"Damn it... we could have assassinated the old hag if your captain had just stuck to the plan!" Capone Bege snarled, his face pale. "Now we're all going to die here."
Facing a Yonko head-on was suicide. Doing it in the heart of her territory was madness.
Brook gave a bitter laugh. "We can only hope Luffy defeats this monster..."
"Defeat Big Mom? Are you joking?!" Bege glared at him. "Do you think she's just for show? That 'Ikoku Sovereignty' just now... if it hit us, we'd be vaporized!"
Big Mom, having destroyed half the castle with one swing, turned her cold gaze to Luffy.
"You can't fight properly here. An Emperor's battle changes the island itself... and you're not worthy!"
She reached up and grabbed Prometheus.
"Heavenly Fire!"
She hurled the sun-homie at Luffy.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the island. Luffy barely dodged, but the shockwave sent him tumbling, his Haki timer ticking down dangerously.
"Gear Fourth: Snakeman!"
Luffy, desperate, switched forms. Speed over power.
"Jet Culverin!"
His fists became a blur, striking Big Mom from all angles.
But it was like punching a mountain of iron.
"Brat... are you tickling me?"
Big Mom, annoyed, ignited her hair into flames. Her sword, Napoleon, extended, growing serrated teeth.
"Cognac!"
A slash of pure destruction tore through the air.
Luffy tried to dodge, but in the air, he had no leverage.
CRACK.
The Haki-infused blade slammed into him.
"Gah!"
Luffy vomited blood, his Gear Fourth form deflating instantly. He crashed into the ruins, unconscious.
Nami, hiding in the shadows, felt her heart stop. Total despair.
Sanji gritted his teeth and rushed to catch Luffy. "Damn it... this old woman is a monster..."
Just as Sanji was calculating their escape, a terrifying heat appeared behind him.
"Traitor... where do you think you're going?"
Prometheus, now a giant sun, loomed over him.
"Not good!" Sanji's face fell. He coated his leg in Haki, preparing to block.
SLASH.
A terrifying sword-qi flashed past Sanji's face.
SCREECH!
Prometheus shrieked in agony as he was cut in half. The sword-qi contained a power that terrified him—something that could hurt a soul.
"Prometheus! What happened?!" Big Mom yelled.
The fireball reformed, but its light was dim. "Mama! Someone cut me! I almost died!"
"Oh? Someone else is here?" Big Mom's eyes narrowed.
Just then, another slash flew towards her.
"Cognac: Mother's Blaze!"
Big Mom swung Napoleon, meeting the attack head-on.
CLANG!
A shockwave flattened the surrounding ruins. Fire met Lightning.
The Emperor's attack was blocked.
Everyone—the Big Mom children, the underworld brokers, the Straw Hats—stared in shock.
Someone had stopped Big Mom's sword.
A hearty laugh echoed from the dust.
"My, my... long time no see, pirates! Missed me?"
A woman with an eyepatch and a massive claymore stepped out of the smoke.
Beidou.
Nami burst into tears. "Beidou! You're here!"
"It's the woman who defeated Fujitora!" Brook gasped. "We're saved!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Skeleton," Bege muttered, though he looked relieved. "This is a Yonko's territory. But... at least we have a chance now."
Beidou wasn't alone.
A man with fiery red hair and a claymore stepped up beside her. Diluc. "Finally. A worthy opponent."
A woman with blue hair and an ice blade followed. Eula. "So many strong enemies. I hope I can enjoy this vengeance."
Then came two tall, beautiful women with dangerous auras. Lisa and Rosalyne.
"Five of them?!" Perospero screamed. "Last time it was just one! How are there so many monsters?!"
Katakuri, his Observation Haki seeing the future, frowned deeply. "Bad news. Every single one of them... is stronger than us."
Big Mom looked at Beidou. "You blocked my strike. Not bad. Join my crew! Marry one of my sons! We'll be family!"
Beidou's face darkened. "Hey, old hag. Your sons look like dogs. I'd vomit if I had to look at them."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"I said you're an ugly old hag, and your family is ugly too!"
"INSOLENT!"
Big Mom roared, unleashing her Conqueror's Haki.
Beidou grinned. "You want to play that game?"
BOOM!
She unleashed her own.
Violet and red lightning clashed in the center of the battlefield. The sky above Whole Cake Island split in two.
Reiju, watching from the distance, trembled. "This pressure... she's clashing evenly with an Emperor!"
The sky tore open. The sea raged.
Beidou stood her ground, her grin savage.
"Is that all a Yonko has?"
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