The air inside Onigashima trembled under the weight of crackling thunder. Every corridor Luffy passed through was left littered with scorched bodies and shattered weapons, the smell of burnt metal and smoke hanging heavy in the air.
Each step he took echoed softly.
Tap... tap... tap...
The faint sizzle of residual lightning trailed behind him like the hiss of an untamed beast still hungry for prey.
He moved through the dimly lit halls until he finally stepped into a massive chamber.
It was the main hall of the fortress.
Dozens of towering pillars rose to the ceiling, carved in the likeness of oni faces, their mouths open wide as though screaming silently at the intruder below. A grand staircase stretched up toward a throne, but the place was eerily empty.
Luffy's sharp eyes roamed across the hall.
'Tch... I would have loved it if there were at least one of the Lead Performers... But there was no Kaido or any Lead Performers. It was pretty boring.'
He had barely finished that thought when he heard a sharp sound.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The unmistakable rhythm of heavy sandals striking the floor echoed from behind him.
Each step of the newcomer was fast, urgent, and powerful.
A grin immediately crept across Luffy's face. He didn't even bother turning around.
'Finally... someone interesting.'
He spun halfway, his right arm drawing back as golden lightning exploded from his fist.
BOOM!
The next instant, two forces collided.
CLANG!
His lightning-wreathed punch met a heavy iron mace with a thunderous explosion that sent shockwaves through the entire chamber. The ground cracked beneath their feet, the dust bursting outward in rings of pressure.
The owner of the mace slid backward a few meters before planting her feet firmly, her sandals grinding against the stone floor.
Luffy lowered his arm and tilted his head with a wide grin. "Well now… that's some greeting."
As the smoke cleared, the figure of his attacker came into view, and Luffy's grin only widened.
Because the person was simply breathtaking.
Her tall, statuesque figure stood proud and defiant. Her long, wild white hair shimmered in the dim torchlight, fading into hues of aqua and blue as it flowed down her back. Her horns curved elegantly from her head, red at the tips and fading to the color of flesh near the base. Her golden eyes burned with raw defiance and spirit, yet something untamed and lonely flickered behind them.
The iron mace in her hands still crackled faintly with the remnants of Luffy's lightning.
'So this is her…' Luffy thought with a spark of intrigue. 'So, she is Yamato,Kaido's daughter!'
The grin on his lips turned almost teasing.
"It's rude to attack your guests, you know. Is this how you welcome everyone here?"
The woman frowned, clearly taken aback by his composure. Her voice, though fierce, carried a strange elegance.
"Who are you? What are you doing in Onigashima?"
For the briefest moment, their eyes met, and Yamato's heartbeat stumbled.
There was something dangerously magnetic about him, especially his confident grin and those sharp eyes that looked straight through her armor and pride. Her chest tightened as she felt a heat rise to her cheeks, but she quickly shook her head, gripping her mace tighter.
"I'm Yamato," She declared firmly. "Son of Kaido! And you—"
"Son, huh?" Luffy interrupted with a playful smirk and looked at her from top to bottom with an appreciative gaze. "Not bad... not bad at all."
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm here to kill Kaido."
The hall went silent for a moment. It was so quiet that even the torches seemed to flicker in disbelief.
"You… what!?" Yamato blinked.
He said it so casually, as if talking about the weather. But before she could respond again, he continued, his tone easy and amused.
"Relax. I already know he's not here. I can't sense his Haki anywhere nearby. So for now…"
He gestured toward her wrists, his eyes glinting with mischief. "…I'm more curious about you, Yamato. What's a strong woman like you doing locked up with seastone cuffs?"
The question hit a nerve.
Yamato's smile faltered, and a shadow passed through her eyes. She looked down at the seastone shackles, their dull gray glint mocking her strength.
Her voice lowered, bitter and defensive. "That's none of your business."
Without another word, she launched forward, the floor cracking beneath her sandals as she swung her iron mace in a powerful arc.
SWOOSH!
The weapon whistled through the air like a cannonball, aimed straight for Luffy's head.
But Luffy didn't dodge. Instead, he laughed softly, unbuttoning his long coat and letting it fall to the floor with a lazy flick.
The movement made Yamato pause for a fraction of a second, just long enough to notice the lean, sculpted muscles beneath his black tank top, the faint glow of lightning crawling over his skin like living tattoos.
'Why… does he look so—' Her breath hitched, but she didn't get to finish the thought.
BOOM!
Their weapons clashed again, her iron mace against his lightning-covered fist. Sparks exploded between them, lighting up the hall like a miniature storm.
The shockwave sent cracks spidering through the floor, and Yamato stumbled back a few steps.
Luffy smirked, brushing some dust off his arm as he straightened his back.
"You hit pretty hard, Yamato." He grinned. "But you look a little angry."
His voice softened, teasingly low. "How about I help you unwind a bit? You can take out your frustrations on me."
The playful tone mixed with the confidence in his eyes made Yamato's heart pound. Her face flushed a deeper red, though she masked it behind a glare.
"Don't joke with me!" She shouted, swinging her mace again, her aura flaring with fury and confusion.
Luffy only chuckled, sparks dancing in his golden eyes as he met her halfway.
BOOM! CRACK! CLANG!
The hall erupted with sound as thunder and steel collided again and again. The dust rose in clouds, the walls trembling from their raw power.
In that storm of sound, heat, and lightning, Luffy couldn't help but grin wider.
'Yeah… this is more like it.'
The hall shook with every strike they exchanged.
Each blow created shockwaves that sent pieces of rock tumbling from the ceiling.
Yamato's breathing quickened. Sweat rolled down her temple, though her grip never loosened.
Luffy's movements were fast. His body flickered like a phantom, sometimes behind her, sometimes beside her, every punch laced with the roar of thunder.
She swung her mace with both hands, shouting, "Stop dodging and fight me seriously!"
Luffy chuckled, his voice echoing like teasing thunder. "I am fighting seriously, Yamato. Maybe you just need to catch up."
His arrogant and fearless grin made her blood boil. She lunged again, meeting with him midair.
For a moment, they stood locked in place, sparks flying between their faces. His eyes met hers, burning with a strange warmth that made her heart skip.
Yamato felt her pulse quicken. Why was she getting distracted by his face? By that smile?
'Focus! He's an intruder… just why is my heart almost beating so fast, almost jumping out of my chest?'
Luffy pushed her back with one arm, lightning exploding from his skin. The shockwave flung Yamato several meters away, her sandals grinding against the cracked floor as she steadied herself.
He exhaled softly, shoulders relaxed, his grin never fading. "You've got spirit, Yamato. I like that. But you're holding back… is it because of those cuffs?"
Her jaw tightened, but her silence spoke volumes.
Luffy's expression softened slightly. "You hate Kaido, don't you?"
Her eyes widened.
He stepped closer, his voice low, almost gentle now. "You've been living under his chains for too long. Why not break them? Why not fight for yourself?"
The words struck deeper than any blow. Yamato's breath hitched, her hands trembling slightly.
For the first time, she didn't swing her weapon. She just stood there, staring at him, lightning reflecting in her eyes, her heart thundering louder than the storm itself.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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