"Father, what a coincidence, are you out for a stroll too?"
After leaving Charizard Island, Yamato encountered Kaidou during her high-speed flight as expected.
It was Kaidou who expected this. If it were up to Yamato, she wished her old man would go missing for decades, and she'd undoubtedly throw a grand banquet for it.
She had been flying at high speed trying to avoid Kaidou, but alas, she still fell short by a bit.
"Hohoho, it is quite the coincidence. You've really grown over the years, catching up to you took quite some effort on my part."
To catch up with Yamato, Kaidou temporarily gave up the Eight-Headed Dragon. While it was a good means of transportation, it lacked the speed to keep up with Yamato, who traveled using Extreme Speed with the power of lightning.
The Eight-Headed Dragon, despite its massive size, didn't have a significant advantage in speed, and it couldn't compete with the endurance of two monsters like Yamato and Kaidou.
Only magic can counter magic, and only Extreme Speed can catch up to Extreme Speed. Unless one has Glint-Glint Fruit or Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which allow high-speed movement, ordinary means can't catch someone moving at Extreme Speed.
Ordinary Divine Favorers or those given power can only briefly use Extreme Speed, similar to Soru for surprise attacks in battle, but Yamato's own ability has surpassed this limit.
To successfully corner Yamato, Kaidou left a simple message for the Eight-Headed Dragon, then pursued using Extreme Speed.
"Is that so? I remember my adoptive father needs me for something, urging me to hurry back to Ghost Island. I'll be off first... Thundering Hakken!"
Yamato, trying to laugh it off, planned to slip away, but when she activated her ability again, instead of fleeing, she flashed in front of Kaidou, swinging her weapon at his head.
Kaidou had managed to catch up to her once and could do so again. Even from a distance, she couldn't shake him, and now face-to-face, escaping was even harder.
At this moment, she deeply resented the person who invented the Life Card, considering it a major torment for runaway daughters.
Her excuse of returning to Ghost Island wouldn't work either. If Kaidou came all the way here, it meant he was up to no good. By tradition, once Kaidou wanted a fight, the battle wouldn't end without a proper clash.
Seeing she couldn't avoid it, Yamato decided to strike first.
According to rumors, there was a Vice Admiral named Garp in the Navy who would find a mountain to train on when faced with a difficult opponent, then take on the opponent after leveling some mountains.
Kaidou's temperament was unpredictable now; whether or not he'd fight depended on his mood. If he could be frustrated, maybe he'd find solace in training on his own.
She remembered Kaidou wanted special training with Arceus. As long as Kaidou indulged in that training, she could have a moment of peace.
Although it might lead to bigger problems later, Yamato always took a 'let's get by for now' approach with Kaidou. If something had to suffer between the present and the future, she'd choose the future.
Ambush is also part of the tactics. Based on her senses, that last strike should have had some effect.
Yamato initially thought the surprise attack would strike Kaidou's head, but he blocked it with his weapon.
Fatherly love and filial piety were the norm for them. Neither Kaidou nor Yamato held back in fights, and aiming for the head was common for Yamato since reaching adulthood.
Moreover, due to the bug skill Protect affecting training negatively, Yamato and Kaidou made a pact to seal this skill recently.
Kaidou enjoyed the thrill, while Yamato wanted to shorten the battle duration. If both used Protect, something that could end in one or two days might drag into four or five, with a bizarre cycle of protect-not-protect-Protect.
...
"Not bad, your battle mindset is becoming more adaptive."
Yamato's ambush didn't anger Kaidou but brought a satisfied smile to his face. He enjoyed recklessness because few opponents were worthy of an ambush. However, if one still acts recklessly against someone stronger, that's just foolish.
He saw ambush as progress, and he noticed another power alongside it.
"You've become familiar with Future Sight. Thinking back, I haven't checked your 'homework' in quite some time."
Yamato was slightly skewed in her skills; her Armament was more refined than her Observation Haki, so the latter's advancement was slower. But that recent attack was different.
"How's that possible, I clearly saw it..."
"Indeed, you saw it, but I had already seen you seeing my future, so I made some adjustments. You're still far behind in this aspect.
At your current level, it's not enough."
The party with stronger Observation Haki creates a veil in predictions, preventing an infinite loop in battle. Yamato couldn't predict Kaidou's exact actions yet, but she had a general sense and wouldn't be led by the nose.
"Muji Hyoga!"
"Hot Breath!"
Both were in Human-Beast Form, and seeing Kaidou block her attack, Yamato released her breath at close range. Ice and fire energy clashed mid-air, and after counteracting each other, generated substantial steam.
"Hyoin Raiga!"
With both hands gripping her weapon, Yamato swung forward, controlling the vapor to form a massive iceberg, crashing down on Kaidou below.
She knew these tricks couldn't effectively deal with Kaidou. While throwing down the iceberg, lightning power had already enveloped her weapon, and she herself started charging up.
Bang!
The thrown iceberg shattered into pieces as Kaidou broke through it from below.
"Hohoho, my decision was right. Opponents like you are truly valuable! Seems you've prepared plenty of new tricks as well.
I told you before, this move was prepared for you. Now experience it well, Mahajun Ryujin Hakke!"
"Damn old man! None of your decisions are right! When I knock you down, you'll understand!"
In mid-air, the battle between the two was intensifying. If Kaidou weren't unable to enter the sea, they might have fought into the deep ocean.
As time passed, their battle shifted from the original battlefield, and an island gradually appeared in their view. The Eight-Headed Dragon, after a long flight, successfully matched Kaidou's pace.
"Roar..."
Watching the battle between Kaidou and Yamato, the Eight-Headed Dragon quietly flew to the side to wait.
Though it had a combative nature, it knew it wasn't qualified to intervene in this battle.
But in its bored waiting, it spotted something more intriguing: in mid-air, a group of pirates was desperately running...