Centered on Thorne Ashveil, an overwhelming pressure rippled outward. Before his [Shinra Tensei] could even strike, Jack felt it—through his Observation Haki came that suffocating sensation, the unmistakable presence of Conqueror's Haki.
The earlier burst had been terrifying enough to wipe out the weaker pirates on board, but this… this was on another level entirely. Even Jack, stubborn and reckless as he was, understood now. Ashveil hadn't lied—his mastery over Conqueror's Haki dwarfed anything Jack had ever seen.
Before the mammoth could gather his thoughts, Ashveil's Haki detonated outward. The dense wave slammed into Jack at point-blank range. His body flew across the deck like a ragdoll, blood spraying from his mouth as he smashed against the planks with a bone-shattering crash.
High above, flocks of birds carried a massive balloon-driven birdhouse across the sky. Inside, a strange figure leaned forward with his eyes wide, camera clutched in trembling hands.
Big News Morgans, president of the World Economic Journal, was rarely at a loss for words. Today, his jaw hung open in awe.
"One of Kaido's Calamities, Jack the Drought… defeated in a single exchange by Thorne Ashveil?" His voice cracked between shock and delight. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous! The captain of Whitebeard's Zero Division—this boy will shake the world!"
His feathers ruffled with excitement as he paced within the cabin. Morgans prided himself on never missing a story. From the moment he had received news that Ashveil annihilated Blackbeard's crew, his instincts told him this young man would dominate headlines for years to come.
Twenty years old, a mysterious origin, Whitebeard's hidden ace, and mastery over Conqueror's Haki… everything about him screamed of destiny.
"Hahahaha! My bet was right. Annihilating Blackbeard was only the beginning. This boy will ignite storms across every sea!" Morgans crowed, his voice echoing across the cabin.
"President Morgans, we truly are lucky!" a man replied eagerly. He wore a weathered coat and carried his camera like a weapon. "It's been too long since I've captured news this explosive. My hands are itching!"
This was Kuritz, once head of Marine photography before his dismissal. Now, under Morgans, he had earned a reputation as the "Flame Photographer."
"Kuritz!" Morgans spun on him, feathers bristling. "Tell me you captured Jack's defeat!"
Kuritz smirked, patting his chest with confidence. "Do you doubt me, President? Ashveil's calm face, Jack's despair, even the surge of Conqueror's Haki—I got it all. Perfect timing, perfect angle."
"Excellent! Excellent!" Morgans nearly burst into song. "Those photos will be the front page. Do not miss a single close-up, Kuritz! If packaged right, this news will earn us five billion Berries, minimum!"
The birdhouse rattled as Morgans flapped his wings in delight. His eyes gleamed with ambition, already imagining the headlines.
Meanwhile, down below, the story continued.
Ashveil walked slowly toward the fallen mammoth, his steps deliberate, his expression unreadable. Jack lay sprawled like a broken animal, his chest heaving, tusks cracked and body twitching from the force of the blow.
"Jack," Ashveil said coldly, "to gamble your life over a few crates of artificial Devil Fruits… how pitiful." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Iron Head, Anchor King—your nicknames truly fit you."
He crouched, eyes glinting with disdain. "But to anchor onto my ship? That was your mistake."
Jack's bloodshot eyes widened. His voice rasped, yet carried defiance. "You… you won, brat. But you can't kill me."
"Oh?" Ashveil tilted his head, amused. "I'd like to hear why not."
Jack coughed up blood, but a twisted smile spread across his battered face. "Do you know why, despite all the clashes between the Four Emperors, their battles never escalate into full-scale wars?"
Ashveil said nothing, simply narrowing his eyes.
"It's because there's an unwritten rule on these seas," Jack growled. "Core officers of the Emperors cannot be killed. Cross that line, and war follows!"
His laughter grew louder as he saw Ashveil pause.
"And right now, your Whitebeard Pirates are the last crew who'd dare start a war!" Jack bellowed, spittle flying. "Because of Portgas D. Ace, isn't it? You're preparing to clash with Marine Headquarters. If you kill me here, Kaido-sama will take it as a declaration of war!"
He forced himself upright, blood still dripping down his chin. "So you see, brat, you can't kill me. Kill me, and you doom your entire crew! Hahahahaha!"
Above, Morgans and his crew leaned forward, their cameras snapping furiously. The underworld emperor's sharp mind recognized the weight of Jack's words. This wasn't just a clash of pirates—it was a spark that could ignite a war between Emperors.
"Remarkable," Morgans whispered, eyes shining. "If Ashveil kills him here, the seas will burn. If he spares him, the world will whisper. Either way, this boy's name will thunder across every corner of the Grand Line!"
The birdhouse rocked gently in the wind, but no one inside noticed. All eyes remained fixed on the deck below, waiting for Thorne Ashveil's answer.