Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Who Else?!
"That's…!"
"It's here! Drought Jack-sama's mammoth form!"
"What a colossal beast! Just imagining his power is terrifying!"
"This is the crushing presence of the All-Star of the Beast Pirates!"
"Taking on two Tobiroppo challengers at once… does he really plan to fight both of them by himself?"
Jack's towering form loomed over the battlefield, instantly wiping the drunken smirks off Reef and Sakory's faces. The two had underestimated Jack for years, dismissing him as no more than the Jack they remembered from a decade ago.
But now, staring up at the 20-meter-tall mammoth before them, they couldn't hide their panic. Even a single stomp from those massive feet felt utterly insurmountable.
"This… this can't be right! Wasn't he just a scrawny little elephant back then?!"
"How… How did he…?"
"Don't lose your nerve!" Sakory snapped, trying to regain control of the situation. "We'll attack together! I don't believe for a second that he can handle us both at once!"
"Brats!" Jack's deep, rumbling voice boomed as he raised his trunk. "You think you're worthy to challenge me?! Don't underestimate me, you damn fools!"
Sakory took the lead, rallying Reef. The two prepared to charge, but before they could move, Jack's trunk swept beneath his body, lifting something—was that… a loudspeaker?!
The device amplified Jack's menacing voice, reverberating across the battlefield as he addressed them:
"Before we start, let me teach you two frogs in a well a little lesson!"
"You've spent years holed up on Winter Island, far removed from the true battles of the sea. You've already been left behind by the new era. Do you honestly think the pirates of today are anything like those from your time?"
"With your current strength, you're unworthy of holding a Tobiroppo position."
Jack's trunk swung dramatically as he continued, his disdain evident.
"Roger's words sent countless pirates surging onto the seas. The strong have grown stronger, and the weak, well… they've been weeded out. The average pirate today is leagues above those of the past.
"And you two? In today's Beast Pirates, you wouldn't even qualify as ordinary Gifters!"
Jack's voice rose, filled with contempt.
"The gap between you and the new generation grows every day. The Beast Pirates don't have room for dead weight like you anymore.
"You've spent years abusing the Beast Pirates' name to lord over Island. Every so-called 'victory' you've had was nothing more than enemies retreating in fear of our banner. And that false confidence… will be shattered today!"
Jack stomped the ground with a thunderous crash, shaking the battlefield.
"This is a new era, and you relics are about to learn why I am an All-Star of the Beast Pirates! If anyone else thinks they're stronger, step up now! I'll crush you all at once!"
The watching Tobiroppo stiffened at Jack's declaration. They exchanged uneasy glances, but none moved. Black Maria chuckled softly, her laughter tinged with mockery.
"Oh my, my~," she teased. "Are none of you going to step in? What a rare opportunity this is!"
One of the Tobiroppo, a sharp-nosed man, glared at her.
"Black Maria, mind your place. You're just a Gifter," he sneered. "Don't think you can provoke us just because Jack and Yamato-sama favor you!"
Maria feigned an innocent pout, glancing at Yamato.
"Yamato-chan, he's being so mean to me~! He said he wants to hurt me!"
Yamato stood up with a grin, her spiked kanabo slung over her shoulder.
"Oh? He did, did he?"
"Wait, Yamato-sama! Don't make this difficult for us—"
WHAM!
Yamato's kanabo came crashing down, scattering the Tobiroppo as they scrambled to dodge her assault. Left with no choice, they drew their weapons to defend themselves.
"Yamato-sama, we don't want to fight you, but if you force our hand, even Kaido-sama won't blame us for hurting you!"
Yamato's grin only widened.
"Oh? Hurt me, you say? Let's see you try!"
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Sakory and Reef launched a desperate assault on Jack's mammoth form. Their attacks landed solidly, but Jack remained utterly unfazed, standing like an immovable mountain.
"What… What's going on?!" Reef stammered. "We hit him with everything we had!"
Jack snorted, tossing the loudspeaker aside. His mammoth foot came crashing down on it, shattering the device into pieces.
"Pathetic," Jack said coldly. "Absolutely pathetic. You call yourselves Tobiroppo? You're nothing but weaklings!"
"You're outclassed, out of your depth, and out of time. The two of you are stuck in the past, relics who can't keep up with the present!"
Jack's glare bore down on them.
"Kneel," he commanded. "Beg for mercy, and I might consider sparing your lives for old times' sake. But if you don't… well, don't say I didn't warn you."
Reef's face twisted with rage.
"You think I'm going to bow to you, you overgrown brat?! I'm Reef of the Tobiroppo! I—"
Before he could finish, Sakory tried to exploit an opening, plunging his sword toward Jack's flank. The blade struck Jack's thick hide—and didn't even pierce it.
Jack's eyes burned red with fury as he swung his massive trunk.
"Enough!"
With a sickening crash, Jack's trunk sent both men flying. Their broken bodies landed in front of the Tobiroppo, twisted beyond recognition.
"Sa-Sakory! Reef!"
The Tobiroppo recoiled in horror. Jack loomed over them, casting a shadow that seemed to envelop the entire arena.
"What's wrong?" Jack growled. "Not so cocky now, are you?"
He bared his teeth in a feral grin.
"If anyone else has a problem with me, step forward. Come on! I'll take you all on!"
The Tobiroppo glanced at each other, but none moved. Jack snorted derisively, saliva spraying as he roared:
"Who else?! WHO ELSE?!"
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