Chapter 122: You Need More Calcium

The blazing fury erupted like a volcano, surging toward Jack's head. In that moment, all rationality left him. The only thought pounding in his mind was simple: I'm gonna kill Fozu.

"This is too much! WAY too much!" Jack roared internally, seething with rage.

Ugh, salty! When was the last time this guy even washed his hair?

Locking onto Fozu, who kept darting around, Jack bellowed, his voice thunderous:

"Stop dodging, you damn coward! If I catch you, I swear I'll use this kanabo to unclog your insides!"

"Bastard!" Fozu yelled back, his voice trembling between indignation and panic. "Don't push it too far! Biting is a legitimate form of attack! I'm a Saber-Toothed Tiger from the Ancient Zoan class of the Cat-Cat Fruit, dammit! It's part of my arsenal!"

"Legitimate, my ass!" Jack's anger burned hotter as he pointed at him.

"Who the hell fights by biting people?! I'm a Fish-Man! My teeth are sharper than yours, and even I don't stoop that low!"

When emotions run high, people tend to resort to primal instincts. The scene devolved into chaos, with Jack chasing Fozu in a fiery rage, while Fozu scrambled away in desperation. Thousands of onlooking pirates swiveled their heads back and forth like spectators at a tennis match.

Nearby, Sasaki stood frozen. Kaido, his towering frame radiating pressure, clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

After what felt like an eternity of cat-and-mammoth pursuit, the two finally stopped, panting heavily. Jack, catching his breath, suddenly noticed his teeth starting to fall out from all the exertion.

"Oi! Don't tell me you're gonna start biting again!" Jack shouted. "If you try that crap one more time, don't blame me for biting you back!"

Fozu stiffened, a chill running down his spine. If not for his quick reflexes and the use of Soru earlier, he would've been turned into a mammoth-pounded pancake by now.

He couldn't afford to get hit. Jack's monstrous attacks were too fast, too relentless. Even with Tekkai, Fozu doubted his body could hold up against such raw power.

Jack, noticing Fozu's hesitation, smirked. He flexed his hulking muscles, then glanced at Fozu's flamboyant outfit, a strange thought crossing his mind:

Damn, overtraining really does attract weirdos. They weren't lying!

Spitting out the last of his loose teeth, Jack pointed a finger at Fozu and declared:

"Alright, no teeth this time! No biting, no spitting, no funny business!"

"You've got any other tricks, bring them on! Don't worry, I won't kill you. Out of respect for Kaido-sama, I'll let you off with your life!"

Fozu snarled at the insult, snapping back:

"Big words coming from someone who's about to get their ass handed to them! And don't think I need your mercy!"

He smirked confidently, continuing his taunt.

"So, Ancient Zoan Mammoth, huh? Thick skin, brute strength—you've squeezed every drop of potential out of that fruit. But you're slow, and your reactions are garbage. My Saber-Tooth can match you where it counts!"

"Besides," Fozu added, flexing his claws, "these aren't just for show. My fangs are sharp, but my claws? They'll shred through that tough hide of yours like butter!"

With that, Fozu lunged forward at blinding speed. Jack stood firm, smirking as if testing the resilience of his defense for Kaido's benefit.

"Let's see what you've got."

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Fozu's claws slashed wildly across Jack's muscular frame, leaving nothing but faint white streaks on his skin. Realizing his attacks weren't landing as intended, Fozu leapt back, frustrated.

"Damn it! Let's see you shrug off this!"

Drawing a long dagger from his belt, he aimed it at Jack's chest. "Shigan: Blade Shot!"

"BOOM!"

A blade-shaped air blast struck Jack squarely, shredding his yellow vest into tatters. The ruined garment fluttered to the ground, revealing Jack's chiseled, hulking torso.

"You bastard…" Jack growled, his face contorting in rage as he dropped out of his hybrid form for a moment. He quickly regained his composure, though the simmering fury remained.

"I swear, your attacks are way too philosophical," Jack snarled. "First biting, then ripping off my clothes? What kind of weirdo fights like that? If you keep this up, I'm really gonna lose it!"

Fozu, undeterred, fired off another Shigan air bullet. "Let's see you laugh this one off!"

Kaido loomed in the distance, his towering form reminding them both of the stakes. Determined to prove his worth, Fozu gathered his energy for a final, devastating attack.

An intense aura flared around him. His movements became erratic, dangerous. Sensing this, Jack re-entered his hybrid form, his body bristling with anticipation.

In a flash, Fozu closed the gap. His claws, now coated in jet-black Armament Haki, glinted ominously as they slashed down toward Jack's chest.

"Shigan!"

"BAM! BAM! BAM!"

The strikes came in rapid succession, so fast they left afterimages. Jack could almost hear the dramatic voiceover in his mind: ORA ORA ORA ORA!

But then—CRACK!

The sound of bones breaking echoed across the battlefield.

Fozu froze. His claws hung limply, his arms bent at unnatural angles. The pain was excruciating, yet his shock dulled it.

"H-how…?" he stammered, staring wide-eyed at Jack's unscathed torso.

Jack smirked, towering over him. "You done? Guess it's my turn."

"IRON BODY!" Fozu yelled in desperation, activating Tekkai to brace himself.

But it was too late. Jack's massive kanabo came crashing down.

WHAM!

Darkness enveloped Fozu as he collapsed to the ground. In the fleeting seconds before unconsciousness claimed him, he vaguely registered Jack's voice.

"You really need more calcium, pal. That bone density is looking real weak."

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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg