"Lord Jack's going to fight personally!"
"Even if Page One's gotten stronger, there's no way he can match Lord Jack."
"Obviously! Lord Jack is one of the All-Stars — the Drought himself, with a bounty of one billion berries! Page One's just a kid compared to him!"
Even after witnessing Page One's monstrous transformation, most of the Beasts Pirates refused to believe he could defeat Jack the Drought.
Every one of Jack's eight-meter-tall steps sent deep, heavy tremors through the ground — the weight of tons in every motion.
"Page One, brat," Jack growled, cracking his knuckles, "let's see what you're really worth now."
His sheer presence crushed the air; even veteran Headliners went pale, legs shaking. Once upon a time, Page One would've been trembling too.
But not now.
His eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"Big Brother Jack, you've had that All-Star seat for a long time," Page One said with a cocky grin. "Maybe it's time to make room for someone new!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. He wasn't just confident — he was challenging an All-Star for rank.
Every Tobi Roppo dreamed of overthrowing a Calamity someday. The most vocal was Fuzzy Fe — once a CP9 spy — but none had ever dared make a real move. They knew the gap was too wide.
Yet here was Page One, the youngest of them all, stepping forward first.
Jack barked out a laugh so sharp it rattled the walls.
"You brat… did that Mutant Cell rot your brain? You dare talk like that to me?!"
Bones popped and cracked as Jack flexed his fists.
"Looks like you've forgotten what true terror feels like!"
He drew his twin shotel blades, swinging them in a vertical slash. A roaring blade of energy burst forth, carving a deep gouge across the ground.
Zzzrraaaa!
The shockwave screeched toward Page One.
But the young warrior didn't dodge. When the strike reached him, he snapped his claws together — catching the energy wave midair — and, with a roar, tore it apart.
The crowd collectively sucked in a breath.
"He… he shattered Lord Jack's attack head-on!"
"Impossible!"
Kaido's massive eyes glimmered with delight. The stronger Page One became, the greater the proof that Luo Xing's invention truly worked — and that meant his dream of building the world's strongest army was closer than ever.
Jack himself couldn't believe it.
That last attack had been half his full power — more than enough to obliterate Page One before. Yet the brat had broken it with raw strength.
"Jack, my turn!"
Page One's face split into a wild grin. The rush of power was intoxicating — a euphoria beyond words.
In a blur, he became a streak of motion — claws glinting cold light as he lunged.
"Don't get cocky, brat!" Jack roared, swinging both blades down.
Clang!
Steel met claw, sparks exploded. The shock rippled through the air.
Jack, a mammoth Zoan and a fishman hybrid, prided himself on his monstrous strength — yet Page One met him blow for blow.
For the first time, Jack's composure cracked.
He realized the impossible truth: this was no longer the same Page One.
The Mutant Cell had raised his power to Calamity level.
Jack bellowed in frustration and transformed, his body swelling into a colossal mammoth, tusks like towers of bone.
Page One roared back, taking his Spinosaurus form, spikes bristling, eyes burning.
The two ancient beasts collided.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The island itself trembled. Buildings crumbled, the ground split apart. The shockwaves shook Onigashima to its core.
"T-This is insane!"
"They're monsters!"
Even Jin, Queen, and the Tobi Roppo stood frozen, eyes wide. The two beasts were fighting evenly.
Page One — the youngest of them — was matching Jack the Drought blow for blow.
"Unbelievable…"
Even Jin, normally stoic, shook his head repeatedly, stunned.
Queen's grin stretched ear to ear.
"Heh! You see now, Jin? Still think science is useless? You've always mocked my research — but look at this! Once I get a Mutant Cell of my own, I'll crush you and take first among the Calamities!"
Jin said nothing, his silence more telling than words. His strength barely surpassed Queen's — if Queen doubled his power, Jin would lose easily.
Then—
A thunderous laugh exploded through the air, shaking heaven and earth alike.
"WORORORORORO!!!"
The sky itself seemed to tremble at Kaido's voice. Everyone froze — even Jack and Page One stopped mid-battle, instinctively turning toward their captain.
Only one man could laugh like that.
"Queen! You'll take one! Jin, you too! In fact, all of you — every last one of my men will eat a Mutant Cell!"
Kaido's voice boomed with exhilaration.
"Luo Xing, my good son-in-law — make as many as you can! However much money you need, you'll have it!"
His laughter rolled like thunder again, shaking the island.
For the Beasts Pirates, a new era was beginning.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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