105. The Stupidest Idiot, Yamato
True strength isn't just about getting physically stronger. It's about blending different abilities together seamlessly. Take Zoro, for example. He was already formidable, but as he mastered his skills, wielding his swords became easier, especially when combined with Conqueror's Haki.
Chopper's another good example. By delving deeper into the powers of his Devil Fruit, he can tap into stronger forms using his Rumble Ball.
Crocodile, known as "The Desert king," demonstrates this fusion of power in his fight with Chopper. Despite setbacks, he conjures massive sand blades and a sandstorm. His Suna Suna no Mi is one of the top Logia fruits. If not for his complacency after a failed challenge to Whitebeard, he'd be even more formidable.
Chopper, despite his evolution, feels overwhelmed by Crocodile. But Usopp reassures Nami, highlighting Chopper's strength. Among the evolved Straw Hats, he's ranked fifth behind Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbei. His evolution marks a qualitative shift from relying solely on his Rumble Ball to a Haki-enhanced powerhouse.
Chopper's strength stems from his Zoan abilities, blending well with physical prowess. His monster-like form challenges Crocodile, but the latter struggles due to Chopper's Haki and strength.
Meanwhile, familiar adversaries reappear, including Perona, Absalom, and Gekko Moria. Despite their past threat, they seem diminished.
Usopp questions their intentions, backed by Jinbei, Marco, Ace, Vista, and Jozu. Despite their formidable presence, they can only watch as the situation seems uncertain.
Moria clarifies they're not there for conflict, just as part of the loosely allied Cross Union.
Seeing the imposing presence of the renowned pirates in front of her, Moria realized the vast difference in strength between them. Despite their individual prowess, each of them seemed stronger than him. Despite this, his fractured mind still entertained thoughts of taking them on.
"Boring," Marco muttered, disinterested in Moria's internal struggle as he continued to watch the monstrous battle unfold.
Suddenly, a white beam of light streaked towards them from afar, accompanied by thunderous energy.
"Thunder Eight Trigrams!" the attack thundered towards Marco and the others.
Reacting swiftly, Marco transformed into a massive phoenix and countered the attack with his "Phoenix Seal." However, before the collision, Marco was caught off guard by a sudden invisible force.
"Conqueror's Haki?" Marco gasped as the unseen blow sent him hurtling through the air. Then, a black mace swung with alarming force towards them.
Seeing the danger, Ace tried to intervene, but Jinbei beat him to it.
Jinbei, appearing in an instant, unleashed his Fishman Karate with precision, meeting the assailant head-on.
The clash between Jinbei and the mysterious assailant, who was revealed to be a woman named Yamato, was intense. Yamato, despite her elegant appearance, possessed formidable strength and speed, as evidenced by her ability to contend with Jinbei.
Yamato's sudden attack puzzled Ace, who had befriended her during their time in Wano.
"Why are you attacking us?" Ace demanded.
"I'm here for the Straw Hat Pirates," Yamato declared. She explained that the Straw Hats' victory over Kaido had brought peace to Wano, a peace she was determined to protect.
"We're not here to disrupt the peace," Ace insisted, explaining their mission to retrieve historical texts.
Yamato, however, remained steadfast in her belief that defeating the Cross Union was necessary to safeguard Wano's future.
"I won't stand by while Wano's future is threatened," Yamato asserted, echoing the will of Kozuki Oden.
Tensions rose as Jinbei warned his allies of Yamato's danger, preparing for a confrontation. Despite Jinbei's superior strength, Yamato proved to be a formidable opponent, setting the stage for a clash of titans.
Franky inquired with curiosity.
"Ah, Yamato is Kaido's daughter. When I first arrived in Wano two years ago, I had a fight with her, and we became friends," Ace explained.
"Kaido's daughter?" Everyone was astonished at the revelation of her lineage.
"Wait, why is Kaido's daughter involved with the Cross Union? Shouldn't she be against her father's organization?" Usopp questioned, puzzled.
"The reasons for this are complex," Ace began, contemplating the situation. He traced the events from Kaido's execution of Kozuki Oden to Yamato's discovery of Oden's diary and her strained relationship with her father.
"What a fool," Usopp commented, shaking his head.
"It's incredibly foolish," Nami added.
"It's as if they're sacrificing their own identity," Franky remarked, feeling incredulous.
"It's a shame," Robin interjected.
Despite their confusion over Yamato's actions, they acknowledged her formidable strength.
"I'm angry," a voice roared as a woman with a beastly appearance emerged.
"What's happening?" Nami asked, taken aback by the transformation.
"This is the Zoan Devil Fruit, Inu Inu no Mi: Mythical-type, divine wolf god form," Ace explained. "It's incredibly powerful."
In her transformed state, Yamato's strength matched Jinbei's, indicating her monstrous abilities.
"The battle will be long, but as long as Zoro and Luffy win, it'll be worth it," Jinbei stated, glancing at Luffy and Bullet.
Meanwhile, Crocodile, observing Yamato's prowess, felt a sense of satisfaction. "Indeed, she's a valuable asset," he thought, recalling how the Crusaders had found Yamato imprisoned before defeating Kaido.
This daughter of Kaido despises him so much that she identifies herself with Kozuki Oden.
Facing such a formidable adversary, Crocodile effortlessly manipulated Yamato with a subtle trick.
But just as everyone focused on the battle between Jinbei and Yamato, a tremendous shock rocked the area.
The ground trembled violently, tearing apart the landscape and sending shockwaves sweeping across the land.
Amidst the chaos, two colossal giants clashed—a towering steel giant and an enlarged Luffy in his fifth gear.
Despite their immense size, both remained enveloped in Armament Haki, their defenses and attacks pushed to the extreme.
Luffy, in his giant form, launched a powerful blow at Bullet, but the steel giant effortlessly intercepted it.
Their collision created a deafening boom, generating shockwaves that reverberated for miles.
"Is that all you've got, Straw Hat?" Bullet taunted, his Armament Haki augmenting his already formidable strength.
Undeterred, Luffy endured Bullet's onslaught, marvelling at his opponent's mastery of Armament Haki.
But Bullet's relentless assault continued, his speed and power overwhelming.
"Get up, Straw Hat!" Bullet bellowed, raining down blows upon Luffy with unmatched force.
Unwilling to yield, Luffy unleashed his own fury, swelling in size and launching himself at Bullet with explosive force.
With a fierce roar, Luffy ignited his fists, engulfing them in flames.
"Gum Gum No Red Hawk!" he shouted, delivering a devastating blow to Bullet.
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