29 Is he even beatable?!
Kuina POV
After Jackson told us to retreat I ran, albeit a bit unwillingly, with Sabo and the others. We were on our way to the old man's house, where weapons and other things that might help are supposed to be hidden.
The others seem to be a bit nervous, Sabo and Wolf even more than the rest.
Honestly speaking I was a bit bewildered since Jackson never told us to retread while he fought. We always either fought or fled but we did it together…that's how things are supposed to be in a crew, aren't they?
'… not like anyone could make us retreat until now.'
I looked over to Sabo, the air around him seemed solemn and he was looking… bitter? Maybe frustrated? Guess he wanted to fight too.
'But then why did he tell me to leave so decisively?'
*Rumble*Swoooosh*
!!
I didn't have much time to dwell on my inner thoughts as the ground started to tremble and strong winds came from behind us.
We all stopped for a moment and turned around at the same time.
…
'What the hell…'
What we saw were small hills growing and rushing towards what seemed to be a person walking on the air. Another similar figure could be seen levitating next to the first one.
They then started to move, way too fast for us to follow. Whenever they collided a loud explosion like sound would be heard. Occasionally a flying sword slash would fly out, for a hundred meters, mowing down everything it came in contact with.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Holy Shoot! Run!"
Shachi and Penguin exclaimed and were ready to bold.
But I couldn't. I've never seen him like this… more like I don't see him at all since I can't follow their moves. Whenever I blink they would reappear tens, maybe even a hundred meter away from where I was looking.
This is completely different from when we fought some no-name pirates or when he sunk a few navy ships. Even the air around them would desperately try to flee whenever they clashed.
But what shocked me more than that, was the fact that someone was able to keep up with Jackson.
'He didn't even break out a sweat against a navy fleet but this… this is madness'
Thinking back to just a few moments ago, when there weren't crushed hills anywhere, or any hills at all and the ground wasn't broken and split for hundreds of meters… If it weren't for the trees being uprooted I wouldn't be able to see the damage they caused around them. I shivered.
Now it was more than understandable why he told us to retreat.
"…uina?! KUINA!!"
"Ah? Eh Sabo? What is it?"
"Stay focused and move your ass! The aftermath is likely to reach us if they move in our direction!"
I can totally understand his anxiety.
Right, I have to get away from here. What help could we possibly be to him right now anyways? It would be great if we didn't die from a stray attack or even the aftermath.
'Damn it… why is this so frustrating?!'
It really didn't feel good at all. Almost as if the place I tried to create for myself slipped right under my feet.
Sabo probably wasn't frustrated because he was told to retreat but because it was the only think he could do.
'Did he sense it with that haki-thing they mentioned?'
But just as we were about to start running again, a figure shot from behind us and blocked our way. It was…
'…a Gorilla?'
Right. The one who came with that Shiki guy was probably this gorilla… I'm not really shocked after seeing what lay behind me but what's with this gorilla?!
"Gather now! He is strong, we don't stand a chance against him in a 1 on 1 fight!"
!
'What the hell? Can he feel this guys strength or something? Is this gorilla really so strong for Sabo to get so serious?'
Little did I know that my question would soon change into 'Is this guy even beatable?!
————————————————————————
Jackson POV
"Roger!!!"
"My name is Jackson!"
"Bullshit! I would recognize your moves even after death!"
"Go recognize this, you fucker!"
I sent another flying slash attack at him but he again dodged. Our fight has been going for some time now, and we both are covered in cuts and bruises but Shiki's getting a huge advantage.
Not only does he know my moves since he fought with my father so often, he also knows about the rokushiki. That should have been obvious because I'm sure he fought against CP-agents and high ranking marines just as much.
'Urgh!'
He managed to cut my side after sealing off most paths I could have use to evade his attack. Defending wasn't possible since he positioned himself in a way that blocking would have cost me dearly.
My best shot would be abusing his incapability to use haki. So after distancing myself from him, I shot back towards the ground.
Since he always disturbed my balance and stance with his devil fruit, while we fought on ground, I used geppo to bring the fight into the air.
Sadly that wasn't a good idea either since he has more options in the air than I do not considering the fact that he probably has seen most of my air maneuvers in his past fights.
"I knew you wouldn't die so easily! Tell me Roger! How did you do it!"
"I banged your mom! That's how!"
'He has gone nuts! Why would he believe I'm roger just because of some techniques I use?! It's so irritating I can't help but cuss out at him!'
After landing on the ground I started to hurl tree trunks, boulders and parts of the ground at him.
Most of those he dodged and some he cut in half. Deciding to use this to my advantage I hurled even more projectiles, preferably big enough to completely cover his vision.
Using future sight to learn which one he would cut in half I shot towards him, hidden behind the huge boulder he would cut in half.
An opening!
Just as he defended himself I shot towards him using geppo. Holding my sword with both hands and using all the haki I could a diagonal downwards slash cut into his shoulder and went towards his torso.
!
Judging by his facial expression, this strategy was unexpected.
'Guess since he could use observation haki back then no one bothered hiding behind objects.'
His reaction was still frighteningly fast saving him from being bisected in the nick of time.
"No you won't!"
He shot backwards towards the ground, sending rocks and trees my way to hinder me from chasing.
Naturally that did little to stop me, now that he is seriously injured. Using geppo And covering my whole body in armament haki I lunged at him and managed to finally pierce his heart with a thrust.
!
Inexperience and arrogance almost caused my demise! I relaxed to soon and like a predator waiting for a chance he counterattack.
From my left shoulder downwards he almost took my whole left arm. We both shot to the ground and crashlanded with him below me. Dust around us rose and blocked us fronoutsode. My sword still piercing his heart I looked him in the eyes while he was… smiling.
"What's so funny?"
"Tell me, now at my end, your name. *cough* I mean your full name since I heard that you're called Jackson already."
"… Jackson… I am Gol D. Jackson. Son of Gol D. Roger."
"! HAAA!Hahaha! *cough* ahh! Hihahah*cough*! Boy! You're his… boy! Haha… Just know that I…*cough* don't hold grudg*cough*"
"…Yeah. You won't hold grudges for whatever,…are those your last words?"
During his last moments I could sense, how his presence is becoming less muddled and more normal. His eyes, which should be losing their light, shone once more and a wide smile found itself on his face.
"I… don't regret anything!"
Leaving this as his last words Shiki, the golden Lion departed this world.
'Leaving without regrets is more than most could hope for even if they don't realize it yet.'
After closing his still open eyes and sheathing my sword I was ready to go to Law. I'm seriously injured and need a doctor.
The dust cloud settled just in time and surprisingly we landed near Sabo, Kuina and the others. What a coincidence. Not only lucky for me it seems.
What I saw wasn't something I was expecting or whisking to see but good that I made it in time.
