This mattered even more to Sage than to her.
In the chaotic seas, gold and silver treasures didn't matter, and might and force were just crutches, because no matter how strong a person is... they still need to eat.
Ensuring the people under her rule are well-fed first is the prerequisite for economic motivation.
"Dreams..."
Yamato gripped her Wolf Fang Club tightly, "My dream also needs to be fulfilled! I must open Wano Country! Step aside, don't block me, you're no match for me!"
Even in battle, it was confirmed; although this woman was troublesome, she was definitely not her match.
Marika understood this too, her strength was indeed great, but this thing called Conqueror's Haki... was indeed beyond the norm.
As a power that few strong can master, over time, even if her body could withstand Yamato's attacks, her consciousness would surely be diminished, eventually losing consciousness.
No matter how well one could fight, losing consciousness would make one a lamb to the slaughter.
"It's indeed difficult to deal with one person, but... who said I'm alone?"
Marika chuckled lightly, "I have allies, you know."
"Oh!!"
Just as she finished speaking, a loud shout came from not far away, accompanied by a strong wind blowing towards Yamato from behind.
Yamato's pupils contracted, and her whole body was covered in a layer of frost.
"Mirror Mountain!"
Boom!!
A glaive blade imbued with intense Haki slashed towards her side from behind, without the blade even fully contacting, the outpouring Haki hit her torso, sending her flying.
Crack!
A layer of ice crystals shattered, revealing Yamato's body.
"Namuji Hyoga!"
In mid-air, Yamato twisted her body and spat a frosty breath at her original position, under the frosty breath, a giant 'Diamond' appeared, blasted and frozen by the breath into an ice sculpture.
"Fool, how many times have I told you, use Haki!"
Behind the ice sculpture, a slightly irritable crisp voice sounded, "Weevil, use Haki!"
Boom!
The ice sculpture shattered into ice crystals scattering, revealing a giant body coated in diamond, which scratched its head dumbly, letting Yamato see that white crescent-shaped mustached face.
"Got it, Boss Lady."
A pink-haired little girl jumped onto the shoulder of the tall person, giving a sinister smile to Yamato in the air:
"Hey, you white-haired, big-breasted wolf girl, freeze some ice cubes for me to make an iced drink!"
She reached out both hands, and the exoskeleton hovering around her absorbed the nearby frozen air, unleashing a barrage of freezing beams from the cannon platforms of the exoskeleton.
"Endless Bombardment!"
Renedia and Weevil!
Thud!
Yamato's feet swirled smoke rings in the air, darting sideways to dodge the incoming freezing beams, almost turning into a white light, moving so fast it was hard to see.
"Divine Foot Dash!"
The white light landed on the other side, quickly adjusting direction, dashing towards the pink-haired girl.
Her speed was something these people couldn't stop, until she was about to get close, swinging out the Wolf Fang Club when the white light suddenly shattered, her body suddenly halted, revealed in front, frozen in the swinging pose.
Underneath her feet, a shadow suddenly elongated, rushed by other shadows.
"Hee hee hee hee..."
A sharp voice rang at the entrance, and a plump figure emerged, stepping on his elongated shadow ahead.
"Things are lively, let me join in too."
Moriah!
Zzzt zzzt!
Yamato's entire body burst forth with lightning representing Supreme King, breaking through the strange bind, about to continue moving, Renedia raised her hand, aimed at Yamato who had reached close, and pushed forward.
"Power Fluctuations!"
Under the power push, Yamato was uncontrollably sent flying backwards, before she could land, a figure already reached the position where she was about to fall.
"Partners can be quite useful at times. I can't take you on alone, but..."
Marika raised her other hand that wasn't frostbitten, clenched it into a fist, and continued to emit black sparks.
Pirates, these creatures, sometimes fight solo, sometimes in groups.
Sage's tactics entail commanders facing commanders to ensure his plan proceeds without unexpected turns and to preserve what he desires, necessitating a collective fight. That's another approach.
They are a pirate crew!
"With so many of us, we're sure to beat you. Celestial Essence·Starquake!"
"Heh heh heh, Shadow Horn Spear!"
"Blast you to bits!"
As Marika's fist struck towards Yamato, the shadow in front surged up like a spear, thrusting towards Yamato's abdomen, while Renedia continued to fire a freezing beam from above, bombarding Yamato.
The three-pronged attack left Yamato in mid-air with no choice but to take it head-on.
Boom!!
The freezing beam exploded, forming ice crystals that splattered through the air. The massive force reverberated, causing the ground to collapse once more, raising clouds of dust.
As the smoke and dust cleared away, Marika slowly straightened, retracting her fist, staring down at the unconscious Yamato.
Her body was also covered in frost at this moment. The shadow gun that had pierced her abdomen faded away, melding into the shadows under Moriah's feet as he approached.
Weevil, carrying Renedia, also moved closer, standing on Yamato's opposite side.
"Who is this guy? Pretty strong," Renedia asked.
"This hair color..."
Moriah examined Yamato closely, his eyes widening. "Oh! Kaido's daughter, grown up now!"
Twenty-three years ago, when he fought Kaido, he had seen this little girl; she was only five then. Though she's grown up now, her features remain unchanged, with that distinctive hair color.
"You've got some injuries,"
Marika glanced at Moriah, "And not minor ones, who did you encounter?"
"Heh heh heh, Jinbe, no idea where he slipped away to. I was looking for him when I stumbled upon you."
Moriah laughed, taking another look at Yamato, admiring, "That was Supreme King's Entanglement just now, right? Not surprising, being Kaido's daughter... Let's capture her. When Sage defeats Kaido, she could be a substantial force."
"That's not it."
Marika relaxed entirely, with the marks hidden within her body resurfacing, converging at the center of her brow before disappearing again, "She's Kaido's enemy. Calls herself Kozuki Oden, aims to defeat Kaido and restore Wano Country under Kozuki rule, and open its borders."
Moriah was momentarily stunned but then burst into laughter, "Heh heh heh! How amusing, Kaido really failed in parenting! Heh heh heh! Compared to this, Perona is much more obedient!"
Both are daughters; Kaido's biological daughter is quite rebellious, whereas Perona, though not confirmed by relationship, is effectively Moriah's adopted daughter and wholly devoted to him, her old father.
In this regard, he is far superior to Kaido!
"Let's capture her nonetheless and let Sage decide,"
Moriah chuckled, "Perhaps she's key to taking over the Beast Pirates. As Kaido's biological daughter... even if Sage fails, this gives us another path to perhaps even a form of unification in the first half."
"Hey! Sage won't fail, don't speak rubbish! You fat otaku, be careful, or I'll go to your castle and sprinkle salt all over your zombie figures!" Renedia threatened, showing her little fangs.
Vice Island in O'hara is under Moriah's watch. Besides his newly built Gothic eerie castle, all former resistors and past heedless pirates are imprisoned inside, their shadows implanted into recently collected zombies.
Even though he's no longer reliant on zombie forces, Moriah's habit lingers, and he finds having zombies around quite convenient.
After all, tossing the corpses of some strong individuals into the sea is quite wasteful.
"Ah, well..."
Marika picked up on another implication, smiling, "If Lily hears that, you'll need to be careful."
"Pirates don't care about such things,"
Moriah grinned at Marika, "Besides, sooner or later, it'll be your turn. I've lived fifty years already, certain things I can see clearly, heh heh heh."
Sage isn't only of interest to Lily; this gentle woman with black hair is also among them.
"What? I don't understand," Renedia seemed puzzled.
"Though I have confidence in Sage, winning or losing..."
Moriah paid no heed to Renedia and looked towards Yamato, "This woman will prove useful; her combat prowess is notable, her fruit... it must be a Mythical type? If it comes down to it, the fruit can be utilized. It depends on her choice."
As for why his daughter would become Kaido's enemy...
That matter could be delved into thoroughly once results were in.