In an instant, the deck of the pirate ship was nearly empty as most of the crew collapsed, unable to withstand the pressure.
"Conqueror's Haki... You bastard!" Katakuri's expression darkened as he felt the heavy aura washing over the ship.
Yamato looked at Katakuri and grinned wickedly. "Now no one will disturb us. Katakuri, don't let me down!"
"Come on then!" Katakuri shouted coldly. Without wasting another breath on words, he launched a direct attack.
Boom!
The battle erupted with explosive force. The two figures flickered back and forth across the deck, their movements so fast they were almost blurs. Sparks flew with every clash, and the air grew thick with the weight of their powerful Haki. The pitch-black spiked club and the trident collided repeatedly. Each impact made the pirate ship rock incessantly, and the surrounding sea churned into massive, violent waves.
What kind of strength is this? Katakuri thought, feeling the heavy vibrations traveling through the shaft of his trident. His palms were already starting to go numb from the sheer force of her blows. How could a woman possess such immense physical power? Was she simply born a monster?
"What's wrong, Katakuri? Your offensive is lacking. It seems you're not actually that skilled with weapons. Unluckily for you, the spiked club is my specialty. Flame Bagua!" Yamato's eyes blazed like torches.
Flames erupted instantly, slithering along the length of the spiked club like a fire dragon. As Yamato swung the weapon with violent force, a wave of fierce heat surged toward Katakuri. The scorching temperature was so intense it felt as if the very air was about to melt.
"What? A fire ability? Grilled Mochi!" Katakuri's left hand transformed into mochi, which he instantly coated with Armament Haki. Intense friction caused flames to rise from his own limb as he moved to intercept the strike.
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the pirate ship, sending a pillar of fire into the sky. Everything on board that wasn't bolted down was blown away, and the ship's sails were torn to shreds by the blast. Amidst the blazing light and smoke, a figure was sent skidding backward across the deck.
It was Katakuri. He looked disheveled; his signature white scarf was singed, his hair was messy, and his expression had turned extremely grim.
Yamato stepped calmly out from the center of the flames. She wore a confident smile, and her golden pupils glowed with an immensely powerful pressure that seemed to weigh down the entire area.
"Katakuri, you should just throw away your weapon. It's only holding you back. From now on, I won't use fire either," Yamato said, looking him in the eye. The spiked club in her hand cooled, the flames dying out to reveal the deep black luster of her Haki.
Seeing this, Katakuri's gaze grew even darker. Fire was a natural counter to his mochi abilities, and while he knew his opponent realized this, her offer to stop using it felt like blatant contempt. Suppressing the rage bubbling in his chest, Katakuri put away his trident.
"I'll make you regret that arrogance!"
"Excellent fighting spirit! Come, Katakuri, show me your true strength!" Yamato laughed heartily.
Katakuri didn't waste any more words. Both of his hands turned into mochi, heavily coated with Armament Haki. He launched an attack far more violent than his previous one. As Yamato had predicted, Katakuri's greatest strength lay not in his spear, but in his mastery of physical martial arts combined with his fruit.
"Square Mochi!" "Island Mochi!" "Chestnut Mochi!" "Buzzcut Mochi!"
Katakuri attacked with everything he had. Every strike was incredibly powerful; his Armament Haki was top-tier, and his Observation Haki was even more impressive.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Thick, glutinous rice fists coated in dark Haki rained down on Yamato's spiked club and body. However, every time Yamato tried to counter, Katakuri would fluidly shift his body to dodge. His mochi form allowed him to create holes in his own torso, making him look like a Logia-type user as the club passed harmlessly through him.
As I thought, he's already reached that level of Observation Haki, Yamato noted, her pupils glowing as she tracked his movements. At this point in time, Katakuri had already mastered the ability to see into the future.
However, attacks like these are still too light for me, Yamato thought. She watched the fists land on her body but felt no significant pain. Like her father, Kaido, Yamato possessed a body of incredible durability. As a Mythical Zoan-type user, her mastery over her physical form was advanced. Without the use of Ryuo or Conqueror's Haki coating, it was nearly impossible for an opponent to deal any real damage to her.
It seems his fruit hasn't awakened yet. That should happen in a few years; it's still a bit early for that, Yamato mused.
"To lose focus in the middle of a battle... how arrogant!"
Veins popped on Katakuri's forehead as he noticed her distraction. Seizing the opening, he swept out a leg that had turned into mochi, coated it in Armament Haki, and kicked Yamato with everything he had. The force of the blow sent Yamato flying through the air. She smashed into the thick central mast with a loud crack before sliding down to the deck.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I got a little distracted there," Yamato said, standing back up and dusting herself off as if nothing had happened.
Katakuri's gaze narrowed in disbelief. How is this possible? She took a direct hit from me and isn't even bruised?! Is she really a monster just like Kaido?
"Haha, I was really careless. I can't be like my old man, taking hits head-on all the time. It doesn't look good and it certainly doesn't suit my style," Yamato laughed.
Opposite her, Katakuri's eye twitched violently.
"Truly remarkable Observation Haki, Katakuri. Attacks that are too slow can't touch you at all," Yamato grinned, her eyes shining even brighter as she locked onto him.
Katakuri remained silent, frowning deeply. Even when his attacks landed, they seemed to have no effect. He couldn't wrap his head around her physical constitution.
What on earth is—oh no! While Katakuri was thinking, the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end. His Observation Haki had just shown him a terrifying vision of the immediate future. At that exact moment, Yamato appeared directly in front of him. A horrifying aura washed over him, and her golden pupils glinted with a predatory light, like a beast closing in on its prey.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Her cold voice rang out, accompanied by the crackle of raging lightning. The lightning-wrapped spiked club tore through the air, reaching Katakuri in an instant. Even before the weapon made contact, the sheer pressure of the gale it created made him feel as if his skin was being shredded.
Danger!
Katakuri's pupils constricted violently. Every cell in his body screamed a warning. I can't dodge this! I have to block it! "Grilled Mochi!" Katakuri roared in his mind. He transformed his hands into mochi, coating them in his strongest Armament Haki and wreathing them in flames as he moved to intercept the strike.
Boom!
A massive explosion rang out across the sea. A figure was sent flying with enough force to snap the thick mast in half as they passed through it. The broken section of the wood fell directly into the sea with a heavy splash.
"Gah... Pfft!"
At the stern of the ship, Katakuri knelt on one knee and spat out a mouthful of blood. He hadn't been able to fully withstand the weight of Yamato's strike.
What was that? Her speed suddenly increased so much, Katakuri thought, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He was deeply confused as he recalled the moment of impact.
It was too fast. Even though he had foreseen the future with his Observation Haki, his body simply hadn't been able to react in time to the sheer velocity of the attack.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse