[A/N: If you wanted one more chapter, helps me get 200 powerstones by today]
Imu stood quietly within the garden, surrounded by blooming flowers. A butterfly rested gently on his finger, its wings fluttering in calm rhythm.
For a moment, the scene looked peaceful before he suddenly sensed intruder.
"It looks like the king of the world is enjoying himself," a voice echoed lightly. "I didn't expect you to be such a romantic person."
Imu eyes sharpened.
Jack stepped out from the shadows, his presence finally revealed.
"Nerona Lily? Really the potrait too big still after 800 years old," smirked Jack.
Imu become angry when Jack said the name Lily, the butterfly flew away from him.
Jack studied Imu carefully and for the first time, he felt genuine surprise.
'So Imu… is a man,' thought Jack.
For so long, he had imagined Imu as a woman, perhaps someone betrayed by Joy Boy, someone who chose to conquer the world out of hatred.
But reality was different from his imagination.
Imu wasn't just a man but not a normal human.
His dark wings, his pale skin… and those horns?
'Lunarian…? No… something more.... An Oni perhaps? Or some kind of hybrid? Or is that from a Zoan ability?' thousand of question playing on Jack mind.
Jack eyes narrowed slightly. 'No wonder Lunarians and Oni were hunted…'
"You…" Imu voice turned cold. "You dare enter my domain."
He recognized him, the man who had wounded him through Shamrock.
Jack grinned.
"Hahahaha… so this is the great ruler of the world?" he mocked. "Just a rat hiding in the shadows, using five old men to clean up your mess."
Everything become silence while Imu are enraging with his Haki.
Then suddenly his tail moved very fast towards Jack.
A black, arrow-like tail shot forward at terrifying speed. It pierced straight through Jack chest.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
"You shall become part of my army…" Imu said calmly. "Domi Reversi."
But.... nothing happened.
The "Jack" that had been pierced began to flicker…
Then vanished like smoke, earlier when he wanted to meet Imu, he had casted an illusion.
He just stood at beside room watching Imu stabbed his illusion.
Jack wasn't someone unfamiliar with Imu ability, he had known this Domi Reversi when he used at Giant.
Earlier he though Domi Reversi is an ability that Imu need to use in a home place of his enemy, for example Giant live in Elbaph and Imu can only use this technique on Elbaph.
Another example are Rocks D Xebec, he only used Domi Reversi when Rocks returned to his hometown. But now his theory shattered when Imu used Domi Reversi on his illusion, that means Imu can use it anywhere.
'He can use it anywhere... that Domi Reversi?' Jack become scared with this news.
Jack had always assumed that Domi Reversi required specific conditions, a territory, a connection, or an environment where someone lived.
But Imu just used it instantly without hesitation.
Maybe because Jack are green in the fight and he although he had template, deep inside Jack just a male Otaku who are just excited and wanted to act tough like Luffy.
"This is bad," muttered Jack.
Without hesitation, he activated his speed and escaped from this place.
Despite his incredible power, Jack was still inexperienced. When faced with something truly unknown, something beyond his understanding, his instincts screamed one thing.
'Survive and Run.'
After a minutes he had left the Mary Geoise and in a moment he tried to stabilize his breath.
"Wait, why I am just running away. I have the template power, why I need to afraid with Imu?" muttered Jack angrily.
Jack feel frustrated then he move towards Elbaph, to install one of the box that he had prepared to fool Loki.
He then released several satellite on orbit, so he could project his Sprite power.
After he was done, he went to Alabasta to help Vivi.
Meanwhile in Mary Geoise, 5 Elders come as reinforcement but when they arrived, Jack had already left this place.
"He saw me," said Imu. "From now thy should be afraid mu and not the other way around."
***
ALABASTA
"Hey guys, where's Crocodile?" Jack asked as soon as he arrived.
Inside the Alabasta palace, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Robin, Nami, Nojiko, Bartolomeo, Kuma, Bonney, and even the giants Dorry and Broggy were being welcomed like heroes.
Using the device Jack had created earlier, Dorry and Broggy had reduced their massive size to something closer to human scale, allowing them to enter the palace without destroying half the structure.
Meanwhile, Vivi had already activated another one of Jack inventions, a weather control device.
For the first time in years… rain poured across all the place in Alabasta.
Citizens cried in joy as the long drought finally ended but despite that victory crocodile was gone.
No one knew where he had disappeared to.
"Jack, you're back!" Luffy shouted, rushing forward and tackling him into a hug.
Chopper immediately joined, clinging tightly to Jack side. "Welcome back! You didn't get hurt, right?!"
Usopp ran in next, puffing his chest. "I knew you'd survive! Of course, as a brave warrior of the sea, I wasn't worried at all!"
"LIAR!" Nami snapped from behind.
Bartolomeo, already in tears, threw himself forward. "JACK-SENPAIII!! I knew you would return safely!!"
Jack laughed as he steadied himself. "What, you guys missed me that much?"
"Of course! We're a crew!" Luffy grinned.
"Thanks guys," said Jack. "Chopper what about the mother and daughter earlier?"
"They are in safe condition, I have given them food and medication," answered Chopper.
"Thank you chopper," smiled Jack.
"I am not happy," said Chopper while doing his little dancing.
Jack just shaking his head and looked at Zoro.
Zoro smirked from the side. "Took you long enough, thought you got lost."
Sanji exhaling slowly. "Tch. At least you came back in one piece. Don't make the ladies worry like that again."
Nami crossed her arms but smiled slightly. "You better not disappear like that next time."
Robin stepped forward calmly. "So… did you manage to install the device?"
Jack paused for a brief moment.
"…Yeah," he replied simply.
Bonney leaned against the wall, her mouth still full with a food.
Kuma remained silent, but his gaze lingered on Jack.
Dorry laughed loudly. "GABABABA! Looks like the little warrior survived a great battle!"
Broggy nodded. "GYAHAHAHA! A man who returns alive carries a greater story!"
Vivi stepped closer, relief clear on her face. "Welcome back, Jack… I'm glad you're safe."
Nojiko gave a small nod. "You picked a good time to return, te kingdom is finally healing."
"So where is Crocodile?" asked Jack once again.
"He had escaped this place, we had searching him in the underground his headquarters but they are no sighting of Crocodile," answered Vivi.
-patreon.com/zerelix