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[TIOP] Chapter : 72
🕑 Added 2025-03-17 19:04:02 +0000 UTCAfter returning to his villa, Jack focused on recuperating while continuing to unlock his next gates. In just a few days, he had already opened two more gates. As for the remaining ones, he was determined to fully unlock three more of them before any major events, aiming to push his combat power to an even higher level.
For the next gates that remained blocked and couldn’t yet be opened, Jack had no immediate solution. However, the training methods he followed provided clear requirements. As long as he continued working toward those goals, it was only a matter of time before he could unlock them all.
Each newly opened gate significantly boosted his chakra, more than doubling his overall strength. In truth, he hadn’t even fought Tokikake at full power.
Right now, he could unleash chakra-enhanced haki strikes at full strength. If he used the weakened version, like in his fight with Kaji, if he wanted, he could have taken out Tokikake with the first strike after his guard was down, but he wanted to test his limits without emission and advanced observation haki.
"Gion, what are you doing? I just recovered from my injuries, and you already want to spar again?"
Early in the morning, Jack found himself dragged out of his house and straight to the training grounds by Gion, who was eager to test his skills.
"Hurry up! I'm very curious about your strength. You defeated Tokikake last time—this time, I’ll be your opponent!" Gion said excitedly.
Jack glanced around at the gathered crowd before pointing at them. "Alright, even if you’re interested in my strength, what about them?" He gestured toward the marines watching the scene unfold. The weakest among them were vice admirals of the Marine headquarters.
"Oh? Just because you defeated me, you think we’re not even qualified to watch?" Vice Admiral Yamakaji asked with a smirk, half-joking, half-mocking.
Jack raised his hands in mock surrender. "Yama-san, don’t misunderstand! I never said that—you did."
Yamakaji’s eye twitched in annoyance, nearly making him lunge forward for a fight.
"Enough with the chatter. Jack, show us your full strength!" Sengoku's voice cut through the tension, instantly deciding the match.
"Alright then!" Jack exhaled, focusing on Gion. "Gion, I won’t hold back, so be careful!"
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed Shigan bullets at Gion.
"Clang!"
Expecting this, Gion had already drawn Konpira the moment Jack moved. She had heard from Tokikake about his technique—one that had the speed of Admiral Kizaru’s laser bullet. Anticipating his attack, she swiftly intercepted it, her blade meeting the blast with a sharp, metallic ring.
The sheer force of the impact made Gion instinctively take several steps back, dispersing the power of Shigan bullets in the process.
"Huh~ It really does have the speed of Admiral Kizaru’s laser bullet!"
"Could this guy have eaten some kind of enhancement Devil Fruit?"
The gathered vice admirals murmured among themselves, speculation growing as they observed the battle.
Seizing the opportunity while Gion was still regaining her footing, Jack unleashed a flurry of chakra-enhanced haki attacks.
With five consecutive strikes, a relentless force bore down on Gion, keeping her on the defensive. She found herself unable to counterattack, her movements restricted by the sheer pressure of the technique.
Jack chuckled. "Heh, Gion, you haven't improved much. Try handling this one! The Rokushiki—Death Claws!"
This was a newly unlocked technique from the system—an advanced attack that evolved from the Shigan of the Navy’s Rokushiki.
"Damn it! One-Sword Style—Axis Break!"
Frustrated by the overwhelming pressure of Jack's punches, Gion gritted her teeth. She hadn’t expected Jack to have the audacity to engage in close combat at a time like this. Without hesitation, she retaliated with a sharp sword attack, slashing fiercely at her opponent.
"Tekkai"
Just as Gion's Axis Break was about to strike, Jack reacted swiftly. His Death Claws had just been neutralized, and now a gleaming arc of sword energy came slicing toward him. In that moment of urgency, his entire body took on a strange, ethereal purple hue. Crossing his arms over his chest, he directly withstood Gion’s powerful slash.
This technique, like the others, was chakra-enhanced, evolving from Tekkai, one of the Navy’s Six Styles. After testing it extensively, Jack found that its defensive capability neared even full-body Armament Haki.
"Impressive talent. He has fully mastered all Rokushiki! An ordinary vice admiral would struggle to surpass him."
Sengoku, observing the battle, nodded approvingly.
Tsuru also acknowledged his skill. "To withstand Gion’s slash like that, Jack’s Tekkai must have reached an extraordinary level."
Akainu, however, scoffed, his expression slightly sour. "Hmph. He’s holding back. Even while suppressing Gion, all he had to do was continue his weird attacks. According to Tokikake, if he had unleashed his tenth consecutive strike, Gion wouldn’t have been able to block it. After all, swordsmen aren’t known for their defense."
Kizaru, as usual, remained unimpressed. "Oh my~~ How terrifying. These young ones really know how to shake things up." His tone was as lazy and sarcastic as ever.
Back on the battlefield, Jack skillfully avoided close combat, relying on his agility to keep his distance. He continuously harassed Gion with Shigan bullets, his precise attacks gradually taking their toll. After prolonged defense, Gion had sustained several minor injuries.
Frustrated by his evasive tactics, Gion finally snapped. "You brat! Stop running and fight me head-on!"
Jack grinned. "In that case, Vice Admiral Gion, I won’t hold back!"
With that, he stopped his movements, gathered his full strength, and unleashed a devastating attack.
"Ballistic Fist!"
A powerful strike surged toward Gion, carrying the force of his strength at full power.
"One-Sword Style: Mantra Dharani!"
Seeing Jack unleash his full-strength punch, Gion immediately responded with her own signature technique, slashing straight at the incoming attack.
"Aokiji, intervene!"
Tsuru, concerned that Gion might be injured, quickly called out the moment she saw both fighters unleashing such devastating moves.
Meanwhile, some of the rear admirals watching from the sidelines were already struggling against the sheer force radiating from the battlefield. The powerful shockwaves forced them to shield their eyes, bracing themselves as they stepped back to avoid being caught in the blast.
"Ice Age!"
At the last moment, Admiral Aokiji stepped in, his ice-based Devil Fruit ability instantly freezing the surrounding area to neutralize the impending collision.
"Roar—!" Boom!
Despite the sudden freeze, Jack’s attack tore through the ice barrier, shattering it on one side. On the other, Gion’s slash followed suit, breaking through as well.
However, thanks to Aokiji’s timely intervention, the power of both attacks had been significantly reduced, preventing further destruction.
"That’s enough, Gion. Stand down!" Sengoku ordered firmly, noticing the lingering determination in her stance. She was ready to unleash her full power.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
Although reluctant, Gion withdrew her sword, casting Jack a sharp glare before sheathing her blade.
Jack, ever nonchalant, grinned as he approached. "Heh, Gion, this was supposed to be just a sparring match, but that last strike of yours looked like you were actually trying to kill me!"
Gion merely huffed in response.
Sengoku, however, eyed Jack with curiosity. "Boy, don't you usually feel drained after using those attacks? Yet you look completely unfazed this time. Why is that?"
Jack shook his head. "My chakra and haki strength have improved a bit, and I didn’t use them too many times just now. I still have a little energy left, but not much."
"I see. It looks like your strength has indeed grown significantly," Sengoku remarked with a nod.
Jack’s eyes lit up with anticipation. "So, does this mean you are considering promoting me again?"
"Not a chance. You've just been promoted." Sengoku replied flatly. "Although you’ve made some notable contributions, you’ve also caused plenty of trouble. Your merits and demerits cancel each other out, meaning you haven’t earned a promotion to Vice Admiral just yet."
Jack clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch, I knew it. You won’t even let me go out to sea—how am I supposed to rack up achievements?"
Recently, he had spent all his diamonds and was in desperate need of a way to make some extra money.
Sengoku pondered for a moment before speaking. "The expansion of the G-5 branch in the New World isn’t going smoothly. You can head over there and assist with the operation. But don’t wander too far—you need to be ready to return whenever the headquarters calls."
Chief of Staff Tsuru, who had been silently listening, raised an eyebrow. "Sengoku, what exactly are you planning?"
Sengoku met her gaze and nodded. "We’re facing resistance in the New World. We need someone like Jack to stir things up and remind everyone that the Navy is still a force to be reckoned with. His presence will help ensure the operation proceeds smoothly."
