The circle of pirates tightened, restricting the fighting distance between Jack and Manzo. As Thunder and Lightning came at him in a series of chain punches, Jack had to retreat rapidly. Unknown to him, Snakehead stuck out a foot and he tripped over it, sprawling on to the deck.

Manzo seized his chance, raising his leg high to stamp-kick Jack in the chest. There was a horrible crunching sound as his foot connected. But Jack had rolled away at the last second and it was the deck that had taken the full force of the blow. The wooden plank splintered and Manzo’s foot shot through, his ankle becoming trapped.

Jack leapt up and went on the attack. With the devastating speed and power of a trained warrior, Jack launched a roundhouse kick at Manzo’s back.

The pirate barely registered the blow. Undeterred, Jack fired off a blazing side-kick into the ribs. Manzo grunted, but didn’t crumble. Jack stepped in and drove a spear elbow at his kidneys. The pirate simply batted Jack away as if he was no more than an irritating mosquito. The swipe of his forearm sent Jack careering across the deck. Stunned, Jack cautiously circled the snared pirate. Trying not to panic, he racked his brains for a martial arts technique that might have some effect on this impregnable rock of a man.

Manzo finally managed to free his foot and turned to face Jack once more. He blew across the tops of his fists as if clearing them of dust, then he banged them together and smiled, certain of victory.

But Jack smiled too. He had a secret weapon … one that Sensei Yamada had taught him at the Niten Ichi Ryū.

Chō-geri.

The Butterfly Kick – a highly advanced and indefensible manoeuvre that could cut a swathe through any attack. All the limbs were extended in a position similar to that of a butterfly’s wings in flight.

As the ninja pirate advanced, Jack sprang into the air, his torso twisting, his arms swinging in a wide arc. Both his legs shot out, twirling before him. The first would smash Manzo’s left guard aside, the second would hammer into his head, connecting with his jaw at the knockdown point. As tough as Manzo was, he’d drop to the deck like a sack of sand.

But Jack was out of practice. He misjudged the distance and his legs got tangled up in the complex attack. He flew past Manzo, entirely missing his target. Trying to correct his mistake, he flapped his arms like a crazed bird, only to crash-land on his back.

For a moment, there was complete silence. Then an almighty booming laugh burst from Manzo. The rest of the pirates fell about too. Jack felt an utter fool. Not only had he failed to defeat his opponent, he’d made himself a laughing stock.

‘What was that?’ cried Skullface, wiping tears from his eyes. ‘Lame Duck Leaping technique?’