A/N: Sorry I am late again, I should post this last week. I have a good news, on 27 december I plan to further my studies on university, I also plan to continue this story until the ending.
After Kizaru escaped , carrying the wounded Garling and Shamrock away, the Marines had completely lost the battle. The Vice Admirals were severely injured and even Akainu had fallen unconscious.
Only a handful of survivors remained, pirates like Mr. 5, Miss Valentine, and a few others who had barely escaped the carnage.
Jack didn't bother dealing with Baroque Works at this point. Instead, he deliberately let the survivors go, hoping they would report what had happened to Crocodile. Knowing that man cautious nature, Jack expected Crocodile to avoid any confrontation with the Straw Hat Pirates in the future.
All around, thick plumes of smoke rose from the ground. Even after Akainu defeat, the land still burned, the rocks that had been turn into magma are not reverting back to stone. Large sections of the island were permanently transformed into flowing magma. Half of Whiskey Peak had become a wasteland, uninhabitable after Akainu unleashed his awakened magma form.
Every ship was destroyed either it is from Marine, Revolutionary, and pirates. The only ship that are still survive is the Going Merry.
The Iron Legion, Jack mechanical army or a group of iron man had been reduced to just five functioning units. The rest were destroyed in the battle.
"Jack! Earlier when we were fighting... those robots! Can I control one?" Luffy ran up, eyes gleaming with childish excitement. "Are they alive!?"
Usopp gasped beside him, his jaw dropping. "T-They're Iron Men! Real Iron Men! I've dreamed of something like this since I was a kid!" He crouched low, circling one of the towering suits in awe. "Look at that armor//// it's so shiny, so strong! I bet even a cannonball wouldn't scratch it!"
"Luffy," Jack said, slightly exasperated, "didn't you see them when I deployed them against the Marines?"
"Shishishi! Yeah, but that was from far away! Seeing them up close makes me wanna have one too!"
Jack chuckled lightly. "They're called the Iron Legion," he explained, grinning. "Each one's powered by an artificial core and guided by my AI system, JARVIS."
"JARVIS?!" Luffy tilted his head curiously. "Does the Going Merry control them?"
"Not exactly," Jack replied, before turn to one of the ironman. "Iron Legion, say hello to Luffy."
One of the Iron Legion units turned its head toward Luffy, eyes glowing blue. A clear, robotic voice echoed through its speakers.
"Good afternoon, Captain Luffy. I am Iron Legion, a combat unit serving under the Straw Hat Pirates. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Luffy's eyes widened like dinner plates. "WAAAAH! IT TALKED! IT TALKED!" He leapt around the machine in circles, laughing uncontrollably. "Hey, hey, Iron legion! Can you punch? Can you fly? Can you shoot beams... like pew pew pew!?"
"Captain," Jack said, half sighing, "didn't you see them fly and shoot beams earlier?"
"Oh yeah! I saw it from far away! Do it again!" Luffy shouted.
"Affirmative," said the Iron Legion. "Each unit is equipped with repulsor technology, high-intensity thrusters, and advanced shielding. However, for safety reasons, Captain Jack has restricted combat demonstrations."
"SHOW ME! SHOW ME!" Luffy interrupted, waving his arms.
Usopp jumped up eagerly beside him. "Yeah! Fire the beam! Or maybe fly a little! Just a little!"
Jack rubbed his temple with a sigh. "You two are worse than children."
Still, he eventually gave in and ordered a short demonstration. As the Iron Legion units rose into the air, glowing repulsors lighting the smoky sky, Luffy and Usopp's eyes sparkled with pure awe.
When the display ended, Luffy threw his hands up and laughed. "That was awesome! Now Jack! Turn the ground into meat! We're having a feast!"
Jack could only shake his head, with annoyance. What ever happen for Luffy meat is still important for him.
***
During a party, Monkey D Dragon looked at Jack. "That metal army of yours," he began, "the Iron Legion. I saw how they fought. They're powerful. Are they still operational?"
The question drew everyone's attention instantly. Even Luffy stopped chewing.
Jack nodded. "Only five remain functional. The rest are beyond repair. But with enough time and resources, I can rebuild them. Maybe even better than before."
Dragon eyes narrowed. "Would you consider giving the Revolutionary Army access to them? With that kind of technology, we could protect more people... keep villages safe from the World Government and those pirates who wanted to destroy it."
Luffy perked up at that, nearly spilling his meat. "Eh?! Iron guys protecting people? That's awesome!"
Jack laughed quietly. "That's actually possible. I can build it for you but it takes time. The materials aren't easy to find."
"Jack build me more," asked Luffy.
"We already have 5, you want one more. It will take a times to build it," replied Jack.
Luffy slammed his hand on the table. "I don't care how long it takes! I want one! A big shiny one that can fly!"
Jack raised an eyebrow, smirking. "There's one condition."
Luffy tilted his head. "Condition?"
"Yes." Jack leaned forward slightly. "You must invite Kuma to officially join the Straw Hat Pirates."
Everyone went silent
Kuma, sitting quietly in the corner, looked up with a faint flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Luffy stared at him for a moment. "Kuma…" He scratched his head. "But why?"
"Kuma is actually a cyborg, his body had turned into robot?" whispered Jack.
"Wha...What? Kuma show me your robotic arm," asked Kuma.
Kuma blinked, before showing his eyes to Luffy.
"Awesome!" Luffy eyes bright like start. "You're joining us, Kuma! Welcome to the crew!"
***
Inside the cold dimly lit cell, Akainu sat against the wall, his body covered in bandages. His wounds had been treated, but he didn't have energy and can't use his ability due to a thick chain bound his arms and torso, the chain surface etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly red. The links pulsed, draining his strength, absorbing his stamina and power from his body.
He could feel it, his devil fruit magma no longer burned within him like before. His body felt heavy, dull and weak.
Across the corridor, Doberman and Onigumo were still alive, restrained in a similar manner. Their breathing was shallow, their spirits crushed and their strength had become weak like him.
Suddenly he heard the metallic sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. A figure entered the cellblock, it was Jack, his expression unreadable.
He stopped in front of Akainu cell, folding his arms. "Tell me something, Sakazuki," he said coldly. "If you truly are justice… then why did you defend the Celestial Dragons?"
Akainu glared at him, fury flashing in his eyes. "You pirates don't understand justice!" he spat.
Jack didn't respond immediately. Instead, he crouched down, his tone calm, almost curious. "You think the World Government fights pirates because they want peace? No. They need pirates. Without chaos, the kingdoms wouldn't fear and pay tributes to them so marines would protect them. Fear keeps the tribute flowing."
Akainu jaw tightened. "Shut up pirate scum."
"Think," Jack pressed on. "If the Marines really wanted to end piracy, they'd station a Vice Admiral in each of the four seas and guard Reverse Mountain. No pirate would ever reach the Grand Line. But they won't. They want the weak to suffer, so the nobles can profit."
Akainu said nothing this time. His anger had faded, replaced by silence and fatigue.
Jack smirked. "You see it now, don't you? You've been their weapon all along."
Moments later Jack opened the cell and dragged Akainu into another chamber lined with strange machinery and steel restraints. Thick cables clung to Sakazuki body, running into a massive glass cylinder that glowed with heat.
"Yes…" Jack murmured, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Let's see what happens when we extract the power of magma itself."
The room filled with the hum of machines as sparks danced along the cables. Akainu agony was about to begin.
Before he started, Jack paused and looked down at the Admiral. "Do you want to know what this is?" he asked.
Akainu said nothing. He stared back, furious but numb. Jack didn't seem angry, only amused. He taunted the Admiral instead.
"I found a way to extract your magma power and leave you powerless," Jack said. "Not only that, your body will still bear the devil fruit mark, but you'll take on its weaknesses not it power. You cannot touch sea-stone, and if you do you'll feel your body become weak. Fall into the sea, and you'll drown."
"Impossible," Akainu muttered in disbelief.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jack smirked. "You'll get first-hand experience."
"Damn scum," Akainu spat.
Jack's voice hardened. "Do you want the truth, Sakazuki? In my eyes, the Marines are pirates. The word 'justice' on your cloak is a lie, an excuse the Celestial Dragons use to legalize robbery, kidnapping, slavery, murder. All the rotten things the powerful do."
Jack take a big syringe and injected it into Akainu before he lost consciousness.
An hour later Akainu finally awake. He blinked, groggym, the last things he could remember were injections and darkness. The first clear image was Jack face, smiling down at him.
"You're awake," Jack said. He stepped back and almost casually, revealed the fruit cradled in a padded case. "Thank you for coming to me. I've extracted the devil fruit from you. That should make us a lot stronger."
Akainu stared, speechless, unable to process that Jack could do what he'd claimed.
Jack eyes glittered. "Now… shall I kill you, or ransom you back to your masters? The World Government will pay to get their prized weapon back. I plan to squeeze every last thing out of them."
Jack thrown akainu into his prison again and left the room. There is nothing to talk with him anymore, let him rot it in Prison before Marines try to take him back.
A day earlier he managed to wiretape marines and world government conversation, though they used encrypted den den mushi but with how advance Jarvis is. This encrypted den den mushi are nothing, it was easily by passed by him.
***
"Yo, Strawhats pirates," he called them.. "I got some interesting news from the top of the world."
Luffy was lying upside-down on the railing, chewing some meat on his mouth. "Huh? You brought meat?"
Jack chuckled. "Not this time, Captain. But what I have might be even better... it is money."
That single word jolted half the crew awake. Nami head whipped around so fast it was almost a blur. "Did you say money?"
Jack raised a brow. "Not just money. Ten billion berries."
Every head turned his way.
"T-Ten billion!? That's enough to buy an island!" exclaimed Usopp, eyes popping.
"Or feed Luffy for two days," commented Sanji wryly as he smirked
"MEAT?! Who's feeding me?!" shouted Luffy suddenly, springing up after catching the word.
Jack grinned. "Relax, Captain. I just said the World Government is willing to pay ten billion berries to get Akainu back."
The laughter died instantly. The words were too shocking. Even Zoro stopped sharpening his swords.
Vivi and Nojiko exchanged uneasy glances, while Bonney leaned casually against the mast, her pink hair swaying in the sea breeze. Kuma stood silently behind her, his massive form casting a long shadow.
Jack continued, "I managed to wiretap a transmission between the Marines and the Five Elders. They're panicking. Akainu's defeat hit them harder than anyone expected. They're ready to pay anything to bring him home."
"Serves him right," muttered Zoro, crossing his arms. "It's about time someone made him bleed."
Jack nodded slowly. "True. But that's not all. I also managed to extract something… special from him."
He raised his hand, and a small metallic container emerged from his belt. Inside it glowed a sphere of molten red light, swirling like living magma. The crew instinctively stepped back from the heat it radiated.
"This," said Jack, his eyes gleaming, "is the power of Akainu, the logia magma. Who wanted to eat it?"
Zoro looked unimpressed. "I've no use for magma, I am swordsman."
"If I ate that thing, my cooking would literally burn to ash. Pass," replied Sanji
Luffy tilted his head, eyes wide with curiosity. "Can I eat one more devil fruit?"
Jack turned to him with a faint chuckle. "You'd die, Captain. Two devil fruits inside one body will tear it apart. The energy clash is too volatile... even your rubber body couldn't contain it. You'd explode before your first punch."
Luffy face dropped. "Aw, man… guess I'll stick with the one I've got then."
"How about you Bartolomeo, do you want to eat it?" asked Jack.
"Me?" Bartolomeo pointed at himself.
"Yes," replied Jack.
A/N: There is 10 advanced chapter on my patreon.
-patreon.com/zerelix