Strike the Heart, Dragon’s Taunts

"Woo... woo woo woo..."

The wind suddenly picked up. The once gentle breeze at the seaside turned into a raging storm.

The wind grew stronger, bending the towering trees Jon had summoned. Smaller trees snapped, branches broke, and leaves scattered in all directions.

Not only that, but as the strong winds howled, the sky darkened, filled with rolling thunderclouds, as if something ominous was brewing.

"Wind, clouds, and possibly even lightning—so this is Dragon's power?"

Jon's sharp eyes never left Dragon. When he noticed the sudden change in the weather, his expression shifted.

He had never been able to figure out what kind of Devil Fruit Dragon had eaten, but judging from what was happening now, it wasn't something ordinary. The closest guess would be the Storm-Storm Fruit.

Using wind against trees? Jon smirked.

If they were ordinary trees, they might not withstand the storm, but the trees he summoned were anything but ordinary. They had extreme durability and numbers on their side.

Boom!

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crashed down, striking one of the massive trees. Sparks flew, and flames erupted, quickly spreading.

"So that's your plan—using lightning to ignite my forest and burn it down?"

Jon quickly realized Dragon's intent. Wind alone wouldn't destroy his trees, but fire could. If the flames spread, even the toughest trees wouldn't stand a chance.

Jon vs. Dragon!

The battle erupted in full force. Neither side held back—they both unleashed their most powerful abilities right from the start.

Because Jon had created a massive forest, it gave Vitas a chance to escape. He didn't waste a second—before the others could react, he was already sprinting away at full speed.

Vitas' plan was simple: get out as fast as possible and inform Sakazuki and the others.

He knew he was no match for Dragon. But if Sakazuki and the other Admirals got involved, that would be a different story.

As for Jon?

Even though Jon had helped him escape, Vitas didn't fully trust him. He suspected there was something strange about Jon and Dragon's relationship, though he wasn't sure what. He figured it was best to let the Fleet Admiral handle it.

Meanwhile, Jon and Dragon's battle intensified. Giant trees continued to emerge, lunging at Dragon like massive claws.

But Dragon was as fast as a bolt of lightning. Even with Jon using his Observation Haki at full power, he could barely track Dragon's movements.

His attacks simply couldn't keep up.

Instead, it was Dragon's powerful winds and sudden lightning strikes that kept forcing Jon onto the defensive.

Jon didn't even bother using his Giant Form. Dragon was too fast, and although his Wood Giants were powerful, they weren't effective against such a high-speed opponent.

"Falling Willow Blades!"

Tens of thousands of razor-sharp leaves shot out like flying daggers, glinting coldly as they covered a vast area.

This was Jon's counterattack.

Dragon was fast? Then Jon would simply cover every possible escape route. With no gaps, even Dragon wouldn't be able to avoid them all.

Jon's control over trees was unparalleled. Even with tens of thousands of leaves in motion, he could direct each one with precision.

The attack mimicked Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura from Bleach—a sheer overwhelming flood of blades.

Soon, Jon heard the sounds of impact—his leaves striking against something hard.

He instantly knew what had happened. Dragon had coated his body with Armament Haki.

By now, most of the trees around them had been burned or blown away, leaving a barren battlefield.

Boom!

Dragon suddenly broke through the falling leaves and charged at Jon, throwing a powerful punch.

Jon didn't hesitate. He swung his own fist, meeting Dragon head-on.

At that moment, the ground beneath them shattered, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

There was no fancy technique—just pure raw strength.

Jon used his full power, but he couldn't shake Dragon. Instead, it was Jon's footing that collapsed more.

Boom!

The ground exploded like an earthquake. Both fighters leaped back, distancing themselves.

Dragon didn't continue attacking. Instead, he stood still, looking at Jon.

Jon narrowed his eyes.

He knew he couldn't defeat Dragon outright, but he also had no intention of backing down.

Meanwhile, the revolutionary soldiers that had surrounded them earlier were still lingering, watching from a distance. Most of them had already gone after Vitas, leaving only a handful nearby, likely waiting for Dragon's orders.

"Jon," Dragon finally spoke. "One last time—are you willing to join us? Name your price."

They had already fought, and yet Dragon still asked?

Jon found it ridiculous.

"You already know my answer," he replied flatly. "Why ask again?"

Dragon shook his head and sighed. "Jon, I always thought you were a smart man. But now I see you're not. Your choices are disappointing."

Jon's expression darkened. "You think you're so high and mighty? Who gave you the right to judge me?"

"I'm just stating facts," Dragon said. "Tell me, do you know why, despite your talent being equal to Sakazuki and Borsalino, you've never surpassed them? Why, despite your high starting point and the support of Zephyr and Tsuru, you've never been able to outshine them?"

Jon's eyes flickered. "What are you getting at?"

Dragon's words hit a nerve.

It was true—his potential wasn't any less than Sakazuki's or Borsalino's. He had been mentored by two of the highest-ranking Marines.

Yet, he had always been second place.

He used to think it was because of his assigned department, that he hadn't been given enough opportunities to earn glory on the battlefield.

But as time passed, he realized that wasn't the real reason. Tsuru had given him chances. He simply hadn't seized them.

Jon was beginning to understand his own shortcomings.

But no one liked having their flaws thrown in their face.

He wasn't a saint. Being openly called out like this made him furious.

Seeing Jon's grim expression, Dragon smiled. He could tell his words were hitting their mark.

Dragon had known Jon for years.

Through careful observation, he had pinpointed Jon's weaknesses.

And now, he was exploiting them.

If he could convince Jon to join, that was ideal. But if not, shaking Jon's confidence would still weaken him in battle.

A shaken mind meant weaker combat ability.

That was when Dragon would strike.

"You know your problem, Jon?" Dragon continued. "It's not your talent, or even your luck. It's your personality."

"Sakazuki is hotheaded, but his convictions never waver. Borsalino is lazy, but he always knows how to avoid danger. They both have something you lack—decisiveness.

"You, on the other hand, hesitate too much. You overthink orders, always trying to perfect them.

"But high-ranking officers don't want perfection. They want soldiers who obey without question."

Jon's fists clenched.

"Jon, you're not decisive. You waver. You let others sway you. And worst of all? You think you're strong-minded when you're not.

"You've been pampered. If not for your talent, you'd have been devoured by the cutthroat world of the Marines long ago."

"Shut up."

Jon's face twisted with rage.

Dragon smiled. "See? You're easy to provoke."

Jon roared in fury. His arms expanded, stretching out like massive wooden whips, slamming toward Dragon.

Dragon merely sidestepped.

Jon's attack struck the ground, shaking the battlefield.

"Jon," Dragon said coolly. "You dream of becoming an Admiral. But you're not even fit for that title. You lack conviction.

"This world needs change. If you ever open your eyes to reality, you'll understand.

"Until then—"

A storm erupted.

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