Boom!
Flames shot high into the sky and exploded instantly, expanding into a massive mushroom cloud of orange and black smoke. Three figures were sent flying backward from the force of the blast.
"Oh my, oh my. You certainly live up to the reputation of a Logia Type," Black Maria said as she skidded to a halt. She swung her Naginata with a flourish, and a terrifying chill began to radiate from her body. The cold mist spread quickly, dousing the lingering flames and freezing the scorched ground into a sheet of ice.
"Ice?" Ace muttered. He watched his flames flicker and die under the freezing pressure, his expression turning solemn. It seemed his opponent's ability was a perfect counter to his fire.
"You're just a Logia Type, and your mastery hasn't reached a high enough level yet," Haruko said, her eyes as cold as the frost on the ground. "Your Haki is also far too weak. If you think you can defeat us like this, stop dreaming."
As she spoke, her eight spider legs moved with blinding speed, carrying her toward Ace. She leaped into the air and slashed down at him with both her Kodachi.
"Fire Fist!" Ace roared, refusing to back down. He met the attack head-on, his flaming fist clashing against her hardened steel.
The two engaged in a fierce exchange of blows. Maria did not rush to intervene this time; instead, she stood back and watched the duel with an unhurried, graceful air. Nearby, Ace's companions watched the scene with growing anxiety.
"These two women are too strong!" one of the pirates cried out. "One of them can hold back the Captain on her own, and there's another one over there who hasn't even moved yet. Could she be even stronger than these two?"
"If that's the case, we're in real trouble," another added, his voice trembling. "We haven't even seen Kaido yet, and we're already struggling."
The crew members looked at each other, feeling extremely uneasy. They realized that their Captain, who had seemed invincible during their journey through the Grand Line, was finally meeting his match.
As the fight continued, Ace realized that the woman before him was unlike any opponent he had ever faced. She was not only physically powerful but highly skilled in the use of Haki. Although he was a Logia user, Haki allowed her to strike his physical form with ease. Just as she had pointed out, his Haki cultivation was lagging far behind his Devil Fruit abilities.
"Two-Sword Style: Death Bind!" Haruko's icy voice rang out.
She unleashed a powerful technique, and a phantom of a black spider appeared behind her. It sat at the center of a spectral web, its eyes glowing with an eerie green light like death lanterns. Ace felt a sudden, mortal danger, the hair on his neck standing on end. Without a second thought, he gathered every ounce of his power.
"Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor!"
Flames soared into the sky, quickly condensing into a massive, swirling fireball that radiated incredible heat. Ace swung his arms and hurled the miniature sun toward his opponent.
Boom!
A violent explosion rocked the coast of Onigashima, the firelight illuminating the shores as bright as day.
"Captain!" Ace's companions screamed, shielding their eyes from the blinding glare.
As the firelight gradually dissipated, a dark shadow emerged from the smoke. It was Haruko in her hybrid form. She looked completely unharmed, save for a few singed edges on her clothing.
"Portgas D. Ace, if you want to take Lord Kaido's head, you're still far from it," Haruko said bluntly, her gaze cold and piercing.
As the last of the fire died down, Ace's figure was revealed. He was still covered in flames, but a thin streak of red seeped from the corner of his mouth.
"Such strong Haki," Ace whispered, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. In that last clash, he had been slightly outmatched. He took a deep breath and glared at her. "From now on, it won't be so easy to hurt me."
"Hmph, you really won't give up until you're at death's door," Haruko replied.
"Young people are indeed full of energy," Maria chimed in, stepping forward. She could see that Ace was not the type to listen to reason. "In that case, I'll join in for a bit too. Haruko, let's take down little Ace together."
"No problem," Haruko nodded. She knew she might not be able to finish him quickly on her own, but with Maria's help, the rookie wouldn't stand a chance. They had only been warming up; once they got serious, the battle would be over in an instant.
"Come at me together then!" Ace shouted, his fighting spirit burning as brightly as his flames.
The third round was about to begin when a voice drifted over the battlefield.
"Hmm, as expected of Roger's son. His potential is high, but he still lacks tempering and refinement," Yamato mused, resting her chin on her hand as she watched from her chair.
She looked at Ace and thought of the future. "His character flaws certainly can't be corrected; otherwise, that incident wouldn't happen. His fate is to die young."
Yamato recalled the tragedy of the Paramount War. It was a heroic event, but a tragic one where things didn't go as anyone hoped. In this world, no one could truly predict the future.
"But is it really fate? I want to see for myself," Yamato thought. "Respect others' fate, let go of the urge to help... I don't really want to meddle in other people's business, but..."
She remembered how fans back in her old world called her "Idiot Old Man" the "Great Teacher" because of how he fought his opponents. "If that's the case, he shouldn't be the Great Teacher anymore. I'll do it instead. I'll be the Great Teacher today and take that title for myself."
Intrigued by the idea, Yamato stood up.
"Young Lord?" her subordinates asked, confused. "Are you going to take action?"
The sounds of explosions continued as Maria and Haruko began to suppress Ace. Even with his Logia powers, he was struggling against two Haki experts—especially Maria, whose Mythical Zoan abilities naturally countered his fire.
"Maria, Haruko, let me play with him for a bit," Yamato called out. She walked toward the battlefield, her golden haori fluttering loudly in the wind.
Hearing her voice, Maria and Haruko paused. They retreated a few steps and looked back in surprise. "You're going to step in?"
"Yeah, my hands are a bit itchy. Leave this chance to me," Yamato said. Her wooden geta clacked against the stones as she approached, casually pulling the heavy, spiked metal club from her back.
Seeing that Yamato was serious, Maria and Haruko glanced at each other. The killing intent they had been projecting vanished instantly.
"I really can't do anything with you," Maria said with a sigh. She shifted out of her hybrid form and put away her Naginata. Haruko did the same. They knew that if Yamato took the field, there was no need for them to stay.
"Haha, just this once," Yamato smiled at them.
The two women clearly didn't believe her, but they moved to the sidelines anyway.
Opposite them, Ace saw the change in guards. As Yamato walked toward him, he instinctively felt a massive surge of danger. His companions felt it too.
"Ace, be careful! This woman must be their leader!" they shouted.
"I know," Ace replied, dropping into a low, defensive stance. He didn't dare relax for a second. The feeling Yamato gave off was completely different from the other two; she felt like a wild, apex predator.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse