On the deck of the central pirate ship, a tall, imposing man stood firmly at the bow. He possessed a robust, muscular build and short, purplish-red hair that defied the wind. A thick white scarf was draped around his neck, partially obscuring the lower half of his face, while his body was clad in dark black leather. Intricate red tattoos snaked across his skin, adding to his cold and overbearing presence.
This was Charlotte Katakuri, one of the top executives of the Big Mom Pirates. Within their ranks, he was the strongest combatant second only to the Yonko herself, Charlotte Linlin. As the leader of the Three Sweet Commanders, his status was equivalent to King the Conflagration of the Beasts Pirates—or, more accurately, he was the direct counterpart to Yamato. Furthermore, Katakuri was a formidable user of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, a unique Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that granted him incredible versatility in battle.
"Oh, is that Katakuri? He isn't an opponent you guys can handle. It looks like I'll have to step in myself," Yamato said, a confident smile spreading across her face.
Jack rolled his eyes and scoffed. "If you want to fight, just say so. Stop talking nonsense and trying to make excuses."
"I'm not wrong, though. He's the number two figure of the Big Mom Pirates. Jack, do you honestly think you're a match for him?" Yamato retorted playfully.
"We haven't even crossed blades yet. How can you be so sure I'd lose?" Jack snorted, crossing his arms.
Yamato chuckled, her eyes gleaming. "He'd have you howling in pain before the first round was over."
Veins popped on Jack's forehead as his temper flared. "Yamato, if you can't say anything useful, then don't speak at all! You're always boosting the enemy's morale while undermining our own. I really ought to sew your mouth shut with a needle."
"Haha, don't be such a simpleton, Jack. You're getting worked up over nothing. Black Maria, besides Katakuri, are there any other notable names on that ship?" Yamato asked, turning her attention back to the horizon.
Black Maria shook her head slowly. "Only Katakuri. I didn't see any of the other Ministers or high-ranking officers."
"Just one, huh? Then leave him to me. You guys stay back and watch the show," Yamato said, cracking her neck. She was curious to see if the current Katakuri had already pushed his Observation Haki to the point of seeing into the future, and whether his fruit abilities had reached their awakening.
"Hey, Yamato, you're the Admiral of this fleet. There's no such thing as an Admiral heading straight into the opening clash!" Jack objected, his voice booming.
"He's right, Yamato. Even if Katakuri is strong, you still have me, Jack, and Haruko here. There's no need for you to step out onto the front lines just yet," Maria added, her tone filled with disapproval.
Haruko nodded in agreement. "Young Master, Lady Maria is right. Please reconsider."
Yamato waved her hand dismissively, her tone shifting to one of authority. "Since I am the Admiral, you'll listen to me. Besides, I want to personally verify a few things about him. You guys just watch from here."
Seeing that Yamato was adamant and would not accept any rebuttal, the others looked at each other and fell silent.
This bastard... I'm never staying on the same ship as her again. She's the queen of selfishness, Jack cursed inwardly.
Across the water, the crew of the Big Mom Pirates had also noticed the approaching fleet.
"Lord Katakuri, it's the Beasts Pirates! It seems we've arrived late!" a subordinate reported, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Katakuri nodded calmly. "I didn't expect the Beasts Pirates to set their sights on Vanilla Island as well. We may have arrived late, but we aren't too late. We will simply take it by force."
"Lord Katakuri, are we really going to war with them? Drought Jack is over there, and so is 'Onihime' Yamato. Her bounty is 1,315,000,000!" the subordinate hesitated, clearly intimidated by the numbers.
Katakuri's expression remained indifferent. "A bounty doesn't represent everything. Just do as I say."
"Understood," the subordinate replied, nodding quickly. Everyone on the ship was well aware of Katakuri's overwhelming strength. While the Onihime of the Beasts Pirates had a staggering initial bounty, no one truly knew what her actual combat prowess was like. Many suspected she only held such a high figure because she was the daughter of Kaido.
"As expected, he's charging straight toward us. He has guts, just as you'd expect from the number two of the Big Mom Pirates. Since I'm the host, I should probably go out and meet him," Yamato remarked, her golden pupils glowing with anticipation.
As she spoke, Yamato reached behind her and pulled out her massive spiked club, Takeru.
"Yamato, what do you think you're doing—"
Before Jack could finish his sentence, Yamato stomped on the deck, the force of her jump cracking the wood as she blasted off. To the crew, Yamato became nothing more than a blur of pink light, charging through the air toward the enemy ship like a fired arrow.
"That woman..." Jack was completely speechless. She didn't have a shred of an Admiral's poise or patience.
Maria and Haruko simply looked on with resigned expressions. They were used to it by now; Yamato had always been someone who followed her own whims.
On the Big Mom Pirates' vessel, the lookouts scrambled. "Lord Katakuri, an enemy is approaching at high speed!"
Katakuri's face tensed. He saw the pink figure rushing over, but more importantly, he felt the oppressive weight of her Haki.
It's her. But this Haki... Katakuri's mind raced as he analyzed the incoming threat. "Regardless of who she is, this person is very strong. Everyone, get back!"
He let out a loud shout to clear the deck as a three-pronged spear, his trident Mogura, appeared in his hand. "Mochi Thrust!"
In an instant, Katakuri's arm transformed into a viscous white fluid, wrapping tightly around the shaft of the trident. Armament Haki coiled around the weapon, turning it jet black, and the entire arm began to rotate at high speed like a massive drill.
At that exact moment, Yamato reached the air just in front of the pirate ship. A wild, arrogant smile played on her lips, and her golden earrings swayed, catching the sunlight.
The spiked club in her hands was already encased in a dense layer of Armament Haki, radiating a violent, destructive aura. Yamato's golden pupils burst with brilliant light as she swung the club forward with all her might.
Katakuri leapt into the air to meet her, thrusting the rotating trident forward with lethal precision.
CLANG!
The spiked club and the trident collided with a deafening roar. Sparks flew in every direction as the two massive forces of Haki clashed, sending a shockwave rippling across the sea. The violent airwave caused the pirate ship to rock dangerously, and the subordinates on deck were blown backward, crashing heavily against the hull.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Strings of black and red sparks splattered out as the two figures remained locked in a stalemate in mid-air.
"Hello there, Charlotte Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates!" Yamato said. She pressed down on the club with one hand, her hair flying wildly in the wind, looking completely composed despite the intensity of the clash.
From the moment she saw him, Yamato had recognized the man. Katakuri's gaze was sharp, staring directly into Yamato's eyes while his heart filled with secret shock. This person's Haki is incredible. Could the bounty on her poster actually be real? Is there no exaggeration at all?!
"Onihime, Yamato!" Katakuri grunted. He suddenly exerted a burst of force, shoving his trident forward and shaking Yamato back.
Yamato flipped through the air and landed gracefully on the ship's railing, her pink haori fluttering behind her. "It seems I'm already quite famous. Speaking of which, our backgrounds are very similar, aren't they? You're Big Mom's son, and I'm Kaido's daughter."
"That may be true. However, I am stronger than you," Katakuri's voice was low and heavy, vibrating with absolute confidence.
"Haha, I expected nothing less from you, Katakuri! It's rare to find an opponent this interesting. Fight me!" Yamato laughed, waving her spiked club as streaks of red and black lightning—the mark of Conqueror's Haki—began to burst from her body.
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