"A Logia-type Yuki Yuki no Mi?" Ren was somewhat surprised. "When did you get it?"
"Just recently. I was planning to contact you, but I happened to run into some minor trouble." Kurozumi Semimaru explained. The "minor trouble" she referred to was a group of pirates from Paradise who had already sworn allegiance to Shiki and were intentionally causing problems.
Ren nodded. Shiki's Flying Pirate Squadron didn't have many top-tier fighters, but they had the most lower-ranked crew members. For someone as arrogant and powerful as him, his boundless ambition could make countless people willing to follow him.
Currently, many pirates entering the New World from Paradise were joining Shiki's crew. Those who refused were mostly killed, with a small number recruited by the likes of Big Mom and Ōchōku.
"Shiki again?"
But conflicts were to be expected. Even if Shiki himself hadn't given the order, some eager fool would step up to cause trouble. Besides, Shiki was currently in a state of readiness.
It had to be said that Shiki's ability allowed him to avoid too many disputes. Now the entire sea was engulfed in war, but his fleet of flying ships didn't have to worry about it.
On the other side, Ōchōku, Silver Axe, and Captain John were in fierce conflict over ownership of Pirate Island. The islands occupied by Big Mom were also frequently challenged and attacked, but Shiki's Flying Pirate Squadron remained elusive.
Therefore, recently, Shiki could be considered the most successful among the great pirates who had left the Rocks Pirate Company. As for the lack of top-tier combat power, everyone was in the same boat.
In Big Mom's and Whitebeard's crews, only they themselves could carry the flag now.
And in terms of individual combat power, Shiki and Whitebeard today surpassed others like Big Mom. Otherwise, why were only Shiki and Whitebeard, who came from the same era and even the same ship as Roger, able to be called the three legendary pirates alongside him?
But what did legendary pirates matter? In Ren's eyes, they were just fleeting moments in history and failures.
"Yuki Yuki no Mi, what do you think? Want to eat it?" Ren looked at Yukiko. The Yuki Yuki no Mi didn't seem particularly powerful, but as a Logia-type, it couldn't be that bad. Besides, once the power of snow was gathered, it could become an avalanche that could destroy everything.
However, after eating a Devil Fruit, one would become unable to swim. Ren's receiving magic only worked on animals when used on others.
Yukiko thought for a moment and nodded. This was a time when Ren's side needed power. Her original strength was already quite good, and with a Logia-type Fruit, she could improve even more.
Although the threat from Shiki seemed imminent, a direct conflict wouldn't happen immediately. She would have time to adapt to the power of the Yuki Yuki no Mi.
"The Yuki Yuki no Mi, isn't it a perfect match for me?" Yukiko smiled, but her expression quickly froze. "It's... so hard to eat..."
"Just take the first bite. You don't have to eat it all." Ren reminded her.
Yukiko managed to swallow that one bite and immediately threw the rest of the fruit away. She made a gagging motion, but the breath she exhaled instantly formed ice flowers.
"It looks like it was successful."
"Yes, I've gained the power of the Yuki Yuki no Mi." Yukiko nodded, and her body immediately scattered like snow and ice. White snow swirled like wind and reformed her body on the other side.
The air temperature dropped considerably, but compared to the Hie Hie no Mi, the snow and ice seemed a bit gentler.
"How do you feel?"
"It's amazing." Yukiko looked down at her hands, "It feels like an innate ability."
She spread her palms and gently brought them to her lips, which were as red as if painted with fresh blood. The breath she exhaled lightly condensed in her empty palms, forming countless crystal snowflakes of different shapes that scattered out like a beam of white light.
"So cold, you've really become a Snow Woman now," Shutenmaru laughed aloud. Back in Wano, Yukiko had been called the "Frost-Bloomed Ice Princess," and now she truly lived up to her name.
Yukiko glared at him with an even colder gaze, making Shutenmaru fall silent.
"Want to try your new power?" Ren asked. Yukiko still seemed fascinated by her abilities.
"Yes, please, Lord Ren!"
Yukiko nodded, and without looking for a specific spot, they began their fight right at the harbor.
Ren kept his sword in its scabbard and made no move, waiting for Yukiko to make the first attack.
"First, this—Snowstorm!"
Yukiko's body drifted backward as lightly as a snowflake, then she spread her arms, summoning a cold current that instantly enveloped the small harbor area in a blizzard.
Though the affected area was still small, it was clear that Yukiko's control over the Yuki Yuki no Mi was already on par with Monet's after just eating the fruit. The overwhelming snow instantly obscured their vision, and combined with Yukiko's plain white clothes, she seemed to vanish into the snow itself.
In reality, Yukiko had already used her lightweight body to move behind Ren. Perhaps because she was made of snow, she could dance briefly in the air—a rather useful ability for short-term flight.
When fully transformed into ice, one could fly in the wind.
"Genryū—Shizukami."
Yukiko drew her sword, Yukizuru. The subtle sound of it leaving its scabbard was masked by the storm. The white blade vanished into the snow, and in an instant, Yukizuru suddenly sliced through the white whirlwind, striking toward Ren's back.
"Clang!"
Ren tilted his body slightly and casually drew his sword to block Yukiko's strike. The difference in their Haki was still apparent.
"You can fool the eyes, but not Observation Haki," Ren said with a smile. Observation Haki was like a brighter pair of eyes that could see the truth, the future, and an enemy's heart.
Yukiko immediately withdrew her sword and retreated. Her feet left faint prints in the soft snow.
Unnoticed, snow had already begun to accumulate on the ground.
"You're truly formidable, Lord Ren."
"Don't just use snow to disrupt your opponent. If that were the case, eating this Devil Fruit would have been meaningless."
Ren swung his blade, releasing a sword qi that instantly cut through the vast snow curtain. Yukiko landed lightly on the ground, her hands ready for battle. Though the ability had become instinct, both her mind and body were more accustomed to fighting with her original style.
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