[TIOP] Chapter : 147

Sure enough, their eyes lit up the moment they heard the news. They were always ready to fight anyone, but even the most reckless among them knew the truth—compared to the Navy, the Whitebeard Pirates without Whitebeard were a far easier target. The Navy wasn’t a soft persimmon; it was a steel wall.

With their new objective set, Blackbeard wasted no time. He led his main force away, ready to strike.

A few days later, Jack started sensing something was off. When he finally sent scouts to investigate, they found the island completely deserted. The Blackbeard Pirates had vanished—and worse, they had slaughtered all the original inhabitants. The sight of the carnage nearly made Jack grind his teeth to dust.

“Very well, Teach… You’re the first man to play me like this. Let’s see who has the last laugh!” Jack snarled.

Furious but composed, he immediately ordered his troops to secure the island. They claimed the now-empty land and began rebuilding, bringing in new residents from nearby territories.

Meanwhile, Marco and Ace had encountered Blackbeard—and paid dearly for it. In a brutal clash, they were overwhelmed. Marco and his men were defeated and forced to retreat.

Had it not been for Sabo and the Revolutionary Army’s timely intervention, the price of escape would’ve been even steeper. Even so, Diamond Jozu had sacrificed an arm so that the others could flee to safety.

The news hit Jack hard. He personally visited Marco to explain the situation and assure them he hadn’t colluded with Blackbeard. He brought generous supplies as a peace offering—and thankfully, Marco and the others accepted the explanation.

“Sorry, Ace. It’s my fault Blackbeard managed to slip away,” Jack said quietly as he approached Ace, guilt weighing heavily in his voice.

Now among the Whitebeard remnants, two stood wounded—Ace and Jozu—both missing an arm. It was a grim sight.

“It’s not your fault. I know you tried your best,” Ace replied, his tone tinged with sorrow. “Teach is just too cunning.”

Jozu was like a brother to him. Since Whitebeard’s death, the remaining crew had grown even closer—like a true family. And now, not only had Jozu suffered, but they’d lost several good men in the process.

“Don’t worry,” Jack said, his voice cold with resolve. “I’ll make this right. I didn’t come out here just to turn around and go home.”

Ace looked up, startled. “What are you planning?”

“I won’t be satisfied until I’ve killed at least one of Blackbeard’s top commanders,” Jack said, staring out at the distant waves, his voice eerily calm.

“Don’t be reckless!” Ace said, alarmed. “You may be strong, but even a tiger can be brought down by a pack of wolves. Charging in alone is suicide!”

Since the war at Marineford, Ace had come to value life—his own, and that of those around him. He didn’t want to see another brother fall.

“Relax,” Jack said with a confident smirk. “If it comes to it, I can escape. Blackbeard’s inner circle isn’t as strong as they used to be. Sure, they’ve got ambition, and they’re hoarding resources to grow—but they’re not there yet. If I find them, they won’t have time to react.”

And when it came to escaping? Jack had a trump card—his dragon. With that on his side, no one without wings could possibly catch him.

“Then I’m coming with you!” Ace blurted out instinctively.

“Hahaha, Ace! You’re just like always.” Jack laughed warmly. “We’re brothers.”

“Exactly why I have to come. I can’t sit by while you run off to die—just like you refused to watch me die,” Ace said fiercely.

Jack smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Calm down. If I don’t give Marco and the others closure, how can I face them later? You’re my brother, Ace—trust me. I’ve got this.”

“Jack… Marco and the others might be grieving, but none of them blame you. Don’t do something you’ll regret!” Ace pleaded.

Jack shook his head. “I’m done explaining. Come with me—I want to introduce you to my newest little brother.”

With that, he stood and led Ace toward the other side of the island, where a dense forest stretched across the terrain.

“Why are we going here?” Ace asked, puzzled.

“You’ll see.”

Jack gave a sly grin and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hirooooo!”

That was the name he’d given to his dragon—a creature with the power of fire, aptly named.

A deep, rumbling roar echoed through the trees. Moments later, a massive crimson dragon emerged, its scales glinting in the sunlight.

Ace froze, eyes wide, jaw slack. He stared at the towering beast in stunned disbelief.

“T-this… this is a dragon?” he stammered.

"Yeah, its name is Hiro—my new partner," Jack grinned. "We met by chance, but it was fate. Not only can it fly, it’s got serious long-range firepower. Imagine me riding this dragon to Blackbeard’s island and letting it breathe a little fire... Think that’d piss him off?" He burst into laughter at the thought.

"Jack~~~ Take me with you!!!" Ace suddenly clung to him with sparkling eyes, clutching his arm like an excited child.

It was a dragon, after all! And from the way Jack described it, this wasn’t just any dragon—it could breathe fire! Ace’s earlier concern for Jack’s safety was still there, but now it was mixed with an irresistible sense of wonder and thrill. He had to see it in action!

But Jack shook his head. "You know how dangerous Teach is. His powers can even strike from afar. I’ve got Hiro—I can escape whenever I need to. But you? Not so easily."

Ace sighed and nodded reluctantly. He understood. If he went along, he'd only hold Jack back. But deep down, he still wished for just one ride on that magnificent beast.

"Alright then," Jack said with a smile, finally giving in. "Let’s go."

"ROAR!"

As they both climbed onto Hiro’s back, the dragon let out a thunderous roar. Its massive wings beat against the air, and within moments, they were soaring high above the island.

"Ahahahahaha! This is amazing!" Ace shouted, laughing wildly in the wind.

Hiro had originally arrived quietly, unnoticed—but now, with that roar and Ace’s excited hollering echoing from above, everyone on the island looked up.

Marco transformed into his phoenix form, ready to investigate. But the moment he heard Ace’s voice, the tension melted. The others stayed grounded, waiting for Ace to return and explain this unexpected spectacle.

Before long, Hiro circled back, and Ace leapt down from its back. The dragon didn’t stop—it turned mid-air and vanished into the horizon.

"Ace, what was that just now?! Was that really a dragon?" the commanders crowded around him.

"Yep! That’s Jack’s partner—a real fire dragon!" Ace replied with a grin.

Even though Ace and Luffy had different personalities, moments like this revealed their shared love for adventure and excitement—traits shaped by a childhood spent together.

"I never thought I’d see a real dragon," Marco said with awe. "The Navy really is full of surprises."

"Yeah… But he’s gone to face Teach alone," Ace added, his tone darkening slightly.

Marco blinked. "Wait—what?"

Ace nodded. "Jack said we go into that last battle together, but we ended up paying the price while Jack reaped the benefits. It didn’t feel like a proper alliance, so he’s taking matters into his own hands—planning to take out at least one of Blackbeard’s top men to show he’s serious."

The captains exchanged uneasy glances. Most of them had doubted Jack at first, but after his personal apology and the supplies he’d sent, their anger had faded. They’d come to accept that what happened wasn’t his fault.

"Ace… he’s doing this because he’s worried about you," Marco said after a pause. "You should’ve stopped him. Teach is no joke. Even if Jack’s powerful, the odds are stacked against him."

The others nodded in agreement. To them, Ace was family. They wouldn’t hold this against him—but they shared the same concern.

Ace looked down. "He’s my brother. Of course he’d worry about me. And with Hiro by his side, he can get away if things go south. As for Jozu..."

He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone understood. No one blamed Ace for what happened to Jozu—but they all carried a silent burden of guilt. Now Jack was trying to take that burden onto himself, and Ace couldn’t help but feel grateful.

If anything happened to Jack, Ace would lay the blame squarely on Blackbeard. He had already decided—he would never forgive Teach. Killing him had become the only goal that truly mattered.

Marco placed a reassuring hand on Ace’s shoulder. "Whatever happens on Jack’s mission, this ends here. I’ll talk to Jozu. The next time we meet, we’ll still be brothers—nothing will change that."

Ace nodded, knowing that this was exactly what Jack wanted—to give them peace of mind, even if it meant risking his life.

Still, he silently hoped Jack wouldn’t be reckless. If Hiro could just rain down a little fire and fly off, that would be enough.

But he and Marco still remembered Jack during the war at Marineford. Back then, he was strong—no doubt about it—but still not on par with the old guard, the likes of the admirals.

Now, with Teach’s growing strength, even someone like Akainu or Aokiji would have to think twice before facing him directly. Jack going in alone? That felt like a death wish.

It was precisely why they’d rushed to help when they heard Blackbeard was planning an assault on Jack’s G1 base.

Yet, ironically, Jack had ended up heading straight into enemy territory alone. If they’d known this, they might have stayed back. At least then he would’ve had the full support of the Navy behind him.

Facing the entire Blackbeard Pirates on his own… it was the worst-case scenario.

But what they didn’t know—what no one realized—was that Jack’s strength had advanced tremendously. Even in the face of Blackbeard himself, he remained calm and unshaken.

And so, after parting ways with Ace, Jack flew straight toward Blackbeard’s island—only to run into someone completely unexpected on the way… someone whose presence lit up his face with joy.