"There was no other way. The experiments required sacrifice," Queen said, spreading his mechanical arms wide. "But don't worry, the worst is over. There won't be any more 'consumption' like that."
King remained stoic, his eyes fixed on the scientist. "So, how many successful modified Gifters do we actually have now?"
"We've just begun. Two are fully operational," Queen replied. "At our current pace, we can successfully modify three more per week. Once the process is complete, their combat potential increases significantly, so we can't afford to be careless."
"Proceed," King commanded, leaving the technical details entirely to Queen. As he turned to leave, a thought struck him. "Jack, keep a close eye on the newcomer, Drake. Assign him more work. He may have joined the Beasts Pirates, but we don't know where his true loyalty lies. He needs to be tested."
"Agreed," Queen chimed in. "Even if he turns out to be a mere thug like Sasaki or Who's-Who, we can use him. But I'm worried he might have grander designs."
The current high-ranking members of the Beasts Pirates were a solid unit—excluding those two slackers. Sasaki and Who's-Who did nothing all day unless there was a profit to be made, and they only bothered to listen to Kaido himself. They were arrogant enough to ignore King and Queen's orders. If Kaido didn't value them as subordinates, they would have been cast out long ago.
"How should I test him?" Jack asked, considering their point.
"It's simple," King explained. "Assign him tasks directly—both important and mundane—and watch for any slip-ups. If he causes problems or hesitates, something is fishy. If he completes them smoothly, perhaps he's legitimate."
Jack nodded firmly. "Understood."
Across Onigashima, Drake arrived at his new quarters. Although Kaido had officially ranked him as a Headliner, he was being treated with the luxury afforded to an executive.
"Lord Drake, this will be your residence. Please command us if you require anything," two Dancers said with respectful bows.
"Thank you. What about the arrangement of my subordinates?" Drake asked.
"Rest assured, Lord Drake," one Dancer replied with a smile. "Your original crew will be assigned directly to you, and we will be adding additional personnel to your unit."
Drake understood the subtext immediately. While he kept his own men, he would be surrounded by Beasts Pirates loyalists. As a newcomer, he wasn't expected to gain trust overnight. He had already prepared for this. His plan was to work diligently, climb the ranks, and stabilize his position before making his move.
I didn't see the Young Master, Onihime Yamato, this time, Drake thought. The intelligence was right; her relationship with Kaido is strained. Alienating the father-daughter pair could be a viable strategy, but the risk is too high for now.
In the region of Hakumai, a thick mist drifted over the landscape. The silence was shattered by the sound of collisions and the roar of displaced air. Two brilliant flashes of light—one as black as ink, the other a blinding white—tore through the fog.
With a thunderous crack, a nearby mountain peak was sliced clean through, sliding down like a block of tofu. The mist cleared to reveal Maria and Haruko locked in combat. This was a true clash between Great Swordsmen. The air hummed with sharp intent, a pressure so intense it felt as if it could split skin.
Since reaching this new realm of swordsmanship, their power had undergone a qualitative transformation. Their blades collided, sending sparks flying, while faint arcs of red and black lightning crackled from their bodies—the sign of a truly terrifying aura.
"Mitsuha!" Maria cried.
"Two-Sword Style: Black Star!" Haruko countered.
White light erupted as Maria's Naginata mimicked the growth of leaves opening into three blades, sharp as wolf claws. Simultaneously, Haruko's black starlight descended from above, piercing the sky. The impact caused the ground to tremble and fissure, blowing the remaining mist away.
Suddenly, a powerful Haki signature approached at high speed. Yamato charged into the fray, her spiked club raised high. "There's an opening! Thunder Bagua!"
Maria and Haruko reacted instantly, turning their blades to meet Yamato's strike. Red and black lightning enveloped the clearing as explosions rang out. The three of them clashed in a chaotic melee that shook the very foundations of the mountain.
"Big Sis, can't you just walk on your own for once?"
"Shut up, Pei-chan! How dare you tell your Big Sis what to do?"
The voices of Ulti and Page One drifted from a distance. The bickering siblings stopped in their tracks as they witnessed the battle ahead.
"Those three are monsters, aren't they?" Ulti muttered, her brow furrowed. She knew Yamato was a force of nature, but seeing Maria and Haruko fighting at that level was a shock.
"Big Sis, watch your mouth," Page One sighed. "That's the Young Master and the senior executives."
The siblings watched in silence. Under Maria and Haruko's recent guidance, their own Haki had grown, but the gap was still immense.
"I told you that you should have played with the Young Master and the others years ago," Page One couldn't help but needle her. "Look at how strong Maria and Haruko are now. They've even become Great Swordsmen."
Yamato had invited Ulti to join them long ago, but Ulti had refused, preferring to cling to her brother. Ulti glared at him. "Pei-chan, you stinky little brother! I was doing it for you!"
"I didn't ask you to!" Page One replied, exasperated. If she had listened back then, she would be far stronger today. Who wouldn't be envious of the position Maria and Haruko held?
Ulti grabbed him by the neck fiercely. "Don't you get arrogant with me!"
"Ah, Big Sis, let go—!"
As the siblings fought, the Haki overflowing from the battle nearby grew even more intense. It took over an hour for the three warriors to finally disengage.
"As expected of Great Swordsmen," Yamato said, shouldering her club. "Those attacks are getting sharp."
"That sounds like a compliment, but why do I feel like you're mocking us?" Maria joked, twirling her Naginata.
"The Young Master is always like that—subtle jabs everywhere," Haruko added, sheathing her sword.
Yamato walked over, grinning. "Hey! I'm just speaking the truth!"
"By the way," Yamato continued, "how is the development of your Devil Fruit abilities? Any closer to awakening?"
"What are you talking about, Yamato?" Maria asked with a smile. "Mine has already awakened. Didn't you see the white flame clouds around me when I transform? Just like yours."
"Huh? Oh... right! I thought those were always there. Haha!" Yamato laughed awkwardly. She had forgotten that in the original timeline, her Mythical Zoan form already featured those clouds. It turned out that was the sign of awakening.
Yamato turned to Haruko. "And you? Felt anything yet?"
"Yes," Haruko nodded. "It's a strange sensation. Like there's another voice inside me, calling out."
"Is that how it was for you, Maria?" Yamato asked.
"Yes. Isn't it the same for you?"
Yamato scratched her cheek. "My situation is different. I haven't heard any voices."
The two women shared a look. "Perhaps because yours is an artificial fruit," Maria suggested. "There's no 'devil' inside to speak to you."
"That makes sense," Yamato agreed. "Haruko, you're close. Be ready. I've heard Zoan awakenings can be risky. You must succeed, understand?"
Haruko nodded confidently. "I will. It won't be more than half a month."
"Hey, Ulti, Page One! Stop hiding and come over here!" Yamato called out to the siblings.
In the wider world, Blackbeard's fame had reached a fever pitch after his victory over the Whitebeard remnants. Not content with that, he led his crew to the legendary pirate island of Hachinosu—the former territory of the great Rocks D. Xebec.
The island had been held by the veteran pirate Wang Zhi, an former executive of the Rocks Pirates. Blackbeard swept through the island, defeated the old legend, and claimed Hachinosu as his own. Following this victory, his bounty soared to over 2,000,000,000 Berries. He had officially filled the void left by Whitebeard, becoming one of the new Four Emperors.
"This Wang Zhi was useless," Yamato remarked, reading the news. "He went down instantly. Though, I suppose he was getting on in years."
She rested her chin on her hand, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "You know, I killed San Juan Wolf at Marineford. Now that Teach has the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he still hasn't come for revenge."
"Don't be ridiculous, Young Master," Haruko said. "Blackbeard is ambitious, but he's not stupid enough to challenge you. He's not qualified to be arrogant in your presence."
"Even with two fruits, he isn't Whitebeard," Maria added, puffing on her pipe. "The Dark-Dark Fruit is dangerous for most, but you're an artificial user—his main advantage is neutralized. Still, his Haki isn't a joke."
"Exactly," Yamato sighed. "That's why I want to fight him—to see how well he can actually use that fruit."
"Let's not," Maria advised. "The world is in chaos right now. If the Young Master of the Beasts Pirates goes out looking for a fight with a new Emperor, it will turn into an all-out war. We should wait for a better opportunity."
Yamato sighed, staring out at the isolated peaks of Wano. "Fine. We'll wait."
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