[Read 15+ chapters before release in P.A.T.R.E.O.N]–

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Chapter 127

Title: Conqueror's Haki!

....

Nergigante, a dragon that is rumored to have lived on this island in the past.

Amon got this news from the underworld. He also got the news about the devil fruit from there.

So, after making 2+2 = 4, Amon assumed if the fruit actually existed, then it would be this one.

Ancient Zoan— Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nergigante.

'A fruit from a game... It's not that big of a surprise that it's real in this world, to be honest.'

Amon pondered while looking at the fight happening around the seashore from many kilometers in the sky.

But where was the fruit in the canon timeline? Why didn't Ace, or Jack take it in that timeline?

'The answer is simple.'

Amon made a thinking face. 'Jack proposed Ace the same offer as this, but in that timeline, he didn't accept it. Only because he didn't have any knowledge of the fruit beforehand, because he didn't promise Deuce to take the fruit for him.'

Why didn't he do it?

'Because Deuce didn't tell him about that since he didn't have any knowledge about it in that timeline, after all, his friend from the underworld didn't exist there.'

A grin formed on Amon's face. "It's because I am his 'friend from the underworld'."

While wind fluttered his hair in the air, Amon kept looking at the fight with shining red eyes.

.....

Bam!

Jack's trunk slammed on Deuce's body, throwing him a few meters away. But he managed to tune down the damage by flying up.

However, since he was relatively new with his body, Deuce wasn't able to fly for long with his massive body and fell down.

Bam!

Jack struck him again, but Deuce was able to block it with his spiky wings.

Ace was confused. Wasn't Deuce supposed to have the upper hand?

At first, he did have the upper hand. But it all came down to battle experience and familiarity with the Zoan form not so long after. Deuce didn't have both, he was a doctor, not a fighter. Although he did have fighting powers, they were nothing compared to the experienced Jack.

Bam!

Jack spun his trunk like the wings of a helicopter and struck the Nergi.

The Dragon was thrown backward again, this time even its flight ability wasn't of any help since Jack rushed forward without giving any time to recover.

"Kah—Deuce, hold on! I will help you soon—Ugh!"

Ace stumbled back while getting punched by Eagura.

Ace and his crew were busy taking after Jack's subordinates. They were too strong for him and his crew, he didn't get a chance to help.

It was clear who the winner of the match was based on this alone.

Jack dashed towards Nergi dragon, preparing a headbutt. "!!"

BAM!

However, Deuce was able to block it.

Jack remarked: "So this is the defense of a Dragon..."

He again rushed forward.

Bam!

Again, he headbutted him.

Bam!

This went for a few minutes while the inexperienced Deuce was forced to stay on defense.

Bam!

However, as the clock was spinning at 18 minutes, Deuce was bleeding a little. Unfortunately, he didn't have Armament.

Jack concentrated his armament on his horns and rushed forward again.

This was his strongest headbutt.

"!!"

BAMM!

Deuce was hit right in his stomach as he coughed out blood, and was forced to subside to his human form.

"That was a surprisingly strong defense," Jack commented. "But you are too weak to utilize it fully."

He then yelled looking at his subordinates. "Everyone stop fighting!"

"It is not a bad thing he ate the fruit, we will just take them under us."

Everyone did as he said while the injured Ace took long breaths.

He looked at Ace. "You are the captain, right? We will give you a chance to live, join us."

After a short silence, he looked at the human Deuce, their eyes met. Both of them grinned.

Ace remarked: "In your dream, you elephant bastard. I will become the pirate king!"

This line triggered jack. His veins popped up. He just nodded.

Pira king? "Good," Only Kaido will become Pirate King.

He didn't care about Ace anyway, his only priority was Deuce who ate the fruit.

"Then you shall die."

Jack, still in his Mammoth form, dashed toward Ace. His horns pointed towards this chest.

'Oh fuck...' Ace cursed in his mind and imbued Haki in his chest. But he knew, this was an impossible-to-block attack. He knew it but still... he didn't give up.

Chak!

Jack's pointy horns penetrated the flesh. Blood spurted out, covering his face. However...

"Cough—Ace," It wasn't Ace.

"D-Deuce... why did you..."

It was Masked Deuce who partially transformed into a dragon, it was his hybrid form. However, he couldn't even fully do it, only his skin became dark. If he had enough time to spout the scales too, then maybe...

"Deuce why did you do this!!"

Maybe he would have lived.

With a grim face, Jack took back his horns. He didn't expect this situation, this meant he just lost the Dragon fruit.

'Kaido will be enraged...'

Flop!

As Deuce's body got loosed from his horns, his body sloped down in the ground. Ace caught it.

Blood trickled down from his lips. "Ace... I am sorry."

"Deuce... why..."

Ace's eyes shook. He's only had one question. 'Why?'

But the question wasn't towards Deuce....

He looked at Jack with glaring eyes.

It was towards Jack.

"WHY! WHY YOU BASTARD!"

"¡¡¡!!!¡¡¡"

With a burst of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, 80% of people on the battlefield went unconscious. However, Jack was still there, his eyes wide.

'This kid... a king's candidate.'

Jack was shocked, but he knew this was too late. He won't come under Kaido, then there was only one way.

'I have to kill him.'

«...★...»

"Now, this is an unexpected development."

Amon commented on the fight while floating in the air with crossed arms. He noticed a ship coming to the island from far.

'Oh, they are here.'

It was the ship of 'Sky Pirates'. Amon came here flying a long time ago, waiting for Reo to come.

"Looks like he doesn't need to fight Jack, Ace will use his plot armor."

Zzz....

Amon's body flickered. He was here when Ace got the fruit so he knew which fruit it was. He went to the sky, took some fruit, and returned.

All this happened in under 2 seconds.

Amon's body flickered again, he went to a blind spot around the battlefield and kept the fruits there.

His body flickered again and he came back to his initial spot.

Again, all this happened in under 2 seconds.

Amon tilted his head, questioning something. "Now... only thing to decide, do I give the fruit to Reo or the Motor gang?".

It was a surprise that this fruit was even real. But it's a good fruit, also the fact that its biggest weakness is lightning, or at least what is known from the game MHW, the user of the fruit would be easy to control for Amon.

Giving it to the Motor gang would allow a special thing to happen, but there are some drawbacks like their personality and their weak body. Metal isn't really that strong for the humans of this world.

'Hard to decide....'

Amon just sighed and watched the fight. He won't let Ace die, he needs Ace to make the 'War of the best' happen. It is a necessary step to take for his influence to reach the peak of this world.

'Anyway, I assume this encounter led Ace and his crew to reach Wano in the canon timeline? They fought Jack after Ace refused to help, but plot armor saved their lives, not this time around though since one already died.'

Amon needed Ace to reach Wano, so he would intervene if things seemed like it.

Luckily, he already had 'Deuce's friend' identity prepared for the worse.

'Oh, wait... I don't need to fight Jack. I will make Reo fight for me, it would be interesting.'

Amon tested Reo's strength, he was strong. But not strong enough to beat Jack.

That means—'Let me see if he deserves the fruit or not, in the worst case, I will just kill him and take back the fruit.'

«...★...»

"Here, eat this."

Amon tossed a black devil fruit with silver zig-zag encrypts on it towards Reo who barely caught it.

"A devil fruit...?" He asked. "Didn't you say I shouldn't eat one unless it's an emergency?

"This is an emergency."

"You are gonna fight Jack the Drought and then join the Beasts Pirates after becoming a spy. Got it?"

"..."

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This chapter was proofread by Discord members and edited by @Retuculum and @Shortmotor!

Discord: https://www.discord.gg/sek3gZV2jg