Chapter 4: Want to Live Long? Mind Your Own Business

Jack was still dazed, trying to process what was happening, while King had already bolted up to the deck.

"Pick up the pace and follow them!" King barked.

As the two ships drew closer, both sides exchanged a "friendly" greeting of cannon fire.

The incoming cannonballs screamed through the air, but King leaped up, slicing and smashing them apart mid-flight with bare fists and sword strikes. Not a single shot landed on their ship.

The enemy, however, also seemed to have an ace. Jack spotted a man casually draw a longsword. With a few swift swings, the cannonballs exploded in midair before reaching his ship.

"Jack! Stay sharp!" King warned, his gaze fixed on the swordsman across the way. "This Mosbic fellow seems competent. I might not be able to cover you. Watch your back!"

"And if anything goes wrong, stick to the plan we discussed!"

"Got it!" Jack nodded, his confidence unwavering. "I can handle myself!"

With that, the two ships collided violently. As the decks rocked and the impact settled, King launched himself toward the enemy ship in one fluid motion.

"Move it, you scoundrels! Attack!" Jack roared, following close behind.

The moment a pirate lackey swung his weapon at him, Jack shifted into his mammoth form. His enormous ivory tusks, sharp and deadly like spears, impaled the attacker, lifting him into the air before hurling the limp body into the enemy ranks.

Boom!

The unfortunate pirate's body crashed into the crowd, taking down several others in the chaos.

"An animal-type Devil Fruit user! Shoot him! Take him down!"

"Move aside! Fire, now!"

The enemy pirates frantically aimed their guns at Jack, while members of the Beasts Pirates scrambled for cover, some even hiding behind Jack's massive frame.

Bang! Bang!

Bullets peppered Jack's thick hide but bounced off harmlessly, clinking to the deck like stones striking steel. Though he felt the faint sting of impact, it only fueled his rage.

Eyes glowing red, Jack charged into the mob, his trunk swinging like a colossal whip. Wherever it struck, men were sent flying like rag dolls.

Bang! Bang!

In the midst of the chaos, the Beasts Pirates retaliated, firing their flintlocks without much care for accuracy. Some bullets even grazed Jack, eliciting a yelp of pain and an annoyed glare.

"Watch where you're aiming, idiots!" Jack growled, shifting his bulk to another part of the deck.

For the ordinary pirates of the Mosbic Crew, seasoned though they might be, Jack in his mammoth form was an unstoppable force. His sheer size and power overwhelmed them, one swing of his trunk clearing swathes of enemies.

Meanwhile, King clashed with Mosbic. Sparks flew as their weapons met in a rapid flurry of strikes.

"Damn it!" Mosbic spat, deflecting yet another attack. His frustration mounted as he noticed his crew being decimated. "That blasted elephant!"

His fury turned to Jack, whose massive form was impossible to miss amidst the chaos.

With his crew nearly wiped out, Mosbic knew he had to act. But King didn't give him the chance.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Seeing Mosbic holding his own, King's eyes narrowed. Without a word, he shifted into his pteranodon form, soaring high above the deck.

King dove from the sky, wings spread wide as he launched a relentless barrage of wing slashes. Mosbic crossed his sword defensively over his chest, bracing for impact.

Boom!

The flurry of strikes rained down like a hurricane, and despite his best efforts, Mosbic was sent flying across the deck, landing with a sickening thud near Jack.

Returning to his humanoid form, King glanced at the few remaining enemy pirates still putting up resistance.

"Flame!"

With a wave of his hand, a volley of fire engulfed the stragglers, leaving them writhing on the deck.

"Search the ship for loot and toss these fools overboard to feed the fish!" King commanded before turning back to their own vessel.

Jack snorted, slowly trudging back toward the ship in his mammoth form to ensure no one was playing dead.

But just as he was about to leave, Mosbic, who had been presumed dead, suddenly opened his eyes. With a feral snarl, he lunged at Jack, sword in hand, plunging it deep into his flank.

"Argh!" Jack let out a guttural roar.

"Die, you monster!" Mosbic laughed maniacally, pulling his sword back for another strike.

But his glee was short-lived. Jack, in an unintentional but poetic act of retaliation, collapsed onto Mosbic, crushing him under his massive weight.

Thud!

Silence followed.

"Uh… Jack-sama?" A trembling pirate approached cautiously. "You… uh… okay?"

"Pain! Damn it, that hurts!" Jack bellowed, glaring at the smushed remains of Mosbic.

"Don't worry, Jack-sama! I'll, uh, help pull it out. Just hold still!"

Grimacing, Jack shifted back into his human form and trudged back aboard their ship, hand clamped over his wounded rear.

"Jack," King called, raising an eyebrow at his unsteady gait. "You alright?"

"I'm fine!" Jack replied through gritted teeth.

"But… your butt's bleeding."

"That's not blood—it's enemy blood!" Jack snapped, deflecting the comment.

"Why don't you shift to human form so I can—"

"King, have you ever heard the secret to a long life?" Jack interrupted, deadpan.

"…What is it?"

"Mind your own business."

King watched in bemusement as Jack limped into the cabin, muttering under his breath.

"Well, would you look at that," King said to himself, turning away. "Jack's finally learned what it means to feel embarrassed."

Behind closed doors, Jack collapsed onto his bed, groaning in pain.

"Congratulations, host! Mission accomplished!"

Jack blinked as text appeared before his eyes, accompanied by a mechanical voice.

"Your performance has been rated as Excellent. Select your reward from the following options:

1)A legendary sword from the 21 Great Grade Blades.

2)Swordsmanship level +1.

3)100,000 Belly.

4)Strength +3.

5)Agility +3."

Before Jack could process the absurdity of the situation, the text transformed into five glowing chests. Instinctively, he reached out to one.

Flash!

"Congratulations! You've obtained a bonus reward: Swordsmanship level +1."

In an instant, knowledge of swordsmanship flooded Jack's mind.

"Wait, shouldn't there have been a beginner's gift package or something? And why am I only drawing rewards now?!" Jack grumbled, clutching his aching side.

"Well, at least I didn't draw 100,000 Belly. This stab wound better have been worth it!"