As both Jack and Killer B continued their battle, the difference in strength and technique became clearer with each exchange. B, despite his energy and confidence, realized that he was no match for Jack in either raw power or swordsmanship. The longer they clashed, the more Jack adapted to B's unique sword style, quickly figuring out the rhythm of his movements.
This made Jack's counters, which were already simple for him, become even easier, to the point where he barely needed to shift his footing. Jack remained in the same spot, calmly parrying and deflecting, while B was moving around nonstop, clearly enjoying the fight even as Jack's face began to show signs of boredom.
B noticed the expression and took offense, since he was giving his best while Jack looked as though he wasn't even trying. Fueled by pride, B charged forward again. Their blades clashed, but this time Jack put a little more strength into his swing. The impact sent B flying backward, skidding across the ground, while Jack remained firmly planted in the exact same place he had been standing since the start.
"Hahahaha, B, give up already. Just join me. Nobody needs to get seriously hurt here. I can tell you've already decided you'll come along," Jack said, his tone casual but confident.
B only grinned at those words, wiping the blood from his lip. "Why would I stop? I'm still having fun. Whether I join you or not has nothing to do with this fight anymore. What I want is to see your full strength. You're holding back, just like me, so show me something real! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" B suddenly shouted, throwing his arms into a strange hand gesture.
The ground trembled as tentacles sprouted from his back and sides, tearing through his skin like living extensions of his body. Jack tilted his head, watching with curiosity. This kind of transformation wasn't anything he remembered from the world of One Piece, which made him pay closer attention.
Within seconds, B's body grew larger, his form twisting into something monstrous. He let out a howl, his voice echoing across the forest. His tentacles stretched outward, extending far beyond normal reach, and then slammed down in rapid succession. Jack dodged each strike with minimal movement, his expression unchanged.
Then, B opened his mouth and spewed a stream of black liquid. Jack avoided it easily, but when the substance hit the ground, it hissed and burned, melting away soil and rock. The corrosive effect was so intense that even after cooling, the ink hardened into a solid crust, showing that it wasn't just ordinary fluid.
B unleashed more, firing blasts of acid in every direction while using his tentacles to corner Jack. The mixture of attacks was wild and relentless, but to Jack, it only felt repetitive. "Interesting… but starting to get dull," he muttered as he finally leapt into the air, preparing to end it.
From the sidelines, Aramaki watched Jack's posture shift. The way Jack gripped his sword was familiar—his own signature stance, one that Aramaki had only seen him use against enemies far stronger than this. A smile spread on Aramaki's face, already knowing what was about to come.
Still airborne, Jack looked down at B, who was charging another spray of acid. Jack grinned. "Sorry, B, but I'm getting bored. I promise you won't die, but this is definitely gonna hurt," he called out before dropping straight toward the giant octopus form.
As Jack descended, he swung his blade with focused precision. The moment the strike landed, a massive shockwave burst outward. The impact was so overwhelming that the land itself split apart, and everything within a radius of more than a hundred meters—trees, rocks, and soil—was blown clear in an instant.
Aramaki, standing at the edge of the destruction, blinked in disbelief. He had assumed Jack would hold back since he wanted to recruit B, but this was the same level of force Jack had once used against Dragon, who was leagues above Killer B in power.
When the dust and smoke cleared, Aramaki's surprise grew even more. Standing in the ruined battlefield was not B's large, monstrous form anymore, but something reduced and pitiful. What remained looked like a single tentacle, wriggling weakly on the ground, with a small, distorted face at the end. Blood dripped from its mouth, proof that Jack's attack had done serious damage, even if it hadn't killed him.
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A few hours later, the scene shifted from the battleground to the bustling streets of the island where Jack, Aramaki, and B were now walking side by side. The three of them blended into the crowd as best as they could, though it was difficult to stay unnoticed. B, being a native of this land, naturally took on the role of guide, pointing at landmarks and giving introductions to places as they passed.
He spoke with energy, explaining every corner of the island, from the marketplaces filled with vendors to the training grounds where young fighters were sparring, while Aramaki listened with interest and Jack scanned his surroundings more carefully.
It didn't take long for Jack to notice something unusual. The people around them weren't paying attention to him or Aramaki, but their eyes were firmly fixed on B. They weren't simply staring because he was loud or eccentric — there was something deeper in their gaze. They looked at him like he was some sort of monster, yet there wasn't any fear in their expressions.
Instead, there was a strange mixture of recognition, familiarity, and even a faint kind of respect. Jack found this reaction strange, as he had expected fear to be the natural response when people looked at someone who could transform into a giant tentacled beast.
'How come?' Jack thought to himself, continuing to observe the crowd.
B noticed Jack's wandering eyes. While he was still talking and gesturing at the buildings, he realized that Jack wasn't looking at the places he was pointing out but at the townspeople who were watching them closely. Without breaking stride, B glanced at Jack, already understanding what was on his mind.
Jack eventually voiced the thought that had been lingering. "How come they look at you like you're a monster, but there's no fear in their eyes?" he asked, his curiosity outweighing his restraint.
Aramaki raised an eyebrow, glancing at Jack, not sure what he meant by those words, but B understood right away and smiled slightly, as though he had been asked this many times before.
"Oh, that's because of the Devil Fruit I ate when I was just a child," B replied casually. "It's called the Tako Tako no Mi, model: Scylla. My late father was the one who gave it to me, and I ate it the same day this island was attacked by a group of pirates. Back then, the people here didn't know anything about Devil Fruits.
When they saw me transform and drive the pirates away, they didn't call me a Devil Fruit user. Instead, they called me the monster that protects them. Somehow, that title stuck around, and over time, it just sounded better to them than saying I was a Devil Fruit user."
Hearing this explanation, both Jack and Aramaki nodded in understanding. It made sense why the townsfolk reacted the way they did — to them, B wasn't cursed by a fruit, but blessed with the power of a guardian.
"Ohhh, that makes sense," Jack said. "Well, Aramaki here stole his Devil Fruit from a king."
Aramaki immediately straightened up, pride flashing in his eyes at Jack's words. B looked at him with admiration, impressed that someone had the courage and audacity to rob a king directly. To B, that story sounded like something straight out of a legend, and it made him respect Aramaki a little more than before.
Their tour continued well into the evening, with B showing them more of the island, from quiet fishing docks to hidden paths leading into the forest. Eventually, when the sun had set and the stars had filled the sky, the three of them set up a campfire just outside the town.
Together, they roasted a wild boar they had hunted, sharing the meat among themselves as the fire crackled in the background. It was a simple meal, but in that moment, it carried the weight of camaraderie. Talking, laughing, and eating together, the three began building a bond that went beyond just convenience. They were starting to build trust.
As the flames flickered, B suddenly asked, "So, when are we leaving?" His tone was calm, though his eyes were sharp as he looked at Jack.
Jack took a bite of meat before answering. "If you're ready, we can leave tomorrow. But don't you have any unfinished business here? Something to take care of before you go?"
B shook his head without hesitation. "I don't have any business left here," he said firmly.
That answer made both Jack and Aramaki exchange a glance. They didn't question it out loud, but they understood what B meant. The reason he had so little tying him to this island was the same reason they themselves had left their own homes behind so easily. The three of them shared that same root — nothing left to hold them back, and no reason to stay.