"Da da—"
Yamato let out a surprised cry.
After Snow Mastiff Finley led everyone out of Wano's waters, a massive ark suddenly appeared in the sky, thanks to Pato the raccoon cat's transformation leaves.
"Yoho~! This is amazing! This ship can actually fly!"
Yamato, who had been excited ever since leaving Wano, looked even more thrilled. Her eyes sparkled as she ran around, filled with curiosity.
Even though she had the body of an adult, she still had the heart of a nine-year-old.
"Yamato, don't run around! You might fall!" Wilhelm walked over and warned her.
"Got it, Wilhelm big brother!" Yamato nodded happily.
But in the next moment, she completely forgot his words.
Like a bird set free from its cage, she ran all over the place—pulling Finley's tail, tossing Pato into the air, and dashing around the ark like a playful cub.
Wilhelm sighed helplessly but didn't stop her.
For now, he had no intention of giving Yamato the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Okuchi-no-Makami, a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
Instead, he planned to head to Punk Hazard in the first half of the New World.
There, at the Marine Science Division's research facility, he would try to obtain the artificial Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit created by the genius scientist Dr. Vegapunk, using DNA extracted from Kaido of the Beasts.
After all, considering how Momonosuke accidentally ate it on Punk Hazard due to hunger and later transformed into a dragon, it was clear that the artificial fruit wasn't a complete failure.
However, it wasn't a perfect success either.
Although Momonosuke could transform into a giant dragon, he couldn't fully utilize the same abilities as Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon—especially the "Flame Clouds" that allowed flight.
But Yamato was different.
She carried Kaido's blood.
Maybe the DNA extracted from Kaido would be a perfect match for her, allowing her to unlock the full potential of the artificial Mythical Zoan.
This was Wilhelm's theory.
It wasn't guaranteed to be correct.
But it was worth a try.
And if it didn't work, he could always look for another Devil Fruit that suited Yamato's immense potential.
Meanwhile…
Somewhere in the West Blue.
On a dark and eerie island feared by sailors and nearby residents—an island known as "Ghost Island."
A strange, cloud-like being, several meters wide and pure white, floated slowly toward the island.
Surprisingly, it had a face.
"Hah… Even with all the intel provided by the Big Mom Pirates, this still feels like a waste of time…"
Sitting atop the Homie Somersault Cloud created by Wilhelm, Shiryu of the Rain gazed at the gloomy island ahead and grinned.
"Finally found it."
"Yehahaha~! So we're finally here?"
Standing with his arms crossed, the man known as Feathered Serpent Kull bared his teeth in a sinister grin.
As he stretched, his joints let out a series of loud cracks, a sound sharp enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"Flying through the air for so long… feels like I'm rusting." His impatience was evident as he shot forward. "Gekko Moria, the shadow thief… Leave him to me!"
Shiryu of the Rain shrugged, lighting a cigar at a leisurely pace.
"If you wanna go first, be my guest."
"Just don't wreck the castle." His gaze locked onto the towering structure in the distance, his eyes burning with anticipation. "Ryuma's body is probably inside."
Gekko Moria, the man who once challenged Kaido's Beasts Pirates in the New World and suffered a crushing defeat, was a well-known name.
But Shiryu wasn't interested in him.
The swordsman he truly wanted to see was the Dragon Slayer, Shimotsuki Ryuma—the legendary warrior said to be revived.
A swordsman who shook the world centuries ago.
Back then…
Perhaps that Dragon Slayer was the strongest swordsman of his time.
Not far behind—
WHOOSH—
A powerful gust of wind howled as massive feathered wings cut through the air.
Like a missile, Feathered Serpent Kull shot straight toward the island, heading for the massive castle at its center.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath his impact, sending dust and debris billowing into the sky.
With a fierce glare, Kull roared at the castle:
"Gekko Moria! Get out here, you bastard!"
"Huh?! Who's there?"
"Intruders!"
"Quick! Report to Lord Moria!"
In an instant, the once-quiet Ghost Island erupted into chaos.
A swarm of eerie, mummy-like creatures patrolling the area shrieked in alarm, rushing toward Kull in small groups.
They surrounded him from all sides.
But—
"Outta my way!"
Kull wasted no time.
The towering Feathered Serpent exploded into action.
Moving like a blur, he struck.
BANG! BANG!—
"|||"
A flurry of punches and kicks filled the air, too fast for the eye to follow.
The sheer force of the blows sent the zombie-like mummies flying like cannonballs, crashing through towering trees and shattering into pieces upon impact.
"Hehehe~ Who the hell are you?"
A massive shadow—towering at least six or seven meters high, even larger than Feathered Serpent Kull—stepped out from the castle.
It was Gecko Moria.
With his massive frame, wild flame-shaped hair, pointed ears, and two devilish horns, he had the appearance of a true monster. The most striking feature was the cross-shaped stitches running from his forehead down to his neck, resembling a crudely sutured wound.
His jagged, razor-sharp teeth gleamed as he smirked.
A sight that sent chills down the spine.
Looking down at Kull with arrogance, Moria sneered:
"You've got some nerve barging into my territory!"
"So, you're Moria?" Kull eyed him up and down, then clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Hmph. You don't look all that strong. What a letdown."
"Bastard! You dare look down on me?!"
Moria's expression darkened with rage, his murderous intent clear.
Furious, he wasted no time attacking.
"Shadow Mage!"
From beneath his feet, a massive black shadow shot forward, lunging straight at Kull.
"Hmph. Controlling shadows to fight?"
Kull scoffed.
Dark energy crackled around his massive fist, coated in Armament Haki and charged with lightning.
With no hesitation, he swung.
BOOM!!
The sheer force of his punch shattered the shadow apart.
"Tch!"
Kull stomped the ground, launching himself forward like a bullet straight toward Moria.
But suddenly—
"Chirp… chirp…"
The scattered shadow morphed, twisting and reshaping into a swarm of bats.
Hundreds—no, thousands of them—filled the air, baring their fangs as they dove toward him.
"Woohoohoo!"
Kull's massive wings flapped violently.
A burst of razor-sharp wind blades tore through the atmosphere.
Like a raging hurricane, the attack shredded the shadow bats into nothingness.
Moria's face twisted in shock.
"You're next!"
Kull's eyes burned with ruthless determination as he charged forward.
His massive, pitch-black fist rocketed toward Moria, aiming for a devastating blow.
BOOM!
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