Chapter 53: The Beast's True Form
"Boss Jack is flying! Boss Jack, hahahaha!"
"I can't get away! Hahaha!"
BOOM!
The colossal body crashed down, shaking the very earth. Seven or eight unfortunate members of the Beast Pirates were smashed directly into the ground, their fates unknown.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the Beasts Pirates "Pleasures" Soknunu!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 40 points!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the Beasts Pirates "Pleasures" Vito Rigues!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 35 points!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the Beasts Pirates "Pleasures" Wright!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 40 points!]
[…]
[Current Accumulated Enhancement Points: 395 points!]
Ian listened to the system's prompts without a flicker of emotion. He'd heard similar sounds far too many times during his tenure on the island. Besides, he was in a foul mood today.
When Cavendish had come to the island to challenge him, he had only targeted Marines. But these thugs Jack brought had only destruction in their eyes. To them, lives were as insignificant as weeds. Every single pirate present today... none of them would be allowed to leave!
Pleasures.
They were the ones who had consumed defective Artificial Devil Fruits, failing to gain a proper transformation ability. Afflicted by the SMILE's backlash, they were cursed to be perpetual, laughing wrecks. Due to the imperfect technology, the failure rate for SMILEs was notoriously high. The other Gifters who had come to the island were the rare "successes." Yet even they couldn't achieve a complete transformation, only managing partial, incomplete animal features on their bodies.
As Ian landed safely back on the ground, the Gifters who had successfully evaded the crash immediately rushed forward, their fear seemingly forgotten in their bloodlust.
"Hahaha, kill him! He's alone!"
"Let's go together! Help Boss Jack finish this brat!"
"Hahaha, chopping off his head will be a great achievement!"
The frenzied human-wave tactic was a signature, brainless fighting style of Jack's subordinates. They seemed to believe they could overwhelm any foe through sheer numbers.
Ian watched the cackling Pleasures charging at him with drawn swords, his voice dropping to an icy chill. "The big one is a fool, and the little ones are just as clueless. When is it your turn to speak here?"
His eyes narrowed, and an invisible, overwhelming aura erupted from him. Red, lightning-like flashes of energy shot out in all directions with immense force.
Conqueror's Haki... Pressure Strike!
Hiss!
Crackle!
The Haki, manifesting like crimson arrows, radiated outwards. The charging pirates felt as if a massive warhammer had slammed directly into their souls.
Cough!
Ugh!
Ack!
Amidst screams of agony, the tall, burly men fell to the ground one after another, vomiting blood. They had been shouting about killing Ian just moments before, but in the end, they hadn't even managed to touch his clothes.
The four Gifters further away were also affected, though to a lesser degree.
Snap!
The bow Speed had just drawn was shattered by the concussive wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Holdem gritted his teeth, resisting the tremendous mental pressure.
Pfft!
"Th-This terrifying aura..." Ginrummy, the weakest among them, was so shocked she collapsed to her knees. If Sheepshead hadn't caught her, she would have likely lost consciousness completely.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the Beasts Pirates "Pleasures" Houta!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 35 points!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the Beasts Pirates "Pleasures" Scylla!]
[Enhancement Points Obtained: 40 points!]
[…]
[Current Accumulated Enhancement Points: 1865 points!]
The greatest advantage of upgrading his Conqueror's Haki to an advanced level was the ability to effortlessly clear out insignificant trash. The fifty elite New World pirates Jack had brought with him were all wiped out in a single, decisive blast.
From within the settling dust, the mammoth's huge body stirred, seeming to shrink slightly.
Boom! Boom!
The sound of its footsteps was noticeably lighter than before.
"Jock Ian," Jack's voice rumbled, now coming from a different form. "I never thought you possessed the Qualities of a Conquering King, just like Big Brother Kaido. Now I'm not so annoyed about being sent to kill you." His form had shifted. His lower body still retained the mammoth's powerful legs, but his upper body had reverted to a sturdy, humanoid torso. The features of an elephant's trunk and tusks remained on his face, though they had shrunk to half their previous size.
This was Jack's Human-Beast Hybrid Form! A fusion of a Fish-Man's body and the Ancient Mammoth's power!
Ian frowned, unable to stop the words from leaving his mouth. "You're so damn ugly!"
He wasn't just being mean or sarcastic. The sight of a mammoth-human-fish-man hybrid was genuinely, profoundly hideous. What kind of person would be... proud of this? It was like a giant, brutish man had taken off his pants and stood on his head in front of him. Ian suddenly felt his eyes had been violated!
When Ian first discovered back in the East Blue that he'd eaten the Human-Human Fruit, a Zoan-type, he'd been depressed for a while. Born a human, he didn't even get a different form like other Zoans, who gained multiple combat modes. But now, seeing Jack's third form... he felt much more balanced. It was better not to have such an image-destroying transformation!
"You sharp-tongued, foul-mouthed bastard!" Jack roared, his anger flaring. "You will soon realize that this is the most perfect fighting form!"
Enraged, he ripped the two ivory-like ornaments from his shoulders. After removing the white leather sheaths, he gripped two massive, sickle-shaped blades in his hands, their edges gleaming with deadly intent.