Chapter 129: Drought
"The All-Star of the Beasts Pirates, Jack the Drought!" Ace raised his other hand, made a fist lightly, white flames igniting from his fist, and said in a deep voice, "If that's all you've got, then go to hell!"
Purifying Flame: Fire Fist!
Boom! ~
White flames, burning at 10,000 degrees, spewed from Ace's arm and formed a massive fist, blasting Jack's enormous body away.
"So hot, so hot!" Jack rolled along the ground to extinguish the flames licking his body, then stood up. Despite looking embarrassed, he wasn't seriously injured.
"Even 10,000-degree purifying flames can't burn through his hide?" Ace stared at Jack, almost unscathed, and muttered, "As expected of an Ancient Zoan user famed for durability."
After all, Jack hadn't even used Armament Haki. He had taken the purifying flames directly with his physical body. That said a lot about how monstrous his durability was.
(P.S. For those wondering about the realism—whether anime or novel, fantasy rules apply. Let's enjoy the story, not nitpick the physics.)
"Law, take Caesar and get out of here," Ace ordered calmly. He strode toward Jack as flaming spears materialized in his hands. "Let's test just how tough Ancient Zoans really are."
Understanding Ace's intent, Law and the others nodded silently and evacuated.
Sacred Flame: Shiranui!
Ace leapt and hurled a flaming spear at Jack.
Clang!
Jack activated his Armament Haki and deflected the spear with a single swing of his blade, following up with a punch.
(Note: Jack's weapon resembles a shotel, but we'll refer to it canonically as a scythe.) Jack originally wielded two scythes, but one was destroyed during his fight with Kin'emon.
Ace blocked Jack's punch with a counter-kick and propelled himself backward. Midair, he opened his palms, releasing firefly-like flames toward Jack.
Firefly Flame: Bodhidharma!
Boom!
The fireflies exploded in unison, creating a firestorm. Yet again, the 10,000-degree flame failed to harm Jack.
Boom!
Jack emerged from the flames unscathed, stomping the ground to dissipate the fire. "Kid, I'm 'Drought' Jack. Using fire against me is naive."
"Your flames are hot, but they can't hurt me," Jack scoffed.
"Drought..." Ace furrowed his brow.
Nicknames in the pirate world often reveal abilities. If Jack earned the moniker 'Drought,' it likely wasn't just for show. No wonder he endured the flames even without Haki.
"If fire won't work, I'll beat you with my fists," Ace muttered.
In an instant, he closed the distance. His Armament Haki-enforced fist halted ten centimeters from Jack's chest.
Armament Technique - Type II: Celestial Shadow Hammer!
Boom!
The invisible force from Ace's punch struck like a divine sledgehammer, caving in Jack's chest. The behemoth stumbled, half-kneeling as his feet carved trenches into the earth.
Unlike Type I (Sky God Strike), Type II expands its area of effect, making it ideal for giant foes.
Even so, Jack suffered only fractured ribs—his stamina was beastly.
"Haah… haah…" Jack growled as he clutched his chest, eyes burning with fury. "Brat, you've pissed me off this time."
His form began to shift.
Fur rippled. Flesh swelled. Bones snapped and reformed.
Jack transformed into a full mammoth, an Ancient Zoan model: Mammoth.
"Face the wrath of the ancient world, kid!" Jack bellowed.
His colossal mammoth body reared up, then slammed into the ground. King's Plateau shook violently.
Whish! ~
A gust split the air. Jack's Haki-coated trunk whipped toward Ace at lightning speed.
It was too close. Too fast. Too wide.
Ace couldn't dodge.
He couldn't elementally transform either.
All he could do was harden his body with full-power Armament Haki.
WHAM!
The blow sent Ace flying, crashing through the reinforced wall of the underground auction hall.
"Damn…" Ace groaned, emerging from the rubble, rotating his shoulder. "These Ancient Zoans hit like titans."
He'd underestimated Jack's raw power.
Boom, boom, boom!
Jack charged forward in full mammoth form. Each step was a mini-earthquake.
Ace grinned. He blurred and reappeared above the mammoth's head.
He raised his fist, drenched in Armament Haki.
Armament Technique - Type II: Celestial Shadow Hammer!
Jack didn't flinch.
He coated his mammoth head in Armament Haki and roared:
Ancient Strike!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics