242 One Piece: My Name is Jack

As Teach and his crew lunged toward Jack, Marco effortlessly seized Whitebeard's lifeless body.

Landing back on the ship, he gently laid Whitebeard beside Ace's corpse. Overwhelmed with grief, Marco and the others couldn't hold back their sobs.

"Old man! Ace!"

Tears streamed down Marco's face as he looked toward Jack, who stood unbothered despite being besieged from all sides. After a brief silence, he spoke softly.

"We're leaving."

"But—"

"No buts!" Marco snapped. "Don't forget what Pops said before he died!"

His red-rimmed eyes swept over his crewmates. "Who do we even help in this situation? Do we side with Teach, that traitor? Or do we stand with Jack, that lunatic?"

He clenched his fists. "Red-Hair was right. Enough people have died today! Our brothers and sisters—there's no need for more meaningless sacrifices."

Marco took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"Living and returning to the New World—that was Pops' final wish!"

The Whitebeard Pirates fell silent. Though reluctant, none of them opposed Marco's decision. Without anyone standing in their way, they boarded the icebreaker, carving a path through the thick ice and slowly disappearing from the battlefield.

Sengoku observed Jack closely. Even under relentless assault from some of the world's strongest fighters, nothing seemed to weaken him. Not even Teach's Dark-Dark Fruit, which had stripped him of his beast form, had managed to leave a mark.

Through his Observation Haki, Sengoku noted that Jack's aura hadn't diminished in the slightest since the battle began. His brows furrowed deeply.

"Sengoku, the Whitebeard Pirates have retreated. Should we pursue them?" Tsuru's voice was calm but firm as she stood beside him.

Sengoku shook his head, his expression grim.

"Whitebeard is dead. The remnants of his crew are no longer a threat."

His gaze sharpened as he looked back at Jack.

"Jack, on the other hand... He's our real enemy now."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "I've been watching closely. His monstrous defense isn't due to a Devil Fruit. Even after Teach used his ability to negate it, Jack took direct hits from Shiryu and Mihawk without suffering a single wound."

Sengoku's voice grew heavier. "A swordsman's attack is all about sharpness—especially when it comes from Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, or Shiryu of the Rain."

"Even Akainu's magma had no effect on him, which could still be explained by Devil Fruit resistance. But this... There's only one explanation."

He clenched his fists. "That same unnatural physique as Kaido... It's evolved."

He exhaled sharply. "And that's not all. His Armament Haki is on the same level as Garp's."

Sengoku's voice trembled slightly. "That slash just now—Jack's swordsmanship isn't weaker than Mihawk's."

He turned to his fellow officers. "A pirate with overwhelming endurance, unbreakable defense, mastery over all three types of Haki, and exceptional swordsmanship..."

Sengoku's eyes gleamed with unease.

"He has surpassed Whitebeard. Surpassed Kaido. Even surpassed Roger and Rocks!"

He took a step forward. "He is now the world's strongest man."

The battlefield was in chaos. Jack was enduring a combined assault from Shanks, the Navy's greatest hero Garp, Blackbeard wielding the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit, the Three Admirals, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

And yet, despite their combined might, Jack not only held his ground—he counterattacked with relentless ferocity.

A deafening roar echoed across the battlefield.

"Burning Ivory!"

"ARGH!"

A Vice Admiral was impaled clean through by Jack's tusks before being flung aside like a ragdoll. Seeing this, Sengoku's expression darkened, and he bellowed out an order.

"All Vice Admirals, retreat from the battlefield!"

"I repeat, all Vice Admirals, fall back!"

"Fleet Admiral!"

Their hesitation was clear, but witnessing Jack withstand even Garp's attacks without flinching, they had no choice but to comply. Supporting their wounded comrades, they quickly withdrew.

Sengoku rolled up his sleeves, handing the Den Den Mushi to Tsuru.

"Take command in my place. No matter what, we must take down Jack today!"

His voice dropped lower. "If the Beasts Pirates arrive... If necessary, we will request assistance from the World Government."

Tsuru's face changed instantly. "Sengoku, do you hear yourself?!"

"We didn't even seek the World Government's aid against the Whitebeard Pirates! And now you want their help against a single man?!"

Her voice grew sharp. "What does that say about everything we've fought for all these years?!"

She inhaled deeply before lowering her voice. "Don't forget—after today, you won't be Fleet Admiral anymore."

Sengoku fell silent. Then, with a small chuckle, he muttered, "Heh..."

His gaze locked onto Jack once more, steely determination burning in his eyes.

"At the very least... Let me settle this while I'm still in command!"

Despite countless fighters targeting Jack, the battlefield had split into factions. The Red-Haired Pirates fought in one group, the Navy in another, and Teach's crew had their own separate assault.

As for the Warlords and former Warlords... They never stopped attacking, regardless of who struck first.

Mihawk and Moria, in particular, remained relentless. Crocodile had slipped away at some point, while Doflamingo, bound by his own missions, seemed content to observe from the sidelines.

When Sengoku charged at Jack, it coincided with the Navy's turn to attack.

Aokiji unleashed an "Ice Age," solidifying the battlefield to prevent Jack from gaining the upper hand in the air.

"Impact!"

"Dark Hound!"

"Ice Spear!"

Garp's Conqueror's Haki-infused fist, imbued with advanced Armament Haki, smashed toward Jack. The Three Admirals followed suit, and from above, Sengoku's massive, golden fist descended upon him.

"BOOM!"

The force sent Jack hurtling over a hundred meters. But before anyone could celebrate, he swiftly got back on his feet, cracked his neck, and used "Soru" to rush back into the fray.

With a smirk, he beckoned them forward with a taunting gesture.

Despite their overwhelming power, the Admirals were panting. Even Akainu, heavily injured, was beginning to falter.

No matter how hard they struck, Jack remained unscathed—his only sign of battle being his tattered clothes.

Standing behind Kuma, Doflamingo adjusted his sunglasses, staring at Jack in disbelief.

"This monster..."

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in astonishment.

"His endurance has skyrocketed. His defense has already surpassed the limits of humanity."

His gaze swept over the battlefield.

"Every fighter here is a legend in their own right. Among them stand an Emperor, the Navy's strongest, and the Warlords."

Doflamingo grinned wickedly. "We all thought that, with Whitebeard gone, no one would ever claim his title."

His sunglasses glinted as he turned back to Jack.

"But after today—no matter the outcome—there's no question."

"The title of the world's strongest man belongs to Jack!"