When Renji Kai revealed that he recognized him, Douglas Bullet was momentarily stunned.
He had been off the radar for so long that even the upper echelons of the Navy had forgotten about the terrifying man imprisoned in Impel Down. Yet now, a young stranger not only recognized him but spoke his name aloud. The shock was evident in his expression.
"You... actually know me? Seems you're not just some random punk," Douglas Bullet said as he struggled to stand.
Renji was equally surprised. He had assumed Bullet was dead.
Douglas Bullet was once a member of the Roger Pirates, a monstrous force of nature even among his legendary crewmates. He was known as the "Demon Heir," an overwhelmingly powerful warrior whose strength rivaled that of "Dark King" Rayleigh, Roger's right hand. Among the prisoners of Level 6, his power far exceeded anyone else.
But here in Impel Down, all of them were bound by seastone shackles, their powers sealed away. On top of that, Renji had unleashed the Seventh Gate of the Eight Inner Gates to defeat everyone—a nearly suicidal move. No wonder they'd all fallen like dominoes.
"Douglas Bullet, I know you well. In fact, I admire you," Renji began. "So I'm offering you two paths. One, you come with me—I'll get you out of this lightless pit. Two, you stay here, get beaten by me again, and remain locked away forever. You decide."
Renji extended the olive branch with clear calculation. Bullet's power far exceeded the rest. Even Rayleigh hadn't been able to beat him. With someone like him on Renji's crew, his strength would soar. Standing against the World Government meant facing immense threats, and having someone like Bullet as a subordinate would be invaluable.
But Bullet scoffed, unimpressed.
"How laughable. You think a bunch of brats like you are worthy of commanding me? Have you lost your mind?" he snapped.
It was expected. Bullet was a man of the old era, unmatched in strength. Even in his current powerless state, his pride wouldn't allow him to submit so easily.
"I know you trust only in your own strength. And unlike others who chase the Pirate King title for treasure, your reason is different. You want to conquer that title through battle, through defeating every powerhouse on the seas. You won't follow Roger's path, even if I gave you a permanent pointer to Laugh Tale. You want to surpass Roger. You want to be the strongest. To defeat every Yonko, every Admiral. Isn't that right?"
Renji's words struck Bullet like thunder. He stood stunned, as if his innermost thoughts had been read aloud.
Had this guy been spying on him in his dreams?
Renji could see it clearly on Bullet's face. He'd hit the mark.
"If your dream is to stand at the top by crushing every strong opponent," Renji continued, "then following me is the fastest path. We'll battle the strongest together, and when we reach the top, we'll settle it between us. What do you say?"
Renji pressed on, seizing the moment of doubt in Bullet's mind.
Bullet knew his current reality. He wasn't like the Golden Lion Shiki—he had no means to escape Impel Down alone. If he missed this chance, the Navy reinforcements would soon come, tightening the prison's security even further.
Even Shiki himself might not be able to escape then.
After thinking it through, he finally made a decision.
"What's your name?"
"Renji Kai."
"Get me out of here. I'll follow you for now, and I'll guarantee your safety. But know this—if we reach the top like you say, I'll be your greatest enemy."
"Deal," Renji replied without hesitation and extended his hand.
Douglas Bullet slowly reached out and shook it.
There, in the heart of Impel Down, a world-shaking alliance was formed.
Just then, a system voice echoed in Renji's mind:
Ding! The Might Guy Character Card usage time has ended. Returning host to original state. Please be aware!
As the message finished, Renji's body began to revert to its original condition. Though Might Guy's power had faded, the physical toll remained.
After all, it was Renji's real body that bore the brunt of the Eight Gates' power.
The moment the gates closed, his body collapsed, pain surging through every nerve. He wasn't built like Might Guy, and now that the transformation was over, the agony hit him like a tidal wave.