"Be careful, everyone. These guys are bad news," Ace warned his crew, his expression tightening as he assessed the situation.
Ace stepped toward the bow of the ship and looked up at Yamato and the others standing on the shore. "Who are you people? Emperor Kaido is here, isn't he? I have business with him."
"Little one, this is no place for you," Black Maria said with a gentle, mocking smile. "You should just turn back and go home while you still can."
Haruko stepped forward, her gaze cold and dismissive. "Portgas D. Ace, right? This isn't the place for a rookie like you to be causing trouble. Be smart and leave Wano Country on your own. If you ever set foot here again, you'll face severe consequences."
"This woman talks big," one of Ace's companions muttered, his eyes darting between the formidable figures on the coast. They could all sense that these opponents were not to be trifled with, yet the crew stood their ground.
"That won't do," Ace replied, his voice flat and determined. "I'm here to take Kaido's head."
Haruko let out a sharp laugh. "Heh, you've got quite a mouth on you. Do you really think defeating one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea qualifies you to face one of the Four Emperors? What utter nonsense."
To the veterans of Wano, the idea of a rookie with a bounty of 550,000,000 dreaming of taking down a Yonko was nothing more than a grand delusion.
"Little Ace, we're only telling you this because you're young and seem like a decent kid," Maria said. She twirled her Naginata twice with practiced ease before slamming the butt of the weapon heavily onto the ground, cracking the stone beneath it. "If you don't appreciate our kindness, you're going to suffer."
"I appreciate the advice," Ace said, his tone softening slightly but remaining firm. "However, I must take Kaido's head today. This matter doesn't concern you, so please just step aside."
As he spoke, orange flames erupted across his skin. With a powerful burst of heat, he leaped from the deck and landed firmly on the shore.
"Lady Maria, there's no use wasting words on someone like this," Haruko said, her hand moving to the hilts of the two Kodachi at her waist. A murderous aura began to radiate from her. "He won't understand his own limits until we beat them into him."
"You won't clear the way? Then I have no choice," Ace said, dropping into a fighting stance. "I'll defeat you first, then I'll find Kaido."
"Ace, don't forget about us!" his companions shouted. They scrambled off the ship and joined him on the beach, drawing their weapons.
Ace glanced back and grinned. "Of course. How could I forget you guys? Let's fight side by side then."
The air suddenly grew heavy as Maria and Haruko transformed. In an instant, they entered their hybrid forms, their bodies warping into powerful displays of Zoan mastery.
"What is that? Are they Devil Fruit users?" Ace's crew watched in utter astonishment.
Maria's hybrid form was a sight of terrifying beauty. She stood nearly ten meters tall, her body stark white and surrounded by a ring of ethereal white flame clouds that gave her a sacred, almost divine appearance. Beside her, Haruko's transformation was far more grotesque. While her upper body remained human, her lower half had become that of a giant spider. Eight long, black legs covered in coarse bristles clicked against the ground, making her look like a nightmare manifested.
"Little ones, let us play with you," Maria said. Her voice was still gentle, but it now carried a razor-sharp edge of deadly intent.
"Portgas D. Ace, I hope your strength isn't as disappointing as your common sense," Haruko added. She drew her blades, and a dark, metallic sheen coated the steel as she hardened them with Armament Haki.
Two powerful surges of Haki emanated from the women, kicking up dust and small stones in a violent whirlwind.
"Be careful, guys," Ace said, his eyes never leaving his targets. "I'll handle the big one. You take the other one."
"Got it!" his companions shouted, though they were visibly sweating.
Haruko narrowed her eyes. "Your opponent is us, Portgas D. Ace. The others should leave the stage. Two-Sword Style: Cross Star!"
She swung her Kodachi in a swift, fluid motion, unleashing a massive, black cross-shaped slash. The attack tore through the earth like a runaway train, hurtling toward Ace and his crew with devastating speed.
"Get out of the way! Fire Fist!" Ace roared. His arm transformed into a torrent of orange-red flames as he threw a massive punch to intercept the technique.
The pillar of fire collided with the black slash in a spectacular spray of sparks and heat. An explosion rocked the shoreline, sending a violent shockwave through the air that knocked Ace's companions off their feet and sent them tumbling back toward the water.
"Are you all okay?" Ace called out, stepping back to check on his team.
"We're fine, Ace! Don't worry about us," one of them shouted, pushing himself up. "These opponents are just too strong."
Seeing they weren't seriously injured, Ace felt a wave of relief. "Stay back. Don't intervene. Leave this to me."
"Alright, Ace. We'll leave it to you," they replied. They knew their limits; if they stayed in the fray, they would only be a distraction that Ace couldn't afford.
"Little Ace, you're certainly strong," Maria said, raising her Naginata as Armament Haki coiled around the blade. "But trying to deal with both of us at once won't be as easy as you think."
"Enough talk. We'll find out once we start fighting," Ace countered. His entire body ignited, turning him into a human torch as he charged fiercely toward the two women.
Boom!
The battle erupted in earnest. Ace fought Maria and Haruko alone, his flames sweeping in all directions as he clashed against their Haki-enhanced weapons.
"So this is a Logia Type user," Yamato remarked, watching the spectacle from a safe distance. "It's truly impressive. No wonder people say Logia Types are the most powerful. Fire, ice, light, magma... these natural forces possess such terrifying inherent power."
Yamato nodded to herself. No matter how a Logia user fought, the sheer scale of their elemental manipulation always created a visually stunning display. She mused that perhaps only a Mythical Zoan could compare in terms of rarity, but even then, the pure output of elemental power from a Logia was in a league of its own. While Yamato could wield fire herself, she couldn't generate it on the massive, effortless scale that Ace did.
"Young Master, what's happening?" a group of subordinates asked, arriving after hearing the sounds of the explosion.
Yamato waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing. Just watch."
The subordinates stared at the inferno on the beach and swallowed hard. They realized immediately that a battle of this caliber was far beyond their ability to influence.
"Go, bring me a chair," Yamato ordered.
"Yes, Young Master!" one subordinate shouted. He ran off and returned moments later with a sturdy chair.
Yamato sat down, calmly observing the clash of fire and steel. She casually lit a cigarette and took a long drag, puffing out a cloud of smoke as she watched the rookie pirate struggle against her father's subordinates.
The subordinates looked at Yamato's relaxed posture and exchanged nervous glances. "Isn't the Young Master being a bit too calm? That's a Logia user out there."
"So what if he's a Logia?" another whispered, his voice filled with reverence. "The Young Master's strength is beyond anything ordinary people can imagine. Even the Lead Performers can't compare. She's as terrifying as the Governor-General himself."
Within the Beasts Pirates, it was a well-known fact that Yamato was the second pillar of the crew. Aside from Kaido, she was the most fearsome warrior in Wano, arguably no less intimidating than her father.
"You're right," the other subordinate agreed, nodding quickly. "No one could possibly be a match for the Young Master."
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