Darkness, cold, and silence—this underground space known as the 'Infinite Hell' remained as lifeless and despair-inducing as ever.
Though there was no torture, no hunger, and no punishment, for the big shots imprisoned here, the constant draining of their strength and the wasted years and time took a heavy toll on their spirits.
"Phew—"
"That bastard finally shut up! My ears were about to explode!"
Shiki, with a look of anger, raised his hands shackled in Seastone handcuffs and rubbed his ears beneath his thick golden hair. These days, Bullet had been making a racket almost non-stop, and it was only when he fell asleep that the other prisoners, who couldn't stand the noise, got any peace.
This was also directly related to the fact that the useless guards didn't care at all.
Honestly, if all the cell doors were opened one day, Bullet would definitely be beaten to death by the others.
Just as everyone was enjoying this brief moment of quiet, Magellan silently appeared outside Bullet's cell.
"Come out. Someone wants to see you."
Magellan's voice wasn't loud, but Bullet, who seemed to be in a deep sleep, instantly opened his eyes, his face lighting up with uncontrollable excitement. He quickly rolled over and stood up.
"Finally!"
At the same time, Magellan outside took out a key, inserted it into the lock, and opened the Seastone cell door. However, their movements also caught the attention of Crocodile in the neighboring cell.
"Magellan, why does he get to leave?" The 'Sand Crocodile' angrily walked up to his cell door, gnashing his teeth as he demanded an answer.
"None of your business. Go back to sleep!"
With that, Magellan expressionlessly watched as Bullet stepped out of the cell. After closing the door, he escorted the ecstatic Bullet away.
"Tell me! Why? Whatever he can do for you, I, Crocodile, can do too!!"
His envious, jealous, and hate-filled outburst only provoked a mocking laugh from Bullet: "Hahaha, with your current strength, you're useless! Just stay in there and rot"
"Damn it!"
Crocodile clenched his fists tightly, his eyes red as he watched Bullet's figure gradually disappear from sight. At the same time, his mind raced, trying to figure out what use Bullet could possibly have for the World Government.
"Could it be that making a racket really gets you released?"
Meanwhile, Bullet, following Magellan, once again took the large elevator up to the first level of the sea.
Though it was late at night, the place was still brightly lit, with screams echoing continuously.
New prisoners, trembling with fear, lined up one by one, slowly approaching the large pot of boiling water at the far end.
But none of this concerned Bullet.
By now, he had already changed out of his prison uniform and back into the clothes he had worn when he first entered. In high spirits, he walked out of the gates of Impel Down.
Only to be handed over by Magellan to a man wearing a white mask, white suit, and white coat.
The moment Bullet sensed the latter's presence, his eyes narrowed sharply, his sixth sense screaming at him about the man's danger.
"I've handed him over to you. I'm heading back now."
With that, Magellan took out the key and handed it to a nearby guard, instructing him to remove Bullet's handcuffs and leg irons.
Once his hands and feet were free, the latter noticed that the Green Collar around his neck was gone, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.
He pointed to the empty ground beneath his feet and sneered coldly:
"Shouldn't my shadow be returned to me as well?"
"When the time comes, it will naturally be returned to you."
Magellan turned around indifferently and walked back into Impel Down, paying no further attention to Bullet's increasingly unpleasant expression.
"Let's go. The master wants to see you."
At this moment, the Man in White reminded him.
"OK!"
Bullet suppressed the anger in his heart and forced a terrifying smile.
As he followed the other man toward an official ship of the World Government, he asked with a smile:
"You must be one of the hidden experts of the World Government, right? How many more like you are there?"
However, the Man in White completely ignored him.
This made Bullet frown, and he had no choice but to shut his mouth.
Two hours later, Bullet arrived at the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, and strode into Pangaea Castle.
Finally, he stood before the grand doors of the Void Palace.
Throughout the journey, he had considered finding an opportunity to escape.
Although he had no shadow and couldn't walk in the sunlight, it was currently nighttime.
But every time he thought of making a move, the Man in White would release an overwhelming killing intent, forcing Bullet to abandon the idea.
There was no other way. He was no match for the man, and he didn't want to die.
In his view, only the weak died.
He was a man destined to become the strongest!
Moreover, Bullet was curious to see the person who was truly the strongest in the world.
"Go in."
After saying this, the Man in White turned and left without another word, quickly disappearing down the corridor.
Left alone, Bullet silently examined the grand doors before him.
Finally, with a determined look in his eyes, he pushed them open.
"Huh?"
As he stepped inside, the first thing he saw was the three-tiered platform and the staircase covered with a red carpet.
He paid no attention to the doors closing automatically behind him.
His gaze continued upward, passing the second tier.
Then he saw the third tier, adorned with twenty different weapons.
Finally, his eyes landed on the golden-red throne that resembled a spire.
"Oh, so that's the legendary Empty Throne that no one is allowed to sit on, symbolizing peace and equality. It's quite the position."
Bullet grinned as he looked at the Empty Throne, thinking to himself: Perhaps one day, when I possess the strongest power in the world, I'll come back and take a seat.
[Boom————]
"What's going on?!"
Suddenly, he felt the air around him surging, boiling, and pressing in on him from all directions.
An irresistible 'weight' bore down on every muscle in his body.
Even his consciousness began to blur.
[Thud!]
Without any surprise, just like Doflamingo before him.
Bullet fell heavily to his knees, his head pressed firmly against the vibrant red carpet.
"No, no… How can I kneel? How can I lower my head?"
Bullet's face turned red, his teeth clenched, and his eyes widened almost to the point of splitting. With a crazed expression, he exerted all his strength, trying to push back against the oppressive air and stand up!
"Is this Conqueror's Haki? No, it seems more like Armament Haki. Wait, no—this is the purest form of Haki!"
"The intimidation of Conqueror's Haki, the external release of Armament Haki, and the perception of Observation Haki are perfectly fused together, with no clear separation between them. But how is that possible?"
Compared to Doflamingo, Bullet's talent and aptitude in combat and Haki were indeed far superior.
Even though he was consumed by rage, his subconscious had sensed the true nature of this invisible pressure.
It was precisely because he understood its essence that he was even more shocked.
The three types of Haki could indeed be used simultaneously, but they were meant to complement each other, not fuse together! Moreover, the quality and quantity of this Haki had reached an unimaginable level.
It completely surpassed the peak power levels of anyone he had ever encountered.
Including Roger, Garp, and others like them.
Suddenly.
A voice, cold to the extreme and arrogant to the bone, echoed through the hall. It was a voice that regarded looking down on all living beings as a matter of course, as if everything in the world was within its grasp.
"If you can't even stand up, how do you expect to throw a punch at me, Douglas Bullet?"