onto Kuzan and Yoriichi with predatory intensity. At that moment, the Marines aboard the dog-headed warship began rallying behind Kuzan and Yoriichi. These were not ordinary soldiers—they were the elite of the elite, capable of withstanding the residual shockwaves of Conqueror's Haki unleashed by Garp and Roger. Under Bogard's command, they gathered at the rear of the two young warriors, and for the first time, the Navy's side exuded a pressure that did not pale before the Roger Pirates. "Hoh-hoh?!" "Since when did Garp's ship get so many promising young Marines?" "Looks like the Navy really knows how to raise its next generation!" Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind the Roger Pirates. Everyone turned, surprised and elated, to see Rayleigh walking toward them—and Oden by his side. Rayleigh had managed to pull Oden from the water in time. After coughing up a few gulps of seawater, Oden quickly recovered. Other than a slightly crooked jaw, he looked none the worse for wear—like a man who'd just had a minor scuffle, not one who had taken a punch from Garp himself. A testament to his sheer toughness. This was Kozuki Oden, after all—the man who once took a punch from Whitebeard head-on and stood tall after being blasted by Roger's Divine Departure. "First Mate!" "Rayleigh-san! And Oden-san too!" Cheers erupted as the crew welcomed Rayleigh and Oden back into their ranks. Rayleigh smiled, approaching the gathered pirates. His gaze fell briefly and curiously on the wound along Bullet's waist before he unsheathed his sword and stepped forward, his voice ringing clear as he addressed the Navy. "Well then, Marines..." "Hope you're ready." "If you've dared to cross the Roger Pirates..." "Don't expect to leave unscathed." ********* Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch! For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on Patreon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey! p(a)treon.com/Lnee *remove () to open it

Chapter 39 - 39: Assassination Strike(100 P.S Chapter)

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