The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the island, when Yuji and Hancock stood by the shoreline, quietly watching the waves lap against the rocks. The day had come for them to set off, to leave the island in search of Amazon Lily.
Yuji turned to Hancock, his expression neutral, though there was a quiet determination in his eyes. "We should tell the others now. It's time."
'Man my plan to recruit the Boa sister into my crew failed, I can't believe that they still want to return to amazon lily, fuck this shit bro' Yuji thought while looking at Hancock.
Hancock nodded, still composed, but her thoughts ran deeper than her calm facade. She had prepared herself mentally for the journey ahead, but what weighed on her more was the realization that once they found Amazon Lily, their paths with Yuji might diverge. For now, though, she had to focus on the task at hand.
Hancock suddenly touched her chest and her heart suddenly started to beat roughly. 'What is happening to me? this always happens when I was thinking that Yuji and I will be no longer together when we arrive at the Amazon Lily'
Seing Hancock, Yuji spoke "Hey, are you okay?"
"Uhm yes"
They made their way back to the camp where Ulti and Page One were already awake, the siblings in their usual morning bickering. Ulti had Page One in a playful headlock, her energy boundless as ever, while Page One silently resisted, his face calm as if nothing fazed him.
"Oi! You two, listen up!" Yuji called out, drawing their attention. Ulti immediately released her brother and turned to face Yuji, her face lighting up at the sight of him.
"Yuji! What's going on? Are we finally doing something exciting?" Ulti asked, bouncing on her feet in anticipation.
Yuji crossed his arms, his serious demeanor softening just a little. "Hancock, her sisters, and I are leaving the island temporarily. We're going to search for Amazon Lily."
Ulti's eyes went wide with excitement, and for a brief second, her face flushed. "No way! We're leaving the island? Really?! I thought this day would never come!" She spun around in a circle, almost fainting from the exhilaration of what this meant. "Adventure! Finally! You promised, and now it's happening!"
Meanwhile, Page One stood silently beside her, his arms folded across his chest. His usual stoic face betrayed only the slightest flicker of excitement in his eyes. Though he wasn't as openly expressive as his sister, Yuji knew Page One was just as thrilled.
Hancock, watching the siblings, felt a warm pang in her chest. She'd grown fond of them in the past week. Their dynamic reminded her of the bond she shared with her own sisters Ulti's spirited enthusiasm and Page One's quiet self, both complementing each other perfectly.
"There's a chance we'll be gone for a few days, maybe longer," Hancock added, her voice calm yet serious. "The journey may not be straightforward, and we'll need to be prepared."
"Leave it to us!" Ulti exclaimed, punching the air. "We'll help gather supplies. We can hunt for food beasts, big or small, nothing's too tough for me and Pagey!"
Page One glanced at his sister, then gave a small nod. He might not say much, but when it came to hunting or fighting, he always had her back.
"Alright," Yuji said, nodding in agreement. "But be careful. The deeper parts of the forest have stronger beasts. Stay sharp."
With that, the group split up, preparing for the journey. Ulti and Page One dashed off into the forest, eager to prove themselves by hunting. Hancock, meanwhile, stayed behind to watch over the camp and ensure they had everything ready. She knew the siblings were capable, but she also knew the dangers that lurked in the wild. If anything went wrong, she would be there to intervene.
As Ulti and Page One ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls filled the air. Ulti led the way, her senses heightened as she scanned the surroundings for any sign of a suitable target. They didn't need to hunt anything massive just enough to last them the journey. But deep down, she wanted a challenge.
"There!" Ulti suddenly whispered, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a large wild boar grazing near the base of a tree. Its tusks gleamed in the sunlight, and it looked strong, but not too much for the siblings to handle.
"Let's take it down quickly," she whispered to Page One, who gave her a nod in response. Together, they slowly approached, staying low to the ground to avoid making any noise.
Ulti leaped first, her body moving swiftly and with precision. She activated her devil fruit power, transforming into her hybrid Pachycephalosaurus form, her head hardening with the strength of her dinosaur counterpart. With a fierce headbutt, she struck the boar in its side, sending it crashing to the ground. The boar squealed in pain, trying to get back on its feet, but Ulti was relentless, not giving it a moment to recover.
"Pagey, now!" she called out.
Page One, who had been silently watching his sister's moves, charged in. Though he hadn't yet eaten a devil fruit like Ulti, his physical strength was impressive for someone his age. He grabbed the boar by its tusks, using his sheer force to slam the beast into the ground again. The creature writhed, but Page One held it firmly, showing surprising strength for a boy his size.
Ulti grinned as she watched her brother. He might not show it, but she could feel how much he had grown. Together, they made the perfect team.
But just as they thought the hunt was over, a sudden roar echoed through the trees, loud enough to shake the ground beneath them. Ulti's eyes widened as she looked around, spotting the source of the noise.
A massive creature, towering over them, emerged from the shadows of the forest. Its reptilian eyes locked onto the siblings, its massive fangs dripping with saliva. It was a predator unlike any they had faced before part bear, part dragon, with thick scales covering its body.
"Uh, Ulti… that's not good," Page One muttered under his breath, his calm facade cracking slightly as the beast approached.
Ulti, however, wasn't about to back down. "Pagey, get behind me! We can take it down just like the boar!"
Without hesitation, Ulti charged toward the beast, her head lowered as she prepared to ram into it with her Pachycephalosaurus form. But the creature was faster than it looked. It dodged her attack, swiping at her with its massive claws. Ulti barely had time to react as the force of the hit sent her crashing into a tree.
"Ulti!" Page One shouted, rushing to her side.
Ulti groaned, shaking her head to clear the daze. "I'm fine! That thing's just faster than I thought" She stood, determination blazing in her eyes. "I just need to hit it harder."
Page One stood beside her, his eyes locked on the creature. "I'll distract it. You go for the legs."
Without another word, Page One dashed forward, positioning himself between the creature and his sister. The beast lunged at him, its jaws snapping dangerously close, but Page One was quick on his feet. He dodged left, then right, leading the creature in a wild chase while Ulti prepared her next move.
"Just a little more…" Ulti whispered to herself, watching the creature's movements carefully. Then, with a burst of speed, she charged again, this time aiming for its legs.
"Ulti-MORTAR!!"
With a powerful headbutt, she struck the creature's knees, the force of her blow sending it toppling over.
The beast roared in pain as it fell, struggling to get back on its feet. But Ulti and Page One were relentless. They moved in perfect sync Ulti with her devil fruit power, and Page One with his raw strength. Together, they overwhelmed the creature, forcing it to retreat into the shadows of the forest.
Breathing heavily, Ulti wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to her brother with a triumphant grin. "We did it, Pagey! We actually did it!"
Page One, still catching his breath, gave her a small smile. "Yeah… but next time, let's try not to take on something that big."
Ulti laughed, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. "Where's the fun in that?"
From a distance, Hancock watched the entire battle unfold, a quiet sense of pride swelling in her chest. The siblings had grown so much in such a short time. They were still young, still learning, but their strength both individually and together was undeniable.
As Ulti and Page One began gathering the remains of the boar, Hancock approached them, her usual stoic expression softened by the warmth in her eyes.
"You two did well," she said simply, her voice calm but filled with approval.
Ulti grinned, puffing out her chest in pride. "Of course we did! We're gonna be the strongest out there, just like Yuji!"
Hancock smiled faintly at that. "Let's head back. We have a journey to prepare for."
With their prey in tow, the siblings followed Hancock back to the camp, their spirits high as they readied themselves for the adventure that awaited.