Dragon, Jack, and Aramaki then continued with their training, each of them focusing on their own improvements, but also watching the progress of the others. Jack, in particular, began to push himself further than before, adding new layers to his routine. He started applying the scenes he remembered from One Piece, especially the way Hyogoro had taught Luffy to let Armament Haki flow freely through the body and release it outward in a controlled burst.
At the same time, he was also integrating Dragon's method, which aimed to create a form of martial arts that could merge with the impact style of Jack's swordsmanship. Dragon wanted it to retain the concussive force while still producing a sharp cutting effect, like the claws of a dragon tearing through the air. Jack found this approach interesting, and so he worked on blending the two systems together, making each sparring session feel different from the last.
Aramaki, on the other hand, made sure that he was not being left behind. He carefully observed his weaknesses and then began targeting them one by one. The most obvious was his vulnerability to fire, since his Logia fruit made him a forest man.
Dragon was the one who suggested a rather reckless idea: to deliberately burn himself in order to develop resistance. At first, Aramaki almost lost his temper, looking at Dragon like he was insane for even suggesting such a method, especially since fire was the most dangerous element for him.
But after cooling his head and thinking it through for a few hours, he realized Dragon might be right. The only way to overcome such a fatal weakness was to face it directly. So, Aramaki tried the method in small steps, and over time, he managed to gradually build up tolerance. He enhanced his body with strength and durability training, while also forcing himself to produce a sap-like substance through his sweat.
This sticky fluid worked as a natural shield, dulling the effect of the flames and reducing the damage he would normally take. It was painful and uncomfortable, but it worked, and Aramaki found himself able to withstand more than he had expected.
Of course, their training was not limited to personal experiments. The three of them sparred regularly, testing each other's growth. The intensity between Dragon and Jack grew sharper every day, their clashes shaking the ground around them. Aramaki, in comparison, often struggled to keep up with their pace, but this was not entirely a disadvantage.
Because he was constantly forced to push beyond his limits just to avoid being left behind, his own progress accelerated in ways he hadn't imagined. His talent might not have been on the same monstrous level as Jack's, but it was far from weak. Under this constant pressure, Aramaki's strength rose to the point where even among strong fighters, he would not be considered inferior.
This routine continued for weeks, then months, and in that time the three of them began to form a bond that went deeper than simple training. Both Jack and Aramaki gradually came to see Dragon as an older brother, someone who was guiding them onto a path that would prepare them for the harsh reality of the world. Dragon was not only teaching them techniques, but also tempering their minds, reminding them that strength alone was meaningless without the will to carry it properly.
During breaks, Dragon would share stories from his time in the Marines. He spoke of the things he had witnessed, the corruption and arrogance of those who sat above the world, and especially the malice of the Celestial Dragons. Whenever he spoke about them, his calm expression would shift, and Jack could sense the sharp disgust and burning hatred hidden in Dragon's voice. It was not the hatred of someone who had only heard rumors—it was the hatred of someone who had seen the Celestial Dragons with his own eyes, and had witnessed firsthand the cruelty they inflicted upon ordinary people.
Jack listened carefully to every word, never interrupting. Deep inside, he felt the same grudge. Even though he did not directly hear the voice of Rocks D. Xebec inside him, there was still something—an echo, a lingering will—that carried a deep resentment toward the Celestial Dragons. Jack didn't know if it was simply inherited blood, or his own heart aligning with what he had seen and learned, but he could feel it clearly: the Celestial Dragons stood as enemies to everything he believed in. That much was undeniable.
So, as Dragon spoke, Jack silently made his own decision. He would honor the vengeance that Xebec had once sought, and he would also carve his own path of retribution. If the Celestial Dragons believed themselves untouchable, then Jack would dedicate his strength to proving them wrong. It was not just his father's unfinished will anymore—it had become his own.
-------------
A full year had passed since the day Dragon first met Jack and Aramaki, and in that time the three of them had grown inseparable. What began as training and cautious camaraderie slowly developed into a bond of true brotherhood, something that carried the same depth and closeness as the bond between Ace, Sabo, and Luffy. It was almost uncanny, as if their lives were mirroring each other in a strange reflection of fate.
During this year, both Aramaki and Jack had made tremendous progress in their mastery of Haki. They had reached the point where they could summon it at will, coating their bodies or weapons with relative ease. Yet even within their shared progress, there were differences.
Jack's Armament Haki in particular stood out—it was unnervingly pure, carrying a sharpness and intensity that Dragon himself couldn't fully explain. Whenever Jack coated his arms, the Haki seemed alive, as if it were more than just spiritual energy. There was something eerie about it, a hidden depth that didn't belong to an ordinary child.
The sword Jack carried only added to this strangeness. Dragon noticed how the blade drank in Haki endlessly, much like the way Enma once drained Zoro before he tamed it. But Jack's sword was hungrier, greedier, as though it were a starving beast that demanded constant feeding.
Jack himself often compared it to a pig, devouring everything its owner placed in front of it. At times, when he was curious or reckless, he would even offer drops of his own blood. Whenever he did, he could only watch as the blade absorbed it instantly, leaving no trace behind.
Beyond Haki, Jack's swordsmanship had become far more refined. He often sparred against Dragon, who was steadily shaping his unique martial art, a style that blended impact with claw-like slashing movements. Their battles were intense and unrelenting, but more often than not, Jack would come out on top.
He had simply lived longer with his style—he had molded it through countless battles and experiments—while Dragon was still in the early stages of developing his own. Still, their clashes sharpened both of them, and even Aramaki gained insight by watching them fight.
Now, a year later, the three of them stood on the shore, preparing to part ways. Aramaki and Jack stood side by side, their gazes fixed on Dragon, who was carefully inspecting the supplies on the small boat he had prepared. Dragon had basic knowledge of shipbuilding, but with Aramaki's help, the boat had become something sturdier, stronger, and much more reliable.
Using his Devil Fruit, Aramaki summoned multiple massive trees, enhancing their durability as if they had been seasoned by decades. Together, he and Dragon shaped them into the skeleton of the vessel.
Aramaki had done more than just provide lumber. He had also created a small farm for Dragon, filled with plants and trees that bore fruits capable of sustaining him on his journey. With this, Dragon would never truly run out of food, no matter how long his voyages took him.
As Dragon tightened the ropes and tested the sails, Jack finally spoke, his voice carrying both a calm certainty and a quiet hope.
"Whether we meet again in the future… it'll depend on fate," Jack said, watching Dragon closely.
Dragon shook his head at that, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Fate has nothing to do with it. If you will it, you'll make it happen. That's how the world works."
Before Jack could respond, Aramaki interrupted, his tone light but carrying the same warmth that had built between the three of them. "Both of you are so damn cheesy. Just say your goodbyes already. But Dragon—remember this—when we finally set sail, you better be prepared to treat us to a proper meal. I expect nothing less."
Both Jack and Dragon laughed at Aramaki's remark, their laughter carrying into the sea breeze. No matter the age difference, the lack of blood ties, or the vastly different paths they would walk, the three of them were brothers now. That truth could not be changed.
Finally, Dragon stepped onto his boat and began to sail away from the shore. He turned back one last time, raising his hand high in farewell. Jack and Aramaki waved back enthusiastically, wide grins stretched across their faces. They were not sad. Instead, their hearts pounded with excitement. For each of them, this was not an ending, but the beginning of the next chapter in their lives.