บท 244: 244. Eat Melon

Boom! The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the deafening sound of cannons. The Mammoth Pirates were now in their first intense battle with the Marines at the G-5 base.

Certainly!

Even though the Mammoth Pirates had a mix of skilled and not-so-skilled members, they proved to be a formidable force, especially given their ability to follow Jack, an audacious individual, into the challenging New World.

On the Marine's side,

Soldiers stationed in the New World undergo thorough selection. While not everyone possesses Armament Haki, their overall physical fitness surpasses that of Marines in the first half of the Grand Line.

It's like a back-and-forth struggle!

When they clash on a narrow path, it becomes a test of who can be more ruthless!

"Jack the Mammoth? Why did you come back from the deep New World? What's your goal?"

Smoker tightened his fists and looked serious.

The pirate standing before him could be considered the toughest opponent he had faced in his military career, and they were in the vast sea.

Clearly unable to fully utilize the powers of the Smoke-Smoke fruit, it's fair to say he was already at a significant disadvantage.

"Purpose? Hahahaha..."

Jack's eyes squinted, and his laughter echoed. Abruptly, he ceased, fixing his bloodshot eyes on Smoker.

"Obviously, the purpose is to gift your demise to Boss Kaido!!"

As per his initial plan, Jack was heading straight for Wanokuni to join Kaido's Beasts Pirates. With one of the three All-stars, now vacant, he felt highly confident in his own strength. The so-called All-stars seemed like an easy catch for him.

However, halfway there,

A sudden realization hit him – as a newcomer with no reputation, Kaido might not accept him if he sought refuge without a valid reason. Despite causing a commotion in Sabaody Archipelago, it was merely a minor incident in the first half of the Grand Line and didn't make him stand out.

So, he made a decision to change course and set his sights on the warships at the G-5 base, known to be the most formidable to provoke.

Sink them all!!

Consider it his declaration of surrender. He believed this act would undoubtedly make his name echo throughout the New World. After all, no pirates dared to willingly provoke the G-5 base. It was the honorable thing to do!

Hearing Jack's contemptuous words, Smoker couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger.

In an instant, his arm transformed into smoke, swirling into a tight column that bound Jack's massive body in place.

Simultaneously, his ankle transformed into smoke, swirling and gathering power.

His entire body shot forward at high speed, with the strong wind pressing his silver-white hair against his scalp, leaving a white trail in the air!

Though his talent might be considered mediocre compared to Atlas, among Marines of his time, he outshone the rest, making him inevitably a bit arrogant.

"You..."

Jack glanced down at the smoke entwining around his body like thin white lines, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Are you tickling me?!"

Boom--!!

With muscles pulsating all over his body, Jack broke free from the smoke's restraints almost instantly.

Simultaneously, he swung his massive fist forward, releasing tremendous power towards Smoker!

Bang!!

A dense cloud of smoke appeared, and Smoker's body turned entirely elemental, skillfully evading Jack's punch.

"Elementalization, huh?"

Retracting his fist, Jack appeared somewhat surprised, noticing the imminent Armament Haki on his arm.

Clearly, he didn't anticipate that a mere Marine colonel would possess Observation Haki.

"Hush--"

"Combining Logia with observation haki is troublesome!!"

In terms of sheer physical strength, Jack is undoubtedly much mightier than Smoker.

However, clashes between users with Devil Fruit abilities are often unpredictable. Some Paramecia Devil Fruits with specific rules can tilt the odds in unexpected ways when used cleverly.

And Smoker's combination of Logia and Observation Haki can give Jack a hard time.

But even with that advantage,

Jack can afford numerous mistakes, while Smoker only needs to make a few errors, and Jack could exploit the openings, causing severe injuries.

After all, the key to activating Observation Haki is to maintain absolute calm.

Therefore, without external assistance, the ultimate balance of victory still leans towards Jack's side.

"Hey! Looks like your commander can't handle our captain!!"

"So what if it's Logia? We've been in the New World for a year and faced a many challenges!! Hehehe!"

The pirates engaged in the surrounding battle naturally observed the unfolding scene.

The Marine nicknamed the White Hunter is getting overpowered by their Captain Jack, and even the Logia ability, considered the strongest, seems powerless against him.

For a moment, he couldn't resist boasting to the Marines with pride.

Pirates prioritize a few things – wealth, fame, status...

"Dammit!"

"You won't be boasting for much longer. Deciding to confront us here is the worst choice you've ever made!"

"When the reinforcements from the base arrive, none of you will be able to escape!"

These Marines are undoubtedly not fools.

This sea area falls under the jurisdiction of the G-5 base, so reinforcements can naturally be dispatched swiftly.

As long as Colonel Smoker can endure for a while,

By then, these pirates won't be able to hold their ground any longer!!

"...Looks like that's the reality."

The members of the Mammoth Pirates were stunned, it appeared...

They've become a turtle in a pot.

At this moment, above the clouds and sky,

A tall man in a pristine white suit, with a justice cloak fluttering behind him, reclined amidst the clouds and mist. He held a slice of vibrant red watermelon, casually gnawing on it, his gaze fixed directly on the battlefield.

He swallowed the juicy melon in one gulp and couldn't resist offering his commentary.

"Not bad. It seems like Smoker's skills have improved a bit!"

"Eh? Did you take a punch? Looks like my compliment was in vain."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, the haki of this attack, I'd label it as the worst!"

"Hiss!! This face..."

"It hurts just looking at it..."

"I shouldn't have used Jack to test him. Isn't it like using a sledgehammer to swat flies?"

"By the way, this fish-man is quite sizable. 8.3 meters, truly intimidating."

—On the battlefield below—

Bang!!!

Another punch dissipated Smoker into smoke, and Jack was evidently getting a bit impatient.

Smoker's attacks felt no different from fly bites to Jack, but the vexing elementalization left him with no outlet for his power.

However...

Watching Smoker sweat profusely and pant, Jack silently calculated the time in his mind.

Despite his outward recklessness, he was calculating in his heart.

He knew well that even if the G-5 base provided timely support, it would still take a certain amount of time for the warship to arrive at its fastest speed.

But, could the Marine in front of him endure for that long?!

Jack's face suddenly revealed a hint of ferocity!!

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