The raw fury in Barron's voice was impossible to ignore; the man was truly seething.
His murderous glare made it unbearable for anyone to meet his eyes.
Except for one person.
Not only did Jason stare directly at Barron, but he even spoke up, looking utterly unbothered.
"What are you looking at?!" Barron's eye twitched, and he struggled to keep his rage in check.
Jason's simple expression, paired with his deep, rumbling voice, was infuriating.
Standing nearby, Rojen couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're all dead!"
Barron's voice was cold as ice. Suddenly, two doors burst open behind him, and a dozen burly pirates strode in.
"Captain, you're still not done?"
"Who the hell are these guys?"
"Looks like something unexpected happened."
The pirates surveyed the scene, their expressions twisting into sneers.
A young man, a hulking brute, and... a cat? This bizarre trio combination made Barron's crew's faces twitch.
"Do you want us to handle them, Captain?" A tall, wiry pirate's eyes gleamed coldly as he raised a gun, pointing it directly at Jason.
It was clear who they perceived as the real threat.
"It's over. Those two are doomed!"
"That giant is too reckless!"
"That's Barron, the ruthless beast! What are we supposed to do?!"
The gathered crowd whispered anxiously, watching the standoff unfold.
Then Jason's expression suddenly turned glacial.
"You dare to point a weapon at me?"
"No one points a weapon at me!"
His words were serious, yet that stern tone combined with his simple demeanor only made Barron's crew scoff.
But their laughter lasted only for a few breaths before shock took over.
With ease, the seemingly dim-witted giant reached out and grabbed the gun's shaft.
The tall pirate's face darkened, his finger hovering over the trigger. "Do you want to die that badly!"
Without hesitation, he pulled it.
"Bang!"
The gunshot echoed, and some onlookers winced, unwilling to witness what came next.
"You dare shoot at me? Then I'll kill you!"
Jason's palm had caught the bullet, his expression chillingly cold.
"What?!"
The tall pirate was aghast. His shot had done nothing— worse, his gun had backfired!
Impossible!
Jason's palm had stopped the bullet entirely, rendering the attack useless.
"Crack!"
A moment later, Barron's crew witnessed something that left them dumbfounded.
The steel gun— firm and unyielding— was crushed in Jason's grip, twisted apart as if it were made of brittle wood.
The pirate staggered back in terror. He had never seen such monstrous strength before.
"I told you— I'll kill you!"
Jason's tone was chilling as he grabbed the tall pirate by the head.
With a simple lift, the man was hoisted into the air.
"Let him go, you bastard!"
Barron's face twisted, and he lunged forward to intervene.
His crewmate's head was beginning to deform under Jason's powerful grip.
"Huh?"
Jason casually waved his hand.
It was just a casual motion.
Yet Barron was sent hurtling through the air, crashing to the ground thirty or forty meters away. He tumbled nearly ten meters more before managing to get up, bruised and dazed.
The arrogance in his eyes was replaced by shock.
"You'll die for this!"
Jason held the tall pirate aloft with a single hand, lifting him higher and higher.
"No! Please!"
The pirate panicked, legs kicking wildly. He could feel the overwhelming force crushing his skull.
A deep, primal fear consumed him. He knew—if Jason so much as clenched his fist—he would die.
"Too strong!"
Barron's crew finally panicked, drawing their weapons and rushing forward.
But Jason didn't even flinch.
Still holding the pirate, he swung him violently.
"Bang!"
A dozen pirates were sent flying, slamming into the shop wall behind them.
To everyone's shock, they didn't immediately fall. Instead, due to the sheer force, they stuck to the wall like portraits.
Rojen narrowed his eyes.
"Hitting people like creating paintings— this guy's strength is absurd!"
Such power required not only immense might but also absolute control over their power.
After three full breaths, the pirates peeled off the wall and collapsed to the ground, groaning in agony.
Their bones had shattered on impact, and the wall itself cracked in multiple places, nearly toppling the entire building.
"What a monster!"
The crowd was dumbfounded.
This towering brute, who looked so simple-minded, was a true menace.
Then they saw him lift the tall pirate again, this time preparing to slam him down.
"Smack!"
Blood spurted from beneath the pirate's limp body. He twitched a few times, then fell still.
Jason never hesitated when delivering judgment upon scum like this.
"You bastard!"
Barron's face was livid, but beneath his rage lurked something else— fear.
He knew how strong his men were. Each had a bounty of at least ten million berries on their head.
Yet this brute had crushed them in a single swing.
Yes, they had been caught off guard, but the truth was undeniable—this seemingly dull-witted giant was simply too powerful!
"What are you staring at?!"
Jason's words reached Barron's ears again, making his teeth grind.
"You're despicable!"
Barron's fury surged as he forced himself upright, shaking off his battered state.
Then, with a chilling growl, he declared coldly:
"Let me show you my true power!"
A heartbeat later, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Barron's body began to change.
His muscles swelled, his skin darkened, and brown fur sprouted all over him.
His feet morphed into clawed paws, his hands became thick, bestial limbs, and a long, whip-like tail extended from his back.
His transformation sent a wave of dread through the air.
A Zoan-type Devil Fruit user!
(End of Chapter)
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