In a remote corner of the New World, there sat an uninhabited island defined by its harsh and varied terrain. At its center, a massive volcano loomed, its crater filled with thick, crimson lava that glowed with an intense heat, distorting the very air around it.
Deep within the boiling magma, a colossal creature rested. Upon closer inspection, the form of a pink dragon, stretching nearly two hundred meters in length, became visible. Because its scales matched the shimmering hue of the molten rock, it was nearly impossible to spot at first glance.
The lava bubbled and popped, but the giant dragon remained unbothered by the extreme temperature. Suddenly, the liquid fire began to churn violently, causing the entire volcano to tremble. Above the peak, the sky turned ink-black as thick clouds swirled into a massive vortex, crackling with red and black lightning.
The anomaly expanded until it covered the entire island, signaling the arrival of a terrifying natural disaster. Thunder roared with the force of an explosion, and bolts of lightning as thick as stone pillars rained down from the heavens. Each strike blasted massive craters into the earth, sending debris flying in every direction. Around the coastline, towering waterspouts formed, dragging seawater high into the turbulent sky.
The earth gave a final, violent shudder, and the lava within the volcano erupted toward the clouds. Emerging from the heart of the explosion, the pink dragon ascended into the sky. Her body was wreathed in flickering flames and dancing lightning. Across the island, the sheer pressure of her presence caused countless animals to foam at the mouth and faint; those that remained conscious huddled on the ground, whimpering in terror.
Woven into the dragon's mane were not just flames, but pure white clouds that drifted like divine silk. This majestic creature was Yamato. She flew directly into the eye of the storm, dancing amidst the hurricanes and the lightning strikes.
"Finally, I've awakened!"
Yamato could feel a staggering difference in her power. It felt as though she had become the absolute ruler of the natural world, capable of bending the elements to her will. Lightning, storms, and fire all responded to her slightest thought. To test her new strength, she summoned a shower of massive fireballs from the sky, watching them plummet into the sea like a meteor strike.
"My physical strength, recovery, and vitality... it's like they've become infinite," Yamato noted, marveling at the changes within her body. "As expected of an Awakening. It truly takes a Devil Fruit ability into an entirely new realm."
The boost to her combat power was far beyond anything she had imagined. While she wasn't a Logia Type, the sheer scale of the storms and fire she could now produce was devastating.
"I'm glad I remembered what my old man said during one of his fights. When the mind and body are strong enough to match the soul of the fruit, the ability will awaken," Yamato thought, her mood soaring.
With a graceful dive, the pink dragon spiraled toward the shore, shifting back into her human form before her feet touched the ground. As she landed, the anomalies began to fade. The clouds dispersed, the lightning ceased, and the waterspouts collapsed back into the ocean.
Yamato stood tall, her golden haori fluttering in the breeze. Her golden eyes looked sharper and clearer than ever before. Suddenly, she turned her gaze toward the horizon.
"Hmm?"
Several silhouettes were cutting through the waves, heading straight for her island.
On the deck of a large warship, a Marine soldier rushed to report. "Vice Admiral Cliff! The weather anomalies on the island are dissipating."
"Disappearing? Keep a close watch. Someone is definitely on that island. Full speed ahead!" Vice Admiral Cliff ordered, his hand resting on his hip.
"Understood, sir," the soldier nodded. "But Vice Admiral, if we find pirates there, what are our orders?"
"Pirates? That goes without saying—we annihilate them. We have six warships in this fleet. Even pirates with bounties over a hundred million don't stand a chance against this much firepower," Cliff replied with cold confidence.
Back on the shore, Yamato watched the ships approach. "Oh? A Marine fleet out here in the middle of nowhere?"
She counted six vessels: one large warship, two medium-sized ships, and three smaller escorts. It was a significant force, the kind rarely seen in the First Half of the Grand Line but common enough in the dangerous waters of the New World.
As the fleet closed the distance to within two hundred meters, a scout on the lead ship peered through his binoculars. His face went pale, and his hands began to shake.
"A target is spotted on the shore! No... it can't be! It's one of the big shots from the Beasts Pirates! It's 'Onihime' Yamato!" the soldier screamed in terror.
The name echoed across the deck, sending a wave of panic through the ranks.
"What?! 'Onihime' Yamato? She has a bounty of 1,315,000,000! She's Kaido's daughter!"
"Why is she here alone? Shouldn't she be back in Wano?"
The Marines looked at one another, frozen by the lack of intelligence regarding such a high-profile target. Vice Admiral Cliff's pupils shrank as the name sank in, but his shock was quickly replaced by a dark, murderous ambition.
"Confirm it immediately! Ensure it's really her and check if she has any backup hidden on the island!" Cliff barked.
The scouts scrambled to re-examine the figure on the beach. "Confirmation complete, sir! It is definitely Yamato, and she appears to be entirely alone!"
A cold, opportunistic laugh escaped Cliff's throat. "The chance of a lifetime has just fallen into our laps. Listen to my command! All ships, prepare for a full bombardment! Target: Onihime Yamato!"
The soldiers hesitated, their faces filled with dread. "Bombardment? Vice Admiral, is that wise? She's a core member of a Yonko crew! Attacking her here is the same as declaring war on the Beasts Pirates! This could cause a massive international incident!"
"You idiots!" Cliff spat, glaring at his men. "She's just a pirate! What are you so afraid of? If we wipe her out here and now, who will ever know it was us? Are you really going to tuck your tails and run just because she has a big name?"
The deck fell silent as the Marines weighed their fear of Yamato against their fear of their commander.
"Do as I say! All ships, prepare your cannons! We are going to eliminate that wicked pirate right here!" Cliff roared.
This time, the soldiers didn't argue. They turned to their stations and began to aim their heavy cannons toward the lone woman standing on the shore.
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