259 One Piece: My Name is Jack

"Usopp!"

Bang!

Just as the Straw Hats hesitated, Jack struck, snatching Caesar's heart with a single swipe. Without a second thought, he tossed it back to Caesar.

"Hahahaha! My heart!"

"No way!"

"How could he be that fast?!"

"Huh?"

After throwing the heart to Caesar, Jack suddenly looked up at the sky. The Birdcage was beginning to dissolve, and waves of excited cheers echoed throughout the battlefield. Seeing this, Law urgently shouted:

"Run! Now that the Birdcage is gone, we have to escape!"

"Run? Run where?"

"Three-Sword Style!"

Slash!

"Zoro!"

"Impossible!"

Zoro's attack landed, but Jack stood there unharmed. Refusing to believe it, Zoro rushed forward for another strike. However, in the blink of an eye, Jack appeared in front of him and sent him flying with a devastating blow.

Boom!

"Zoro!"

Robin and the others stared in disbelief as Zoro collapsed, unconscious. Tears streamed down Chopper and Usopp's faces.

"Zoro!"

With Barry dead, Luffy gravely wounded, and both Sanji and Zoro unconscious, Usopp felt his body trembling from exhaustion. Still, he gritted his teeth, raised his slingshot, and aimed at Jack.

"Special Attack!"

"Everyone! Run now!"

"Usopp!"

Seeing that his attack had no effect, Usopp fired again.

"Special Attack: Vine-Star!"

Boom!

A mass of vines burst forth, quickly wrapping around Jack. But then, Jack simply opened his mouth—and with a single shattered tooth, he pierced straight through Usopp's body.

"Usopp!"

Chopper transformed into Monster Point, roaring as he charged at Jack, only for Usopp to grab him tightly.

Cough, cough! "I'm fine...!"

"I'm a brave warrior of the sea! Let me be the one to hold him off!"

"I won't make it... So at least let me be a hero, just this once!"

"Everyone! Run!"

"Usopp!"

"Chopper! Robin! Protect Luffy and the others! I'm counting on you!"

"Usopp!"

"Law! Go, now!"

"ROOM!"

With a flash of light, everyone vanished, leaving Usopp alone. He gripped his slingshot tightly, unleashing a desperate barrage at Jack.

"Green Star: Rafflesia!"

"Green Star Attack...!"

"Green Star: Platanus Shuriken!"

"Special—"

Boom!

Jack emerged from the flames, completely unharmed. Usopp collapsed, his body drained of strength. Jack walked toward him, pausing as he felt resistance. Looking down, he saw Usopp's trembling hands gripping his leg with everything he had left.

Jack's expression remained unreadable as he muttered,

"Why bother? Your lungs are pierced, you're losing too much blood. You're already dead."

Cough, cough...

Tears welled in Usopp's eyes, but his voice was unwavering.

"As long as I'm still breathing... I won't let you go after my friends!"

"I, Usopp, am a brave warrior of the sea! I will be a hero, just like Mont Blanc Noland!"

"Luffy is destined to be the Pirate King! He will avenge me!"

"I'm the son of a pirate! I won't bring shame to my father!"

"I am Usopp! A hero! A warrior of the sea...!"

Even in death, Usopp refused to let go. Jack had to exert real effort to free himself from the grip of the fallen sniper.

Only then did Caesar, who had been hiding nearby, float over. Seeing Jack struggle to pry off Usopp's lifeless hands, he couldn't help but ask:

"Lord Jack, why not just cut off this idiot's hand?"

...

Jack shot Caesar a cold look before stating flatly:

"Because he earned my respect."

"Weak as he was, he fought to carve a path for his friends."

"You... You'll never understand the kind of courage that so-called 'idiot' had."

"Now, dig him a grave. Make sure you do it right. I'll be checking. If you don't, I'll bury you with him."

...

Jack took to the sky but soon descended again.

Nearby, Yamato was fiercely attacking a punk-looking green-haired man with a rooster-like hairstyle. But no matter how hard Yamato struck, her opponent remained unfazed, shielded by an invisible barrier. The man dug at his ear lazily, barely acknowledging her efforts.

"Damn it! You bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Bartolomeo felt a twinge of nervousness as Jack approached but quickly calmed down. His Barrier Barrier Fruit made him untouchable. What was there to fear?

Jack observed for a moment, then grabbed the raging Yamato and clenched his fist against the barrier.

"Huh? Heh! It's useless, you—"

A sinister red aura flickered around Jack's fist.

Before Bartolomeo could finish his sentence, Jack's punch slammed into the barrier.

Boom!

Crack...

Shatter!

Bartolomeo's unbreakable barrier crumbled like glass. Before he could react, Yamato grabbed him, her grin turning savage.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

"No way! How?! My barrier was invincible!"

Jack smirked, impressed.

"Your Devil Fruit's defense is strong. Aside from me, even Kaido or Garp probably couldn't break it."

"But unfortunately for you, I don't count as 'aside from me.'"

"Which means... you're going to die."

Bartolomeo scoffed. "Fine, then. As long as Luffy-senpai and the others escape, my life doesn't matter."

"Besides, I protected Usopp-senpai, Robin-senpai, Sanji-senpai, Chopper-senpai, and Barry-senpai!"

"Trading my life for theirs is worth it!"

Jack's eyes darkened. "Usopp?"

"Sorry to break it to you, but two of the people you protected are already dead."

"That long-nosed guy, Usopp—he was a real warrior of the sea. Braver than most pirates I've met."

"What?! Damn you! You bastard!"

Pinned by Yamato, Bartolomeo glared daggers at Jack, struggling with everything he had left.

Jack sighed. "Fine. Since you're so fearless in death, I'll send you off personally."

"Don't worry. I'll bury you right next to Usopp."

Crack!

With a swift motion, Jack snapped Bartolomeo's neck. The young pirate fell silent.

Yamato stood, watching him with a conflicted expression.

"These guys... Do they really not fear death?"

Jack exhaled. "Fear? Of course they do."

"But there's something they value more than their own lives."

"And what's that?"

Jack looked up, his voice solemn.

"Bonds."

"...???"

Caesar floated by with a skeptical look. "Oi, oi, what are you rambling about? Bonds? The hell are you on about?"

Jack ignored him, pointing at Bartolomeo's corpse.

"Bury this one too. Next to Usopp. You know what'll happen if you don't do it right."