PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

Boom!

Jack's colossal frame, like a moving mountain, barreled toward Luo Yu with earthshaking momentum.

The sheer force of his charge shattered the solid bedrock beneath his feet, rupturing the earth with every thunderous step.

All around the battlefield, the tension skyrocketed.

Every pirate present—whether ally or onlooker—held their breath.

This was a clash between eras.

Would the newly-risen Admiral Luo Yu prove superior? Or would the old guard, the infamous Jack the Drought with his ten-billion-berie bounty, crush this upstart like all the rest?

Boom!

Just seven or eight meters from Luo Yu, Jack stomped down hard.

The force behind that step alone cracked the ground into a spiderweb of fissures.

His twin scimitars, forged for massacre, were now coated with his full weight as they arced downward with destructive force.

The speed and power in that one strike twisted the very air around it.

Yet—Luo Yu didn't move.

He just stood there, completely still.

After all, when he'd captured Flying Six member Sasaki to use as bait, Luo Yu had already anticipated this moment.

A direct clash with one of the Three Disasters.

Now was the time to test that bold, outrageous theory he'd been toying with.

BOOM!!!

Jack's blade met resistance—but not flesh.

The Thousand-Hand Guanyin emerged again, its golden sheen illuminating Luo Yu's figure as it intercepted the mighty blow.

The crashing sound that followed echoed across the heavens, a booming thunderclap of steel, will, and brute force.

The golden shield formed by the Guanyin dented inward, but held.

The shockwave exploded outward like a hurricane, ripping up the battlefield.

Luo Yu frowned slightly.

"So... his strength doesn't match that of Whitebeard in his twilight years."

Good.

That meant the next phase of his strategy might work.

"Brat, Jack-sama already knows all your tricks," Ulti called out from a hundred meters away, a wicked grin curling her lips.

"If you think you can just turtle up behind those fancy spirit shields, you're deluding yourself!"

Buzz—

Black lightning surged across Jack's blades.

He was now using Armament Haki.

This time, his full strength was unleashed.

The crowd of pirates stiffened.

Even without Haki, Jack's previous strike had dented Luo Yu's defense.

Now, with full Haki reinforcement, the destructive power must have doubled, if not more.

"Let's see how long you can stay standing—Mammoth Slam!!" Jack roared.

The massive twin blades came crashing down once again.

In that instant, Luo Yu finally responded.

BOOM!

An overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Luo Yu's body like a typhoon, colliding head-on with Jack's descending weapon.

Arcs of black lightning—the telltale sign of top-tier Haki—sputtered across the battlefield.

And in that clash of pure dominance—

Jack's strike was halted.

The sheer force of the collision kept him locked in place.

Yet everyone could see it—Jack's raw physical strength was still pushing forward, steadily pressing the defense to its limit.

But just as the tension peaked...

The Guanyin around Luo Yu suddenly shifted hue, turning deep crimson.

Its thousand fists roared to life, eyes blazing.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM—!!!

Thousands of phantom fists exploded out from Luo Yu's body, crashing into Jack like a torrential storm.

The rhythm of the blows was deafening—like raindrops smashing into a forest at full tilt.

Luo Yu's Conqueror's Haki erupted once more, overlaying the attacks with even more force.

BOOM!!!

Sand and rock lifted into the air as Jack's enormous form was blasted backward.

His massive frame—nearly eight meters tall—was sent hurtling through the air, crashing into rubble hundreds of meters away.

Stone and debris exploded skyward like cannon fire.

The impact shook the ground violently, as if the very island groaned beneath the weight of the clash.

In the distance, hundreds of pirates who had come with Jack gasped in horror.

Even Ulti's smug smile faltered.

She had studied Luo Yu's powers thoroughly.

She knew most couldn't match up against him—but Jack was different.

Jack was built like a living tank. A fortress of muscle and endurance. His defensive capabilities were second only to Kaido himself.

All they needed was for him to withstand Luo Yu's barrage.

And victory would be theirs.

Thud…

A deep, echoing footstep rang out from the rubble.

Everyone turned, tense.

From the dust and ruin, a mammoth-like form emerged.

Jack—now in full Mammoth Zoan form—walked forth.

Not a scratch on him.

Ulti's joy returned in full force.

"Haha! So this is the so-called new admiral?" she laughed.

"All bark, no bite. Compared to the old three admirals, you're miles behind."

"That barrage was just tickling Jack-sama!"

"If you can't even cut through his hide, then this fight is as good as over!"

She sneered viciously.

"Give up, brat. I already know all your tricks—your conjured beasts, your falling sky techniques. None of it matters."

Jack, in his Mammoth form, stomped forward with terrifying force.

"Compared to Kaido-sama, your fancy magic tricks are nothing," he rumbled.

"I was going to bring you back in one piece, but now… I'll beat you into submission first."

On the sidelines, Smoker and Ain's faces turned grim.

They had followed Luo Yu long enough to know—he never took things lightly.

And yet now…

Against Jack, he seemed to be meeting resistance.

Even Tashigi, cigarette clamped in her mouth, flexed her gloved hands and murmured, "Everyone… prepare yourselves. We may need to assist Admiral Luo Yu at any moment."

Smoker and Ain nodded in solemn agreement.

But just as they braced themselves—

Luo Yu lifted his flask, took another swig, and gave a relaxed, lopsided smile.

"I didn't expect you to be so confident," he said casually.

"But now I'm curious…"

"What if—I throw everything I've got at you… all at once?"

Everyone blinked.

Even his allies looked confused.

All at once?

Who the hell did that?

Big attacks were supposed to be used one at a time, spaced out with precision and timing.

What kind of lunatic dropped every trump card at once?

It sounded suicidal.

Ulti forced a mocking smile, scoffing loudly, "Big words for someone who hasn't even broken through Jack-sama's fur."

"I'd love to see how you plan to—"

SMACK!

She slapped herself in the face.

Mid-sentence.

The words died on her lips as she stared wide-eyed at the battlefield.

Centered on Luo Yu, the air suddenly shifted.

A terrifying pressure blanketed the entire area.

Like a sleeping god had suddenly opened its eyes.

The very atmosphere twisted with the unnatural energy he was emitting.

Ulti's heart sank.

There was only one thought in her mind now—

"Oh crap… this bastard doesn't play fair at all!"