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

Amid the swirling clouds, Kaido felt the surge of Conqueror's Haki emanating from Jack. He muttered to himself:

"So it's really just as Rim said…"

"Could it be that Jack's potential is even greater than I anticipated?"

Clang! Clang!

"Hey! Old man! Say something! What's going on?!"

Feeling a sharp sting on his head, Kaido began a rapid descent.

"Let's head down and see for ourselves. There's no way they're escaping now."

Shutenmaru scrutinized Jack closely. A year ago, Jack had been noticeably shorter than him. Now, their heights were nearly equal. But unlike Shutenmaru's bulk of fat, Jack's frame was packed with muscle, radiating an intimidating aura.

In just over a year, the changes in Jack were staggering, stirring unease in Shutenmaru's heart. Could this guy really… beat me?

Kaido landed on a distant mountaintop with Yamato and Black Maria in tow. This unexpected move helped Shutenmaru regain his composure.

Fine, he thought. If worse comes to worst, I'll just follow Oden-sama. But before that, I'll make sure to finish this brat off!

Gripping his longsword, Shutenmaru charged at Jack.

Jack, however, didn't move a muscle. This inaction made Yamato and Black Maria, watching from afar, grow uneasy.

Just as Shutenmaru closed in, he felt a surge of danger. Jack suddenly opened his mouth.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Wait… are those… teeth?!"

From Jack's mouth, something sharp flew out, forcing Shutenmaru to block with his blade and retreat. When he finally saw what it was, his face twisted in shock.

Jack's fanged mouth was already regenerating at a visible rate. New, razor-sharp teeth grew in place. Jack casually tapped one of them and sneered at Shutenmaru.

"Never seen this before, huh? What do you think? Jealous of my pearly whites?"

Shutenmaru said nothing, dashing forward once more with his longsword raised. This time, Jack transformed into his hybrid form. Drawing the massive tusk-shaped weapon from his back, he bent his legs and launched himself into the air with a mighty leap.

In an instant, Jack's towering figure was above Shutenmaru, his massive kanabo descending with terrifying force.

BOOM!

Feeling the devastating power of the strike, Shutenmaru's eyes narrowed. His large, bulky frame rolled out of harm's way in a surprisingly nimble move.

"Ha! That's impressive!" Jack taunted, standing back up. "Didn't think someone your size could dodge like that. But seriously, you could stand to lose a little weight."

"Why, you little—!"

Fuming, Shutenmaru charged at Jack again. Their weapons clashed, the sheer impact forcing Shutenmaru to stumble back two steps.

After a few exchanges, Shutenmaru had to admit the truth: this wasn't the same Jack he had toyed with a year ago.

But I'm no pushover either! If you want to kill me, you better be prepared to die yourself!

Gripping his blade tightly, Shutenmaru lunged forward. The battlefield erupted with the sound of their furious clash.

From a distance, Yamato cheered wildly. "Go, Dumb Elephant! Beat him down! Hit him! Smash him! Yeah, like that!"

Behind her, Black Maria chuckled, standing calmly.

Kaido, however, wore a stoic expression. His sharp eyes tracked Jack's every move with Observation Haki.

When Jack spat out his teeth earlier, Kaido immediately realized the source of his ivory weapons. But what surprised him was Jack's explosive leap.

That distance… that power… To do that requires incredible leg strength and absolute mastery over one's body. Only the strongest martial artists can pull off something like this.

Jack was only fourteen, yet he'd already reached this level. Kaido was forced to acknowledge that Jack's talent in physical combat wasn't far off from his own in his youth.

And then there was the transformation. From the changes in Jack's hybrid form, it was clear his Zoan Devil Fruit had awakened.

Though awakening took longer than expected, Jack's age made this feat extraordinary. Fourteen years old and already awakened—this was the kind of prodigy that could shake the seas.

Awakening a Zoan fruit was easier than awakening Paramecia or Logia, but it carried far greater risks. Many who tried lost their sanity, becoming nothing more than wild beasts.

But Jack had succeeded. He had not only awakened his fruit but retained control.

This brat… he really might have what it takes to stand at the pinnacle of this sea.

"Hey! Dumb Elephant! What are you doing, you idiot?! Dodge! Move, you moron!"

Yamato's sudden yell snapped Kaido out of his thoughts. Following her gaze, he saw Jack toss his kanabo to the ground and stand still, hands in his pockets, watching Shutenmaru approach.

Shutenmaru's stance made Kaido's stomach tighten.

That's Oden's technique! He's about to use Ryuo!

And Jack looked like he was planning to take it head-on.

"That fool! Even I can't avoid taking damage from Ryuo. What's he thinking?!"

Kaido moved to intervene but paused, recalling Rim's words. Instead, he grabbed Yamato's arm to stop her.

"Shanks can use Ryuo too. If Jack's doing this, he must have a plan. Let's see how far he's come."

"Let me go, old man! That idiot's going to get himself killed!" Yamato shouted, struggling against Kaido's grip.

On the battlefield, Shutenmaru's aura surged as he glared at Jack.

"You'll pay for your arrogance! Take this!"

"Oden Two-Sword Style!"

With blinding speed, Shutenmaru's twin blades slashed through Jack. Blood splattered as Shutenmaru landed behind him, his back to Jack. One of his blades shattered in his hand.

Turning around, Shutenmaru stared in disbelief. Jack stood tall, his presence undiminished.

"How… how is this possible?!" Shutenmaru gasped. "What kind of monster are you?!"

Jack chuckled darkly, picking up his kanabo. He glanced at the two deep wounds across his chest, grinning viciously.

"Done already? Did it feel good?" Jack taunted. "Ryuo, huh? Not bad at all."

"But now…" Jack's aura erupted, the air around him crackling with energy as his kanabo gleamed with black and red streaks of Haki.

"Now it's my turn!"

"That brat!" Kaido's expression broke for the first time, his mouth agape in astonishment. "No way… Armament Haki… imbued with Ryuo?!"

"Old man! What's Armament Haki imbued with Ryuo?!" Yamato demanded, wide-eyed.

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+140 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg