"Black Prison, I'll be waiting for your signal!"
Not long after, Kaido drank a few drops of the healing tear, and with the immense regenerative power of his awakened Azure Dragon Fruit, his injuries healed almost completely.
Gone was his previous battered and bloodied state; Kaido was back on his feet, full of energy.
Without hesitation, he soared toward the first half of the New World, preparing to join the Netherworld Pirates in a full-scale assault on the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
"Splash..."
No one knew how much time had passed; across the undulating waves, a steel warship cut through the sea at blazing speed, rocketing forward.
With a sudden stop, it docked at the coastline.
Whoosh!
A towering figure, clad in a black military uniform, leaped down from the ship.
His golden hair cascaded over his shoulders. His face was rough and full of scars, radiating sheer ferocity.
Beneath the uniform, his bulging muscles were so massive they seemed ready to tear the fabric apart.
Burn scars marred his face and neck, adding an even more ruthless air to his already fearsome presence.
Had Kaido still been there, he would have been shocked beyond belief.
Because the man who had just arrived was none other than Douglas Bullet, the Demon Heir.
A monster who had wreaked endless havoc across the seas after being freed from Impel Down's Eternal Hell by Obask Luke years ago.
"Luke-sama, does a guy like this really need you to step in personally?"
Bullet's sharp eyes locked onto the figure before him.
A battle-hungry grin spread across his face as he clenched his massive fists.
"Wouldn't it be better to let me handle him instead?"
No one understood better than him just how powerful the man standing before him truly was.
Luke was the only one Bullet had ever seen as a worthy rival, the only man he had relentlessly sought to surpass after Gol D. Roger's execution.
Three years ago, after escaping the depths of Impel Down, Bullet had spent two years in the shadows, honing his strength.
Now, with his Clank-Clank Fruit fully awakened, he could no longer hold back.
Full of ambition and confidence, he wanted to challenge his opponent.
But his arrogance led to him being easily crushed.
Six months ago, after two and a half years of training and honing his skills, having even mastered the power of Conqueror's Haki infusion, he believed he had greatly improved and was now closer to this man.
Yet, the brutal reality once again gave him a harsh lesson.
He was defeated once more.
And this time, he lost even faster and more miserably.
From that moment on, his once-empty life gained a new purpose, to surpass this man!
The two had made a pact: until he could truly defeat Luke, Douglas Bullet would remain with the Netherworld Pirates and serve under him.
"I don't doubt your strength, but with the coming battle, there's no need to waste too much energy..."
Luke, seemingly unsurprised by Bullet's arrival, waved his hand. "Preserve your strength. The real challenge lies ahead."
"After all, the World Government, which has ruled this vast sea for hundreds of years, won't be so easy to take down!"
Bullet was one of his trump cards.
Even within the Netherworld Pirates, very few knew that Douglas Bullet had already been secretly subdued by Obask Luke through sheer overwhelming power.
Their enemy was the deeply entrenched World Government; one could never be too cautious.
"Heh, now that's something to look forward to!"
Bullet licked his lips, his eyes burning with excitement and battle lust.
As a natural-born warrior, he was eager for the upcoming battle.
Luke shrugged and pulled a small black canister from his pocket, tossing it to Bullet.
"This is for you."
"Oh?"
Bullet looked at the tiny canister, barely the size of a fingernail compared to his massive frame.
"This is the latest development, special combat armor, also known as the Battle Suit."
Luke crossed his arms and explained calmly: "Unlike other versions, this one is custom-made for your devil fruit ability."
"It's bulletproof, fireproof, and resistant to extreme conditions, easily deflecting gunfire and explosions."
"It also comes equipped with the most advanced laser system, combustion cannons, and even a high-powered rocket propulsion system, giving it flight capabilities."
"Additionally, it features a chameleon-like cloaking ability... With your Devil Fruit ability, I imagine you'll be able to maximize its potential."
The Battle Suit had long been developed by Germa's research team.
It had undergone numerous upgrades and improvements, making it vastly superior to the original first-generation Battle Suits.
Although mass production had already begun, Luke had deliberately withheld distribution.
He wanted to ensure his subordinates trained their own abilities instead of over-relying on technology.
But now, with the looming war ahead, every high-ranking officer of the Netherworld Pirates would be receiving a custom Battle Suit tailored to their ability.
And as for Luke himself...
He, too, had his own exclusive Battle Suit.
Its performance far exceeded that of standard models.
However, he rarely used it.
"Tch, now this is interesting!"
Bullet's eyes lit up with excitement.
Examining the black canister, he grinned eagerly.
This Battle Suit was practically a miniature mecha.
Unlike full-sized mechs, it wasn't cumbersome, allowing him to fully unleash his strength.
Whoosh!
Intrigued, Bullet pressed the activation button.
In an instant, the black canister liquefied and surged over his body.
His military uniform was torn apart as the liquid combat suit engulfed him.
It transformed into a brand-new, sleek, black military uniform with a flowing cape.
Emblazoned upon it was the insignia of the Netherworld Pirates.
"So this is the Battle Suit?"
Bullet clenched his gloved fists, his new outfit exuding an aura of menace and cold brutality.
"Fusion!"
His eyes sharpened as he activated his Devil Fruit power.
A flash of blue light erupted across his body.
The armor seamlessly fused with him.
Then he pressed down with his feet, and the boosters beneath his combat boots ignited.
Like a rocket launch, powerful flames erupted, propelling his massive frame into the sky.
Jets of fire spewed from his heels, calves, thighs, and back.
Each thruster activated, allowing him to zip through the air, soaring, spiraling, and maneuvering effortlessly.
"This is way better than Moonwalk!"
After testing the suit's flight capabilities, Bullet grinned and shot back toward Luke.
Raising his right hand, he aimed at the distant ocean.
His palm device opened, revealing a dark barrel.
"Burning Cannon!"
Boom!
A deafening blast tore through the air.
A highly compressed ball of searing flames erupted forward.
It blazed fiercely, painting the sky red and causing steam to rise violently from the ocean surface.