272 One Piece: My Name is Jack

"Impossible!"

"Why not?!"

Shanks stared in disbelief as Jack tossed the Divine Fruit in his hand a few times before swallowing it without hesitation.

"Jack! You—!"

"Give it back!"

Luffy roared in despair, about to charge forward, but Shanks held him back with all his strength.

"Huh? You want to die?" Jack's voice carried a murderous intent.

Panic flickered across Shanks' face as he hurriedly spoke. "Jack! You can't kill Luffy! You saw it yourself—only he was able to obtain that fruit. There's no telling what secrets are hidden in Mary Geoise!"

"There might be something there that only Luffy can acquire! And we have no idea just how powerful Imu truly is! If you kill Luffy now, our alliance will collapse!"

Kaido shook his head at Jack, signaling him to stop. Jack said nothing more.

Dragon drifted over as well, helping to calm the situation. Under their combined efforts, Luffy eventually fell into a silent, brooding state.

"Check everything again. If there's nothing left, we're leaving!"

"Kaido-san, come here for a sec!"

Jack suddenly felt his body heat up and urgently signaled to Kaido before flying toward the ship. Seeing this, Kaido immediately followed.

As soon as he landed on the ship's deck, Jack collapsed weakly onto the bed.

"Jack! What's wrong?!"

"Kaido-san, I think I ate something bad… I was going to throw it up for you to try, but I ended up digesting it!"

"If all else fails, I'll try forcing it out in the bathroom—"

"Get lost! Thunder Bagua!"

Boom!

Kaido struck him with a club, but Jack had already lost consciousness. Furious, Kaido nearly tossed him into the sea. However, since Jack was his son-in-law, Kaido begrudgingly grabbed him by the hair and dragged him into the ship's cabin.

...

Meanwhile, Big Mom's crew had also returned to the ship. After a thorough search of the island, aside from the Divine Tree and the Poneglyphs, there was nothing of value left. There was no need to linger.

"If we continue on this path, we should reach the Four Seas."

"As agreed, when I return to Wano, the attack on Mary Geoise will take place in two months! Don't forget!"

...

In Mary Geoise, Imu gazed down at the Five Elders, kneeling at their feet. With a slight wave of the hand, Imu dismissed them.

"I know everything. Leave."

Once alone, Imu stepped into a secret chamber and gazed at a massive straw hat.

"Even with its awakening, the Nika Fruit still lost."

"I exiled you back then, yet you managed to escape…"

"But why return after death?"

"Do you hate me that much?"

"I only sought vengeance for my people."

"Joy Boy… That man lost, which means he wasn't you. You're never coming back."

"I've been bored for too long. Tired. Let's see if these people can defeat me."

...

Jack awoke to find the Mammoth nearing the island of Onigashima. Seeing him regain consciousness, Kaido finally relaxed and left the room.

Despite not eating for a long time, Jack felt no weakness. As he assessed his body, a system notification appeared before him:

[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully consumed the Divine Fruit. Since you already possess a divine physique, it has been further enhanced.]

[Divine Physique: You are a god. No one in this world is your equal.]

The description was brief, yet its implications were terrifying.

...

Upon their return to Wano, news of Kaido's ascension as the Pirate King spread like wildfire. Wasting no time, Kaido issued his first command as the King of the Pirates—to gather every pirate in preparation for the attack on Mary Geoise in two months.

Neither Big Mom's crew nor the Red-Haired Pirates opposed this. The rest of the pirate world had even less of a say.

Kaido's message was clear—he intended to end the Celestial Dragons' 800-year reign over the world.

Surprisingly, the World Government made no immediate response, leaving the world in a state of unease.

...

When Sabo finally managed to contact Dragon, he was left utterly speechless after hearing the news.

"What?! You're telling me the life-threatening intelligence we risked everything to obtain—you already knew?!"

"Come on, Chief! You could've told me sooner! I'm heading to see Luffy right now!"

...

At Marine Headquarters, after listening to Garp, Sengoku and Tsuru turned to Akainu.

Akainu's body emitted thick smoke as he glared at Garp, enunciating each word:

"Are you saying we should compromise with pirates? Form an alliance with them?"

"Would that still be justice?!"

Garp's gaze sharpened. "And being the Celestial Dragons' lackeys, maintaining their so-called justice—is that the right path, Sakazuki?!"

"You—!"

"Vice Admiral Garp! The documents you requested are here!"

"However, there's too much—this room can't hold it all…"

Boom!

Garp stepped outside, and moments later, a deafening crash echoed as a wall collapsed. Hundreds of carts, piled with files, filled the corridor.

"Sakazuki! Look at this!"

"This is just a fraction of the crimes committed by the Celestial Dragons in the past few decades!"

"I knew change was impossible before—that's why I never became an Admiral!"

"But now, there's a chance! As Kuzan once said—"

"If the world can't get any worse, then why not take a gamble?!"

Garp marched up to Akainu, staring him down. "I declare—you are no longer Fleet Admiral!"

"Agree, and you remain Admiral Akainu. Refuse, and you leave the Marines!"

"Garp!" Akainu growled, his fists clenched.

"By what authority?!"

"By this!"

Boom!

Garp shattered the ceiling with a punch and leaped onto the rooftop. Instantly, the thunderous chants of countless Marines filled the air.

"Hero Garp! Hero Garp!"

Akainu and the others slowly stepped outside, looking down at the massive crowd gathered in the rain, raising their fists, roaring Garp's name.

"So this… is the Marines' true hero…"

Akainu closed his eyes for a moment—then smirked.

"Very well… Fleet Admiral Garp, give your orders."

Garp turned to the fervent Marines and bellowed:

"Move out! Target—Mary Geoise!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

Shanks and Luffy stood together, glancing at their solemn-faced crew.

The two grinned at each other before roaring in unison:

"Set sail!"

"Target—Mary Geoise!"

...

News Coo birds soared through every kingdom, delivering one shocking headline after another. The world was beyond stunned—it was numb.

Rayleigh set his newspaper down and looked up at the sky.

"Even the Marines have turned against them?"

"Roger… It looks like someone is about to accomplish what you couldn't."

"But the one who obtained that fruit… wasn't your son."

"Even you made mistakes…"

...

At Amazon Lily's port, Hancock cradled a baby in her arms, her voice resolute.

"Set sail!"

"Our destination—Mary Geoise!"