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The person most shocked by the turn of events was Zoro himself. If he had been defeated by Dracule Mihawk, he could have accepted it—after all, Mihawk was known as the world's greatest swordsman! But Jason? It was unimaginable! Zoro's powerful strike, one that had failed even the mightiest opponents, had been effortlessly stopped by a single finger pressing against his blade.
"I... I must be seeing things! Zoro's attack was actually blocked by a finger!"
"Idiot! How could we all be seeing things at the same time? Maybe they're Devil Fruit users, like Luffy and Ace!"
"Ah, that makes sense!"
Jason's mouth curled into a faint smile, too lazy to correct their assumptions. Ace, on the other hand, merely responded with a knowing grin.
"Well, Zoro, have you realized the power of Haki yet?" Ace asked, his voice holding a hint of challenge.
Zoro gritted his teeth, frustration evident in his eyes. He didn't want to believe the gap between himself and a truly strong opponent was so vast. Staring at Jason's darkened finger, he could feel an aura emanating from it—an inexplicable, overwhelming presence.
"There's a limit to how much you can look down on others!"
Zoro pulled back his sword, steeling his resolve. His eyes sharpened, reflecting the determination of a man who refused to give in. Jason noted Zoro's fighting spirit, admiring the drive that had earned him Mihawk's respect.
Zoro launched another attack, this time with even more ferocity. His sword skills, honed through countless battles, were sharper and more violent than before. Yet, Jason blocked each strike with the same effortless precision—using just one finger.
The onlookers were stunned into silence, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
"At least... at least let me make you draw your sword! Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to me as a swordsman!"
Zoro's attacks grew wilder, and he roared in frustration. Finally, he leaped back, positioning his three swords in a strange, signature formation.
Jason, sensing Zoro was about to unleash a powerful move, slowly unsheathed his own sword, Soul Control.
"Be careful," Jason warned, his voice calm yet commanding. "This sword, Soul Control, is the spirit of the Imperial Blade—one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords!"
"That's exactly what I want!" Zoro responded, rushing forward with everything he had.
"The Secret Technique of the Three-Sword Style: Three Thousand Worlds!"
Jason's response was casual, almost dismissive. "I'm too lazy to name it, so I'll break your big move with a single strike!"
"Clang!"
The clash of swords echoed through the air, followed by a moment of silence.
"Did he land a hit?" someone whispered.
"I don't know... I couldn't see clearly!"
"No way! Zoro shouldn't be able to defeat Jason now!" Ace chimed in, knowing full well how the battle had ended.
Both swordsmen slowly sheathed their blades. Zoro, acknowledging his defeat, removed his bandana and offered his sword to Jason. Though uninjured, it was clear Jason had held back.
"I lost," Zoro admitted, his voice tinged with both defeat and respect.
Jason, however, was perplexed by the gesture. "Why are you handing me your sword? There's no need for that. We're not enemies, and this wasn't a duel. I just wanted to show you the existence of Haki."
But Zoro, stubborn as always, replied, "I don't think so."
Jason sighed, understanding Zoro's pride as a swordsman. "You're Luffy's partner, and I'm also his friend. There's no duel between us. Keep your pride intact for the battles ahead! The sea is full of strong opponents, and losing is no disgrace. I've lost many times, and every time I ran away! I'm not a pure swordsman, so we don't have to follow the code of swordsmen here. If you want to learn about Haki, I'll teach you. After all, I might be your crewmate in the future, hahaha!"
Zoro, though gritting his teeth, accepted Jason's reasoning but vowed to surpass him one day. Jason, in turn, welcomed the challenge with a grin.
"That's awesome! Jason's willing to teach us Haki, so we can do whatever we want on the sea from now on!" Luffy chimed in, bursting with excitement.
"Wait a minute, Luffy! That's not how you use the word 'whatever'!" Nami snapped, punctuating her correction with a fist to Luffy's head.
"Whatever! Let's keep going! Or maybe we should have another party? I'm hungry again!" Luffy suggested, rubbing his head.
"Banquet, my foot! Didn't you just eat?" Nami retorted, her patience wearing thin.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The group burst into laughter, setting off once again on their journey. Yet, not everyone was at ease. Zoro was deep in thought, reflecting on the battle. He could feel the lingering presence of that mysterious aura Jason had wielded—Haki, a force he had yet to fully grasp. Sanji, noticing Zoro's contemplative state, decided to poke fun at him.
"Hey, Moss Head, are you sulking again? Gonna cry like last time?" Sanji teased.
"Shut up, Curly Cook! Stay out of my way, or I'll slice you up!" Zoro snapped back.
"Looks like you're fine, then!"
"Get lost!"
After a long day's journey, the crew gathered around a campfire, roasting meat from some unknown creature they had hunted. Ace watched Luffy and his friends with a discerning eye, while Jason observed the crew with a sense of amusement. Ace was evaluating the reliability of Luffy's companions, but Jason was simply enjoying the carefree, joyous atmosphere of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The following morning, Luffy, tricked by a bird, chased after it in frustration and returned with a camel—along with a giant lizard in hot pursuit. The crew's strongest members sprang into action, defeating the lizard with ease. Jason took down the last one before Ace could even lift a finger, much to Zoro's chagrin. He couldn't deny Jason's formidable swordsmanship.
As the crew devoured their breakfast of two massive lizards, Nami, Vivi, and the others were left in awe. They knew Luffy could eat a lot, but seeing Ace and Jason match his appetite was something else entirely.
With breakfast behind them, the group continued their journey. Nami and Vivi rode ahead on camels, but before long, they were separated from the others.
After some time, a group of Sand Pirates appeared. Usopp spotted Nami and Vivi tied up on a sand boat, prompting Luffy to charge forward with a Gomu Gomu no Pistol, breaking the mast in the process. However, Luffy, always easily distracted, paused to drink water and even struck up a conversation with the Sand Pirates' leader—mainly about the camel and whether it could be eaten.
Meanwhile, Ace was busy amusing himself by playing with a lizard that mimicked his movements.
In typical Luffy fashion, he offered to help the Sand Pirates find wood for a new mast. They rewarded him with a small sand boat, but as soon as he hoisted the sail, a gust of wind blew it away, sending the boat sliding right back to the crew.
"I'm back!"
"Don't waste your energy here, you idiot!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Jason couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, much to the annoyance of Nami.
"Jason!"
"Huh? What is it?"
Jason wiped away tears of laughter, finally understanding why Nico Robin always seemed to smile at the crew's antics. It was hard not to be swept up in the joy they brought with them. He couldn't help but feel that joining them would be more about enjoying the ride than anything else.
"You're still laughing? Do something! I don't want to be crushed by a giant ball of dung!"
"Don't worry! If I need to step in for something this small, then your comrades aren't up to the task!"
"Exactly!" Zoro chimed in, taking two swords from a nearby Sand Pirate. He jumped from the side of the ship, slicing the giant dung ball into pieces. Sanji followed up by kicking away the remaining chunks that flew toward the ship, casually wiping his shoes afterward.
"See? I told you I wouldn't need to step in!"
Nami turned away, refusing to give Jason the satisfaction of a response. Jason didn't mind—he was used to her brusque attitude.
After a while, Luffy and the others returned with the wood, and the group continued their journey with the Sand Pirates. As they neared the next town, Ace, riding a lizard, rejoined them.
With the situation explained, they pressed on towards the town. After a run-in with a fake rebel army, the crew found themselves fleeing once more. Jason could only sigh in resignation.
"Forget it, as long as they're happy," he muttered. If it were up to him, he would have already made his way to the capital to wait for them. The desert heat was unbearable, and he hadn't seen Robin in two days. He missed her.
His opportunity to leave came sooner than expected. After traveling for half a day, the group sat in a stone forest, enjoying an outdoor barbecue. Luffy, ever the glutton, chased after a piece of meat, leading him who-knows-where.
Meanwhile, Ace explained that his reason for coming to Alabasta was to track down a man named Scorpion, who supposedly defeated Blackbeard. Jason's eyes twitched. Even with his memory hazy after all these years, he was certain Blackbeard had only been bested by Magellan before the war.
"It's probably a false rumor. From what I've heard about the first half of the Grand Line, no one there should be strong enough to defeat Blackbeard."
"Maybe so, but even if it's fake, I have to meet that man first," Ace replied, resolute in his decision.
Jason returned to the capital of Alubarna with a sense of relief, eager to reunite with Nico Robin after parting ways with Luffy and the Straw Hat crew. The journey through the desert had been long and eventful, filled with unexpected encounters and challenges. As he entered the royal capital, his thoughts were primarily on Robin and the promise of a restful evening, but there were still matters to attend to regarding their mission in Alabasta.
Once in Alubarna, Jason wasted no time heading to the palace where Robin was staying. Knowing the gravity of their mission—to uncover the secrets of the Poneglyph and assist in quelling the rebellion—Jason was focused, yet he couldn't help but indulge in some much-needed relaxation first.
After satisfying his hunger at a nearby restaurant, Jason made his way to the palace guest quarters, where he knew Robin would be waiting. Not one to bother with formalities, Jason skipped the main entrance and instead leaped up to the balcony of their suite, landing gracefully before calling out to Robin.
"I'm back! Baby Robin, did you miss me?" Jason's playful tone filled the room as he spotted Robin lounging on the sofa, engrossed in a book.
Robin, ever composed, looked up with a soft smile. "Welcome back! Why did you return so soon this time? Did you meet Nami and the others?"
"Of course, I couldn't pass through the desert without running into them! But enough about that—come here and let me kiss you!" Jason leaned in, trying to catch Robin in an embrace, only to be stopped by her outstretched hand.
"You're covered in dust and grime. Go take a shower first," Robin chided gently, pushing Jason away with a playful smile. "By the way, how's Nami? She must be quite grown up by now."
Jason chuckled, scratching his head in mild embarrassment. "She's still as beautiful as ever, but her temper hasn't changed a bit—still fierce as ever!"
Robin laughed softly. "I suppose that's because you've been teasing her since she was little."
Jason shrugged, accepting the playful jab. "Maybe, but it's all in good fun. Anyway, where's King Nefertari Cobra? Have you spoken to him about the Poneglyph?"
Robin nodded, her expression turning serious. "Yes, I've spoken with him. He said he's willing to show us the Poneglyph, but only he knows how to access the Royal Tomb. He's been occupied with the ongoing crisis, so we haven't had a chance to visit it yet."
"Alright, we'll take care of that tomorrow," Jason decided, his mind already planning their next steps.
With the discussion about their mission concluded, Jason shifted his focus back to Robin. He couldn't resist pulling her close, but she quickly pushed him away again.
"Go shower first. You're too dirty to be hugging me right now," Robin insisted, her voice firm yet affectionate.
Jason grinned, accepting defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll be back in a minute!"
After a quick shower, Jason returned, clean and refreshed, ready to spend some quality time with Robin. The worries of their mission temporarily set aside, Jason picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, determined to make the most of the peaceful moments they had together.
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