Chapter 8: When Strength Fails, Words Shall Prevail

"Yo! What's the matter, you big dumb elephant? You're looking pretty rough there."

"Hahaha! That'll teach you to underestimate me! The punches of Kozuki Oden aren't something you can take lightly!"

The force of Yamato's three punches nearly made Jack vomit up his breakfast. Clutching his stomach and grimacing, he stared at Yamato with a serious expression.

"As expected of Kaido's daughter. For a little girl, you sure pack one hell of a punch. I, Jack, acknowledge you as the strongest eight-year-old girl alive!"

"Shut up! I'm a man! I am Kozuki Oden! Don't you dare mention that horned jerk to me!"

Jack's face darkened at her comment about Kaido.

"Rebellious before even hitting puberty? I can't imagine how much worse it'll get when you're older."

"Yamato! Don't make me use force. Obey and behave yourself!"

"Don't be fooled by Kozuki Oden's idiotic antics! He's no hero—certainly not a man!"

"Shut your big dumb mouth, you overgrown elephant!"

Yamato's fury ignited. To her, Kozuki Oden was a towering figure, a true man and a heroic legend. No one—not even her father, Kaido—could tarnish his name, let alone someone like Jack.

In an instant, Yamato transformed into a wolf-like beast and lunged at Jack. He dodged just in time, his eyes widening in shock.

"You actually ate that fruit? Unbelievable, Yamato! Kaido must really spoil you if he let you have such a rare Mythical Zoan."

"Shut up! I only ate it because I was starving! That horned jerk being kind to me? Don't make me laugh!"

A chill filled the air as Yamato exhaled icy breath toward Jack, who quickly evaded the attack. Using her speed, Yamato pressed her advantage, forcing Jack to remain on the defensive.

The Zoan Devil Fruits greatly enhance physical capabilities like strength and speed, transforming ordinary people into superhuman powerhouses. Jack's Mammoth Fruit amplified his raw power and durability, while Yamato's fruit—clearly tailored for agility—also granted her control over ice.

While Yamato's combat experience couldn't compare to Jack's, her relentless attacks kept him on edge. Jack grew increasingly annoyed, especially as Yamato's speed allowed her to evade and strike recklessly. Cautious not to harm Kaido's daughter too severely, he held back, making Yamato even bolder.

After another slash from Yamato's sharp claws left Jack bleeding, his patience snapped.

"RAWR!"

Boom!

Jack transformed into his mammoth form, towering over Yamato. Undeterred, she leapt forward, icy breath swirling around her. But Jack, now fully embracing his mammoth strength, didn't dodge. Taking her hit head-on, he used his trunk to catch her midair, hoisting her high above the ground.

Crash!

The floor gave way under their combined weight, sending them plummeting to the level below. As the dust settled, Jack tightened his grip on Yamato despite her ferocious struggles. Her claws tore at his trunk, but his raw strength won out.

When Yamato's resistance finally waned, she reverted to her human form, and Jack flung her onto the ground with a thud.

"Phew…" Jack returned to his human form, touching the scratches on his face with a grimace. "Great, now I might be scarred for life. What if I can't find a wife? I live off this face, you know!"

"Gasp… Huff…" Yamato lay on the floor, greedily gulping down air.

Jack stood over her, expressionless. "If you weren't Kaido's kid, I'd have strangled you to death. The 'horned jerk' you hate so much just saved your life."

"Huff… Huff…" Still defiant, Yamato glared up at Jack. "You can kill me, but I won't let you insult Kozuki Oden!"

Jack's eyebrow twitched. "If I could've killed you, I would've. You think I'd waste time arguing with a brat?"

Yamato struggled to rise, only to be swatted down again by Jack.

"You call Kozuki Oden a hero? A 'real man'? You mean the guy who thought boiling himself alive was a good idea?"

"Shut up!"

Bam!

Even with her body screaming in pain, Yamato charged at Jack again, only to be effortlessly smacked back down.

"Honestly, you're kind of cute in a way. Fighting you is fun." Jack smirked, but inside, he sighed. Yamato was beyond stubborn—a diehard Oden fangirl who wouldn't back down no matter what. Beating sense into her clearly wasn't working.

He crouched beside her, lost in thought. A hero? A real man? If fists won't work, maybe…

A lightbulb went off in Jack's mind, and he shot to his feet with a grin.

"Yamato! Stay here. I'm going to show you what a real hero and a real man look like!"

Yamato blinked in confusion as Jack ran off, only to return moments later. Ignoring her insults, he hoisted her onto his back and carried her to the mess hall.

The pirates inside were seated neatly in rows, visibly confused as Jack tossed Yamato into an empty seat and strode to the front.

"Quiet!" Jack barked, silencing the room.

Slamming a wooden board onto the table, he began:

"'The mighty warrior flows endlessly east, washing away heroes of the past. Success and failure are fleeting as the green hills remain, while sunsets blaze anew. Amongst fishermen and woodcutters with white hair on riverbanks, they laugh at life's ups and downs. With a jug of wine, they toast to ancient tales, all reduced to jest.'

Now, let me tell you about the rise and fall of empires…"

(T/N: A bit of Chinese history, I deleted some parts, but I can't delete all of it because it's important part of the story here)

-----------

+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg