"Huff... huff..."
Mihawk exhaled heavily, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.
The relentless pursuit had drained much of his stamina, and his drawn-out battle with Jack—whose thick skin seemed impervious—had further depleted most of his Armament Haki. Every seemingly effortless strike he delivered had required immense energy, enough to leave an ordinary person completely incapacitated.
Although swordsmen are known for their extraordinary physical endurance, they are not immune to fatigue.
This battle with Jack was the most exhilarating yet frustrating one Mihawk had experienced since setting sail.
Exhilarating because Jack, like an unyielding punching bag, never dodged. Mihawk could fully unleash his techniques, unrestrained.
Frustrating because, despite Jack's lack of evasion, Mihawk couldn't finish him off.
Jack was now gravely wounded, but reinforcements had arrived. Mihawk had already sensed them during their brief skirmish on the sea: a handsome swordsman, a young girl wielding a spiked club, and a crew of menacing Fishmen and pirates.
In his current state, Mihawk knew he couldn't take them all on.
As he considered his next move, Rim leapt forward, drawing his sword and positioning himself opposite Mihawk. Meanwhile, Yamato led the Fishmen in retrieving Jack from the water.
"He's up! Jack-sama! Wake up!"
"Jack, you big dumb elephant!"
Mihawk's strike had split the massive island in two, sending the heavily injured Jack plunging into the sea. Fortunately, the Fishmen salvage squad worked swiftly and managed to haul Jack back onboard.
Yamato looked worried, her eyes reddened with concern.
A ghastly wound stretched across Jack's chest, his thick muscles torn apart, exposing what looked like his still-beating heart. Jack lay unconscious, his face twisted in pain as blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.
"Move aside! Make way!"
The Fishmen carried Jack to the deck, where the ship's doctor rushed over with a medical kit in hand.
Just then, Jack's eyes snapped open.
His chest wound—vicious and deep—began to close at an alarming speed.
"What is this...?"
"Jack-sama!"
With a loud boom, Jack's massive frame landed next to Mihawk.
Rim's face lit up with relief as he quickly stepped aside. Mihawk, however, grew colder inside as he observed the now-healed sword scar on Jack's chest.
"Has his physical prowess reached such a level? He can forcefully seal severed blood vessels? Controlling his muscles to restore bodily function...?" Mihawk gritted his teeth. "This guy... he's a terrifying opponent."
Without hesitation, Mihawk leapt into the air, gripping his sword with both hands as he swung down toward Jack.
Jack, now in his hybrid beast form, stood firm, once again showing no intention of dodging.
"Jack-sama!" Rim cried out nervously.
BAM!
"What...?"
Mihawk stumbled backward several steps before steadying himself. Despite his attack, Jack remained completely unscathed. The cold dread in Mihawk's heart deepened.
"Why is it that this guy's defense has grown even stronger after taking such heavy damage?" Mihawk muttered to himself. "Could it just be my imagination?"
After a few moments of thought, Mihawk gripped his sword tightly once more and charged at Jack again.
Clang! Clang!
Thud!
"How is this possible?!"
Each clash revealed an unsettling truth—Mihawk's blade couldn't penetrate Jack's defenses. Even when aiming for Jack's head, all he could manage was a sharp metallic clang. His sword left not even the faintest mark.
"How did you do this?!" Mihawk demanded, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Your defense now is leagues beyond what it was just moments ago!"
Jack glanced at his status panel, a wide grin spreading across his face, his sharp teeth glinting.
"Ha! I have you to thank for this," Jack said, laughing. "You pushed me past my limits! But now, I've surpassed even that!"
His grin turned savage as he continued. "Your attacks drained your stamina and Armament Haki, didn't they?"
Grabbing his weapon—a colossal fang—Jack slammed it into the ground with a boom.
"Other than that bastard Red-Haired Shanks, you're the only swordsman to wound me so severely," Jack said, his tone shifting to one of mockery. "No, you've outdone him by a fraction. But I've grown stronger since then!"
Jack's expression twisted into something monstrous. "And now... you'll die!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Jack lunged.
"Rankyaku!"
Mihawk barely managed to raise his sword in defense as Jack's attack came crashing down.
Clang!
Jack's tusks, launched like projectiles, pierced Mihawk's shoulders, sending him flying backward with devastating force.
Boom!
Mihawk's body crashed through several trees before coming to a halt.
Groaning, he yanked the tusks from his shoulders and steadied himself. Despite the agony coursing through his body, Mihawk charged at Jack once more.
But even now, Jack's body seemed invulnerable.
"It's useless!" Jack taunted. "Your prolonged chase at sea has left you exhausted. My durability far surpasses yours. You can't even muster Flowing Haki anymore, can you?"
"You're wrong!" Mihawk spat, stepping back to gather his strength.
Once again, Mihawk unleashed a blinding slash of sword energy. Jack countered with a Rankyaku, but the clash didn't entirely negate Mihawk's strike. Jack sidestepped at the last second, his brows furrowing.
"Still this strong at your limit?" Jack muttered, a flicker of admiration in his voice. "Impressive... but pointless."
Jack's lips curled into a menacing grin. "Join the Beast Pirates, and I'll spare you."
Mihawk's golden eyes narrowed. "Not interested. If you want my life, come take it."
"Tch. Foolish," Jack growled, lifting his spiked club. "You think I'm Kaido-sama? No mercy from me!"
As Jack prepared to strike, a powerful aura swept over the battlefield.
BOOM!
Conqueror's Haki exploded, sending Fishmen and pirates tumbling into the sea like leaves in a storm.
"Cut me some slack! How about ending this right here?"
The booming voice reverberated in Jack's ears.
Jack scowled, turning his head toward the source. "I'll cut you something, alright! You damn bastard!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg