------------
If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Phoenizbeelze
-----
The world seemed to tremble as the screams echoed, sending a wave of fear through the crew. Even Meili reacted, though no one noticed the ship's response. With sudden urgency, Meili surged forward with such force that the oars nearly splintered under the strain, launching itself out of the darkness like an arrow.
It was impossible to tell how long they had been sprinting through the shadows, but suddenly, a brilliant light appeared ahead, guiding them out of the abyss. Only then did the crew release a collective sigh of relief.
"We made it... We're alive..."
"What was that?"
"I don't know, but it had to be a monster!"
"Of course! This is the Grand Line—we should expect the unexpected!"
Sanji's hand, still holding a cigarette, trembled slightly. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper all nodded in agreement, visibly shaken. Nami, sitting on the deck, spoke with astonishment, while Zoro discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
Yet, amidst the tension, Jason seemed to be the only one who wasn't unnerved. He held Robin in his arms, a satisfied smile on his face. This was the first time Robin had displayed such vulnerability since she had grown up—so soft and endearing! Jason couldn't help but tease:
"(∗❛ั『❛ั∗) So soft, so nice... Hehehehe!"
It was safe now, and Robin remained nestled in Jason's arms, not raising her head. The way he comforted her brought back memories, reminding her of the warmth she hadn't felt since childhood.
The rest of the crew stared at Jason in disbelief, except for Sanji, who gazed at Robin with a mix of envy and adoration.
"Miss Robin is so beautiful when she's scared!"
Jason's expression darkened. If he weren't holding Baby Robin, he would have given Sanji a good beating. He didn't mind Sanji fawning over Nami, but Baby Robin was off-limits!
He silently vowed to train Sanji even harder in the days to come. The one who had been getting the harshest treatment in their training sessions lately was no longer Zoro—it was Sanji! And for a good reason; his constant attempts to woo Robin had pushed Jason's patience to its limit.
"Jason, weren't you scared? That was a huge monster!" Nami asked him, still baffled by his calm demeanor.
Jason's expression softened slightly as he replied, "What's there to be afraid of?"
"But it was a monster, and it was enormous! The whole area went dark!"
"It's just a shadow. Haven't you ever seen a mirage? Did you actually see the creature?"
Everyone paused, stunned by Jason's question. Indeed, none of them had seen the actual monster; only its towering shadow had terrified them. Jason's question lingered in their minds.
"Well... no, we didn't..."
"Exactly. If a mere shadow can scare you like this, it's pretty embarrassing, don't you think? Ohhhhhh!"
(„ಡωಡ„)
The crew couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Damn it, Jason was at it again, showing off!
Robin, still nestled in Jason's arms, gently poked his chest, signaling him to stop. She was too ashamed to admit it, but she had been scared as well.
Jason immediately caught on. Baby Robin was embarrassed, so he decided not to push any further; otherwise, he might end up without a place to sleep that night!
"Ahem! Okay, listen up! True courage comes from having true strength. The reason you're still afraid is that you haven't developed the strength to overcome your fears."
"Eh? Is that really it?"
"Of course! Think about it—if you were the strongest fighter in the world, would you still be afraid of the monster you just saw?"
"Probably not... no! Definitely not!"
"Exactly! So, since your current strength isn't enough to give you that courage, I've decided to increase your training from now on!"
Jason spoke with such conviction that the crew almost believed him entirely.
"Eh? Really? Why do I get the feeling you're just looking for an excuse to beat us up?" Luffy, for once, displayed a rare moment of insight, but Zoro quickly shut him down.
"Are you an idiot? You already have to train, so why would he need an excuse?"
Zoro, always determined to become stronger, didn't doubt Jason's intentions for a second.
"Yeah! You're right!"
After Zoro's reassurance, Luffy stopped questioning it.
Jason: (๑≖ᴗ≖) You're learning, Zoro! I don't need to trick you anymore!
After more than half an hour of holding and comforting Robin, Jason finally let her go. Robin, feeling somewhat self-conscious, hurried back to her room on the Going Merry, locking herself inside, too embarrassed to face anyone.
Jason stood up and stretched, a sly grin playing on his lips. Nami and Usopp were too focused on navigating to notice, Zoro had already dozed off, Luffy sat perched on the Merry's figurehead, and Sanji was busy in the kitchen.
Chopper, however, was idle and couldn't help but notice Jason's suspicious behavior. His instincts screamed danger, causing his fur to stand on end. He began to slowly back away, retreating into the safety of the cabin, but left the door slightly ajar to peek outside.
Jason, after a good stretch, reached into a corner and pulled out a wooden baseball bat. In an instant, his body became a blur, and the next sound was the unmistakable "ping" of wood against skulls, followed by the anguished cries of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
Two seconds later, the three of them lay on the deck, heads pressed to the ground and their backsides in the air. Luffy and Zoro each sported a large lump on their heads, while Sanji, not to be outdone, had four or five! Smoke even seemed to rise from them.
The commotion drew the attention of Usopp and Nami, and even Robin peeked out from her room. But upon seeing the usual aftermath of Jason's "training," they all returned to their tasks as if nothing unusual had happened.
They were used to this by now.
"Too cruel!" Chopper muttered, terrified, as he cowered in his hiding spot.
"It hurts! How could you, Jason? Attacking us like that again!"
"Yeah, it's so unfair!"
Zoro remained silent, but the scowl on his face spoke volumes.
"Unfair? Do you think enemies will wait for you to get ready before attacking?"
That argument hit home, and none of them could refute it.
"You've been training for over a week now! Let's see if you've improved. Blindfold yourselves and sit tight!"
Reluctantly, the three complied, covering their eyes and sitting side by side on the deck. Initially, they had been skeptical about Jason's methods, especially the part where they kept getting hit.
But in the past few days, they had started to sense something—a faint awareness of breath. Although they couldn't fully grasp or control it, this small improvement had silenced their doubts.
Jason, wielding his wooden bat, began circling the trio, making them increasingly anxious. They could feel his presence but had no idea where the next strike would come from. They swallowed nervously, bracing themselves.
"Bang Bang Bang!"
As expected, all three were smacked on the head once again!
"Agh! Another lump!"
Jason almost couldn't contain his laughter.
"Ahem! This won't do. You're still getting hit after a week? You might be the worst class I've ever trained! Time to ramp up the intensity!"
And so, another round of beatings commenced.
In truth, Jason knew that being able to sense breath within the first week was a sign of exceptional talent. But he couldn't resist the urge to keep them on their toes. Even Robin, who was usually quick to catch on, couldn't avoid a few bumps.
Nami, listening to the commotion from the helm, sighed deeply.
"Huh~ Never mind, let's just focus on getting to the next island."
As she steered the ship, a small island suddenly came into view, and the sight grabbed her full attention. She shouted over her shoulder, "Hey, everyone! Quiet down! We're nearing land!"
At her words, the entire crew stopped what they were doing and moved to the bow to get a better look. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji's swollen faces nearly made Nami jump in fright. Instinctively, she swung her fist, sending Sanji, who had been the closest, sprawling to the deck.
"Don't get so close to me like that! It's creepy!"
"Miss Nami, you're so charming when you're angry!"
With the island in sight, Jason paused the training. There was no need to continue once they were ashore. The Going Merry slowly approached the port, but something felt off.
"Why do all those docked ships look like pirate ships?" Nami observed with a growing sense of unease.
"Impossible. Who'd be bold enough to dock pirate ships here so openly? That's got to be a joke," Usopp responded, disbelief evident in his voice.
But as the Merry drew closer, the reality of the situation became undeniable. The harbor was indeed filled with pirate ships, their Jolly Rogers fluttering brazenly in the wind. The sight of so many pirate vessels gathered in one place stunned them into silence as the Going Merry cautiously found a spot to dock among them.
Luffy and Zoro made their way to Demon Valley Town in search of information about Sky Island, their steps casual despite the pig heads they wore as disguises. Nami followed close behind, her unease evident as she glanced nervously at her companions.
Meanwhile, Jason was far from idle. Robin had dragged him off on a shopping spree, turning Jason into a human pack mule, loaded with purchases until they finally entered a pub.
"Huh~ Shopping is really hard work! It's more tiring than fighting!" Jason sighed as he downed a glass of juice handed to him by the bartender. Robin smiled knowingly, teasing him that they'd just have to do it again next time.
After a moment, Robin asked the tavern owner about the rumors of Sky Island. The lively chatter in the tavern abruptly ceased, replaced by the sound of derisive laughter.
"Pfft... What is she talking about? Sky Island? Hahahaha!"
"People still believe in that? How stupid can you get! That girl's pretty, but she's got rocks for brains!" a drunken man mocked, stuffing his face with food as others around him joined in.
A vein pulsed on Jason's forehead. In a flash, he appeared beside the man, his hand moving faster than the eye could see. With a soft swish, he placed his blade against the man's neck, the sharp edge biting into his skin, just shy of cutting his artery.
"Is it funny? Laugh again, and I'll make sure you never laugh again."
Thud!
The man next to him collapsed, blood pooling around his lifeless body. The once-mirthful tavern fell silent, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Fights weren't uncommon in Demon Valley, but Jason's speed and lethal intent were something else entirely. Even the infamous Boleng Gai would think twice before crossing someone like him.
"I-I wasn't..." the drunk man stammered, his bravado gone, replaced by abject terror.
"Get out," Jason ordered coldly.
"O-okay, I'm going!" The man scrambled away, his life spared by mere inches.
With the ruckus settled, only Jason and the tavern owner remained. The bartender, though shaken, sighed and muttered, "Boy, you really know how to stir up trouble. I won't be able to do business if this keeps up. Fights happen, but no one's ever been killed."
Robin, seemingly unfazed, continued questioning the owner about Sky Island. Jason had defended her, so there was no way she'd chastise her friend now. The bartender, resigned to his fate, relented and shared what he knew.
Afterward, Robin and Jason left the tavern. As they made their way back, Jason suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! Baby Robin, I just remembered something important. You go on ahead! I'll catch up later!" Jason handed Robin the bags he was carrying.
Robin rolled her eyes, suspecting Jason was just trying to slack off. But she didn't press the issue and continued on her way.
Jason wandered around for a while, eventually finding a fruit stall where he bought a large quantity of fruit. The load was even heavier than the bags he had been carrying earlier. It wasn't just laziness that had him lagging behind; he had plans.
Meanwhile, Luffy, Zoro, and Blackbeard had crossed paths with the hyena Bellamy and his gang, leading to a brutal beating. Now, the pig heads they wore were even more pronounced, and Nami was practically dragging them back to the street.
As fate would have it, they ran into Blackbeard again. Nami threw the battered pair onto the ground, and they groaned as they picked themselves up.
"Luffy? Zoro? Are you guys okay?" she asked, concerned.
"We're fine. Compared to that guy, it's just a scratch," Zoro replied, dusting himself off.
"Yeah, no big deal!" Luffy added.
Nami sighed, realizing she'd worried for nothing. She knew the person they were talking about had to be Jason; only Jason had been beating them up lately.
After reassuring Nami, Luffy and Zoro turned their attention to Blackbeard. But Blackbeard, unconcerned with them, continued his monologue.
"People's dreams will never end! Right!"
The crowd around him laughed, but Blackbeard remained unbothered.
"Enduring fools is part of the journey. Let them laugh! If you want to reach the top, you'll face provocations that don't even deserve a response! Right! Zeha ha ha ha ha!"
"Let's go," Zoro said, turning to leave. Nami had to call Luffy several times before he followed.
As they walked away, Blackbeard apologized and put away his cherry pie, heading in the opposite direction.
When both groups had vanished from sight, Jason appeared at the spot where they had been talking, looking around for signs of them.
After chatting with some locals, he learned that they had already crossed paths.
"Damn! I missed this iconic moment! A hundred million Berries down the drain!" he cursed, slapping his forehead in frustration.
Just as he was about to leave, he overheard mocking voices coming from a nearby tavern, talking about his earlier actions on the next street over.
His face darkened, and with a swift kick, he sent the tavern door flying open, striding inside with an air of menace.
The tavern fell silent, with Bellamy the Hyena and his gang glaring at him.
"What's so funny about asking about Sky Island? I didn't catch it outside. Care to repeat it?" Jason placed the fruit on a table, picked a chair, and propped his feet up on the table with a smirk.
"Pfft... Hahahaha! Look, another idiot has walked in!" one of Bellamy's lackeys jeered before Bellamy could respond.
Jason didn't react, his expression calm and unbothered.
After the laughter died down, Bellamy, sitting at the bar, took a swig of his drink and swaggered over to Jason, arrogance oozing from him.
"I said, people who believe in Sky Island are complete idiots! You're all just eyesores! Idiots who can only daydream! That woman on the next street too—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, Jason struck, sending Bellamy flying through the tavern wall. Jason, who had been lounging in his chair, was suddenly standing where Bellamy had been.
The sudden violence left everyone stunned. They blinked, unsure if they had seen it right.
"Is this for real? Bellamy, with a bounty of 55 million Berries, was just sent flying?"
"I've already killed today. A few more won't make a difference! Unlike Luffy and the others, I'm not here to make friends—I just want to be in a good mood!"
Jason's cold, emotionless voice filled the room. Another crash echoed as Bellamy, who had been thrown outside, was sent flying back inside. He crashed into several tables, struggling to stand, only to be kicked down again.
"You lot don't even have dreams, yet you dare mock those who do? You think you're so great with your pathetic bounties? I've seen a lot of trash, but you're the most ignorant trash I've ever met!"
Jason walked slowly through the debris, his footsteps echoing in the silent tavern. Bellamy's eyes were wide with fear as he tried to stand, but the pain wracking his body made it impossible.
Jason had held back his strength, or Bellamy would have been dead already. He stepped on Bellamy's chest, the sound of cracking ribs reverberating through the tavern.
"I don't care enough to kill trash like you, but you had the nerve to mock me and Robin for asking about Sky Island? Was it funny?"
Bellamy was too pained to reply, unable to even scream. He was completely helpless under Jason's foot.
Jason, growing bored with the lack of challenge, decided to end it. He drew his knife and slit Bellamy's throat, not sparing the remaining seven or eight thugs who had jeered at him earlier.
Anyone who had dared to mock him and Robin was swiftly dispatched, their blood staining the tavern floor.