The Dawn had fully prepared for boarding combat.
Smoker and Hina, serving as the primary crowd controllers, stood ready at the ship's bow and stern, respectively. Kuina and Tashigi, though tense, followed closely behind Hina.
"Hina is quite surprised. Kuina has experienced many battles already, so her composure is natural," Hina remarked, lighting a slim cigarette. Her eyes shifted to Tashigi, who, despite her evident nervousness, displayed no fear.
"For a first-timer in such a large-scale battle, Tashigi's ability to stabilize herself this quickly is impressive."
"Yes, Lieutenant Commander Hina!" Tashigi gripped her prized sword, Shigure, firmly, her gaze serious.
"Vice Admiral Wright brought me to this battlefield because he believes in my abilities!"
"Whether for Vice Admiral Wright's trust or my own growth, I must rise to the occasion and evolve through this battle!"
"That's the spirit, Tashigi!" Kuina, resting her hand on her Wado Ichimonji, gave a rare smile. Her face, identical to Tashigi's, glowed with encouragement.
"Our senior often said, 'With steadfast conviction, nothing is impossible.' After this baptism of combat, you'll gain much insight, just as I once did."
"Get ready, girls—they're coming!" Hina exhaled a cloud of smoke, her eyes narrowing. The pirates aboard the Mammoth had begun throwing grappling hooks and ropes, preparing to board.
At the bow, Smoker clenched two cigars between his teeth and took a deep puff. Surveying the Marines beneath him, who were poised with glowing battle auras, he bellowed,
"Defend the ship!"
Transforming his legs into pillars of smoke, Smoker soared into the sky, launching a devastating crowd control assault on the approaching pirates.
From both the bow and stern, Smoker and Hina unleashed a relentless assault, breaking the enemy's offensive momentum. Disoriented and scattered, the pirates were quickly encircled by the coordinated "Combined Battle Formation" of the elite Marines.
Jack's subordinates shared his infamous combat style—reckless and straightforward, with little regard for finesse. Under Jack's leadership, this brute force tactic could overwhelm most foes.
But today, things were different. Many of the charging pirates were struck down mid-air, while those who made it onto the Dawn realized too late: their leader hadn't joined them.
The difference between having a strong leader and going without one became painfully clear.
Though Jack's crew were considered elites of the New World, they were accustomed to one-sided battles. Confronted by Wright's meticulously prepared Marines, their morale crumbled, and they were subdued in short order.
Fully aware of how conspicuous his Wings of Holy Light were, Wright concealed their radiant glow as the two ships drew closer. Rising into the sky, he launched himself directly toward the Mammoth.
When Jack was about to lead the charge onto the Dawn, Wright intercepted him mid-air.
"Not so fast. Let our subordinates have their fun—experience in battle is a valuable thing. But you and I? That's a different story."
Wielding his longsword Ashes, Wright forced Jack back with a single slash and landed on the Mammoth's deck.
"Vice Admiral Wright…"
Jack, enraged by Wright's sudden aerial ambush, let out a roar. As a "land tank" Zoan, the last thing Jack wanted to face was a flying enemy.
"If you're so eager to fly, why don't you go pick a fight with King instead?"
Jack brandished his dual shotel-style blades—scimitar-like weapons with hooked ends. Roaring again, he charged.
"Don't think I'll hold back like Master Kaido did!" Jack snarled.
"That time, he'd had too much to drink. But I'm perfectly sober!"
"Clang!"
Wright met Jack's charge with a flying slash.
"Final Judgement!"
Jack blocked the golden slash with his dual blades, countering with brute force.
"Ha!"
The golden energy shattered, but as Jack pressed forward, Wright raised his sword with a smirk.
"Divine Storm—Overdrive!"
A massive golden tornado swept across the Mammoth's deck, scattering Jack's subordinates. Those who were lucky were flung into the sea; the less fortunate were struck directly, their fates sealed.
Jack's veins bulged with fury. Watching his crew wiped out before his eyes while being unable to intervene was a humiliation he couldn't bear.
"You're dead!"
With a crimson gleam in his eyes, Jack charged like a siege tank, his massive eight-meter frame exuding a terrifying aura. Wright, standing before him, looked almost childlike in comparison.
"What do they feed you guys?" Wright muttered, shaking his head before gripping Ashes.
"Awaken, Ashes!"
The blade expanded to over five meters, shrouded in blazing energy as Wright launched his attack.
"Boom!"
Ashes collided with Jack's dual shotels, unleashing a shockwave that tore up the Mammoth's deck.
"You want to test strength?" Wright grinned, his muscles bulging as he matched Jack's raw power.
"Not my favorite thing, but I'm not afraid of it either."
Ever since his duel with Mihawk, Wright had redoubled his efforts to improve his physical strength. With the enhancement of the Holy Light, his body now rivaled the monstrous physiques of New World veterans.
"Holy Wings—Combustion Boost!"
As the radiant wings burst into golden flames, Wright surged forward with explosive speed, leaving Jack no room to counter.
"Holy Judgment!"
The massive flaming Ashes slashed across Jack's chest, leaving a deep, burning wound despite his Haki-coated defenses.
"Argh!" Jack howled in agony, the holy fire searing his flesh.
"What is this cursed power?"
But Wright wasn't done.
"Lightspeed!"
Appearing instantly before Jack, Wright delivered a devastating kick to his jaw.
"You don't look too comfortable in that iron mask. Let me help!"
"Boom—crack!"
Jack crashed to the deck, dazed by Wright's relentless assault…
Jack was momentarily stunned by Wright's swift and overwhelming attack. That kick—it had nearly sent Kaido's eyeball flying out of its socket once. Could Jack's iron mask possibly be tougher than Kaido's skull?
Obviously not.
The iron mask shattered to pieces as Jack spat out a mouthful of blood. His massive frame was sent hurtling backward, crashing heavily onto the deck and leaving a deep crater in its wake.
"You bastard!"
But such a blow clearly wasn't enough to put him down. With a furious roar, Jack began to transform, revealing his beast form—a colossal mammoth!
"ROAR!"
Towering tusks, a thick, powerful trunk, and legs as sturdy as pillars—among the largest creatures to ever roam the earth, mammoths were second only to the mightiest of dinosaurs.
However...
"Hey, Jack!" Wright called out, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That hairstyle of yours really doesn't suit your arrogant, tough-guy persona!"
The towering and ferocious mammoth, with its half-circle hairdo and a single straight braid tied with a red string, was an utterly ridiculous sight. The more one looked at it, the funnier it got!
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