One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

Clang!

Ostec's fists clashed against Jack's spiked club, and the sheer force almost drove him to his knees. Gritting his teeth, Ostec quickly shifted into his hybrid form. His wings expanded wider than before, radiating strength and defiance. Jack, not to be outdone, transformed into his hybrid form as well.

Zoan users who had awakened their Devil Fruit powers gained massive boosts to their physical attributes, along with enhanced control over their hybrid transformations. Jack, who used to struggle with his transformations, now wielded them effortlessly. His elongated elephant trunk had shrunk significantly, leaving behind only sharp, menacing tusks. His rough, gray-brown skin stretched from his face down to his feet, cracking like dry earth but exuding an impenetrable toughness. Jack had focused on maximizing his defense for this battle.

Eyeing Ostec's wings, Jack stood his ground, activating Armament Haki to test his defensive power.

Clang!

Ostec's wing struck Jack square in the chest, the impact ringing out like clashing steel. Ostec's eyes widened in disbelief as Jack remained unmoved. Taking a few steps back, Ostec slashed at him with a Haki-infused wing.

Boom!

The strike landed, but Jack merely shrugged it off. A thin line of blood traced across his chest—a minor injury at best. Ostec stared in dismay. Despite using Armament Haki, the attack had barely scratched Jack. If this was the best he could do, wounding Jack seriously—let alone delivering a fatal blow—seemed impossible.

Ostec's heart sank. His subordinates had already been wiped out, and the enemy crew kept their distance, giving him no room for escape or counterplay. Despair took hold as his gaze flicked between Rim's vengeful glare and Doflamingo's mocking smile. There was no way out.

Looking down at his once-proud wings, Ostec felt a surge of bitter frustration.

What use are these wings now?

Jack rubbed his chest casually, then shouted at Ostec, "Oi! What are you waiting for? Keep going! If you don't hurry up, this wound'll heal itself!"

Ostec's lips trembled as he hesitated. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and pleading.

"Do we have to keep fighting? Can't you let me go?"

"Let you go?!" Jack sneered. "What do you think this is, a damn soap opera?!"

With that, Jack charged, swinging his club with reckless abandon. Ostec took to the skies, only to dive back down to dodge Jack's next strike. Landing with a thud, Ostec glared at the heavens and roared, "Doflamingo!"

Doflamingo descended lazily, his ever-present grin widening. "Fuffuffuffuffu! Sorry, no exit here!"

With escape impossible and death looming, something shifted in Ostec. Desperation gave way to a fierce resolve. Every pirate who dared to sail these seas knew death was an ever-present companion. Blood and danger were a pirate's constant shadow.

Steeling himself, Ostec infused his wings with Haki and launched himself at Jack. Before his awakening, Jack might have struggled against someone like Ostec. But now, with his awakened Zoan powers, Jack was a force of unrelenting destruction.

As the battle wore on, Ostec found himself increasingly cornered. The oppressive presence of Rim and Doflamingo added to his mounting frustration. Distracted for a split second, he was struck by Jack's club and sent flying. Staggering to his feet, Ostec swayed like a drunkard, his vision blurred.

Jack smirked. He had the upper hand and wasn't in a rush to finish things. Ostec knew this too. He thought of Lynstan's gruesome fate and realized that falling into Rim's hands would be even worse. After all, he was the one who had killed Rim's mother. If he had to die, it wouldn't be like that.

"Jack!" Ostec roared. "I'll make Kaido regret letting a punk like you rise to power!"

Channeling all his remaining strength, he poured his Haki into his wings. His body bulked up as muscles swelled, snapping the straps of his suspenders.

"Kid, I'll show you how cruel this sea can be!"

With a final cry, Ostec launched himself at Jack with everything he had. Sensing the intensity of his opponent's attack, Jack prepared himself. His spiked club gleamed as he swung it down with devastating force.

But Ostec did the unexpected. Just before reaching Jack, he abruptly dispelled his hybrid form, letting the force of his charge carry him directly into Jack's swing. The impact was instantaneous.

Boom!

When the dust settled, all that remained of Ostec was a lifeless, bloodied mess. Jack frowned, glancing at Rim. "Guess he didn't want to drag things out, huh? Sorry, Rim. Looks like he took the easy way out."

Rim approached, her face solemn but filled with relief. Bowing deeply, she said, "Thank you, Jack-sama. Thanks to you, I've avenged my mother and my homeland."

"Don't mention it," Jack said, grinning. "Though, maybe you should kneel to really show your gratitude? Hahaha, I'm just kidding!" Seeing Rim actually move to kneel, he quickly stopped her, waving his hands.

Turning to Doflamingo, Jack added, "Hey, Doflamingo, got any dogs?"

"Fuffuffuffu! What for?"

"This guy earned my respect. Let's show him some respect back—by feeding his corpse to the dogs! Then toss them into the sea. He'd appreciate the irony of dying as a true man of the sea!"

Doflamingo burst into laughter, gesturing to Trebol to make it happen. The cage around them vanished as Jack and Doflamingo traded compliments. Soon, Trebol returned with several snarling dogs. Once the dogs had finished their grisly feast, Rim personally hurled them into the ocean.

With the mission complete, Jack relaxed. Kaido's orders had been fulfilled, and soon, he'd return to settle scores with anyone else who doubted him. His rise to the position of All-Stars was all but guaranteed.

Maria… Yamato… it's been over a year. Have you missed me?

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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg