Chapter 34 – Clash of Legends
The first fleet to reach the shores of Wano Country was the massive armada of the Whitebeard Pirates. Their ships cut through the waves like a moving fortress, sails full, flags snapping proudly in the wind.
Far above the coastline, Ren was patrolling the skies with Yamato and Ulti when he suddenly paused mid-flight. His Observation Haki stretched across the sea and instantly recognized a familiar presence.
"Ohh, a friend came. Gotta meet him," Ren said casually.
He turned his head toward Kin'emon, who stood on the cliff below.
"Kin'emon, tell Toki to prepare a banquet for the Whitebeard Pirates."
Kin'emon bowed instantly. "As you command."
Without wasting another second, he sprinted toward the capital.
Beside Ren, Yamato and Ulti immediately perked up with excitement.
"Hey Ren, is that the world's strongest man?" Yamato asked, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Is he here to fight?" she added eagerly.
Ulti puffed her cheeks in protest. "Ren is the strongest!"
Ren laughed softly and ruffled both of their heads.
Then he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
"Peru… Peru… Peru…"
"Katcha."
"Hey Kaido," Ren said calmly. "Come to the coast of Wano. Edward Newgate is here."
From the other side came the familiar booming laugh of Kaido.
"Wororororo! What, you need me to fight with you?"
Ren snorted.
"Oh please. You'll only get your ass kicked if you intervene in our fight."
Kaido laughed loudly.
"I want you to bring Yamato and Ulti near us so they can see the peak," Ren continued. "You can learn something too."
He paused before adding another instruction.
"And bring King with you. If I'm right, Morgans' birds will be watching."
Kaido hummed curiously.
"It's time the world knows a Lunarian is alive," Ren said.
"Worororo! Fine. We're coming."
"Katcha."
Ren grabbed Yamato and Ulti and leapt into the sky, forming a massive tower of flame clouds beneath his feet. The girls gasped in excitement as they soared toward Wano's outer sea.
Their eyes sparkled like children witnessing a legend.
Ren glanced at them quietly while flying.
He had expectations for both girls.
Yamato would awaken Conqueror's Haki one day—that much Ren was certain of. But somewhere deep inside, he hoped Ulti possessed the same potential.
Suddenly he pinched both of their cheeks.
"Listen, Yamato. Ulti."
His voice turned serious.
"As long as I'm alive, never fear anyone."
They blinked in surprise.
"No one will harm you," Ren continued firmly. "Never bow before anyone."
Yamato's eyes burned with determination.
"Hmph! You think I'd fear anyone?" she declared proudly.
Ulti puffed out her chest.
"Ulti won't fear anyone either! After all, Ren is the strongest!"
Ren smiled as the massive silhouette of a ship appeared ahead.
The Moby Dick sailed through the waves like a moving island.
Just then, thunderous laughter echoed from behind.
"Wororororoo! Captain, you ready to meet him?"
Kaido arrived in his dragon form, massive body stretching across the sky. King followed silently behind him, wings spread wide.
Ren glanced back.
"Kaido, turn back into human form and create flame clouds," he ordered.
Kaido raised an eyebrow.
"Let Yamato and Ulti sit on them."
He then turned toward King.
"And you—follow me. Let the world see who you are."
Kaido scratched his chin.
"Worororo… you sure it's a good idea to bring the kids?"
Ren nodded without hesitation.
"They'll be fine. I trust them."
He ruffled Yamato and Ulti's hair again, making both girls grin.
King hesitated slightly.
"Captain… is it really okay to let the world know?" he asked quietly.
Kaido immediately frowned.
"Grow some damn spine, King," he grumbled.
Ren looked at the Lunarian calmly.
"Just trust me."
After a moment of silence, King nodded.
"…Fine."
Yamato and Ulti jumped excitedly onto Kaido's flame clouds as he shifted into human form.
Then Ren and King flew toward the Moby Dick, with Kaido following behind them carrying the girls.
---
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard suddenly began laughing.
"Gurarararara! Still as strong as before."
Beside him, Marco frowned slightly.
"Pops… are we going to war?"
Ten years earlier he had seen his captain clash with Ren, and even then the battle had shaken the seas. Now Ren ruled Wano as its king.
Whitebeard sighed softly.
"Marco… he promised to stay away from Wano, and he kept that promise."
Vista nodded.
"He never breaks his word," Vista said calmly.
"There's no reason to start a war."
Jozu crossed his arms and nodded in agreement.
The only one visibly upset was Izo, who still carried loyalty to Oden.
Whitebeard chuckled again.
"Gurarararara! Kids… prepare to meet him."
Just then, Ren's voice echoed directly in his ears through Telekinesis.
{Yo, Whitebeard. Do me a favor and put some murderous pressure on the kids with Kaido. Don't go too far.}
Whitebeard grinned widely.
"Gurarararara! A friend's request? How can I refuse?"
His Conqueror's Haki erupted suddenly, targeting Yamato and Ulti standing on Kaido's flame cloud.
---
"Th-this pressure?!" Yamato gasped.
Her legs trembled violently as fear clawed through her body. The crushing power screamed for her to bow.
Beside her, Ulti's legs buckled and she dropped to one knee.
The pressure suffocated the air itself.
Her body shook with fear.
Yamato also collapsed onto one knee, gasping.
But then her eyes burned with rage.
"Damn you!"
She remembered her promise to Ren.
"I won't kneel!"
She slammed her fist into the cloud and forced herself upright.
Whitebeard watched closely.
"A little push," he murmured.
The pressure increased.
Yamato roared as she transformed into her beast-human form.
Then suddenly—
Conqueror's Haki burst from her body and clashed with Whitebeard's.
The entire deck of the Moby Dick froze.
"N-no way…" Marco whispered.
"Did that nine-year-old girl just awaken Conqueror's Haki?!"
Vista and Jozu stared with mouths wide open.
Even Marshall D. Teach stared in disbelief.
Kaido crossed his arms proudly.
"Hmph. She's my daughter after all."
Then Ulti slowly stood up.
Her legs still shook, but she refused to bow.
She glared toward the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Ren is the strongest!"
"I, Ulti, won't bow before you!"
Though she had not awakened Conqueror's Haki, the sheer will required to stand against Whitebeard's pressure shocked everyone.
"Gurarararara!" Whitebeard laughed.
"What a strong will, kid. She'll awaken it too someday."
Jozu shook his head in amazement.
"Where did he find these monster kids?"
Marco finally noticed someone standing beside Ren.
His eyes narrowed instantly.
"Those wings… dark skin… white hair… flames on his back…"
"Pops… that's—"
Teach's eyes widened.
"A Lunarian?!"
Whitebeard looked at King thoughtfully.
"Gurarararara… this kid has shocked me more than anyone in my life."
King stood straight.
After watching Yamato awaken Conqueror's Haki, he refused to look weak.
Yamato jumped onto Ren's flame cloud.
Ren patted her head.
"Good job."
She raised her chin proudly.
Then Ren turned toward Whitebeard.
"Yamato. Ulti."
"This is the peak."
At that moment, both Ren and Whitebeard unleashed their full Conqueror's Haki.
The world lost its color.
The sky split in two.
The sea dented inward as if struck by a meteor.
The Moby Dick groaned under the pressure as cracks spread across the deck.
Many of Whitebeard's crew collapsed unconscious.
Izo, Vista, Marco, Teach, and King were drenched in cold sweat.
Even Kaido felt the crushing force pressing against him.
Only Yamato and Ulti felt little pressure—protected by Ren's Haki while Whitebeard deliberately spared them.
"Gurarararara! You seem stronger than the last time we met, Ren."
Ren laughed loudly.
"Bahaha! You seem stronger too, Newgate."
Both legends moved at the same time.
Whitebeard swung his bisento infused with Conqueror's Haki and Internal Destruction.
Ren met it with his fist, also coated in Conqueror's infusion and Internal Destruction.
Their clash detonated the air itself.
The sea collapsed inward before exploding outward into massive waves.
Yamato and Ulti stared with shining eyes.
"I want to be that strong too!!!"
They shouted in perfect unison.