Hancock, Ulti, and Page One trudged back toward the camp, each of them carrying the heavy corpses of the beasts they had hunted. Despite the weight of the massive creatures, neither of them showed any sign of fatigue. Ulti, as usual, had an air of pride about her, strutting ahead of her brother and Hancock with a wide grin on her face.
"Pagey! Did you see that? We totally owned those beasts!" Ulti boasted, turning her head back to face her younger brother. She puffed out her chest as if she had single handedly taken down the giant predators.
Page One, who was lugging a particularly large boar, merely grunted in response. Though his face was expressionless, there was a quiet satisfaction in his eyes. His sister's endless chatter was nothing new to him.
"You're always so quiet," Ulti teased, her voice playful as she nudged him with her elbow. "Come on, admit it! You had fun too!"
Page One glanced at her, still silent but this time allowing a small, barely-there smile to tug at the corner of his lips. It was all the response Ulti needed. She let out a triumphant laugh and continued ahead, more energized than ever despite the heavy load she carried.
Hancock, walking beside the siblings, couldn't help but smile as she watched their interaction.
As they approached the camp, the two Boa sisters rushed over to help. Marigold and Sandersonia were equally impressed by the sheer size of the beasts Ulti and Page One had managed to take down.
"Let us help with those," Sandersonia said with a warm smile, taking one of the beasts from Page One's hands.
"Yeah, you two did a great job. This will be plenty for the journey," Marigold added, lifting one of the smaller creatures with ease.
Ulti grinned at the praise. "Of course we did! No one can hunt like me and Pagey!" she declared, earning a quiet nod from her brother.
As the group settled into the task of dismantling the beasts, Yuji stood a little distance away, leaning against a tree and deep in thought. His mind wasn't on the food they were preparing or even the upcoming journey his thoughts were fixated on one question 'Where the hell am I going to find Amazon Lily?'
It wasn't like the island was marked on any regular maps, and flying aimlessly over the sea wasn't exactly a solid plan. But there had to be a way. Something he could do to at least narrow down their search.
He rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing in concentration. 'Think, Yuji. Think' Then, suddenly, an idea struck him. It was almost too obvious how had he not thought of it before?
"Storms"
The original Ghidorah, the creature whose powers he had inherited, possessed the ability to create violent storms storms large enough to obscure entire islands. If he could use that power, he could create a massive storm to hide their movements while they scouted the seas. No one would notice them flying overhead, and they could pass by ships and islands without drawing attention. It was a risk, but it could work.
Satisfied with his plan, Yuji allowed himself a rare smile. He would take them to Amazon Lily, and no one would even know they were coming.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from the group. He glanced over to see Ulti and Page One bickering as they worked on dismantling the beasts. Ulti had somehow managed to cover herself in blood, her clothes and face stained from head to toe, while Page One remained pristine, not a drop of blood on him.
"Oi! How do you manage to stay so clean while I look like I just bathed in this thing?" Ulti complained, wiping her face with the back of her hand, only making the mess worse.
Page One shrugged, not even bothering to look up from his work. "You're just messy," he replied simply.
Ulti narrowed her eyes at him, her fists clenching. "Messy?! I'm efficient, you blockhead!"
Page One, as usual, didn't rise to the bait, continuing to work in silence. Ulti's frustration only grew, and before anyone could stop her, she lunged at her brother, tackling him to the ground in a flurry of blood and laughter.
"Ulti!" Hancock called out in exasperation, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. The younger Boa sisters giggled as they watched the siblings wrestle on the ground.
Yuji, watching from a distance, couldn't help but chuckle. The sight of Ulti's over the top antics, coupled with Page One's calm indifference, was a constant source of entertainment.
After a while, the beasts were fully dismantled, the meat carefully packed for their journey. Hancock, ever the leader, took charge of organizing the supplies, making sure they had enough to last them for days, maybe even weeks, depending on how long it would take to find Amazon Lily.
Once everything was ready, Yuji stepped forward, his usual commanding presence drawing the group's attention.
"Alright," he began, his voice firm but calm. "We're setting off. Everyone ready?"
Ulti, now cleaned up and full of energy, was the first to respond. "Ready? I've been ready for days! Let's go already!" She bounced on her feet, her excitement palpable.
Page One, standing beside her, nodded silently. He didn't say much, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation. For someone who rarely expressed emotion, the quiet excitement in his gaze spoke volumes.
The Boa sisters, standing together, were more composed but equally ready for the journey ahead. Hancock, ever graceful, stepped forward.
"We trust you, Yuji," she said softly, her eyes meeting his. "Lead the way."
Yuji nodded, his expression serious but confident. "Then let's go."
With that, Yuji transformed, his body shifting and growing until he stood as the fearsome three-headed dragon, Ghidorah. His massive wings stretched out, casting a shadow over the group as he lowered himself to the ground, allowing them to climb onto his back.
Ulti, Page One, and the Boa sisters stared in awe for a moment, even though they had seen this transformation before. It never got old the sheer power and presence that Yuji commanded in this form was breathtaking.
Ulti was the first to break the silence. "This. Is. AWESOME!" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement as she clambered onto Yuji's back. "I'm riding a freaking dragon! This is the best day ever!"
Page One followed his sister, his movements more controlled but no less eager. He took his seat behind her, glancing around as if trying to take in every detail of the moment.
Hancock and her sisters were the last to climb on, each of them moving with the grace and poise befitting the rulers of Amazon Lily. Hancock, seated just behind Yuji's central head, placed a hand on his scales, feeling the power radiating beneath her fingers.
Once everyone was settled, Yuji let out a low growl, his wings beginning to beat against the air. Slowly, they rose from the ground, the wind whipping around them as they ascended higher and higher.
As they took off, Ulti let out a loud whoop of excitement, her voice carried away by the wind. "We're flying! We're actually flying! This is incredible!"
Page One, still as stoic as ever, allowed himself a small smile as they soared through the air. For all his calmness, he couldn't deny that the feeling of freedom was exhilarating.
Yuji, from his position at the front, felt the wind rush past him, the open sky stretching out before them. The sea sparkled below, and the horizon seemed endless.