Because he knew of Rowan's identity as the "Marine Godfather," Jack didn't hesitate for a second. He swung his two massive shotel blades and leaped down with a crushing downward cleave.
In Jack's mind, taking out Rowan and Ace simultaneously would be a monumental achievement. As for the potential retaliation from Whitebeard or Garp? He didn't care in the slightest.
Because he was Jack! He was a "Lead Performer" of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, one of the Three Calamities—Jack the Drought!
"DIE!"
Jack's blades whistled through the air, descending upon Rowan's back with irresistible momentum. At this sight, the Whitebeard pirates and the Marines on the warship turned pale in unison. If those blades landed, both Rowan and Ace would likely be cleaved into three pieces!
"Great-Grandpa, get out of the way! I'm a Logia user, his slashes can't hurt me!" Ace roared, struggling with all his might to push Rowan aside.
But Ace realized that no matter how hard he pushed, Rowan was like an unshakeable mountain. Furthermore, under Rowan's grip, he found it nearly impossible to even turn his body into fire!
In the sky, as Jack's gargantuan frame plummeted, a massive shadow completely enveloped Rowan and Ace. The blades were about to strike!
"Great-Grandpa..." Ace couldn't help but close his eyes, unable to bear the sight of Rowan being cut down by Jack.
CLANG!!!
Just as Jack's shotels were about to flatten Rowan, a deafening sound of clashing steel rang out, echoing across the entire battlefield.
"Is it... Marco?" Hearing the sound, Ace's heart jolted, and he snapped his eyes open.
But the scene he witnessed made his eyes bulge, his spirit surging with shock. In Ace's vision, Rowan was still holding him by the prayer beads with one hand, but his other hand held a shimmering, radiant longsword. He held it casually before him, effortlessly blocking Jack's world-shaking strike mid-air.
It looked like a grandfather shielding his grandson, parrying a monster's attack with ease. Yet, Ace could feel a terrifying aura constantly erupting from Rowan's body.
Rowan's clothes fluttered despite the lack of wind. He leaned slightly, lifting his gaze to meet Jack's murderous eyes, and spoke calmly:
"Back when I was leading Garp and Sengoku to chase the Rocks Pirates all over the world, your boss, Little Kaido, hadn't even set sail yet. Now, I've merely been retired for a few decades, and a brat like you thinks he can take the Old Man's head just because he's learned a bit of amateur swordsmanship?"
As Rowan spoke, the corners of his mouth curled into a slight, arrogant smirk that seemed to dominate the very air around them. In his words, the former overlord Rocks and the current Emperor Kaido were treated as if they were nothing.
To the crowd, these words sounded incredibly boastful. But to those who had followed Rowan recently, there wasn't a hint of exaggeration.
Above them, the muscles on Jack's thick arms bulged, and the veins were clearly visible. But no matter how much force he applied, his shotels could not descend a single millimeter. The old man he expected to crush looked entirely relaxed, as if he could toss Jack aside whenever he felt like it.
How can this old fossil have such terrifying strength?! Jack was inwardly horrified.
"Since your killing intent toward the Old Man is so strong, let me teach you a lesson." Rowan's right hand flicked slightly.
ZING!
A sharp ring pierced the clouds. The eight-meter-tall Jack felt his arms vibrate violently under that single flick. He stumbled back, foot after heavy foot, retreating uncontrollably.
"Lord Jack!" The Hundred Beasts pirates were shaken to their core. They knew exactly how monstrous Jack's strength was. Yet, before this white-haired, kindly-looking old man, Lord Jack seemed as weak as a child!
Even the Whitebeard pirates, including Ace and Marco, wore expressions of pure disbelief. If it were a random pirate, they wouldn't be this shocked—but this was Jack the Drought, a man with a billion-Berry bounty!
While his bounty was partly due to his brutal methods, one could not underestimate him. The name "Drought" was a testament to his raw power.
After repelling Jack, Rowan set Ace down. He looked directly at Jack, taking steady, measured steps forward. "I'm here to tell you: don't be so arrogant on this sea. There are many people you simply cannot afford to provoke. Coincidentally, I am one of them."
Hearing this, Jack—who had just steadied himself—erupted in fury. "Old man, you're looking for death!"
His eyes turned blood-red as he roared, seemingly forgetting his previous disadvantage. The next moment, his body underwent a massive transformation. In less than a second, he turned into a gargantuan mammoth.
Ancient Zoan: Elephant-Elephant Fruit, Model: Mammoth!
In this form, Jack's already massive frame became truly colossal. He launched a blind charge at Rowan. Every time those massive elephant legs struck the deck, the entire ship groaned and vibrated! He swung his trunk and tusks, launching an unstoppable offensive!
"A mere Ancient Zoan... too weak!"
Rowan remained composed. Facing the terrifying charge, he sheathed his longsword. He pulled back his right fist and delivered a seemingly plain punch. As the punch moved, Rowan's entire reserve of Armament Haki surged into his arm, flowing outward through his fist.
This was a different application of Haki.
"Ryuo!"
Ryuo—an advanced application of Armament Haki. Unlike "Hardening," which coats the body or a weapon like a suit of armor, Ryuo is the "flow" of Haki.
An instant before the strike landed, Rowan controlled his gathered Haki to flow entirely to the tip of his fist. And then...
BAM!
His fist stopped short, but the Armament Haki erupted forward like an invisible air cannon!
The crowd watched in awe as the charging mammoth, still a full meter away from Rowan, suddenly had a massive fist-print cave into its trunk!