Chapter 35:The Price of Arrogance

The sea breeze carried the silence of Jason's thoughts as his small boat sliced through the waters, heading toward Sabaody Archipelago. His grip on the helm was tight, and his eyes stared blankly at the horizon. Every detail of the last few days replayed in his mind, searing themselves into his consciousness. Fisher Tiger's bloodied body, the betrayal of the villagers, the sudden ambush by the marines—each event added weight to the once-idealistic boy's heart.

Jason was changing. He wasn't the naïve youth anymore, the boy who wanted to save everyone, the one who believed he could change the world just by being righteous. The cruelty of the world had started to crack his innocence. The harsh reality of being in a place like the One Piece world had begun to sink in. This isn't just an anime. It's my life now, he realized bitterly. He had been arrogant, thinking he could handle whatever came his way. After all, in his mind, he had control—he was aware of the events that should unfold. But the betrayal by Koala's mother and the villagers had shattered that illusion. He hadn't accounted for the "butterfly effect"—the way his very presence could alter the events of this world.

In the original story, only Rear Admiral Strawberry led the marine assault on Fisher Tiger. But because Jason had joined, they sent a much stronger force—a Vice Admiral. Fisher Tiger died because Jason had been careless. He hadn't used his Observation Haki to sense the danger in time, thinking he could just rely on his strength. His face twisted with self-loathing. You were too weak, he told himself. Too careless.

Jason had no intention of letting this lesson go to waste. No more playing hero, he resolved. He wouldn't save people just because it was the right thing to do. He would protect those he cared about, those close to him. But he was done trying to save the world. The pain of betrayal had cut deep, and he no longer trusted anyone outside his own circle. His crew, his family—they were the only ones that mattered now. Everyone else would have to fend for themselves, unless helping them served his own goals.

Koala sat silently near the bow of the boat, tears still streaking her face. Her body was curled in, hugging her knees to her chest, staring blankly at the ocean. Jason glanced at her, the sight of her heartbreak stirring his emotions. He had come to care for Koala during their journey, treating her like a little sister. Seeing her torn apart by her mother's betrayal mirrored his own feelings. But the old Jason, the one who wanted to console her and promise her everything would be okay, was gone. Instead, he silently swore to protect her, not out of blind compassion, but because she was now part of his world—a world he would guard viciously.

The sun dipped low in the sky as Sabaody Archipelago came into view on the horizon. Jason's thoughts drifted back to the impending storm. The marines won't let this slide. His actions had consequences. He knew now that in this world, strength was the only language that mattered. Luffy had to learn that lesson when he lost his brother Ace, and Jason realized now he was walking a similar path. He needed more power, more control, if he was to survive in this ruthless world. His Haki had awakened to a new level during the fight. His Conqueror's Haki, once dormant, had exploded from him when Fisher Tiger fell. He knew now that his potential was far greater than he had originally thought. But potential alone wasn't enough.

Meanwhile, in Marineford, the heart of the marine headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at his desk, deep in thought. His eyes flickered with frustration as he considered the report he had just received. His desk snail began to ring, snapping him out of his thoughts. Picking it up, he growled, "Report."

"Fleet Admiral, the ambush team has failed," came the voice of the marine lieutenant on the other end. Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean failed?"

"The Vice Admiral and the two Rear Admirals… they're all dead, sir. Only one survivor, Rear Admiral Strawberry."

Sengoku's face contorted with shock and fury. How could this happen? He had sent a force strong enough to crush any normal pirate. "Put Strawberry on the line!" he barked, his voice rising in intensity.

After a moment, the weak voice of Rear Admiral Strawberry came through the snail. "Yes, Fleet Admiral," he rasped.

Sengoku wasted no time. "What happened out there?"

Strawberry recounted the event in a weak and pained voice, describing how they had ambushed Jason and Fisher Tiger, only for Jason to unleash a powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki, turning the tide of the battle. "The kid… Phantom Blade… he's far stronger than we thought. He even coated his blade in Conqueror's Haki. Fisher Tiger didn't stand a chance against us, but that boy… he slaughtered the entire team."

Sengoku listened in silence, his rage simmering just beneath the surface. This was a disaster. Not only had they failed to capture Jason and Fisher Tiger, but they had also lost two Rear Admirals and a Vice Admiral. The World Government wouldn't be pleased.

"We can't let this go unpunished," Sengoku muttered, his mind already turning to damage control. "We need to increase Jason's bounty. Send out the news: Fisher Tiger is dead, killed by Rear Admiral Strawberry. But make sure they know that Phantom Blade Jason is on the run. Increase his bounty to 1.5 billion berries."

As Sengoku gave the order, he knew that the world's attention would soon be focused on Jason. The headlines would be filled with reports of Fisher Tiger's death and Jason's escape. But in the shadows of that story, Jason's power would grow, his reputation would rise, and the marines would be watching his every move.

At the headquarters of the World Economic Journal, Morgans, the news mogul, tapped his beak with one finger as he scanned through the marine's report. A grin spread across his face. "Fisher Tiger, dead at the hands of the marines, huh? And a boy named Phantom Blade running for his life? What a story…"

Morgans scribbled a headline in bold: "Criminal of the Sea: Fisher Tiger Killed by Rear Admiral Strawberry! Phantom Blade Runs for His Life!" Beneath that, he added a subheading: New Bounty of 1.5 Billion Berries on the Young Pirate Phantom Blade!

As the newspaper went to press, the gears of the world began to turn. Jason, once just a boy in search of adventure, was now a wanted man with a massive bounty on his head. His journey had taken a darker turn, and the consequences of his actions would shape the course of his life from now on.

The young pirate, hardened by betrayal and loss, sailed toward Sabaody Archipelago with Koala by his side, leaving behind the naivety that had once defined him. From now on, it's my world. And I'll shape it to protect what's mine.