Capítulo 7: Doubt and Potential
"Damn! Who is this person? Why is he blocking the way?" Jango gritted his teeth after seeing Zack's fighting like a dead person.
Zack was basically defeating his entire pirate crew at the cost of his own body.
Jango turned around and went to the boat.
'I have no choice. I have to ask them for the battle.'
While he was busy, Zack was almost on the verge of defeating the crew by himself. Although his body was full of injuries, he didn't back down even a step.
Instead, he was simply marching forward.
Splash!
It was his last swing. With that swing, the pirate fell to the ground. All of them were defeated. But, Zack knew this wasn't the end.
Thud! Thud!
Two pirates appeared in front of Zack. They were none other than Sham and Buchi. Normally, Sham would try to take his weapon but seeing his condition, he didn't do anything.
"Captain, is this really a person that took down the crew?" Sham turned around and asked.
"Don't talk much and finish him." Jango shouted.
'Damn! We took too much time. He might arrive any moment.' He wasn't worried about Zack but rather his own captain. He didn't want Kuro to attack them.
"Tch! He is a weakling." Sham snorted showing a completely different personality than his coward form. He rushed toward Zack and slashed his fingers.
The gloves he wore had claws growing out at the end. Zack swung his swords to block the claw but then they collided, he was pushed back. Of course, it wasn't because of him.
Buchi also attacked at the same time and pushed him back. Zack suddenly raised his right leg and kicked toward Sham but with his acrobatics, Sham easily dodged it.
"Heh! You are not that weak."
"Then, how about you taste this!"
"Buchi!"
Buchi retreated and both of them moved forward as they slashed at him continuously, at a very fast pace. It was their special move. Although Zack had grown stronger, he couldn't block those slashes as fast as them.
'I need speed. Move, move your hands, Zack!'
Zack screamed in his heart as he poured all of his strength just to move his hands at an extremely fast pace. As his pace increased, he eventually managed to block more but now, he started missing the slash.
Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!
Their claws colored his chest with blood while Zack started panting hard. He instantly dropped the swords and moved his fists forward without resting even a bit.
Splash! Bang! Bang!
Their claws slashed on his arm and chest while his fists punched their faces. Both of them retreated after getting punched.
"Bastard! Buchi, throw me!"
Sham's eyes turned red as he looked at Buchi and shouted. Buchi immediately lifted Sham and threw him toward Zack.
Zack had barely punched them. He didn't even get to rest when Sham suddenly appeared in front of him and slashed his chest and appeared behind Zack.
Splash!
The blood splattered on the ground.
"Zack!" Nami screamed as she rushed Zack but Sham spotted her easily. He moved his fingers as he tried to rush toward Nami. But suddenly, a bloody fist smashed his head.
Bang!
Sham flew out and collided against the side of the road. He fell to the ground and slowly raised his head.
"Y-y-you didn't fall?"
He couldn't believe that Zack was still standing. The blood was gushing out of his chest. His hands were shaking and he was barely opening his eyes.
But when he heard Sham, he thought.
'I can't fall. I finally understand. My hands feel like I can't move them after moving them so fast before. It felt like they are giving up but I still need them. My legs are trembling as they are barely supporting my body.'
'I lost too much blood. My mind is barely computing anything. And, my eyes are closing. My vision is blurred. But, this is what I was waiting for. If I stay awake if I fight…..I can improve… No, I must improve.'
"Sham! You bastard!"
Buchi screamed when he saw Zack punching Sham and rushed toward Zack. But, although his vision was blurred, he mysterious sensed Buchi's presence. He swung his body and kicked Buchi in his face.
Seeing Buchi flying, Sham immediately rushed to the bottom. He rushed in front of Jango.
"Captain, use your hypnosis on us! Give us the strength. We will defeat that bastard."
On other hand,
Zack who was barely hanging by thread was panting.
'Can I truly fight them after they get hypnotized? They will be too strong for me, right? But, I can't back off. In this world, weakness is sin. Your tears won't make any sympathize to help you.'
'That's what Zoro said. I totally agree with him. If I want to survive, if I want to have my adventure with the crew, I must get stronger.'
At this moment,
Nami and Usopp were shaking while hiding behind the rock.
"Damn it! Where are those idiots? Why haven't they arrived? Zack will die at this rate." Nami clenched her fists as she stood up.
"I am not staying behind. I am going to help him even if I am weak and a coward." Usopp also stood up as he positioned his slingshot.
"Yeah! We can't let him get hurt so much. We have to do something. I will attack with my stick while you give me a cover." Nami spoke as she gripped her stick.
She was scared. Her legs were trembling. But when she saw Zack fighting so hard just so that he can get stronger, she realized something.
She also has a dream. She wants to go out into the sea and draw a chart of this world. If he can fight like that, why can't she?
Usopp was surprised by her words. Previously, she didn't have the courage to fight them but now, she was trying to go in the front while those pirates are getting stronger.
Nami rushed toward Zack and stood beside him while holding the stick.
"What the hell are you doing here? Their strength has reached a whole new level." Zack turned to the side and shouted at Nami.
"Don't shout like that! My ears are going to fall off. Anyway, it's not like you have any chance against them alone. So, I am here to help and Usopp will give me the cover." Nami covered her ears and spoke with a carefree expression.
"Shooting Star!"
Usopp roared from behind as he shot a metallic stone that he had carried on his bag. It hit Sham who was just next to Nami. His claws would've injured her if Usopp hadn't shot.
"Damn! I need to strike." Zack took a step forward and thrust his fist. During this battle, he learned something. Whenever he exercised a lot, his body at one point gives up.
And, that's because he has the option of giving up. He can't push his body to the limits with such a mentality but right now, he doesn't have that option.
His only option is to push his body beyond the limits constantly. That's even though his arms felt like they will fall off any moment, he still continued to punch.
Bang!
His fist struck Buchi and sent him to the ground. But, he quickly got up and rushed toward Zack. After throwing a punch, Zack was having a hard time stabilizing himself.
When he saw Buchi coming toward him, he left his body into a state where he didn't even need to think to dodge it. But, he immediately saw Sham slashing his claw at Nami once again.
Although Nami said that she will fight, she wasn't strong enough to react against Sham whose strength has already expanded. And, Buchi's fist was also heading toward her.
Thud! Bang! Splash!
Zack didn't know why but at this moment, his body moved so fast that he managed to push Nami away but ended up getting punched in the face, and slash on his chest.
His legs trembled but didn't fall. He was still standing. His hands were still clenched. He was still fighting against the pain and the injuries to land another punch but in the end, he couldn't even lift his hand.
"Bastard, Die!"
Two of them immediately stepped forward and slashed their claws. But, at this moment, a sword and punch came from behind.
"Get the hell away from our friend!"
"Gomu-Gomu- Pistol"
"Three Swords Style- Onigiri!"
Bang! Splash!
Zoro slashed Buchi while Luffy punched Sham. This time, their strike was so powerful that both were not just injured but also lost their consciousness.
Zack slowly turned around and his body finally relaxed. At this moment, that option which he previously didn't have has open. His body finally fell toward the ground.
But, Luffy caught him immediately. Zack could see anger in Luffy's eyes. Seeing this, Zack smiled and spoke.
"Captain.... I think... I've gotten a little bit stronger….. I'll leave the rest to you."
It has been over a day since Kuro pirates were defeated by Straw Hat Pirates. The battle wasn't that dangerous for others but it became quite detrimental for one of their crew members.
Inside Kaya's mansion,
A young man was sleeping on the bed with bandages all over his body. Zack had been unconscious for the entire day after that battle. But, at this moment, his eyes fluttered a little as he slowly opened his eyelids.
Zack looked around and saw Zoro sleeping while laying his back on the wall.
"Oi Zoro!" Zack didn't hesitate to wake him up. He knows Zoro gets more sleep than anyone else but of course, he also trains more than anyone else.
"Oh! You are awake." It seemed like Zoro wasn't fully asleep otherwise he wouldn't have woken up with a single call.
"How long was I out for?" Zack asked as he looked at the ceiling.
"Just a day! Sleep more and you will heal faster." Zoro spoke as he closed his eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about? I feel completely normal." Zack wasn't lying. Normally, he would've felt pain after waking up but he felt an extra punch of energy flowing through his body.
"What are talking about you? Hey stop, don't take those bandages off! Your wounds were severe." Zoro saw him taking off those bandages and shouted. He stood up and rushed toward Zack but when he reached next to Zack, he was shocked.
Zack's wounds were completely healed. In fact, there wasn't even a single trace of a wound on his skin.
Creek!
"Yo, Zack, you finally woke up." Luffy entered the room and walked closer to him.
"Why the hell did you take off your bandages? Your wounds were too severe. Huh! What the hell going on? You don't seem wounded at all." Nami also entered together with Luffy and Usopp. She was shocked to see his skin completely recovered.
"Isn't that was recovery should do? I took a good nap and now, my body is healed. What's the problem with that?" Zack rolled his eyes but he was shocked as well. He thought of tasting something, so he stood up.
But when he did, he saw the world spinning in front of him and slowly fell back to the bed.
He lost his consciousness once again.
"I told him not to wake up." Nami snorted as she clenched her fist.
"I don't think he fell unconscious because of injuries. It must be the lack of nutrition. Usopp, let's go and get some food for him." Zoro looked at Zack and walked away.
"Food!" Luffy jumped up and hurriedly followed Zoro.
"You aren't getting anything. You just went out with Nami to the restaurant." Zoro pointed his index finger at Luffy and shouted.
"But, I am hungry." Luffy begged.
"Then, stay hungry till dinner." Zoro snorted as he closed the door before Luffy could come out. Although he couldn't stop Luffy, he could still tell his intention.
After half an hour, Zack regained his consciousness. He slowly raised his upper body and touched his head.
"What happened?"
"Your body lost all of its nutrition during the battle with those pirates so you didn't get enough energy to stay conscious. Eat this before Luffy breaks out of those chains." Nami pointed at the food on the table and then Luffy who was chained to the pillar.
"Nami, give me some food. I am hungry." Luffy spoke with an exhausted expression.
"You need to control your stomach or we won't be able to travel across one island. Geez! Why did he get the rubbery stomach?" Nami shouted at Luffy and sighed.
On other hand, Zack started devouring food. In less than ten minutes, he finished everything on the table.
"Food!" Luffy almost burst into tears seeing this.
"Zoro, will you come with me? I have something to ask and also test." Zack looked at Zoro and asked.
"Shouldn't you get rest first?" Nami looked at him and asked.
"Didn't I just eat?" Zack looked at her with confusion and asked.
"That's not how it works," Nami screamed but Zack and Zoro had already left.
"Nami, do you think Zack will train me?" Usopp asked from the side.
Nami turned at him and looked surprised.
"Why do you want to train with him?"
"I want to fight like him." Usopp's eyes brightened as he clenched his fist and spoke.
Nami tilted her head and asked, "But, aren't you a snipper?"
"That's not what I meant. I want to be brave like him. I want to fight without giving up. My dream is to become the Brave Warrior of the Sea. So, I want to be brave just like him." Usopp learned a lot about Zack from Luffy.
And, the more he learned about Zack, the more excited he got. He never expected Zack to be so brave. Even though he started as a weak person who would shout after punching someone, he could now take down a pirate crew by himself. And, all of this was only possible because he was brave enough to fight.
When Usopp saw Luffy using devil fruit, he found Luffy as a monster whose strength he can never rival but Zack was a completely different case for him.
Just within a few days, Zack became stronger like Luffy and Zoro. He might not be as strong as them but he was getting stronger.
"Well, if you join our crew, then he wouldn't mind training you." Nami smiled and shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.
"Alright then, I will be the Captain." Usopp said with a serious tone.
"Hey, I am the Captain." Luffy shouted from behind.
Nami chuckled seeing their reactions but soon, her mood went down.
'Can they truly defeat Arlong? Zack has been constantly hinting to me that Luffy can do it and Zack is also getting stronger on his own. But what if they can't?'
At this moment, an image appeared in her mind. It was the image of Luffy, Zoro, Zack, and Usopp dying in the hands of Arlong and his crew. She bit her lips and clenched her fist.
'No, I can't tell them.'
...…
Near the seashore,
"So, why did we come here?" Zoro looked at Zack and asked.
"When I was on the cruise ship before meeting Luffy, I got injured by the pirates. But, I healed very quickly. I am pretty sure that I haven't eaten any devil fruits. But, still, I want to test it."
"I will jump into the sea and if I won't come out after ten seconds, you need to bring me out." Zack took off his clothes and spoke.
Zoro nodded his head as Zack went to the sea. When his foot stepped on the sea, he felt nothing. Normally, he should be losing his strength. But, he didn't feel anything.
After he went deeper, he could still swim relatively easily. After a minute of swimming, he finally came out of the sea and shook his head.
"I was right. I don't have the Devil Fruit powers otherwise I would've remembered it. But, it's surprising that I can heal so quickly."
"It is indeed surprising." Zoro nodded his head. He knew just how injured Zack was. It was truly surprising to see him without any wounds in a single day.
"Can you give me your sword?" Zack asked.
Zoro suspected that Zack wanted to try his healing power and gave him one of his swords.
Splash!
Zack slashed his arm with the sword and looked at it.
One hour later,
"Nothing is happening. It means I don't have powerful healing abilities but rather something that boosts my natural healing. It could be my natural talent." Zack spoke after looking at the wound.
It was still there. Although blood has clogged, the wound was still there.
"Anyway, that's a good thing. You can continuously surpass your limits and get stronger." Zoro smiled as he put his sword back.
"Something has been bothering me about that. Although I felt I had gotten stronger yesterday, I don't feel the same way today. Why is that?" Zack was truly surprised by his own feeling.
Yesterday, he felt like he could easily take down Kuro's crew after breaking the limit of his body. But today after getting healed, he couldn't find that strength anymore.
"It's good that you realized it on your own." Zoro smiled and replied.
Suddenly, Zack's eyes narrowed as he began to remember something that Zoro said after his battle in Alabasta but he didn't think too much and let Zoro explain.
"Whenever we break our limit during life and death battle, our body doesn't get stronger. Instead, it increases the potential of your body. Take a rubber for example."
"If you stretch rubber for only five inches, then its potential will only be five inches. But, if you take a risk to stretch it to seven inches, then its potential will increase to seven inches."
"Now, you don't need to take the risk to stretch it to seven inches. It can easily be stretched if you try it. But, the risk is tearing the rubber apart. In short, you have stretched your potential and with training, you can easily access that strength."
"But...."
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