One Piece: My Name is Jack, I'm Very Resistant to Beating

For Jack, New Year's always carried a special weight. It wasn't just a holiday—it marked turning points in his life.

The first time Jack met Kaido, it had been during a New Year. Back then, he was a desperate boy, running for his life after killing the pirates who had planned to sell him. For days, he trudged through endless snow, stomach growling and energy drained, until he stumbled into a cave where Kaido and his companions had sought shelter from the storm.

Even facing three towering figures, Jack didn't back down. Armed with only a curved blade, he attempted to rob them.

Perhaps it was this reckless courage that caught Kaido's eye. Instead of swatting him dead with a single blow, Kaido dealt with the pirates pursuing Jack and took the boy under his wing.

Years passed. The Beasts Pirates grew stronger, their lives steadily improving. Hunger became a distant memory, yet Jack often recalled the chunk of elephant meat Kaido had tossed to him that fateful day. It had been the best meal of his life, a taste that lingered in his mind.

But in this world, New Year's wasn't celebrated with the same fanfare as in Jack's previous life. To the Beasts Pirates, it was a minor observance. Their focus lay on the spring Fire Festival, which symbolized rebirth and vitality.

For Jack's first New Year in this world, his only company was King, stoic as ever, and Yamato and Black Maria, whispering mischievously nearby. A few underlings roasted steaks over a fire, the aroma filling the air.

Oddly enough, despite being a Mammoth Zoan user, Jack's favorite food was grilled elephant meat.

He thought, Maybe eating it makes me stronger?

After devouring a massive steak and expertly spitting out the bones, he caught Yamato and Black Maria stifling giggles.

"Oi! What's so funny?" Jack growled, but his irritation was half-hearted.

"Finish eating and go to bed already," Yamato teased, sticking out her tongue. "King and I have things to discuss, and you lot—scram!"

As Yamato and Black Maria left, Jack grumbled under his breath. Suddenly, a drop of purple venom landed on his shoulder, sending a sharp, burning pain through his body.

"Idiot Jack!" Yamato's voice rang out, followed by peals of laughter.

Watching them leave, King silently poured himself a drink, his expression unreadable.

After composing himself, Jack turned to his subordinates, muttering instructions before slamming the door shut. Only then did King lower his mask, downing his drink in one go.

"King, do you really need to be so secretive?" Jack asked, bewildered. "You're not even ugly—what's the big deal?"

King smirked. "You talk too much, Jack. But tell me, since when have you become so... patient? I remember you complaining about women all the time."

Jack scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, I've grown up, haven't I? Honestly, I've got Kaido-sama to thank. He knows how hard it'll be for someone like me to find a wife with my size, so he paired me up with Black Maria. He's really looking out for me!"

King choked on his drink, coughing violently. The flames on his back dimmed briefly as he struggled to compose himself.

"You... You really have grown, haven't you?" King said, his tone a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "But maybe you're rushing things a bit, Jack. You're still a kid—don't get distracted from your training."

Jack waved his hands defensively. "King, I'm only eight! I'm just talking about the future, okay? Right now, my focus is on getting stronger. Speaking of which, when are you going to take me on a real mission? I've been training hard—I won't hold you back!"

King chuckled, setting his glass down. "A mission? Not happening anytime soon. But tomorrow, we'll see how much you've improved. Impress me, and I might teach you something new."

The promise of new techniques lit a fire in Jack's eyes, even if he thought to himself, Do I even need his training? I can just use system and learn everything!

The next morning, after breakfast, Jack followed King to the docks. Yamato and Black Maria trailed behind, their curiosity piqued.

Over recent months, Jack's progress had been staggering. Initially, Yamato and Black Maria could spar with him evenly. But now, he toyed with them in battle, much to their frustration. Yamato, in particular, hated losing to Jack. As Kaido's daughter and a Mythical Zoan user, she vowed to defeat him one day.

Now, watching Jack challenge King, the two couldn't contain their excitement.

"King, you'd better be ready! I'm not the same as before!" Jack declared confidently, his sharpened senses and improved agility filling him with self-assurance.

King didn't bother replying. He simply motioned for Jack to come at him with a flick of his fingers, his expression one of utter indifference.

"Don't underestimate me!" Jack roared, leaping onto the ship and transforming into his mammoth form. His massive frame barreled forward, the ground trembling beneath his feet.

"Boom! Boom!" The sheer weight and momentum of the charging mammoth were overwhelming, forcing Yamato and Black Maria to take a step back.

But King remained still. Only when Jack was right in front of him did he raise a fist.

"Bang!"

The impact was deafening. Jack's world spun as if a hammer had struck his skull repeatedly. Amid the chaos, a single word echoed in his mind: Eighty! Eighty!

When the dust settled, Jack lay sprawled on the ground, dazed and back in his human form.

King crouched down, giving Jack a rare pat on the head.

"Not bad. Keep working hard, Jack. For now, focus on growing stronger here on Onigashima. We'll talk about missions when you're ready."

As King stood and walked away, Yamato and Black Maria burst into laughter, their excitement unabated.

Meanwhile, Jack's head was still ringing with that one persistent word: Eighty! Eighty!

(T/N: My opinion: This is the carnival or arcade game where you use a hammer to hit a lever, sending a weight up a pole to ring a bell. The "Eighty! Eighty!" could then represent Jack's dazed mind fixating on the score he'd expect in such a game.)

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