Before long, a massive army riding crocodiles, lizards, reindeer, and other strange beasts unique to Wano surged toward the southwestern coast of Kuri.
"Wano really has a lot of weird animals…"
"Well, that's why they're called the Beasts Pirates…"
Shachi and Penguin whispered among themselves.
Bepo's fluffy face turned slightly red as he muttered:
"I wonder if there are any female bears…"
"Idiot! Of course there aren't!?"
Shachi and Penguin snapped.
"S-Sorry…"
Bepo instantly wilted.
Leading the army—
was one of Kaido's Three Calamities:
Jack the Drought.
"It's you!?"
The moment Jack saw Xia Te's group, his expression changed sharply.
But within five seconds, he regained his composure, glaring with bloodshot eyes as he threatened:
"You dare lay hands on the Beasts Pirates? Do you know the consequences?!"
"Don't misunderstand, Jack the Drought."
As the newest member, Law stepped forward, pressing down his spotted hat and taking on the role of negotiator.
"We're here to discuss business with your captain—Kaido of the Beasts."
"Discuss my ass! You took down so many of my men—pay with your lives first!"
Jack roared, drawing the twin curved blades at his waist and charging straight at Law.
"ROOM!!"
Frowning, Law instantly deployed his spatial sphere, swapping positions with a rock behind him.
Jack's blades cleaved the rock cleanly in half.
"Doesn't even listen… are all Beasts Pirates this brainless?"
Shiryu said with visible disdain.
Xia Te only smiled.
After all, this was the same Jack who, in the original story, dared to charge head-on at a Marine fleet guarded by Sengoku, Fujitora, and Tsuru.
This outcome was entirely expected.
Although Jack had learned about Xia Te's crew from recent news reports, as a core officer of a Yonko crew, he simply didn't take these upstart rookies seriously.
In his eyes, their high bounties only came from daring to attack the Celestial Dragons.
Seeing their commander engage, Jack's subordinates—led by Sheepshead—also rushed forward with weapons drawn.
Noticing that many of them had animal traits but couldn't freely transform like true Zoan users, Law frowned slightly and muttered:
"What's with their bodies…? This doesn't look like normal Zoan…"
At this point, he still didn't know about SMILE Devil Fruits.
"A bunch of brutes… Enel, quiet them down. Leave the officers alive if you can."
Xia Te rubbed his forehead.
He truly hadn't come here to start a war.
Unfortunately, among the Yonko, Kaido and Big Mom were both notorious for not listening to reason.
Xia Te even wondered if the two had something going on back in the Rocks Pirates days.
"Such a hassle~"
Enel tapped his golden staff against his shoulder, looking arrogant.
"Controlling the power to step over ants without crushing them is quite difficult, you know."
A line he had clearly copied from Xia Te during last night's banquet.
The next moment—
Enel raised one arm.
Electric arcs surged outward, forming a massive net that enveloped Sheepshead and the others charging in.
"30 Million Volts — Electric Net!"
Crackle—!!
Even though they were artificial Zoan users, their naturally tough bodies kept them from being killed outright.
But it was more than enough to leave them convulsing on the ground, completely incapacitated.
Seeing his subordinates taken down so easily, Jack's fury exploded.
He charged forward again, slashing with both blades.
A flash of blood-red light—
A demonic blade intercepted him.
Shiryu had stepped in.
"Let me see what level Kaido's right-hand man is at…"
With that, he twisted Raiu, clashing blades with Jack once more.
"Bastard!"
Jack roared, increasing his strength in an attempt to overpower Shiryu.
A cold glint flashed in Shiryu's eyes.
He sheathed his blade—
and in the next instant, assumed a iaijutsu stance.
Then—
he vanished in a streak of crimson.
Slash!
A two-meter-long gash appeared across Jack's body, blood spraying out—
yet it was only a superficial cut, not even damaging the muscles beneath.
"You wanna die!?"
Jack bellowed in rage as his body rapidly expanded.
In an instant, he transformed into a massive mammoth with yellow fur and enormous tusks.
"Zoan users really are tough…"
Shiryu muttered, raising a brow.
That strike had been coated in Armament Haki, yet it had barely cut through the skin.
He needed to get stronger.
But at his age, his growth potential was already limited.
Not everyone could cheat like Luffy.
If he wanted a breakthrough—
there was only one path left:
a Devil Fruit.
Thinking this, Shiryu couldn't help but cast a cold, predatory glance at Enel.
He truly wanted to kill that long-eared bastard and take the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
If he had that ability,
that last slash would've carved Jack's organs out.
Unfortunately—
Xia Te had given a strict order:
No infighting.
Break it—
and die.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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