The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays filtering through the dense canopy of the island's lush forest. The air was thick with the sounds of nature the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of exotic birds, and the occasional crash of waves against the rocky shore. Amidst this natural symphony, a more boisterous sound rang out a playful exchange between the Boa sisters and the rambunctious Ulti.
Ulti, with her energy, was in the middle of showing off her devil fruit ability to the sisters. She had recently acquired the power of the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pachycephalosaurus, an ancient Zoan-type devil fruit. The transformation was impressive, to say the least. Her petite frame expanded, muscles rippling as her skin took on a scaly, armored texture. Her head elongated slightly, forming a bony crest that looked capable of smashing through solid rock.
"Watch this!" Ulti exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she charged at a nearby boulder. With a loud crack, her head collided with the stone, shattering it into smaller pieces. She grinned triumphantly, turning back to the Boa sisters with a look of pure pride. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged a glance, their expressions caught between admiration and concern. Hancock, on the other hand, observed with a more critical eye, her sharp instincts picking up on Ulti's slightly reckless approach.
"Your power is indeed impressive," Hancock said, her voice steady.
Ulti, undeterred by Hancock's caution, shrugged and grinned. "Don't worry, I've got it under control. I'm strong enough to handle anything!"
Before anyone could respond, a figure appeared behind Ulti, moving so silently and swiftly that none of them had noticed his approach. Yuji, his expression unreadable, stood there with his arms crossed, watching Ulti's display. Without warning, he reached out and smacked Ulti on the back of her head with a light but firm hand.
*Smack*
"Ulti, what do you think you're doing?" Yuji's voice carried a hint of reprimand, though it was laced with an underlying tone of concern. "You're showing off again, aren't you? I've noticed that ever since you acquired that devil fruit, you've been slacking off in your training."
Ulti whirled around, rubbing the back of her head where Yuji had struck her, a pout forming on her lips. "I'm not slacking! I'm just... exploring my new powers!"
Yuji raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Exploring? That's not what it looked like. You've got potential, Ulti, but relying too much on your devil fruit without proper training is dangerous. You need to keep pushing yourself, just like Page One does."
At the mention of her younger brother, Ulti's eyes flashed with a mixture of frustration and determination. "Pagey? He's just a kid! I'm stronger than him already!"
Yuji shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Page One may be younger, but he's got the right attitude. He works hard every day to get stronger, and you should be doing the same."
Ulti's pride flared up, and without thinking, she lunged at Yuji, her arm swinging in a wide arc, aiming to land a solid hit on him. But Yuji was far too quick. He sidestepped her attack effortlessly, his movements smooth and controlled. As Ulti stumbled past him, he delivered another light smack to the back of her head, this time with a teasing smirk.
"Too slow," Yuji taunted, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
Ulti, her frustration boiling over, clenched her fists and spun around to face Yuji. "You're so annoying! I'll get you for this, Yuji!"
But instead of continuing the futile attack, Ulti decided to shift her frustration elsewhere. She narrowed her eyes and, with a sudden burst of speed, dashed off towards the forest where Page One was training. Her voice echoed through the trees as she shouted, "Pagey! You're going to pay for this!"
As Ulti disappeared into the forest, leaving a trail of dust in her wake, Yuji chuckled softly, shaking his head. "She's got spirit, I'll give her that."
The Boa sisters, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and surprise, turned their attention back to Yuji. The light-hearted moment had passed, and now, the atmosphere grew more somber as Yuji's expression shifted, his gaze becoming more serious.
"Now that we're alone," Yuji began, his tone gentle yet probing, "I'd like to ask you something. I already have a general idea of what happened to you, but I want to hear it from you directly. What exactly did you go through?" Yuji still asked this because he want the Boa sister to share those experiences to him and also open their heart to him.
The sisters hesitated, exchanging looks of unease. Hancock, in particular, seemed reluctant to relive the memories of their past. But she knew that Yuji had earned their trust, and despite the pain it would bring, she owed him the truth.
Hancock took a deep breath, steeling herself before she spoke. "It's... not an easy story to tell. We were taken from our home as children, sold into slavery by the World Nobles. For years, we were forced to endure unimaginable horrors branded like cattle, treated as less than human, and made to serve the whims of those who saw us as nothing more than property."
Marigold and Sandersonia nodded in silent agreement, their faces reflecting the same pain that Hancock's words carried.
Hancock continued, her voice steady despite the tears that threatened to spill. "We were broken, in body and spirit. There was no hope, no escape. Every day was a struggle to survive. And then..."
She paused, her voice faltering for a moment as she remembered the darkest days of their captivity. "And then we were saved. By someone who didn't see us as slaves or tools, but as people worth rescuing."
After a few seconds fiinally, Hancock spoke, her voice firm and clear. "We'll live and grow stronger, so that no one can ever take our freedom away from us again. We'll protect each other"
Marigold and Sandersonia nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute. They had survived the worst, and now they were determined to build a future on their own terms.
Yuji smiled, a rare, genuine smile that lit up his face. "That's the spirit. The world may be cruel, but as long as you have the will to fight, you'll always have a chance."
Hancock watched him, her admiration for him growing with each word. She had always been strong-willed, but Yuji's was something she deeply respected.
Before the conversation could go any further, the sound of footsteps approaching caught their attention. Ulti and Page One emerged from the forest, both of them slightly out of breath from their playful chase. Ulti, still brimming with energy, grinned mischievously as she pointed at Page One.
"See, Pagey? I told you I'd catch you!"
Page One, panting slightly, rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips. "Only because you cheated!"
Ulti stuck out her tongue at him before turning her attention back to Yuji and the sisters. Her playful demeanor quickly returned, and she plopped down on the grass next to them, her earlier frustration seemingly forgotten.
"So, what were you guys talking about?" Ulti asked, her curiosity piqued.
Hancock smiled at the two siblings, appreciating their youthful energy. "Just discussing our plans for the future."
Ulti tilted her head, her expression serious for a moment. "The future, huh? Well, whatever happens, I know we'll all be strong enough to face it. Right, Pagey?"
Page One nodded eagerly. "Yeah! We'll train hard and become even stronger!"