Chương 126: Loss
After Katakuri left, Roman picked Ori up preparing to head back to the inn to recover, whilst Malia did the same for Benji.
Seeing them about to leave, Jack appeared in front of them blocking their path.
Roman and the others tightened their grips round their weapon as they looked at the giant figure in their way.
"I'm not here for a fight. I have an offer for you…"
Hearing that he wasn't here for a fight and sensing that there was no maliciousness coming from him, Roman felt relieved but he still eyed the Beasts Pirates Disaster cautiously waiting for him to continue.
"I wanted to invite you 3 Mythical Zoan users to join the Beasts Pirates."
When they heard that, most people present were surprised by the sudden invitation of the Yonko Executive.
"They want to steal 3 members of the Heavenly Demon Pirates?"
"The Beasts Pirates are a crew that only accepts Zoan types. It's no surprise that when Jack saw 3 Mythical Zoan's appear he made a move to recruit them."
"But will they accept?"
It wasn't just them, Roman and the other Heavenly Demon's were also shocked by the sudden turn of events. After recomposing himself, Roman's face went back to being indifferent. He carried on walking with his captain on his back as he replied simply.
"Not interested!"
Jack stretched out an arm to block the young First Mate's path.
"I'm sorry for making it sound like you had a choice…"
Roman looked coldly at the monstrous figure. All the Heavenly Demon's looked worried. They were fatigued after their last battle and 2 of their crew mates were unconscious.
Jack looked at them understanding what was going through their heads.
"If your Captain or that musician were awake I'd have to rethink my options, but as it stands you should know you don't stand a chance against me."
Roman clenched his fist tightly feeling angered by his own weakness. He was supposed to be the first mate of the Heavenly Demon's and the older brother of the Captain. When Ori wasn't around to take command it was him who was supposed to keep the crew safe. Yet right after Ori was incapacitated and he for the first time was placed in command, he was put in this horrible position.
Just as Roman was considering his options Yasopp's voice rang through the street.
"You Beast Pirates really up hold the dignity of a Yonko. You have to wait until their Captain is incapacitated to make the approach because you fear a rookie captain."
Jack glared at the sniper. Even though he wanted to refute, he was at a loss for words as Yasopp wasn't wrong. At any other time he would definitely attack, but he could tell that for some reason Yasopp couldn't directly involve himself in the matters of the Heavenly Demons which was probably why he was tempting him to attack first.
Yasopp ignored the look of the Disaster as he continued.
"If this is how the Beast Pirate's operate than the Captain was wrong to see Kaido as a threat to him. Any 'Emperor' who teaches their subordinates to only make a move when the captain of a rookie crew isn't around to have their say…
Well let's just say that a Captain like that is undeserving of their Emperor title!"
Jack almost snapped when he heard that. He could just about tolerate Yasopp's mocking of him, but Kaido was the man he respected most in this world. Yasopp insulting his captain was crossing his bottom line.
The cracking of bones could be heard as he clenched his fist. His gaze turned icy as he spoke.
"If you Red Hair Pirate's really intend to get involved in our private matter then come, otherwise…
FUCK OFF!"
Yasopp could tell that Jack was truly enraged and at any other time he would definitely attack, but he'd seemed to have guessed at his intentions to have him attack first.
The Red Hair's sniper truly wanted to help Ori and his crew, but he remembered his Captains words. And after watching Ori's battle and having access to top secret intelligence regarding some of the more classified matters of the world he seemed to have figured out a few things.
Knowing that Jack wasn't going to attack, he looked coldly at the Disaster who glared back.
"If you want to deal with the Heavenly Demon's I won't interfere, but just know that the whole world will look down on you and your 'Captain' for your methods here today"
Jack didn't bother with the troublesome sniper any further. Even though he was enraged by his words, he knew getting his hands on 3 Mythical Devil Fruit users was far more important.
Seeing that Yasopp wouldn't be able to help them out of this one, Roman felt as if the walls were closing in quickly. Just as he was about to reply he heard Sabo's voice.
"I don't care who you are, I am now and always will be a Heavenly Demon Pirate. So go fuck yourself you ugly elephant!"
Hearing his words only further annoyed the already angry Disaster. He suddenly appeared in front of the blonde youngster casually punching out to teach him a lesson.
Before his fist reached it's mark Roman appeared between the 2. With an arm coated in haki he punched out towards Jack's incoming fist.
As the fists made contact, Roman and Sabo were both forced a couple steps back whilst Jack stood perfectly still.
Even though he didn't move, Jack still felt his arm numb slightly from the impact. He looked at the black haired young man with fire in his eyes.
[I have to get him to join us!]
Roman on the other hand felt the bones in his arm crack under the impact.
[That was just a casual punch?!]
Roman looked at the figurative and literal Disaster that had fallen his way. He glanced at Ori who was still on his back and then at Shaya who was preparing to attack. With a sigh he lowered Ori and lay him on the ground.
"I will join you, but only me!"
"Absolutely not!"
Before Jack could say anything, Shaya instantly spoke out to stop him.
"Do you think Ori would just let you give yourself up, even if it was to save the rest of us?!"
Jack smiled coldly when he heard Roman's offer.
"This is not up for debate. Either you join me, or I kill you all and just return with your Devil Fruit's. It's your choice."
Hearing that, Shaya transformed into a blur, standing between both men as if protecting her little brother.
Roman smiled helplessly as he walked over to his older sister grabbing her by the hand and pulling her into his embrace.
"Look after Ori, he'll need you now more than ever!"
As he whispered that, he struck her on the back of the neck knocking her unconscious.
Malia who had just joined the Heavenly Demon's couldn't help but smile bitterly. It really was as if the whole world wanted to prevent these rookies from rising. But seeing Roman willing to sacrifice himself for the rest of them, she couldn't help but feel touched.
"If you take me and leave them, not only will you get my loyalty, but you'll also get all the sensitive information I have on the League."
Seeing both Roman and Malia willing to sacrifice themselves made Sabo understand just how dire the situation was. He steeled his nerves as he looked at the giant Yonko Executive.
"No, take me. Although I'm only young, I have achieved "Perfect Assimilation" with my fruit. So even if you were to find my Devil Fruit after killing me, the chances of you finding someone else as compatible with it as me is slim to none!"
Roman badly wanted to curse Sabo for opening his mouth.
[Does he know how rare it is for someone to perfectly assimilate with their devil fruit?! He's just making my life more difficult!]
When he heard their reasoning it only made Jack want to force them to join his crew even more. He laughed and said.
"All very convincing reasons but I still choose to bring you all back."
As he said that he took a step towards them when he heard Roman's cold voice.
"If you insist on being greedy I'll just fight you till only one of us is left breathing!"
Hearing Roman's words pissed Jack off.
"Do you really think you're capable of speaking last words with me?!"
Jack drew 2 curved blades that were sheathed in the tusks by his ears preparing to beat some sense into these rookies.
Seeing that Roman Dragonized and coated his body in haki ready for another war.
"Only one way to find out!
Pure Yang Eruption!"
As he said that, his body was covered in a golden aura, but this wasn't like the usual times he used his Eruption technique. It had far surpassed anything he had ever done before. It was as if he had truly transformed into a sun!
[Due to my Dragon Fruit I have the vitality of a mythical beast. So when I use the Pure Yang Eruption at its lowest level I don't have to worry about it eating away at my life force. But when I truly use it, not holding back like now, even with my increased vitality I can feel my life force being burned, but in return my strength sees a terrifying jump.
As it stands my strength is no longer under his!]
Jack who was stood mere meters from him felt as if he was being burnt alive.
[This technique…
It's similar to the League's "Overdrive", but far superior!]
He could feel from his aura that Roman's strength was no longer under his. If they were to fight, although he could probably out last him and finish him when he's fatigued, he'd more than likely pay a terrible price.
Roman whose aura seemed to even burn space turned to look at Yasopp and asked.
"I understand that you can't get involved in this battle, but if my crew and I were to die here, can I ask you to make sure that our Devil Fruits don't end up in the hands of Kaido or his men!"
Yasopp instantly understood what Roman was planning. He smiled as he looked mockingly at the Disaster and said.
"You have my word!"
Hearing that Roman nodded and turned back to face Jack.
"I'll give you one final chance…
Either take me and give up on forcing the rest of my crew mates or we end up in a situation where we both lose. The choice is yours!"
Jack frowned and knew that with Yasopp here, even if he did manage to kill Roman and the others, with Yasopp's far superior observation haki, the first to find each fruit would definitely not be him. And with the injuries he'd sustain after the fight, he wouldn't even be able to fight for them.
"Fine, you have yourself a deal!"
Seeing him re-sheathe his blades, Roman let out a sigh of relief and instantly stopped using the Pure Yang Eruption.
Even though he hadn't actually taken action, simply using the Pure Yang Eruption without holding back like that really took it out of him, but because he had to keep up the illusion that he could still fight, he suppressed his fatigue and turned to face the three remaining conscious members of his now former crew.
"Tell Ori and Shaya I'm sorry!"
Despite trying to hold it back, Roman felt tears streaming from his face as he said his goodbyes. He knew that if he stayed any longer it'd be too hard for him to leave.
"But you…"
Before Sabo could say whatever it was he had intended, Roman turned to face the Disaster that was forcing him to leave his brother and sister without bothering to hide his hostility and said void of any emotion.
"Let's go!"
The conscious members of the crew all felt guilt and powerlessness as they watched his back disappear into the distance knowing there was nothing they could do to stop him. Especially Malia and Sabo, as he effectively gave up his freedom, so they didn't have to.
Silk put his helplessness to one side as he picked the body of his captain up. He turned to face Malia and Sabo and said.
"Now's not the time to wallow in self-pity. Let's go!"
Knowing he was right, they each picked up the unconscious body of one of their crew mates and made their way back to the inn.
Yasopp sighed as he looked at their fleeting figures.
"The road to the throne is one fraught with loss. What separates those just playing pirates and a true King is how he acts after experiencing loss. Show me young Heavenly Demon…
Do you truly have what it takes to be King?"
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