The Law of the Jungle

The strong rule the weak — a law as old as time itself.Who first conceived this idea doesn't matter; what matters is that everyone adheres to it. And so it was on this day. This was the day my life took a sharp turn after meeting Monkey D. Luffy. The events of One Piece had unfolded much as I remembered, with Luffy meeting Zoro and being impressed by his ambition, character, and undeniable strength.

I had been wandering through Shelltown , pondering my next move, when I saw Luffy and Koby heading toward the Marine Headquarters. Deep down, I knew this would be the day I left Shells Town for good. I had spent a year preparing for this moment, gathering 200 million berries and honing my skills. Though I hadn't awakened Haki or Conqueror's Haki yet, I could feel the stirrings of Armament Haki within me. Observation Haki, though? That was never my forte. I'm not a spiritual person; I rely on endurance, ruthlessness, and pragmatism.

My sword, however, was my true strength. It wasn't just a weapon but a vessel of power I was still learning to wield. With it, I believed I could stand against anyone. As I saw Luffy walking determinedly, I joined him and asked, "When are we leaving?"

Luffy, with his trademark grin, shared his plan to free Zoro and recruit him into his crew. I laughed at the sheer absurdity of his plan and teased him for his over-the-top bravado, but I agreed to follow him. Despite my initial doubts, there was something magnetic about Luffy—his unwavering belief in himself and others was infectious.

We reached the Marine Headquarters, and Luffy prepared to smash through a wall. Instead, I stepped forward and, in true Spartan fashion, delivered a powerful kick that sent the wall flying across the courtyard. The debris crashed through several more walls before finally stopping. Luffy didn't say anything, but the impressed glint in his eyes spoke volumes. Zoro, still tied up in the courtyard, looked at me as if I were something otherworldly. I could tell he was silently gauging whether he could take me on, but even he seemed to sense the answer wasn't in his favor—not yet, at least.

As we strode into the courtyard, the Marines scrambled, pointing hundreds of weapons at us. I turned to Luffy and said, "You free Zoro. I'll handle them." Without hesitation, I moved.

It was a dance of destruction. Step by step, I weaved through the Marines, each movement precise and brutal. Blades, bullets, and fists came at me, but none could land a hit. My sword sang a symphony of violence, cutting down man after man. The courtyard became a battlefield, and by the time Zoro was free, the remaining Marines hesitated, unsure if they could face me.

Luffy, however, seemed slightly perturbed by my methods. His moral compass was more rigid than mine, and I could see the disapproval in his eyes. But behind that disapproval was respect—respect for the countless battles I must have fought to reach this level of skill. Helmeppo soon emerged, carrying Zoro's swords, followed by Captain Morgan himself. I had seen Morgan terrorize the people of Shelltown countless times. Though I wasn't a noble man, and in this world, I'd likely become a monster to survive, I couldn't let his tyranny stand any longer.

Zoro wanted to take on Morgan himself, but I stopped him with a firm hand. "This is personal," I said. Zoro hesitated but ultimately respected my decision, stepping back to let me handle it.

For the first time since arriving in this world, I unleashed everything I had. Drawing my massive black blade, I swung it with precision and fury. The strike was simple yet devastating. A trail of dark energy followed the blade, carving a deep five-meter trench into the ground. Morgan, standing arrogantly moments before, was cleaved in two before he even realized what had happened.

The power of my strike surprised even me. It was as though my anger had unlocked a new level of mastery with my blade. I had officially become a swordmaster, capable of delivering flying slashes that could devastate anything in their path.

Luffy and Zoro were stunned. Even the remaining Marines, once hostile, stared at me with a mixture of fear and gratitude. With Morgan gone, the people of Shelltown were free, and the Marines themselves thanked us for ending his reign of terror.

As we stood at the port, it seemed our paths were about to diverge. But just as I began to say my farewells, I heard Luffy's voice behind me, filled with a warmth and certainty I couldn't ignore. "Jack," he said, "you know there's always a place for you on my crew, right?"

It might have seemed illogical to anyone else. I had known them only a few days, but in that moment, I knew Luffy was right. My place was with them, on this grand adventure. Grateful for his words, I turned back and accepted his offer.

And so, I became the second official member of the Straw Hat Pirates, a brutal force to be reckoned with. My name would soon become infamous, a nightmare for the Marines and the World Government alike. Koby, meanwhile, joined the Marines, stronger and more determined than in the original tale. I'm curious to see what kind of monster he'll grow into.

This was only the beginning of our journey, but I knew one thing for certain: the world wasn't ready for us.

POV Helmeppo 

I am Helmeppo, son of Captain Morgan, and this is the day my life was forever changed. It began like any other—basking in my father's authority, lording it over the weak, and feeding my delusions of power. I had Zoro's swords in my possession, a token of my control over the infamous pirate hunter. I had beaten him mercilessly when he refused to bow to me, and now, I paraded his swords as trophies.

When I saw Monkey D. Luffy and that little runt Koby heading toward the Marine Headquarters, I wasn't concerned. What could a boy with a straw hat and his lackey hope to accomplish against the might of the Marines? But then he appeared—Jack.

Jack wasn't like anyone I'd ever encountered. His presence alone made the air heavier, darker. There was something terrifyingly primal about him, as if he were a force of nature rather than a man. He walked with Luffy like an executioner leading his charge, and when they reached the Marine Headquarters, I finally understood what fear truly was.

Luffy prepared to break through the wall, but Jack—he didn't just smash it. With one brutal kick, he sent the entire wall flying across the courtyard, crashing through several others before finally coming to a stop. The sound alone was deafening, but the silence that followed was worse. Every Marine froze, staring at the destruction with wide eyes. I… I was among them.

Zoro was still tied to the post, but his eyes locked onto Jack immediately. Even he seemed uncertain for a moment, and Zoro doesn't do uncertainty. I couldn't look away. Jack's sheer presence demanded attention, and when he turned his gaze toward me, I felt my legs threaten to give out. His eyes burned with a cold, ruthless determination. To him, I was nothing but an obstacle—a fly in his path.

The Marines scrambled to respond, raising their weapons and shouting orders. I tried to rally them, to assert some semblance of control, but my voice faltered. Then Jack moved. I don't even know if "move" is the right word; he didn't seem to run or dash—he simply appeared where he needed to be. His sword cut through the air with a haunting precision, and Marines fell like wheat before a scythe. Blades, bullets, and fists were useless against him. He wasn't just strong—he was unstoppable.

I clung to Zoro's swords like they were my lifeline, but when Jack's gaze fell on me again, I knew they wouldn't save me. He approached slowly, deliberately, and every step felt like the tolling of a bell. My hands trembled as I tried to muster some pathetic excuse or plea, but before I could speak, he was upon me.

Jack didn't say a word. He didn't need to. He struck me once—just once—and I crumpled like paper. The swords fell from my hands, clattering to the ground, and I could feel every ounce of the pain he'd inflicted. It wasn't just physical; it was as if he'd shattered every illusion of power I'd ever held.

He picked up Zoro's swords and tossed them to Zoro without so much as a glance. Then he turned back to the courtyard, where the remaining Marines had finally gathered their courage. But courage was useless against someone like Jack. He was a demon, a monster born from violence and chaos. His movements were a symphony of destruction, each step and strike perfectly calculated to inflict maximum damage. By the time Zoro was freed, the courtyard was a battlefield strewn with broken bodies and shattered weapons.

Even my father, Captain Morgan, was no match for him. Morgan tried to assert his dominance, barking orders and swinging his massive axe-hand, but Jack didn't flinch. He stopped Morgan's attack with a single strike of his massive black blade. The ground trembled beneath the force of his blow, and a dark energy radiated from the strike, carving a deep trench into the earth. Morgan fell in two halves, his arrogance and tyranny cleaved in an instant.

I watched in horror as Jack stood there, his blade dripping with blood, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might turn his wrath on me again, but he simply walked away. Luffy and Zoro joined him, their faces a mix of awe and unease. I could see it in their eyes—even they were unsure if Jack was truly an ally or something far more dangerous.

As they left the headquarters, I slumped to the ground, shaking uncontrollably. My father was dead. My illusions of power were shattered. And Jack… Jack was something out of a nightmare. To this day, I can still see him in my mind, his blade carving through everything in his path, his eyes cold and unyielding. He wasn't just a man. He was a devil.

And the devil had spared me. For now.

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