As the small raft finally scraped against the sand of the shore, Jack's eyes widened in recognition. The lone figure who stepped off was not some wandering fisherman or starving drifter—it was a man whose face carried weight across the entire world, even among those who had never met him. Standing before them, in the flesh, was Monkey D. Dragon, not yet bearing the unmistakable tattoo across his face, the very same mark that would one day become as infamous as his name.
For a moment, Jack froze, torn bettween disbelief and fascination.He really does look like Snakeman Luffy, Jack thought, narrowing his eyes. Guess it makes sense. Dragons and snakes often walk hand in hand in myth… maybe Oda had that in mind when designing him.
Dragon looked gaunt, his frame leaner than expected, his cloak hanging loosely over his shoulders. On the surface, he seemed like a weary traveler. But Jack's sharpened instincts screamed otherwise—the restrained, suffocating power radiating from Dragon's body was proof enough. Beneath that shriveled appearance was a beast in human skin.
Aramaki and Jack exchanged a quick glance. Both were on edge, though their reactions were different. Aramaki's lips pressed into a thin line, suspicion clear in his narrowed eyes. Jack, on the other hand, stared with open curiosity, like a child studying a predator in its natural habitat.
Dragon finally broke the silence, his voice calm, almost detached, as he approached them."Can you tell me where I am?"
Jack blinked, pulled out of his daze. He glanced at Aramaki, who still hadn't dropped his guarded stance, then turned back to Dragon."You're in the Taya Kingdom. Why? Did you come here without knowing where you were headed?"
"No." Dragon's answer was simple, clipped.
That was all it took for Aramaki's caution to twist into mockery. He barked a laugh, shaking his head as the tension left his shoulders. "Hah! What kind of idiot sails the seas without even knowing his destination? That's reckless even for me." His words carried scorn, but his grin revealed his confidence—the kind that came from knowing he had Jack beside him.
Before Dragon could respond, a low, unmistakable growl echoed across the shore. All three of them turned their heads at once, but the culprit was obvious: Aramaki's stomach. He glanced sheepishly at Jack, scratching the back of his head, silently pleading for food.
Jack sighed, but his lips twitched upward in amusement. "Come on then. Let's eat. Hey," he said, raising his voice toward Dragon, "you look hungry too. Care to join us?"
For a brief moment, Dragon hesitated. His sharp eyes flicked between the two boys, weighing their intentions. But he sensed no malice in their words, no schemes hiding behind their actions—only genuine openness. With a short nod, he accepted.
Soon, the three of them sat around a roaring fire, the sizzling aroma of freshly cooked Sea King filling the air. The meat was rich, tender, and so packed with nutrients that a single chunk could satisfy an ordinary man for days. For Aramaki and Jack, however, it was just a warm-up. Dragon ate slowly, each bite measured, as though savoring the rare taste of comfort.
Jack, ever the straightforward one, finally broke the silence. "You're strong. I can feel it. So what's someone like you doing here, in the middle of nowhere?"
Dragon paused mid-bite, his gaze shifting toward Jack. For a long moment, he didn't answer, only studied the boy as though peeling away his layers. When he finally spoke, his words carried weight. "You should be asking yourself that question. You're incredibly young, and yet the strength you carry in your body would put even adult giants to shame. It's not normal."
Jack smirked, unbothered by the scrutiny. "Then why don't we test it? You and me. A fight." His tone was eager, not hostile—a boy hungry to measure himself against a legend. "I believe I could learn a lot from crossing blades with you."
Dragon's eyes softened slightly, but his refusal was firm. "No. I have no intention of fighting a child." His voice was steady, calm, but resolute.
Jack frowned but quickly recovered, leaning forward. "Then teach us. If you won't fight, at least share your knowledge. We'll compensate you for it."
This time, Dragon tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Teach you? And what exactly do you wish to learn?"
Jack didn't hesitate. "Armament Haki. I've tried everything I could think of, but I can't awaken it. Observation came naturally once I trained with a blindfold, but Armament… it's like hitting a wall."
The words struck Dragon like lightning. His fork paused halfway to his mouth as he stared at Jack in genuine surprise. Haki? Here? In the South Blue? For Dragon, Haki was something tied to the harsher seas, to the New World where survival demanded it. The fact that an eight-year-old boy in this forgotten corner of the world not only knew the term but had already awakened Observation—it was unthinkable.
"…Where did you learn that word?" Dragon asked slowly, his voice carrying both caution and intrigue.
Jack's expression darkened for the first time that night. "From my mother's notes. Before she died, she wrote that if I wanted to be truly strong, I'd need Haki. But she never explained how to train it."
Aramaki stayed silent, watching the exchange carefully.
Jack's tone grew more determined as he continued, eyes fixed firmly on Dragon. "I managed to awaken Observation by training blindfolded, forcing myself to sense attacks. But Armament… no matter what I try, it doesn't come. I need guidance."
Dragon sat back, the firelight dancing across his face. For the first time since stepping onto the island, a flicker of surprise—and perhaps admiration—crossed his eyes.
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Jack didn't let the conversation end there. Even after Dragon's initial refusal, he pressed on, persistence burning in his young but unyielding eyes. Time and again, he asked, argued, and reasoned, his voice steady and unshaken. For Jack, this wasn't simply about learning a new technique—it was about taking the first real step toward leaving the Taya Kingdom behind. Deep in his gut, he could sense something shifting in the air of this land. The atmosphere around the kingdom had grown heavy, restless, as though an unseen storm was quietly gathering. Aramaki, usually carefree, had noticed it as well. The two of them didn't know what was coming, but both agreed: their time here was running short.
Dragon listened silently at first, his expression unreadable. He was a man accustomed to carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and the pleas of children—no matter how talented—rarely swayed him. Yet Jack's persistence carried a certain gravity. This wasn't the selfish cry of a boy who wanted power for the sake of power; this was someone preparing himself for the inevitable trials ahead.
Finally, after a long silence broken only by the crackle of the fire, Dragon exhaled a slow breath. "Very well," he said at last, his tone both reluctant and resolved. "I will show you the path. But understand—Haki is not something that can be given. It is something you must awaken from within."