Fearless Valor

Moke's face twitched involuntarily as he thought to himself, "This guy truly lives up to his Devil Fruit User... he's so brave and fearless!" In the blink of an eye, he flicked his wrist, and the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand was drawn like Inazuma, carrying a sharp, cold light, and swung directly at Jack the Drought's menacing fist.

A deafening clang, like the thunder of a great bell, rang out. Jack the Drought the Drought's massive fist, wreathed in hard, iron-like Armament Haki, collided violently with the incredibly sharp Sandai Kitetsu in Moke's hand. In that instant, it was as if two shooting stars had suddenly met in mid-air, bursting forth with dazzling Hanabi.

An incredibly powerful force collided and compressed between the two, like two ferocious beasts locked in a life-or-death struggle. Each impact generated a surging, overwhelming force, sweeping outwards in all directions. The powerful air currents howled past, causing the clothes on the two figures to flutter wildly, as if about to be torn apart. The weaker, ordinary people on the street lost their footing, staggering and falling, some even being thrown to the ground by the powerful force. This clearly demonstrated the astonishing intensity of their direct confrontation.

However, despite the breathtaking battle, Jack remained unfazed, even displaying a hint of contempt. He narrowed his eyes slightly, sneering, "Hmph, you dare challenge me with your paltry strength? Let me tell you, your strength is far inferior to your subordinates! Tsk tsk tsk..." It turned out that after that probing punch, Jack had clearly realized that Moke's strength was far inferior to Weevil's, and even less comparable to his own. Sure enough, under Jack's thunderous punch, Moke was forced to retreat repeatedly, staggering, clearly at a disadvantage.

Moke gripped the Sandai Kitetsu tightly in his hand, watching as the incredibly sharp blade was slowly being forced back down. At the same time, a confident yet slightly contemptuous smile appeared on Moke's lips, as if everything was under his control.

"Power is only a small part of one's true strength; it doesn't represent the whole," Moke said calmly, his voice, though not loud, was full of authority and Haki.

Just as he finished speaking, a series of crackling sounds suddenly rang out. Immediately afterward, a dazzling bolt of lightning burst forth from Moke's body, like a giant dragon with its claws outstretched. This lightning instantly coiled around his arm, enveloping the Sandai Kitetsu in the blink of an eye. Then, the powerful current, like a surging torrent, swept relentlessly towards Jack the Drought.

Despite his rock-solid physique, Jack the Drought was no match for the terrifying electric current. In an instant, his body trembled uncontrollably, his limbs stiffened, and he completely lost the ability to resist. In just a moment, he was paralyzed.

Seeing that the time was ripe, a cold glint flashed in Moke's eyes, and he roared, "Now... One Sword Style - Ashura Slash!" With this roar, an extremely dense Ghost Aura surged out of Moke's body like a flood bursting its banks. This Ghost Aura converged on the Sandai Kitetsu with overwhelming force, eventually merging with the Ghost Aura contained within the Sandai Kitetsu itself, forming a huge and eerie black energy sphere.

In that instant, the Sandai Kitetsu seemed to sense the surging fighting spirit within its master Moke, and suddenly unleashed a powerful and mysterious Ghost Aura. This Ghost Aura rapidly condensed into an incomparably sharp purple blade, gleaming with a chilling light.

"Drink..." With a furious roar, Moke's muscles tensed instantly, every vein bulging, and the power hidden within him erupted like a volcanic eruption!

He gripped the Sandai Kitetsu tightly with both hands and swung it at Jack the Drought with overwhelming force. This attack was unstoppable, actually breaking through Jack the Drought's rock-solid fist. Immediately afterward, the Sandai Kitetsu, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, slammed down on Jack the Drought's chest.

With a muffled "thud," a deep, gruesome wound was cleaved open in Jack the Drought's chest. In an instant, blood gushed out like a burst dam, splattering everywhere and staining the surrounding ground crimson.

Jack the Drought, devastated by the blow, staggered Rewind-Rewind involuntarily. "Thump, thump..." He stumbled back several steps, kicking up clouds of dust, before finally managing to steady himself.

The sharp, piercing pain in his chest startled Jack the Drought. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. His idol was none other than the renowned Lord Kaido, the commander of the Beast Pirates! For a long time, he had dreamed of possessing a body as indestructible as Kaido's, a body that could withstand any attack. Yet now, he was utterly helpless against Moke —a cruel reality he simply couldn't accept.

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that he spared no effort in honing his skills, expending a great deal of energy and precious time. His hard work paid off, and the results were remarkable. In terms of his physique alone, if compared to the entire new world, he would definitely rank among the top, firmly holding a place. After all, those who could inflict a serious injury on him... were extremely rare. However, unexpectedly, right before his eyes, someone had actually succeeded! When he turned his gaze to Moke again, his eyes had completely changed. The previous contempt had vanished without a trace, replaced only by deep apprehension.

Shifting the gaze slightly into the distance, one could see Gild Tesoro, Mr. Tanaka, and Baccarat standing high on a vantage point, looking down at the unfolding events below. Especially when Gild Tesoro witnessed firsthand how easily Moke's men had withstood the combined attack of Jack the Drought, Ulti, and Page One, his previously calm expression instantly turned utterly grim, as if it could drip water. Mr. Tanaka and Baccarat, standing beside him, also wore solemn, unsmiling expressions. They each possessed rather unique abilities, and secretly considered that dealing with Ulti and Page One themselves should be no problem.

However, when facing the incredibly powerful Jack... only Gild Tesoro had the strength to fight back. Looking around at the current desperate situation, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them. At this moment, deep down they felt incredibly fortunate for their earlier wise decision—thankfully they hadn't completely broken ties with Moke. Otherwise, this situation would have been unmanageable.

Time ticked by, and a long silence fell over the scene. Finally, after a while, Gild Tesoro slowly spoke, "This is truly beyond my expectations! Who would have thought that Moke's crew would be so terrifyingly strong? In my opinion, unless all members of a Four Emperors pirate crew come out in full force and gather together, otherwise... looking across the entire sea, I'm afraid no one can stand against them." Even the usually arrogant Gild Tesoro had to acknowledge the formidable strength of Moke's crew.

Mr. Tanaka, standing to the side, looked worried and asked anxiously, "We had a very unpleasant falling out with them before. What if they still don't intend to let us go? How should we deal with this situation?" Hearing this, Baccarat chuckled softly, replying dismissively, "Heh heh... In this world, there's no one Beli can't handle. If there really is... then there's only one possibility: the amount of Beli offered is far from enough."

Gild Tesoro nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "In this vast and boundless world, if a person doesn't have a sufficient number of Beli to support them, they are destined to be mediocre and forever controlled and dominated by others. Conversely, if your wealth is piling up like mountains, especially when your Beli are astonishingly abundant, the whole world will bow down at your feet and be at your mercy! Even those Celestial Dragons who consider themselves superior to all living beings have to be observant of your words and submit to you. Not to mention a mere Moke..." At this point, Gild Tesoro's lips curled up, revealing a confident yet disdainful smile.

You must understand, he possesses a staggering 20% of the world's Beli wealth! With such immense power, who in the world could possibly escape his control? Thinking this, Gild Tesoro turned his gaze to Baccarat beside him and said slowly, "Judging from the current situation, Jack the Drought, Ulti, and Page One are undoubtedly doomed to lose this time. Since that's the case, we need to apologize to Moke and his gang... I've heard that Moke has a particular fondness for Devil Fruit, so why don't we simply offer him another Devil Fruit as an apology..."

Upon hearing this, Baccarat immediately replied respectfully, "Yes, sir." She naturally understood that Gild Tesoro's move was a double-edged sword. On one hand, he eased the tension with Moke by gifting him Devil Fruit; on the other hand, he successfully united Moke with the powerful Beast Pirates, forging a deep-seated hatred. Baccarat had no objection to such a brilliant scheme. Therefore, she turned and left without hesitation to begin preparing this special gift.

Gild Tesoro stared intently at Tanaka with his Intimidation gaze and said coldly, "Tanaka, go and contact the Big Mom Pirates right now. Tell them... I want Moke's head! As for the conditions, let them name their own." Tanaka nodded and respectfully replied, "Understood, boss. I'll take care of it right away."

After Tanaka turned and left, Gild Tesoro's face revealed a barely perceptible smile, a smile that seemed to conceal endless schemes and calculations. He slightly raised the corners of his mouth and muttered to himself, "Hmph, the Marine Headquarters and the New World, these two great powers, are now completely under my control. I'll see how you, a mere Moke, can struggle to survive. Dare to offend me, Gild Tesoro? No matter who you are, death is the only path awaiting you."

Just then, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed. Moke had just dealt a Jack the Drought the Drought with overwhelming force and was preparing to press his advantage and defeat him completely. However, at this crucial moment, Gizzas Jesus Burgess suddenly stepped forward, blocking Moke's path. His face was filled with excitement, his eyes gleaming with greed, and he shouted, "Captain, please allow me to meet this guy and experience the immense power contained within this Devil Fruit!" Before he finished speaking, Gizzas Jesus Burgess unhesitatingly activated his ability, instantly transforming into his Zoan Hybrid Form. His muscles bulged, his hair stood on end, and he exuded a chilling aura.

At the same time, he suddenly raised his arm, and in an instant, raging flames spread rapidly like a surging sea, completely engulfing his fist in the blink of an eye. The scorching flames burned extremely fiercely, as if they were about to ignite the surrounding air as well.

Upon witnessing this astonishing scene, Moke's eyes lit up involuntarily, a slight smile of excitement spreading across his face as he exclaimed, "Great... this is fantastic! I've been wanting to see just how powerful this Devil Fruit truly is!"

However, Jack the Drought, standing opposite him, was furious at this sudden turn of events. His eyes widened as he glared at his opponent, cursing angrily, "That damned bastard... changing his fighter mid-battle, and with such a weakling at that! This is an absolute humiliation!"

With a roar, Jack the Drought bent his knees slightly, like a cheetah poised to pounce. Then, he exerted all his strength, his muscles tensing instantly, and he charged towards Moke once more like an arrow released from a bow. His target this time remained unchanged: Moke, whom he hated with a passion.

It must be said that Jack the Drought truly lives up to his name. He's like a fearless, unyielding beast, charging forward without hesitation. No matter how powerful the enemy, as long as his anger hasn't subsided, he will never stop attacking. After all, in the original story, even when facing top-tier powerhouses like the renowned Vice Admiral Tsuru, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Fujitora Issho, he fearlessly charged forward to confront them. Now, witnessing his fearless display firsthand, everyone finally understands that this guy is the type who only responds to force, not gentleness. If he can't be completely defeated and subdued, he will never back down, even if it means dying in battle.

"Fire Fist..."

Gizzas Jesus Burgess's eyes were fixed intently on Jack the Drought, who was charging at him like a ferocious beast. His muscles were tense, and his arm was raised high, unleashing a torrent of flames from his palm! This flame, like a volcanic eruption, surged and gathered wildly, transforming in the blink of an eye into a gigantic, sky-covering, fiery fist!

With a deafening roar that shook the heavens and earth, Gizzas Jesus Burgess, like a lion utterly enraged, tensed every muscle in his body to its limit! Every muscle bulged high, hard as iron, containing boundless power; every vein bulged out like a writhing dragon, as if it would break free from the thin skin binding it at any moment and burst forth!

In that instant, everyone present stared at him in astonishment. His already wide eyes now bulged like giant copper bells, the eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets. Moreover, his eyes were blazing with fury, the flames so intense that they seemed capable of burning everything in sight to ashes!

As his furious roar erupted, an intensely hot stream of air suddenly spewed from his open mouth. This breath was as scalding as magma flowing from the depths of the earth, scorching and distorting the surrounding air as it passed, emitting a hissing sound, as if it were about to ignite at any moment. In the blink of an eye, his entire body was completely enveloped in a surging, raging inferno.

The flames possessed an eerie yet dazzling crimson hue, leaping and flickering incessantly, as if rising from the deepest abyss of hell, carrying terrifying power capable of incinerating everything in the world. The flames danced wildly, sometimes transforming into ferocious and terrifying beasts baring their fangs and claws, and sometimes soaring like a graceful and agile phoenix, inspiring awe in all who beheld them.

Then, he gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, every muscle in his body tensed to the limit, and with all his might, slowly raised the enormous fist, now burning with hellfire, above his head. The fist was enormous, wreathed in raging flames, looking like a miniature sun, radiating a terrifyingly high temperature and oppressive aura.

Then, without hesitation, he swung his arm and smashed it down on Jack the Drought with an overwhelming force. This punch carried boundless power and uncontrollable rage, its power was simply unbelievable, as if it could easily tear through the void and turn any obstacle that dared to stand in its way into dust.

In an instant, a deafening roar resounded, as if the entire world trembled. The air seemed to ignite, crackling and popping like countless thunderclaps exploding simultaneously. At the same time, the surrounding temperature soared, and the scorching heatwave, like a ferocious beast, opened its blood-red maw, revealing its hideous fangs, and swept outwards in all directions.

Wherever this scorching heatwave passed, neither lush green vegetation nor hard, cold rocks offered any resistance. The vegetation withered and died instantly, turning into piles of black ash; the solid rocks melted rapidly, flowing into pools of molten lava. Even the solid ground beneath their feet could not withstand such terrifying heat, scorching black and revealing deep, crisscrossing cracks, as if the land had suffered an apocalyptic catastrophe.

Upon seeing Jack the Drought's face turned deathly pale. His pupils contracted to pinpoints, a surge of shock and fear washing over him. This attack was all too familiar to him! He recalled the past, when Kaido, the Beasts Pirates, commanded his mighty army, sweeping across the Four Seas, invincible in every way. And they, like a surging tide, repeatedly clashed with the renowned Four Seas Might-Shaker Whitebeard Pirates.

Each encounter was a breathtaking life-or-death struggle. The two sides were locked in fierce combat, their battle cries shaking the heavens and earth. Amidst the clashing of blades, blood splattered, and severed limbs flew through the air. Now, facing Gizas Jesus Burgess's devastating attack, Jack the Drought couldn't help but recall those incredibly brutal battles of the past, and for a moment, he was at a loss. In those thrilling, horrific, and bloody battles, Jack the Drought had naturally always been at the forefront, repeatedly clashing with Ace, the man known as "Fire Fist."

Every time Jack the Drought faced Ace's terrifyingly powerful attacks, he was well aware of the immense threat and destructive power they contained. After all, his past experiences had given him a profound understanding of the power of Ace's Fire Fist, leaving him with unforgettable memories that still haunted him whenever he thought about them.

However, at this moment, when faced with Ace's fierce attacks that had once caused him so much suffering, Jack the Drought dared not slacken in the slightest. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, as if all the strength in his body had been gathered into one place. He used all his strength to unleash his trump card, just to be able to withstand this fierce and fatal blow.

But then, something unexpected happened to Jack the Drought —the power displayed by that mysterious Mythical Zoan Fruit was in no way inferior to that of Fire Fist Ace! This sudden change really surprised Jack the Drought, and a sense of horror welled up in his heart.

However, as a seasoned warrior, Jack the Drought's reaction speed was top-notch. Despite still charging forward at breakneck speed, he reacted almost instantly. Without hesitation, he imbued his weapon with a layer of unbreakable Armament Haki, then swiftly held it horizontally in front of him, forming an impenetrable barrier to try and withstand the overwhelming onslaught...