Despite the creature's fierce and grand exterior, it didn't roar or exhibit any form of aggression as Jack neared. Instead, the dragon's gaze was locked onto him, its eyes widening as it felt the tempest of emotions storming within the man. Even in its weakened state, the creature was keenly attuned to the feelings of those around it.
Braving the beast, Jack stepped forward and gently touched the dragon's nose. The warmth of the scales against his skin was a stark contrast to the coldness of the chamber.
Lysa felt her breath catch in her throat. The dragon, though it could incinerate Jack with a single fiery breath, seemed to acknowledge his presence, showing no aggression. There was a palpable energy exchange between man and beast—an understanding.
The dragon, with its grandeur and magnificence, looked ferocious and terrifying to any onlooker. Yet, Jack, with his heightened sense of Observation Haki, perceived something beyond the veneer of this majestic creature's might. It wasn't the strength of the beast that resonated with him, but the underlying anguish it harbored. The dragon's aura echoed feelings of subjugation, confinement, and violation.
The pain emanating from the creature seemed to mirror Jack's own anger—not towards it, but on its behalf. His Observation Haki allowed him to tune into feelings and perceptions beyond the ordinary. This sense extended even to animals, affording Jack a unique level of understanding and empathy.
In the dragon's eyes, Jack saw a reflection of its tortured existence on the island. Captured, subjected to relentless experiments, and dissected for arcane research purposes. Its grand form, now chained and probed, was a mere husk of its former glory. Yet, the creature's spirit remained undiminished. It was determined to maintain its dignity, holding its head high, even in the face of impending doom. But, sensing Jack's rage for its plight, it seemed to falter in its conviction.
It was an experience unlike any other. Throughout its time on this island, the dragon had encountered humans who either sought to exploit it or ran in fear from its might. Not once had it come across a human who felt anger and sorrow for its suffering.
Lysa watched in awe as the scene unfolded before her. The dragon, an embodiment of power and majesty, seemed to recognize something in Jack, a connection forged through shared rage and empathy.
"Are you alright?" she whispered to Jack, concern evident in her voice.
Jack's stormy eyes met hers. "This creature... It's been subjected to things no living being should endure," he replied, his voice cold as steel.
Lysa nodded, understandingly. "We need to free it, but also, we must continue our search for the children."
Jack shook his head, casting his eyes upon the magnificent dragon before him. "If we free it now, it won't survive long enough to flee this cursed island." His voice was low, laced with an uncharacteristic hint of sadness.
Lysa looked around the expansive chamber, her eyes darting from one container to the next. The numerous bizarre and mutated creatures, floating lifelessly within their respective chambers, gave the entire room an eerie atmosphere. Their life forces felt weak, barely flickering, and a realization hit her.
She whispered, "They're draining the dragon to create these... aberrations." Her voice was a mix of horror and disgust.
Suddenly, an intense, overpowering energy emanated from Jack. It was so potent that both Lysa and the dragon shivered involuntarily. The mighty beast, despite its size and power, felt a deep-rooted fear. For a moment, it felt as if it was not facing a man, but an unfathomable force of nature.
In the next heartbeat, a profound transformation began in the chamber. All the creatures within their respective containers began to disintegrate, turning to dust in mere seconds. To any onlooker, it appeared as if the life essence of every creature was being forcibly extracted, leaving behind only lifeless husks. But to Jack, streams of vitality flowed towards him, visible only through his enhanced senses.
He focused, gathering the streaming energy, converging it into his hand. A swirling, radiant orb of pure vitality took form, its glow illuminating the vast chamber. Jack took a deep breath, approached the chained dragon, and with deliberate intent, pressed the orb against its chest, right over its heart.
The dragon's entire body jolted, its scales shimmering even more vibrantly as the life force coursed through it. The chamber echoed with the dragon's deep, resonating roar, filled with a mix of pain and newfound vigor.
As the energy settled, the chains that bound the dragon rattled and began to crumble. They fell away, releasing the magnificent creature from its enforced confinement.
The dragon, its posture now upright, fixed its piercing eyes upon Jack. Yet, instead of hostility, there was a profound sense of gratitude. It seemed to acknowledge the act, understanding the risk Jack had taken for its sake.
Lysa, still hovering above, watched in awe. She had seen many sides of Jack, but this was something entirely different. It wasn't just about their mission anymore. It was about righting a wrong, about ensuring that no living being, no matter how powerful, suffered needlessly.
Jack stepped back, giving the dragon space. "You are free," he murmured, his voice resonating throughout the chamber. The dragon responded with a soft, appreciative growl, stretching its wings wide as if savoring the newfound freedom.
They shared one final, understanding gaze before the dragon, with a powerful flap of its wings, soared upwards, breaking through the ceiling of the chamber and into the sky beyond.
The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the distant echoes of the dragon's departure. Jack turned to Lysa, the storm in his eyes now replaced with a calm determination.
"We have more to do," he said, refocusing on their primary mission. "We need to find the children."
Lysa nodded, determination evident in her eyes. "Let's go."
Together, they ventured deeper into the island's labyrinth, each step bringing them closer to unraveling its dark mysteries.
----
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As Jack prepared to move on, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck alerted him to the approach of multiple individuals. He wasn't surprised; the act of freeing the dragon was bound to draw attention. Still, regret was absent from his mind. Leaving the magnificent creature in chains would have been a far more egregious offense.
Without a word, Jack swiftly pulled Lysa by the waist into a storage room adjacent to the corridor. Leaving the door just slightly ajar, he positioned himself in a manner that shielded Lysa from view, her almost weightless form pressed lightly against his back.
The echoing footsteps grew louder. Soon, figures dressed in peculiar attire that concealed their entire bodies entered the chamber. They walked with a synchronized precision, scanning the room, clearly assessing the aftermath of the dragon's departure.
Jack's eyes narrowed, his deep blue gaze piercing through the narrow opening of the door. These were the same men the warrior of LeviTribe describe to him, the very culprits behind the abduction of the LeviTribe children. His hand clenched into a fist, anger simmering beneath his cold demeanor.
Behind him, Lysa's heart raced, her breath shallow. Her proximity to Jack, feeling the tension in his form, only heightened her own anxiety.
Whispers filled the chamber as the intruders discussed amongst themselves. Their muffled voices made it challenging to grasp every word, but snippets like "breach," "escaped specimen," and "immediate lockdown" reached their ears.
As minutes dragged on, Jack tried to piece together the layout of this sprawling facility based on the sparse descriptions he had heard. The island seemed to house multiple sectors dedicated to various nefarious purposes. From what he had seen so far, the Genetic Engineering Wing was just the tip of the iceberg.
Two figures in concealing attire approached the storeroom where Jack and Lysa hid. Their synchronized steps, matched with deliberate precision, signaled their training. Jack, seizing the brief opportunity, reached out and pulled them swiftly inside the room. With a mere touch, they vanished, their forms absorbed into the Bead's Space.
A moment later, their clothes appeared in front of Jack and Lysa. "We should change into these," Jack murmured, his voice low. "It'll help us blend in, maybe even get some answers."
Lysa nodded, her focus unwavering. As Jack began to undress, his chiseled physique was evident even in the dimness of the storage room. Lysa's gaze inadvertently shifted towards him, her cheeks coloring as she quickly looked away.
The confined space of the storage room left Lysa feeling rather overwhelmed. With her near-weightless body pressed against Jack, she struggled to reconcile the sudden proximity. As the sensation of his firm muscles pressed against her became more evident, a flurry of emotions rushed through Lysa. Embarrassment, anticipation, and a hint of excitement coalesced, leaving her flushed and her heart pounding in her chest.
Her eyes, which had unintentionally wandered over Jack's form earlier, were now fixed on his well-defined back, broad shoulders, and strong arms. The contrast between his taut muscles and the ugly, form-concealing attire he was now donning was stark.
Realizing their close proximity, and perhaps catching her lingering gaze, Jack turned to face her, the newly acquired outfit covering his previously visible physique. His deep blue eyes, always so calm and assessing, seemed to notice her discomfort. "Would you prefer to go into the Island to change?" he asked, a hint of consideration in his voice.
Lysa, grateful for the option and eager for some privacy, nodded. "Yes, thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible. With a gesture from Jack, she found herself within the serene expanse of the Island, the familiar surroundings providing a much-needed moment of solace.
Taking a deep breath, Lysa quickly changed into the suit, finding the attire unfamiliar and a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't tailored for the LeviPeople and their unique floating physiology, but it would suffice for camouflage. Moments later, she returned to the storage room, fully dressed in the concealing outfit.
Jack pulled Lysa back into the storeroom, taking a moment to observe the strange uniformed attire they had acquired. The outfits were unlike any he'd seen before: advanced, refined, and indicative of the technological marvel that was this facility. He swiftly reached for the heavy shackles, attaching them just above Lysa's boots. This would ensure she remained grounded, maintaining their cover.
"These should keep you from floating," he commented, noticing her slight discomfort.
Once she was securely grounded, they donned the helmets provided. Through the visor, the world looked marginally different, with displays showing data and digital overlays. As they exited the storeroom, they blended seamlessly with the other uniformed personnel who buzzed about.
Almost immediately, a man approached them, pointing at the ID badge on Jack's outfit. "Davos! You old scoundrel! Thought you'd been transferred to the Devil Fruit wing!" The man's voice was jovial, his arm clasping Jack's in a warm greeting.
Jack, thinking quickly, smirked beneath his helmet. "Got transferred back. Couldn't stand the quiet over there," he replied, imitating a playful camaraderie.
The man laughed. "Sounds like you! What did you find in the Genetic Wing?"
"Clean up," Jack gestured vaguely behind him, "after the... you know." He hoped the vague reference to the dragon's escape would suffice.
The man whistled, "Big mess, huh? Leave it to you to be in the thick of it."
As they moved further, Lysa couldn't help but be amused by the scene. Jack, usually the embodiment of stoic determination, now engaged in lighthearted banter. Their brief interaction provided them valuable cover, allowing them to slip unnoticed deeper into the complex.
As they navigated the intertwining corridors, Jack's observational skills were on high alert. They passed rooms labeled "Cybernetics and Robotics Division" and "Environmental Control Chamber." Each time, Jack's senses pulsed, trying to locate the LeviTribe children.
They turned a corner and stumbled into a group of personnel, all clearly off-duty and laughing about some shared joke. One of them, spotting Jack—or rather, "Davos"—called out, "Oi! There's a card game in the break room later. You in?"
Jack nodded, playing along. "Sure thing. Wouldn't miss it."
The group dispersed, but one of them, a tall woman, lingered. "Heard you were paired with the new recruit," she commented, nodding towards Lysa. "How's he doing?"
"Still learning the ropes," Jack replied smoothly. "But he is showing promise."
The woman grinned. "Good to hear. See you at the game."
----
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