Tashigi's Swallow Return (4/5)

Clatter!

Onboard one of the pirate ships, a mass of arms appeared suddenly, sprouting in all directions like vines taking over a forest. These arms twisted and merged, forming a colossal limb—a towering hand reaching toward the heavens.

It came crashing down toward the pirate ship where Jack stood.

"Armament Haki!"

Robin's voice rang out as she commanded the hand. Instantly, countless smaller arms along the massive limb were cloaked in jet-black Armament Haki, melding into one solid entity.

"WHAT?!"

"Oh no! Boss Jack, save us!"

"Crush it!"

Panic spread like wildfire among the pirates on Jack's flagship as they scrambled in terror.

"Afraid of this?!" Jack roared defiantly, unfazed. He pulled out two massive scythes and bellowed, "Armament Haki!"

A dark sheen erupted from his arms, swiftly coating the twin blades.

"Mammoth Slash!"

With a powerful shout, Jack crossed the scythes upward, clashing them with the enormous hand. The impact was immediate and violent—a force like a mountain crashing down from the sky!

Jack felt the immense weight through his blades as his knees buckled. The strength transferred through his legs, forcing the steel deck beneath him to groan and warp. Twin craters formed where he stood, and the ship teetered, the bow dipping dangerously low as the stern shot upward.

The entire ship rocked, nearly capsizing.

Boom!

The stern slammed back down into the sea, sending the pirates sprawling across the deck.

"It didn't take him down completely? What immense power," Robin muttered, her eyes widening in surprise.

Finn chuckled beside her. "He's an ancient Zoan Devil Fruit user. His physical strength is formidable. Even one of the Four Emperors would struggle to take him out in one hit. You did well."

Zoan Devil Fruits were known for their sheer physical power, especially the ancient varieties. For someone like Jack, whose fruit had likely awakened, his stamina and strength were leagues above the norm. He was a tank in every sense—a juggernaut who could outlast nearly any opponent.

Robin, however, pursed her lips in frustration. "I'll try again."

Finn didn't stop her, smiling indulgently. "Go ahead. Practice makes perfect."

With renewed determination, Robin crossed her arms once more. "Colossal Colors: Great Tree Strike!"

Once again, a massive hand formed from countless arms, this time even larger, and it swung down toward Jack's ship. The hand, wrapped in Armament Haki, aimed to crush the pirate ship beneath its weight.

"This time, your ship's going under!" Robin declared, her eyes flashing with victory.

Seeing the attack, Jack leapt into the air, roaring defiantly. "Smart, but not enough!"

Jack had learned from the previous blow. By leaving the deck and taking to the air, he spared his ship from the brunt of Robin's attack. When her massive hand connected with the deck, the ship only shuddered slightly.

Landing back on the deck with a heavy thud, Jack sneered. "That the best you got?" he growled.

Robin stamped her foot, visibly frustrated. "Ugh! He's impossible!"

Tashigi, standing nearby, spoke up. "Master, let me handle him."

Finn nodded. "Go ahead."

Clang!

Tashigi's sword, the Little Night Rain, flashed from its sheath. A beam of sword energy shot across the sea and sky, heading straight for Jack.

"Another swordsman?" Jack grunted, crossing his scythes to block the incoming strike. But as the sword energy connected, Jack's arms shook violently, nearly giving way under the pressure.

"She's incredible," Robin muttered in awe.

Seeing Jack faltering, he suddenly bellowed, "Half-Mammoth form!" His muscles bulged grotesquely, doubling in size. With newfound strength, he roared and pushed the sword energy skyward, where it vanished into the clouds.

"Finn! I'm coming for you next!" Jack yelled as he launched himself into the air, headed toward Finn's ship. "Your little crew can't stop me!"

"Bold beast! You think you can touch my master? In your dreams!" Tashigi shouted, leaping gracefully into the air to intercept him.

The night sky was filled with the sound of clashing steel as Tashigi's sword rained down blows on Jack. Her blade was like a storm of deadly rain, relentless and precise.

Jack, grinning savagely, fought back with both his scythes and the mammoth tusks that had sprouted from his form. His movements were slower, but he made up for it with the sheer volume of his attacks. Four blades clashed against Tashigi's single sword, forcing her back step by step.

The two were locked in a stalemate, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Will Tashigi win?" Robin asked, her voice uncertain.

Finn smiled. "Tashigi will win, but... Jack won't lose either."

Robin frowned in confusion. "What does that even mean?"

"Watch," Finn said, pointing. "Tashigi's about to make her move."

At that moment, Tashigi shifted her stance, stepping back slightly. She held the hilt of her sword in both hands, the blade resting lightly against her cheek. An elegant aura of swordsmanship spread out around her, covering the sea for hundreds of meters.

"Abstruse Truth: Yanhui."

In a soft whisper, Tashigi launched her attack.

It looked like a single slash, but in truth, three slashes struck from different directions at once—defying space and time in a seamless, multidimensional assault.

Jack, for the first time, hesitated. He couldn't find the angle to block all three strikes at once.

In his moment of indecision, Tashigi's sword struck.

Puchi!

Jack managed to block two strikes, but the third cut deep into his chest. Blood spurted into the air as Jack staggered, his monstrous strength failing him for the first time.

"Impossible..." Jack gasped, as his blood splattered across the deck.