Chapter 154: Doflamingo Attacks!
"Achoo!"
Jack, drenched in sweat, was running through the forest, the ground trembling with every step.
He had just finished his morning workout and was about to head back to the castle for breakfast with the others when he suddenly stopped, as if he had sensed something.
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar came from the side, and a massive black shadow burst from the thick fog!
It was the baboon king!
It was holding a massive broadsword that was very similar to Hawkeye's Black Sword, Yoru. Its face was a mask of rage, and it swung the sword at Jack's back!
"You again? You never learn, do you?"
Jack grinned and, without dodging, he raised his right arm and let the sharp blade strike him.
CLANG!!!
With a sharp, metallic sound, the baboon king's broadsword was sent flying.
And on Jack's arm, there was only a faint white mark, which quickly disappeared.
"Didn't expect that, did you!"
Jack turned and proudly pounded his chest. "An attack of that level can't even scratch me, even when I'm not in my mammoth form!"
His arms, his chest, his entire body was now coated in a thick, inky layer of Armament Haki.
"Aside from internal destruction, which is a little hard to learn and I'm not very good at it yet, I've mastered the other three: coating, hardening, and emission! You'd better go all out!"
"ROAR?!"
You know that move too?
A flicker of surprise appeared in the baboon king's eyes.
But it quickly readjusted its stance and, with a roar, it swung its sword again!
This time, its attack was even fiercer, and its speed had suddenly increased. And what was even more eye-catching was that its blade was also coated in a dark, inky sheen!
Of course it could use Armament Haki!
However—
SWISH!
Jack's figure suddenly blurred, and the baboon king's sword sliced through empty air.
"Where are you looking, you idiot? Over here!"
Jack's voice came from the side. He displayed an agility that belied his massive size and easily dodged.
"ROAR, ROAR, ROAR!!!"
The baboon king was completely enraged. It swung its giant sword in a wild, storm-like frenzy.
But Jack seemed to have anticipated its every move. He easily dodged and weaved, occasionally blocking with his Armament Haki and counterattacking with a few punches.
"Haha! What a fight!"
The more Jack fought, the more excited he became. The results of his two months of hard training were finally being put to the test!
When he had first fought this big baboon, he had had to transform into his mammoth form just to hold his own.
And now…
He had mastered both types of Haki, and his physical arts had also greatly improved. Even in his weakest human form, he could make a fool of the baboon king!
Their fight lasted for a long time, and before they knew it, the sun was high in the sky.
Jack was completely unharmed, but the baboon king was bruised and battered. It was on the verge of tears, finally realizing that the foolish human before it was a completely different person.
If it tried to run, Jack would use Shave and suddenly appear in front of it.
And if it tried to fight, Jack, like a child, would just play with it, not in any hurry to end the fight, but just teasing it…
This is torture!
Just then, a low, quiet, and mature woman's voice suddenly came from above. "Haven't you had enough fun yet, Jack?"
In the next instant, pink flower petals danced on the ground, and a giant human hand sprouted from it, instantly coated in a dark sheen, and slapped the baboon king.
"Mil Fleur: Gigantesco Mano: SPANK!"
BAM!
The baboon king was helpless. With a scream, it was sent flying, becoming a shooting star in the sky.
And from the sky, a slender figure with two wings sprouting from its back slowly descended.
The moment she touched the ground, the two wings, which were made of countless hands, dissipated.
"Boss Robin," Jack said, scratching his head. "W-What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?"
Robin glanced at him. "Breakfast is ready. We've been waiting for half an hour, and you still haven't shown up. We thought you were in trouble. But when I came to check, I find someone playing with a monkey like a three-year-old."
"Huh?! Has it been half an hour?!"
Jack was shocked. He had kept his seniors waiting for so long. He quickly broke into a run. "I'll be right there! Thanks for the reminder, boss!"
Watching Jack's retreating back, Robin stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"His Haki and his physical arts have already reached this level? What an enviable talent."
It seems I've been completely left behind.
The memories of two months ago flashed through her mind—
"Hey, Robin."
That day, at the dinner table, the black-haired young man, his cheeks stuffed with food, had suddenly looked up. "Do you want to learn Haki too? I can teach you when I'm teaching Jack."
"Haki?" Robin had tilted her head with a smile, a look of interest on her face.
"Yeah! Don't you think your fruit's development has gone a little off track?!"
The young man had grinned. "It's too flashy! I mean, it's beautiful… but in my opinion, it would be much more powerful if you just focused on improving your Haki and your physical arts and went for a more direct approach!"
"The Flower-Flower Fruit, it can sprout fists anywhere in your line of sight. For example, think about what would happen if a guy like Garp had your ability."
Mr. Garp, from the Marines, eating the Flower-Flower Fruit?
"...Ara, that sounds terrifying."
"Right?! The Flower-Flower Fruit is a perfect match for physical arts and martial arts! I can teach you all of that! When you've mastered it, the next time the World Government corners you, even if it's CP0, you'll be able to take them all down with a few punches!"
"Of course, the choice is yours. You don't have to learn it if you don't want to. You're an archaeologist, not a main fighter! And we'll all be there to protect you!"
"That's right! Don't worry, Robin-san! As your comrade, I'll protect you!" a certain orange-haired girl had immediately raised her hand.
"Tsk, your three-legged-cat skills won't be enough, Nami. Robin-san is much stronger than you. When we get to the New World, any Haki user will be able to take you down with a few punches."
"Waaah! Dammit! We're both Logia users! What makes you think you're so much stronger than me, Nojiko?!"
"My bounty is only about ten thousand times higher than yours. I'm not that much stronger. I've known how to use Armament Haki for a long time, and I'm currently working on mastering Observation Haki."
"The rest of it is fine, but why did you have to mention the bounty?! Waaah… dammit! I should have started training back then! Big Bro, I'm joining your lessons! I'm going to start training Haki too!"
"Your enthusiasm is commendable,"
Shane had glanced at her and, without mercy, had added, "but your pathetic physique is not even close to being qualified. If you want to get stronger, you'll have to start with the basics of the physical arts."
The whole table had burst out laughing.
Slap!
The memory ended, and her thoughts returned to the present.
As if infected by the laughter, a small smile appeared on Robin's lips. She looked up at the distant castle, which was shrouded in mist.
That's right. If even the lazy Nami had started to train to get stronger, how could she fall behind? She had also been inspired and, from that day on, she had begun to practice physical arts and Haki with Shane.
And now, although she hadn't yet gotten the hang of Observation Haki, she had already mastered the two most practical of the Six Powers, Shave and Moonwalk, and she had also learned the two Armament Haki techniques of Coating and Hardening.
Combined with the special abilities of her Flower-Flower Fruit, her strength had increased significantly.
But compared to Jack, there was still a big gap.
This simple-minded kid, it was as if all his talent was in the physical arts. He was the fastest-improving member of the crew.
Right now, besides the vice-captain, Kuina, almost no one on the crew was a hundred percent confident that they could beat Jack in a one-on-one fight.
"I'll just have to keep working at it,"
Robin said, not discouraged. In any case, if she were to go to the New World now, at least she wouldn't be a burden.
SWISH!
Guessing that Jack was almost there, she sprouted two wings from her back and also flew toward the castle.
…
When Jack arrived at the castle gate, a familiar figure was sitting cross-legged on the open-air balcony of the second floor.
—The vice-captain of the Curtain Call Adventurers, Kuina.
The young swordswoman was meditating with her eyes closed, the Wado Ichimonji lying across her lap. The morning breeze rustled the hair on her forehead, but it didn't distract her in the slightest.
"..."
Jack suddenly felt a pang of guilt, and a drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Besides Boss Shane, the one he respected the most was this vice-captain.
Boss Kuina was usually stern and serious, and her swordsmanship was unfathomable. For the past two months, even though he had been improving rapidly… every time they sparred, he was still easily defeated by her.
Her sharp, gale-like swordsmanship was completely mastered. With a single slash, it was as if she could cut through anything. Even his mammoth form couldn't take more than a few hits.
It had gotten to the point where Jack was a little afraid to spar with Kuina anymore. He had a bit of a psychological trauma.
"I'm doomed. Is she going to be mad…"
Jack swallowed hard, slowed his steps, and tiptoed into the gate, afraid of disturbing the woman on the second floor.
However—
"Jack."
An impassive voice came from above.
Jack froze and slowly looked up, his gaze meeting Kuina's calm eyes.
"V-Vice-Captain Kuina…" he said with a dry laugh. "Good morning, haha…"
"During our secluded training, everyone is to adhere to a strict schedule of meals and rest. Violators will be punished accordingly. We all agreed to this, you haven't forgotten, have you?" Kuina said calmly.
"No…" Jack lowered his head in dejection.
"You were half an hour late. Your training for today is doubled, and you must finish before bedtime. Also, you will be on cleaning duty for the next two days."
That's it… and nothing more?
Jack's face immediately broke into a grin. He could totally handle that level of punishment!
"You already had a bit of a foundation in Armament Haki before you came to the island, so I'm not surprised that you've mastered it to this extent,"
Kuina said, glancing at him. "But I didn't expect that in just a dozen or so days, you've also mastered Observation Haki so well. That baboon king's swordsmanship is quite high-level, yet you predicted his every attack and he couldn't even hit you."
"Hehe, you're too kind…"
Jack was a little proud of himself, but then he suddenly realized something and his eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Kuina. "Huh?! Boss Robin isn't back yet, right? How did you know… hiss, is it Observation Haki?!"
"Of course,"
Kuina said, her expression still calm. "My Observation Haki is not yet as strong as Lord Shane's, which can easily cover a large city like Water 7, but a small place like Kuraigana Island, I can still easily sense any movement."
She's so modest, Vice-Captain Kuina!
To be able to grasp the situation of a battle deep in the forest from such a distance.
Her mastery of Observation Haki is terrifying! Far beyond my own!
The little bit of pride that Jack had felt immediately vanished, and he looked at Kuina with renewed awe.
The young swordswoman also gracefully stood up and, flipping over the railing, she landed on the balcony and gently pushed open the castle gate. "Go on in. Lord Shane contacted me last night with the Transponder Snail and gave me some instructions. I'm going to hold a meeting during breakfast to relay them to everyone."
"Yes, Vice-Captain!"
A short while later, Robin also returned. All the crew members were lined up on either side of the long table, all present and accounted for, except for the empty seat at the head of the table.
"Vice-Captain, did you just say that Boss Shane contacted you with the Transponder Snail?" Jack couldn't help but ask. "Is he still in seclusion at the bottom of the sea?"
From the day they had landed on Kuraigana Island, it had been a full 70 days.
For the first 40 days, Boss Shane had, like the other crew members, eaten, slept, and trained on the island, and he would also spend about two hours every day guiding the crew.
But for the last 30 days, exactly a month ago, it seemed that Boss Shane had mastered several new moves and had begun to focus on improving his physique.
The ordinary environment could no longer provide enough pressure.
So, Boss Shane had taken the Poneglyph and a sufficient supply of fresh water and dry rations and had gone to the bottom of the sea, at a depth of nearly ten thousand meters, to eat, sleep, and train.
He had also entrusted the responsibility of supervising and guiding the crew's training to Kuina.
This way, he could both use the immense pressure of the deep sea to temper his body and also go all out in an environment where he wouldn't be disturbed.
But to be in seclusion for a whole month, that was terrifying!
To live at the bottom of the sea, where there was no sunlight, for so long, Jack shivered just thinking about it. Even as a Fish-Man, he couldn't stand it.
"Mmm."
Kuina sat in the seat closest to the empty head of the table and, picking up her knife and fork, she began to cut her fried fish. "But it's almost over. Lord Shane's estimate is that he'll be out of seclusion tomorrow. That means that by tomorrow evening at the latest, we'll be leaving this island. And that's why I'm holding this meeting."
She turned to Nami. "The Log Pose is already set, right?"
"Mmm, it's been ready for a while, Kuina," Nami said with a grin, holding up her pale wrist and showing the glass orb on it. "It was full about ten days ago."
Compared to 70 days ago, there were now a few more defined muscle lines on her body. Although she wasn't yet qualified to train Haki, she had put some effort into her physical training.
Now, her basic stats had all improved a lot, and she had also learned "Shave" and "Moonwalk" from the Six Powers.
"Good,"
Kuina nodded and then looked to the right. "Smoker."
"So we're really leaving in the next few days? It seems my premonition was correct,"
Smoker had already finished eating. He casually put down the Iceburg's notes in his hand and leisurely lit two cigars. "I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I took the time yesterday to do a full inspection of The Curtain Call."
He was already proficient in both types of Haki, but because he had been stationed in a place like the East Blue, he had gotten a little rusty. For the past two months, he had been practicing every day and had now gotten back into the swing of things.
The rest of his free time was spent studying the shipwright's notes that Iceburg had left him.
Two months had passed in the blink of an eye, and he had now gone from a half-baked amateur to a reliable shipwright.
THUMP!
A fist slammed into his head.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!!!" Smoker clutched the three lumps on his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He turned and roared, "What was that for, Nojiko?!"
"What do you think?! No smoking at the dinner table! Have you forgotten?!" Nojiko roared, baring her teeth.
It was just a force of habit… Smoker couldn't argue. He obediently extinguished his cigars, but he was still a little aggrieved as he rubbed the lumps on his head.
She hits so hard! She's like a mother Tyrannosaurus Rex! And her martial arts and strength have improved a lot during this time.
And she's even mastered Observation Haki, and her Snow-Snow Fruit ability is becoming more and more proficient. I wonder who would win if we fought now…
"At least that old geezer Zeff knows how to hold back when he kicks me,"
Smoker muttered. He suddenly realized something and looked at the empty seat beside him, puzzled. "Huh, where's the old geezer Zeff? He was just here."
"He went to the kitchen to get strawberry milk for the little mochi-like creature," Nami said with a shrug.
"Oh…" Smoker nodded, and then his eyes widened. "For who?"
The little mochi-like creature?
Shouldn't it be for Gin?
When did that little furball start liking strawberry milk?
"So you really have been too engrossed in your books these past few days. You didn't even notice that the little mochi-like creature has evolved again,"
an old voice came. Zeff was carrying a large bowl of strawberry milk and placed it under the chair at the end of the table. And behind him was a small white dog with a golden collar.
Image
The moment he put down the bowl of milk, the small white dog barked excitedly and began to lap it up.
"That's the little mochi-like creature?!!!"
Smoker's mouth hung open. "It evolved again… wait, can a cat evolve into a dog?"
"It's amazing, isn't it,"
Nami said, crouching down and stroking Salamon's head. "But it's cute either way. In the future, it might be able to turn into all sorts of things, maybe even a human!"
"A human? How is that possible?"
Smoker was a little speechless at Nami's logic. He looked at the small dog and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, now there are two dogs on the ship that like strawberry milk…"
THUMP!
Before he could finish his sentence, he was sent flying and crashed into the wall.
Gin had, at some point, appeared behind his chair and had retracted his paw, his expression not at all friendly.
Two dogs!
I'm a wolf king! A wolf!
"Hiss… your strength has also increased so much!"
Smoker winced in pain and was about to say something when he saw Kuina suddenly push her chair back and stand up, her expression grim as she looked up at the distant sky.
"What is it? Kuina?"
Nami also noticed and quickly asked.
"Something… is coming this way. And it's very fast."
"It's getting closer and closer. It's heading straight for this island!"
Kuina's face was icy. Her right hand was on the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji, and she was the first to run out. The others exchanged a look and immediately followed.
In the distant sky, a black shadow was rapidly approaching. It was clearly a massive figure, its arms crossed over its chest, as if it were protecting something.
Before they could get a clear look, the black shadow had already traced an arc and crashed into the open space in front of the castle, kicking up a cloud of dust.
BOOM—!
The ground trembled, and when the dust settled, the newcomers' appearance was finally revealed.
It was a burly man in a bear-eared hat, covered in cuts and bruises, blood dripping from his wounds.
He seemed to have already lost consciousness, and he didn't move a muscle after he crashed to the ground. And in his arms, he was holding a small figure in a green dress.
"P-Please!"
Seeing the onlookers, the little girl looked up, her face tear-streaked, her voice trembling. "Whoever you are, can you please help Mr. Kuma? That demon, that demon is almost…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a strange laugh suddenly came from the sky.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu… you run pretty fast, big guy!"
A pink, feathered greatcoat flapped in the wind. Doflamingo descended from the sky on transparent strings, a wide, unrestrained grin on his face.
"But with the strings I've already attached to you, you'll never be able to escape my tracking! This is where you die!"
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