"Oh, right, how's that newcomer doing lately?" Yamato asked after a moment of reflection.
"He's currently serving as one of the Beasts Pirates' Headliners," Haruko replied. "He should be assigned his first test mission soon. Lord Kaido and King aren't the types to hand out trust blindly."
"Besides him, what's the word on the other rookies who entered the New World?" Yamato's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Like that Kid guy. Wasn't he planning on challenging Red Hair? Is he still in one piece, or is he shark bait?"
Haruko shook her head, a trace of amusement in her voice. "It's actually quite comical. Kid was severely injured and had his arm taken before he even laid eyes on Red Hair."
"Oh? Who did the honors?" Yamato raised an eyebrow. That was a brutal welcome to the New World.
"It was Red Hair's first mate, Benn Beckman. The Kid Pirates have been much more subdued lately, temporarily holed up and keeping a low profile," Haruko continued.
Maria smiled thinly. "That's the problem with the younger generation—too much impulse, not enough strategy. They won't learn until the world humbles them. Though, losing an arm is a steep price for a lesson."
"At least he's alive," Haruko noted. "Challenging a Yonko and walking away without a single casualty is practically a miracle. From that perspective, Kid got off lucky."
The day finally arrived for Haruko's Devil Fruit awakening.
In a wide, secluded clearing, Haruko sat cross-legged. A chilling aura began to radiate from her, accompanied by a faint, dark mist rising from her skin. She exhaled a long, frozen plume of white vapor, and when her eyes snapped open, they glowed a predatory red.
Her body began to swell rapidly, shifting into the form of a gargantuan purplish-red spider. Eight menacing eyes shimmered on her head, and her thick legs were bristling with razor-sharp, thorn-like hairs. The ancient arachnid let out a piercing hiss as the black mist intensified, causing strange, glowing patterns to emerge on its carapace.
As her legs plunged into the earth, the ground shattered. Her massive form seemed restless, trapped in a state of flux.
"Is this supposed to happen?" Yamato asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Don't worry. She'll be fine," Maria reassured her. Having experienced her own awakening, she knew Haruko was simply fighting to dominate the spirit of the fruit.
They watched in silence as the spider's purplish hue deepened, gradually turning into an eerie, abyssal black. Suddenly, the shroud of mist collapsed inward, and Haruko's Hybrid Form emerged from the center. She was now surrounded by a ring of pitch-black flame clouds—a darkness so pure it felt ominous.
"Phew... so this is what awakening feels like," Haruko said, her voice sounding colder, more resonant.
"Haruko! You did it!" Yamato cheered, her relief palpable.
Haruko looked at her hands, testing her new strength. "It's incredible. The ability feels... sublimated. It's a completely different level of power." She flicked her wrist toward a massive boulder in the distance.
Whoosh!
Several strands of white spider silk, thick as thumbs, shot out like harpoons. They punched straight through the rock, leaving clean, perfectly round holes.
"Wow! Is that still silk?" Yamato marveled. "It hits harder than a bullet!"
She remembered Haruko's silk being incredibly sticky and tough—perfect for binding enemies—but it never had this kind of piercing hardness. It wasn't quite at Doflamingo's level yet, but its lethality had clearly spiked. Haruko had always been one of the more versatile Ancient Zoans, possessing both venom and silk, though she rarely used the former out of a sense of grace.
"The awakening has strengthened every aspect of her fruit," Maria noted with a satisfied smile.
"Let's go! We're having a massive feast to celebrate!" Yamato declared.
While Blackbeard was solidifying his rule over Hachinosu and ascending to his throne as a Yonko, the Marines were making their own move.
The Battle of Marineford had left the Navy's elite decimated. With Sengoku stepping down, Akainu taking the mantle of Fleet Admiral, and Aokiji resigning entirely, the Marines' top-tier combat power was at an all-time low. Kizaru was the only Admiral left. To fill the gap, the World Government announced a "World Military Draft."
"So the draft is starting," Yamato mused, reading the reports. "That means Fujitora and Ryokugyu are about to show up. A Paramecia and a Logia... and Ryokugyu is a total Akainu fanboy, isn't he?"
She paced the room, restlessness visible in every step. "There's so much happening out there! I need to go for a stroll. I wonder when that simpleton Jack is planning his next trip."
She sighed, remembering her commitment. She still had to help Maria and Haruko master Conqueror's Haki Coating. At their current rate, it would take another six months of grueling training.
"Ugh, for the sake of Maria and Haruko, I'll endure it. Once they can coat their attacks, I can sail wherever I want," Yamato muttered.
Driven by boredom, Yamato went to find Jack. "Hey, Jack! When are you heading out on a mission?"
Jack was busy punching massive blocks of Sea Prism Stone, his fists black with Armament Haki. He didn't even look up. "No time. I sent Drake to handle the current mission. Go find him if you're so bored."
Yamato froze. "Jack... did you have a sex change?"
Jack paused, his eye twitching. "You're the one who had a sex change! I'm training!"
"Training? Jack, you're definitely acting like a different person. You used to be 'mission-first' for everything. Since when do you prioritize training?" Yamato stared at him like he was a rare specimen in a zoo.
Jack rolled his eyes. "It's your fault! Second Brother is obsessed with his office now, and Third Brother is busy with some 'Human-Gifter Modification Project.' All of this started because of you!"
"Isn't it great, though? Now the All-Stars actually have free time. Even my Idiot Old Man just drinks and lets everyone else do the work. Don't you love the joy of delegating, Jack?" Yamato grinned, crossing her arms.
"Hmph," Jack snorted, refusing to admit she was right. But the truth was, his strength had improved noticeably since he started focusing on his Haki and Taijutsu. Even Queen had stopped mocking his fighting style.
"Fine, fine. I won't disturb your 'transformation,' Jack. Keep up the good work! Haruko, let's go find the newcomer," Yamato said, waving goodbye.
"Young Master, Lord Jack has grown much stronger lately," Haruko observed as they walked toward the docks.
"The simpleton had potential; he was just relying too much on his fruit's raw power," Yamato replied. "Now that he's focused on Haki, his one-billion-Berry bounty actually feels justified."
"Are you really going out with Drake, Young Master?" Haruko asked.
"Of course! If I stay on this island any longer, I'll grow moldy," Yamato said. "And besides, it's a chance to meet our new 'little brother' and see if he's handsome in person, hehe."
"Young Master, you shouldn't say things like that. People will get the wrong idea," Haruko sighed.
"Haha! Don't you like looking at handsome men, Haruko?"
"No interest," Haruko said flatly.
When Drake learned that Yamato was joining his mission, he nearly panicked. Did she find me out? No, I haven't made contact with HQ yet. It must be a test. I have to be perfect.
When the ship was ready to sail, Yamato and Haruko arrived at the pier. The subordinates all bowed low.
"Young Master," Drake said, tensing as she approached. Up close, even without her Haki active, Yamato radiated a dangerous pressure.
"Drake, it's our first meeting, isn't it?" Yamato smiled, her golden eyes scanning him. "You really are a handsome man."
"Uh—" Drake's brain short-circuited for a moment.
"Haha! Alright, let's get this show on the road," Yamato laughed, boarding the ship. "Set sail!"
As the ship hit the open sea, Yamato stretched lazily, enjoying the salt air. "It feels so good to be out! Wano is beautiful, but the open ocean is something else."
"You used to be able to train for years without blinking, Young Master," Haruko teased.
"That was then! I worked hard so I could play hard. And now I have two Great Swordsmen to protect me, so I can just relax," Yamato chuckled.
Drake walked over, looking stiff. "Young Master, this is just a routine weapon delivery. It shouldn't require your personal attention."
Yamato looked at him and waved her hand dismissively. "I didn't come for the mission, Drake. I just came for the fresh air. Don't overthink it. Didn't Jack tell you? I used to do this with him all the time."
"I see..." Drake said, his heart rate finally slowing down. It seemed he really was just overthinking it.
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