"Rear Admiral Strawberry! We've received a report from the surveillance ship!"
"The pirates aboard the Mammoth, along with members of the Sun Pirates, have all escaped!"
"Currently, the only ones left on the island are Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates and Vice Admiral Borsalino in combat!"
Strawberry shouted decisively:
"Ignore the others! We're heading in to support Borsalino!"
"If we can capture Jack the Drought, it'll be a devastating blow to the Beasts Pirates!"
"There's no way Kaido himself would show up in the Grand Line right now. This is a rare chance!"
"We have to seize it! Keep requesting reinforcements from headquarters!"
As dawn broke, Kizaru's light beams pierced through the air, firing relentlessly at the massive figure before him.
Jack had fully transformed into a colossal mammoth, towering over 20 meters high. Kizaru raised an eyebrow at the sheer scale. While Zoan-type Devil Fruit users could transform into animals, their sizes rarely exceeded their natural counterparts.
But Jack's mammoth form was absurdly oversized. If he were to stand fully upright, his height would easily surpass 30 meters.
Even Kizaru's lasers, which struck Jack squarely, didn't leave so much as a scorch mark. This only confirmed Kizaru's suspicions—Jack shared the same monstrous durability as Kaido.
"Let's test this a bit more," Kizaru mused, his lips curling into a faint smile. With a sharp burst of energy, he leaped high into the sky.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless beams of light rained down, creating a blinding display. The ensuing explosion kicked up a thick cloud of dust, completely enveloping Jack's massive frame.
The newly arrived Navy warships witnessed the scene and erupted into cheers.
Strawberry waved his hand forward, shouting, "Press the attack! Target and fire!"
"Boom! Boom!"
The cannons roared as hundreds of shells landed with pinpoint accuracy. Kizaru quickly shifted into his light form to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
When the third volley of cannon fire ceased, the entire area within a five-kilometer radius was shrouded in smoke and debris.
Kizaru and the Navy soldiers stared intently into the cloud. Suddenly, Kizaru's voice rang out sharply:
"Retreat immediately!"
"Trunk Blast!"
On the deck, Strawberry was peering through his binoculars, tense and focused. A blinding white flash burst from the smoke—two massive, razor-sharp tusks barreled through.
By the time Strawberry realized what they were, it was almost too late.
Thankfully, Kizaru had already dashed over in a golden flash, kicking the tusks away with a burst of light.
"Strawberry! Fall back with the others!" Kizaru barked. "This guy has ranged attacks—evacuate everyone at once!"
"But, sir—!"
A sudden wave of overwhelming pressure swept through the battlefield, leaving Strawberry and the Marines frozen in shock. Many of them collapsed, unconscious, their eyes rolling back.
Jack, still in his mammoth form, stood unscathed amid the destruction. Even the combined might of Kizaru's lasers and the Navy's bombardment hadn't left a single mark on him.
And that immense pressure just now?
"Conqueror's Haki?" Kizaru muttered, his usual laid-back tone faltering slightly. "How scary... Yo~."
"The seas are getting crazier by the day. We haven't even dealt with Red-Haired Shanks, and now there's a monster like Jack popping up among the next generation."
"What a hassle... Looks like Jack's threat level to the World Government just went up a few notches. His bounty will probably skyrocket, too."
"Not that it's my problem. That's for the bureaucrats to figure out."
Jack, his crimson eyes glinting with fury, glared at the retreating warships and bellowed at Kizaru:
"Oi, you creepy old man! You're fast, I'll give you that. But speed doesn't mean squat!"
"You need range and endurance! Let's see how long you last!"
"Ivory Gatling!"
"Boom! Boom!"
A barrage of tusk-shaped projectiles fired at rapid speed. Kizaru smirked wryly.
"This is turning into quite the headache. Guess I can only save one ship..."
"Strawberry, full retreat! Everyone else, abandon ship!"
Without waiting for a response, Kizaru turned into light and ascended into the sky.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
The air lit up with explosions. Despite Kizaru's efforts, a few projectiles slipped through, obliterating one warship. The sailors who hadn't leaped into the sea in time were crushed in an instant.
Jack roared with laughter, watching the destruction before transforming into his hybrid form. Disappointed, he shook his head as the remaining Navy ship slipped out of range.
"Let's see you escape this—Super-Long-Distance Hong Kong Kick!"
A shockwave tore through the air, only to be intercepted by Kizaru's laser mid-flight. The Vice Admiral landed gracefully, tilting his head at Jack.
"Steel Kick? That's just a Rankyaku, isn't it? Why call it Steel Kick?"
"Steel, my ass!" Jack snapped. "It's Hong Kong Kick! Show some respect, you ill-mannered old geezer!"
"You're the one who needs manners," Jack sneered. "Your face needs a mosaic filter, and your voice needs one too. How about speaking like a decent human being for once?"
Kizaru sighed, rubbing his temples as Jack's insults continued to fly.
"Oi, shut up! Don't say a word!" Jack bellowed, slamming his foot down. "I already know what you're going to say—something stupid and rude!"
"Time for you to face my Great Tusk Fury!"
Jack drew an oversized tusk from his belt and began swinging it wildly, forcing Kizaru to evade in his light form.
"Does this guy ever stop?" Kizaru muttered, reappearing a short distance away.
Jack sneered. "What's the matter? Scared of my unstoppable tushie?!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg