Boom!
The moment Yamato stepped forward, a terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her body like a volcanic explosion. In an instant, the atmosphere turned heavy as countless arcs of red and black lightning surged outward in a massive torrent. The force was so tangible it felt as though the air itself was being shredded by her sheer willpower.
Crackle! Pop!
The effects of the Conqueror's Haki were immediate and violent. Wherever the pressure passed, the sounds of destruction followed. Giant boulders cracked, and the ancient flowers, grass, and trees shook violently. Some of the smaller plants simply exploded into fragments, unable to withstand the intensity of the spiritual pressure.
"...a better way," Haruko finally finished her sentence, but the words were lost to the wind.
Stunned by the display, Haruko stood rooted to the spot. Even though she wasn't the target of Yamato's Haki, the sheer scale of the power made her hair stand on end. This was the first time she had seen Yamato release her Conqueror's Haki from such a close distance, and the raw strength of it was utterly shocking.
Deep in the jungle, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates were in the middle of their hunt when the wave hit them. The sudden, overwhelming pressure forced every battle to a grinding halt.
"What happened? Is there an earthquake?" one pirate stammered, his legs trembling.
The pirates turned toward the source of the pressure, their faces pale with fear. Before they could even process what was happening, dozens of them collapsed. Their eyes rolled back into their heads as they slumped to the ground, unconscious before they hit the dirt.
"Conqueror's Haki?" sweat beaded on Teach's forehead as he struggled to stay upright. "Just who else is on this island?"
The weight of the Haki felt staggering, almost on par with the presence of Whitebeard himself. It made no sense. How could such a terrifying powerhouse be lurking on a deserted prehistoric island?
Within seconds, only about ten men from the entire Whitebeard landing party remained on their feet. Everyone else had fainted. Even those still standing felt as though a mountain were pressing down on their shoulders. They stared fixedly into the treeline, their bodies tense as if they were facing a legendary enemy.
The sound of steady footsteps echoed through the clearing. Two figures slowly emerged from the foliage, stepping into the sight of Teach and his remaining companions.
"What... women?!"
The pirates were dumbfounded. They had expected a monstrous warrior or a legendary captain, not two women. However, the moment they met Yamato's cold and imposing gaze, the confusion turned back into primal fear.
"What is going on?" Teach's eyes flickered with calculation and disbelief. "She's just a woman, yet she possesses Haki like that."
As Yamato walked closer, the pressure intensified. The Whitebeard Pirates found it increasingly difficult to breathe, their shirts soaking with cold sweat.
"Young Master, that's probably enough," Haruko reminded her quietly. "These people are no longer in any condition to fight."
Yamato stopped and took a good look at the men in front of her. Seeing their terrified expressions, she realized her goal had been achieved. The intimidation was more than sufficient.
"Sorry, sorry! It seems I went a bit overboard," Yamato laughed, instantly withdrawing her Conqueror's Haki.
The suffocating pressure receded like a falling tide, allowing the pirates to finally gasp for air. Yamato placed one hand on her hip, her golden eyes sweeping over the group. When her gaze landed on the man with the black curly hair and the large belly, she paused.
"Blackbeard!"
She hadn't expected to run into Marshall D. Teach here. It confirmed her suspicion; these men were definitely from the Whitebeard Pirates.
"We are from the Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division," a man holding a long sword said solemnly, trying to regain his composure.
"Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division? What a coincidence," Yamato said with a faint, knowing smile. "I remember a man named Kozuki Oden used to be the captain of your Second Division, right?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The veterans of the crew looked at her with sharp, suspicious eyes. "How do you know that? Who are you?"
"How should I put this... Ah, I've got it," Yamato said, her smile turning meaningful. "Let's just say that Kozuki Oden's death had a little something to do with me. Does that help you understand?"
The pirates' eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "Could it be... the Beasts Pirates!"
The newer recruits might have been confused, but the veterans knew the history. Kozuki Oden was a man from Wano Country who had been like a brother to Whitebeard. He had spent years on their ship and had indeed led the Second Division before returning to his homeland.
"Correct. We are the Beasts Pirates," Haruko said coldly, stepping forward. "And this lady is our Young Master."
The Young Master of the Beasts Pirates!
The revelation hit the Whitebeard Pirates like a physical blow. "So that means... she... she's... Kaido's daughter!"
Teach stared at her, his mind racing. So she's the daughter of that monster, Kaido. No wonder she has such terrifying Conqueror's Haki. I guess the daughter of a monster is still a monster, he thought, masking his internal shock.
"Technically, that makes us enemies," Yamato said, her eyes locked on Teach. "Kozuki Oden died at my father's hands. Even though my father and Whitebeard have their own history together, that doesn't change the situation here."
A powerful sense of oppression once again descended upon the group.
"Hey, hey... is this monster really going to attack us?" one of the pirates whispered, his hand shaking on his sword hilt.
They all knew the truth: after witnessing that Haki, they stood absolutely no chance.
"However," Yamato continued, her tone shifting to one of boredom, "you're all far too weak. You aren't even worth the effort of defeating. But since we're both pirate crews meeting on the same island, we can't exactly pretend nothing happened."
She leaned forward slightly, her golden pupils gleaming. "How about this? Hand over all the treasure on your ship. If you do that, you can avoid a fight with me. If not, get ready to battle. So, what's it going to be?"
The faces of the Whitebeard Pirates darkened. They were torn between their pride and the very real fear of death. They understood clearly that if a conflict broke out, Yamato would crush them like ants.
"Teach, what do you think?" the others asked, turning to him.
As a senior member who had been with the crew for a long time, Teach's opinion carried weight. He didn't hesitate for a second. "Let's just forget it. We are no match for a monster like her. If a fight starts, we'll all die on this island. It's better to avoid such a powerful enemy while we can."
With Teach's endorsement of the surrender, the others didn't argue.
"Fine. we'll give you the treasure," the pirates responded. They were bitter, but they knew they had no choice. Even invoking the name of Whitebeard wouldn't save them here—not against the daughter of Kaido.
"A very wise choice," Yamato said with a faint smile.
It was exactly what she expected. At this point in time, Blackbeard was focused on staying in the shadows. He wasn't about to risk his life or his cover over a few chests of gold.
"Young Master! Lady Haruko! What happened?"
At that moment, the members of the Beasts Pirates arrived, having been drawn by the massive surge of Haki.
"Nothing much," Yamato said, her smile turning cheerful. "We just ran into some kind souls who wanted to give us their treasure. Right, guys?"
The Whitebeard Pirates could only seethe in silence, their faces red with anger, but none of them dared to utter a single word of protest.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse