I Don't Negotiate

Time seemed to stretch as the battle raged on, neither side yielding an inch. The sounds of clashing fists and swords filled the air, punctuated by the occasional roar of flames and the howl of the wind.

Raze, his energy spent, could only watch in disbelief as Bloodbeard fell. His flames flickered and died, leaving him defenseless against Jack's onslaught. A final Hurricane Uppercut sent Raze sprawling, defeated.

Voss's eyes narrowed, his calculating mind already working on the next move. But Jack's eyes met his, a knowing smile on his lips. The battle was won.

Bloodbeard's devil fruit was tricky. He could separate any body part into smaller parts, making it almost impossible to injure him. The fruit was like a bug, with each piece acting on its own volition. Jack had thought of tying the pirate down, but even that would not result in anything substantial. After an arduous combo that left Bloodbeard momentarily stunned, Jack saw his opportunity and grabbed Bloodbeard's head, his hand becoming a life-sucking black hole as he activated the Bodily Refinement Bead's ability to absorb the lifeforce of his opponents. While Jack rarely resorted to this method, preferring to keep his foes alive for their full bounty, Bloodbeard left him no other choice.

Bloodbeard's eyes widened with terror as he felt his life force being drawn out, his strength waning. His body began to tremble, the pieces that had once moved so fluidly now stuttering and faltering.

"You... what are you doing to me?" Bloodbeard stammered, his voice filled with panic and confusion.

Jack's face remained calm, his eyes a raging deep blue, reflecting the storm within. "Ending this," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

Bloodbeard's twisted smile turned into a grimace of pain. "You can't... I won't let you..." he spat, his body parts struggling to move, but the life-sucking force was too strong.

"You don't have a choice," Jack said coldly, his grip tightening as he continued to drain Bloodbeard's life.

The pirate captain's eyes filled with desperation and disbelief as he felt his body weakening, the pieces falling to the ground, unable to move. "You won't get away with this... The Crimson Tides will avenge me..." he rasped, his voice growing weaker.

Jack's eyes never wavered, the deep blue never softening. "Your crew is defeated. You're done, Bloodbeard."

Bloodbeard's body continued to twitch and writhe, the segments coming apart as the life force was drained from them. His eyes, once filled with arrogance and malice, now showed only fear and defeat.

"You're a monster..." he whispered, the accusation in his voice barely audible.

Bloodbeard's voice trembled with desperation, a wild look in his eyes as he clung to his last hope. "I am under Whitebeard!" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper.

Jack's hand faltered momentarily, his eyes widening just a fraction as he looked at the pirate. "Whitebeard?" he asked, his voice a measured, emotionless tone that belied the curiosity in his eyes.

Bloodbeard's head bobbed in a desperate nod, his voice gaining a faint edge of hope. "Whitebeard sent me to protect Fishman Island," he said, his words coming out in gasps.

Jack's hand tightened, his eyes narrowing as he pressed, "And you were doing all this evil?" Although he didn't know if Bloodbeard and his crew had committed any atrocities, their alarm-triggering entrance and their haughty behavior were clear indicators that they were up to no good.

Bloodbeard's eyes filled with a combination of fear and shame, his voice breaking as he begged, "I was wrong. I came to help them, but my greed won. I just wanted to kidnap a few mermaids. Please let me go."

Jack's grip became almost crushing, his hand continuing to absorb Bloodbeard's lifeforce. His eyes, a tempestuous deep blue, were unwavering. "You call that protection? Kidnapping mermaids? You're a disgrace," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

Bloodbeard's face twisted in pain, his voice a pitiful whimper as he spat, "Whitebeard will never let you go."

Jack's eyes flashed, his voice resounding through the opening. "If he avenges a scum like you, that means he is a scum too."

The declaration reverberated through the air, reaching the ears of the hiding Fishmen. Their fear mingled with a newfound respect for Jack, his unwavering stance against the notorious Bloodbeard giving them a glimmer of hope.

Bloodbeard's body trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You dare defy Whitebeard? You know not what you're doing, boy!"

Jack's eyes glinted, his voice icy. "I never claimed to be righteous. But I know wrong when I see it. And you, Bloodbeard, are wrong."

Bloodbeard's body continued to wither, his voice growing fainter. "You will regret this... Whitebeard will come for you... and you won't stand a chance..."

Jack's eyes remained unflinching, his voice calm yet final. "Then let him come. I'm not afraid."

Bloodbeard's eyes glazed over, his body going limp as the last of his life force was drained. His final words were a choked whisper, filled with a mix of regret and defiance. "You'll see... Whitebeard... will avenge... me..."

With that, the pirate captain's body fell to the ground, lifeless and broken. Jack's hand released its grip, his body relaxing as he looked down at the fallen foe. His face was calm, but his eyes held a flicker of satisfaction.

One by one, he grabbed the other pirates, his hand clamping down on their necks as he absorbed their lifeforce, each feeling the cold, unstoppable drain of Jack's power. The scene was macabre, a ruthless bounty hunter treating his prey as nothing more than sustenance. The Fishmen watched in awe and horror, their previous captors now falling like dominos before this powerful stranger.

"Who the hell are you?" one pirate stammered, his voice dripping with terror as he watched his comrades collapse, lifeless.

Jack simply smirked, his eyes that tempestuous deep blue. "The man who's sending a message," he replied coolly, his tone almost mocking.

Another pirate, bolder or perhaps just more desperate than the rest, lunged at Jack with a dagger. Jack side-stepped effortlessly, catching the pirate's wrist and twisting. The pirate screamed in pain, dropping the dagger, his eyes meeting Jack's stormy gaze.

"You humans... you come here thinking you can just take what you want," Jack said, his voice low and dangerous. "Fishman Island is not your playground."

The pirate tried to break free, but Jack's grip was like iron. "Please! Spare me!" the pirate begged, tears streaming down his face.

"Why should I?" Jack responded, his voice cold.

The pirate hesitated, his mind racing. "I can give you information! About other pirates! About treasures!" he stammered, desperation evident in his voice.

Jack's eyes narrowed, considering. Then, in one swift motion, he drained the pirate's lifeforce, leaving the man to crumple to the ground. "I don't negotiate with scums," Jack stated simply, his tone flat.

----

Read 45(15 chapters for each novel) advanced chapters in my Patreon!

patreon.com/IWriteFanfic