Chapter 592: Pink Dragon Fruit!In the waters off Wano Country, the thousand sunny was gently rocking with the rise and fall of the waves.The atmosphere on the deck, however, presented an extremely eerie sense of fragmentation at this moment.The members of the Straw Hat each occupied a corner of the deck, everyone maintaining a high state of alertness.In the very center of the deck, Kaido of the Beastssat cross-legged, completely disregarding his image."Since the Straw Hat is going to Mary Geoise with me to cause a scene, someone has to stay behind and watch over this dump of a place like Wano Country, right?""The dogs of Marineford and the World Government are definitely still lurking in the nearby waters."Kaido heavily set down his sake barrel and let out a burp thick with the smell of alcohol."King, Queen, and Jack—even though they were left half-dead after being tossed around by you guys in the previous battle—as long as they rest for a few days, with the resilience of the Ancient Type, guarding this country will definitely be more than enough!""If Wano Country is left to the Beasts Pirates to guard, those foreign scum won't even have the guts to approach the coastline!"Kaido's voice had just fallen.There was no sound of agreement on the deck as he had expected; instead, he was met with a sea of strange looks as if everyone were looking at a complete idiot.Nami was the first to break the silence.With her hands on her hips, her beautiful large eyes wide open, she unceremoniously pointed her finger at Kaido's nose."What kind of world-class joke are you making?! You brainless giant worm!""You've been entrenched in Wano Country for nineteen years, making a complete mess of this place, and now you have the audacity to say you'll be the security guards?""...Do you think we're all three-year-olds!"Usopp hid behind the main mast, peeking out only half his head as he joined Nami in loudly denouncing him."Exactly! Your crew members are all complete lunatics!""That fat guy in suspenders, Queen, was just recently spreading that disgusting virus that turns people into Ice Oni everywhere!""That guy named Jack is an even more brainless maniac who would even crash into his own ship!""...If the country is handed over to them, within three days, not even a single whole stone will be left in the Flower Capital!"Chopper also peeked out from behind Robin's legs, waving his little hooves and protesting loudly."That's right! They don't value other people's lives at all! I refuse to trust villains who use biochemical weapons so casually!"Yamato, carrying her massive Spiked Club, also nodded vigorously and chimed in loudly."I don't trust them either! I know them too well; those guys are just a bunch of bastards who only bully the weak at their core!"As for Zoro, Sanji, and Trafalgar Law, these three main powerhouses didn't even have the interest to open their mouths to argue.In front of this former Four Emperors, the members of the Straw Hat unhesitatingly used their words and expressions to drag the character of the Beasts Pirates through the mud.They had no intention of controlling their volume, as if Kaido were just a transparent decoration.Kaido sat there, the corners of his eyes twitching frantically.He, the prestigious Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates and the strongest creature who once reigned at the peak of the New World, was now being pointed at and criticized to his face by a group of kids who had only been out at sea for a few years—they didn't even respect him at all!"These bastards!""Don't they know how to read the room?!""I'm not dead yet!""You're discussing how to guard against me right in front of my face; can't you at least do it in private?!"Kaido's chest heaved violently, and his dark yellow dragon-like pupils seemed to burn with rage.He clenched his fists, his knuckles making a sharp cracking sound,"...but given their current alliance and the fact that the Straw Hat truly possessed the terrifying power to completely crush him, he could only force himself to swallow his anger.""You ignorant brats...""...""Just as the atmosphere on the deck was becoming increasingly tense.""Hehehehe! Everyone, stop arguing! Don't worry!"Luffy, who had been sitting on the lion head, suddenly turned around.He kicked off with his legs and landed lightly in the center of the deck, standing between Kaido and the others."I've already thought of a super great idea!"Luffy put his hands on his hips, an incredibly confident smile on his face.He reached out his right hand and quickly rummaged through a system space that others could not see.When his hand emerged again, a strangely shaped fruit had appeared in his palm.The skin of the fruit was covered in strange and complex spiral patterns that looked like clouds.The moment they saw this fruit, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates on the deck didn't show any surprise; instead, they collectively rolled their eyes and let out a synchronized sigh."Ah... you've brought out that strange fruit again."Nami helplessly covered her forehead and waved her hand with a look of pure disgust."Luffy, didn't we already tell you?""We are absolutely not eating this fruit with such a weird color! Don't even think about pushing it on us!"Chopper pinched his little nose, shaking his head in complete resistance."As a doctor, I strongly advise against consuming man-made items that haven't been safety-certified.""And... this color makes my stomach hurt just looking at it!"During their previous voyages, Luffy had brought it out to show off and even tried to sell it to the crew members without fruit abilities.But without exception, everyone was extremely wary of this strange-looking Artificial Mythical Zoan; no one wanted to be the guinea pig.Hearing his companions' complaints, Luffy didn't feel embarrassed at all and laughed even harder."Hehehe! Of course I know you guys don't want to eat it!"As Luffy spoke, he turned his head and looked at Kozuki Hiyori, who had been standing silently beside Robin.Hiyori was wearing a simple and elegant light emerald kimono today, her long hair cascading like a waterfall.Her exquisite face still held a hint of softness and bashfulness after her first experience."Hiyori!"Luffy strode up to her and handed the pink Devil Fruit directly into her hands."Since no one trusts Kaido and my crew doesn't want to eat this fruit, then you should be the one to protect the safety of Wano Country yourself!""...Eat it!"Hiyori instinctively caught the heavy fruit, her moist eyes filled with confusion and a sense of being overwhelmed by the favor.She could feel the heavy weight of the fruit.Even if no one else wanted to eat it, this was still a Devil Fruit that could grant extraordinary power; it was an invaluable divine object on this sea."Lord Luffy... this..."Hiyori's hands trembled slightly.Her pitiful eyes looked up at Luffy as she repeatedly shook her head in refusal."This is too precious! I'm just a weak woman who can't even truss a chicken; how could I be worthy of such precious power?!""I... I can't take it!""...""...""..."
Chapter 593: The Interception from Kaido of the Beasts!"I... I can't take it!"Hiyori pushed the fruit forward, her tone carrying a deep-seated humility.She was used to surviving under the wings of others, relying on the desperate protection of her retainers for twenty years. She never thought she would one day possess a power strong enough to influence the course of a battle.Seeing Hiyori's lovely reluctance, Luffy waved his hand dismissively, the smile on his face becoming even brighter."It's okay, it's okay! Just eat it without worry!""This is the Pink Dragon Fruit! After eating it, you'll gain the ability to transform into a giant dragon!""When the time comes, even if those guys from the Beasts Pirates try to cause trouble while we're away, you'll have enough power to protect yourself and send them all flying!"At this point, Luffy suddenly paused."And, Hiyori, after you eat this fruit, when we meet again, you'll be able to turn into a beautiful little pink dragon!""Then, you'll just have to let me ride you for a bit! Hee hee hee!"As soon as Luffy finished speaking, even the sea breeze on the deck seemed to freeze in that moment."Ri... ride for a bit?"Kozuki Hiyori's already slightly flushed cheeks, upon hearing those words, turned a deep red like a ripe tomato at a terrifying speed visible to the naked eye!As a princess deeply educated in the traditions of Wano Country, combined with the intimate relationship she shared with Luffy that had already crossed the final line...This statement about "riding a dragon," which seemed perfectly innocent to Luffy...was instantly twisted and magnified into countless unspeakable and inappropriate scenarios in Hiyori's mind!Lord Luffy... he actually said such a thing in front of so many people!Ride for a bit?Could Lord Luffy want to... want to do it in the dragon form... No!How can that be!That's way too shameful!Although if Lord Luffy demanded it, as his woman, I would have no reason to refuse... but this kind of request is simply too wild!Hiyori's brain fell completely into a chaotic pink storm.Countless absurd yet sweet and crazy images constantly intertwined and overlapped in her imagination.As her body temperature soared, a visible cloud of white steam actually rose from the top of Hiyori's head like a fountain!She swayed, her legs going weak, nearly fainting from happiness amidst this overwhelming sense of shame.Hiyori lowered her head, not daring to look into Luffy's eyes, only able to make a sound as faint as a mosquito's buzz."If... if it's Lord Luffy's request... then... then I am willing to be ridden by you..."This shy answer, filled with endless room for imagination and ambiguity, immediately ignited the anger of several female members nearby."You big-mouthed Idiot Captain! What kind of lewd things are you saying to a pure princess!"A huge cross-shaped vein popped out on Nami's forehead!!Without hesitation, she swung a heavy fist, smashing it hard against the back of Luffy's head, instantly causing a giant lump to swell up.Uta was even angrier, her hands on her hips."Luffy is a big dummy! How can you flirt with another woman right in front of me!""...What 'ride for a bit,' that's just too shameless! I won't allow it!"Uta walked forward crossly, trying to snatch the fruit from Hiyori's hand.The deck instantly became lively, filled with a cheerful atmosphere of youth and flirtation.However.Amidst this playful atmosphere filled with pink bubbles,Kaido of the Beasts, who had been sitting cross-legged in the corner of the deck,...had his gaze locked onto the strangely glowing Pink Dragon Fruit in Luffy's hand!Within it flowed the core essence of power that belonged to him, Kaido of the Beasts!Although that perfectionist madman Vegapunk had claimed to the outside world that this fruit was a failed defect...In Kaido's eyes, the very existence of this fruit was a massive profanation to him as the world's unique "Strongest Creature"!His Azure Dragon Form was a symbol of supreme power!How could he allow a second dragon with the same power to appear in this world!Furthermore, that damn Straw Hat actually wanted to give this power of his to Kozuki Oden's daughter so casually!He even had the audacity to say he'd have her turn into a dragon to be his mount!What an utter humiliation!Absolutely unacceptable!Even if they were currently in an alliance, even if he had just suffered a major defeat.A King's bottom line must never be touched by anyone!"That... is my power!"Without any warning.Without any extra words.There wasn't even a hint of killing intent leaked beforehand.Kaido's mountain-like body erupted with a terrifying speed that was completely inconsistent with his size in an instant!He suddenly reached out his thick right hand and grabbed the incredibly heavy hassaikai beside him."CRACKLE—!!!"Purple-black Haoshoku lightning frantically intertwined and exploded the moment it touched the Spiked Club.Kaido's legs kicked off the deck violently.He became like a black cannonball, carrying a destructive aura that could crush anything, heading straight for Luffy, who had his back turned!"Give my thing... back to me!!!"Kaido let out a roar that shattered the clouds, and the hassaikai in his hand swung in a lethal, full-moon arc.Top-tier Conquerors Haki Infusion!"Thunder Bagua!!!"Everything happened too fast, so fast that even the battle-hardened powerhouses on the deck couldn't react in time.At this moment, Luffy was holding the lump Namihad punched, grumbling with a face full of grievance, not in a combat state at all, and his Observation Haki was at its most relaxed."BOOM—!!!!!"That thick Spiked Club, wrapped in purple-black lightning, swung with the force of ten thousand tons, slamming hard into the small of Luffy's back!The violent impact turned into visible rings of white shockwaves, sweeping madly in all directions in a radial pattern.Under the crushing weight of absolute kinetic energy, Luffy's body was like a kite with its string cut, blown directly over the thousand sunny's railing!He drew a long parabola in the air, falling straight toward the churning sea below with a whistling sound of breaking air!"Luffy!!!"The sudden change threw the entire deck into extreme chaos."Cien Fleur: Hanagasa!"Nico Robin's reaction was extremely fast; she quickly crossed her hands in front of her chest.Countless fair arms grew frantically from the deck, firmly protecting the dazed princess behind her and shielding her from Kaido's violent aftershocks....Meanwhile, Luffy, who had been blown off the ship, was falling rapidly through the air.A strong wind whipped against his cheeks."Kaido, you bastard! You actually dared to sneak attack me!"A raging fire burned in Luffy's large eyes as he roared through gritted teeth.Seeing the deep blue, cold seawater getting closer and closer.As a Devil Fruit user, falling into the sea would lead to unthinkable consequences.But Luffy didn't show any panic."Gear 5!"At the critical moment just before touching the water's surface, the power of the Sun God Nikawithin Luffy's body erupted like a volcano!Dazzling pure white light instantly enveloped his body. His hair and clothes lost their original color in an instant, turning a sacred snow-white."Change for me!"Luffy reached out both hands and pressed down hard on the surging sea surface below.An unbelievable miracle occurred!Under the unreasonable assimilation rules of the Nika Fruit.The patch of deep blue seawater dozens of meters wide directly beneath Luffy actually lost its liquid fluidity and turned into a piece of highly elastic white rubber!"Boing—!!!"Luffy's body slammed heavily onto this rubber sea surface.The massive downward kinetic energy pressed the rubber sea surface into a deep, giant depression."Whoosh—!!!"Luffy was like a shooting star launched from a giant slingshot, surrounded by White Flame Clouds, and with even more terrifying speed, he bounced back high into the sky!"I'm going to knock your teeth out!"Luffy stretched his right arm in mid-air, pure white lightning frantically intertwining on his fist.Carrying a heaven-shaking rage, he prepared to give that dishonorable Kaido a vicious blow the moment he leaped back above the thousand sunny.However.When Luffy, filled with fighting spirit, finally leaped back directly above the thousand sunny's deck.His ready-to-strike fist froze in mid-air.The anticipated fierce battle did not happen.What entered Luffy's sight was a static scene that was bizarre to the extreme....On the deck.Whether it was Zoro, who was about to draw his sword, Sanji, whose flames had just ignited, or even the experienced Robin.Everyone had turned into lifeless stone statues at this moment.Their mouths were wide enough to fit a giant ostrich egg."Hey... what are you guys doing?"Luffy hovered in mid-air, a giant question mark floating over his head.He followed everyone's dull gazes and slowly turned his head to look at Kaido of the Beasts in the center of the deck.The next second, Luffy's large, clear eyes also snapped to their limit.He saw the burly Kaido throwing away the hassaikai in his hand and tightly clutching his own neck with both hands.His massive Adam's apple, protruding like a mountain peak, was rolling up and down... with great difficulty!"Gulp—!"Accompanied by a clearly audible swallowing sound.Kaido threw his head back and let out a long burp.That strangely glowing Pink Dragon Fruit.Had actually been eaten by this former Four Emperors who once ruled the world.Skin, flesh, and all—without leaving even a single crumb. Completely.Swallowed in one gulp into his bottomless stomach!...
Chapter 594: Two Dragons Merge, Legend · Azure Dragon!"Gulp—!"This clear sound of swallowing was infinitely magnified on the deck of the thousand sunny.Everyone's brain fell into a brief state of shutdown at this moment.They stared wide-eyed, straight at Kaido of the Beasts, who had swallowed the Pink Dragon Fruitin one gulp."Madman! A complete and utter madman!"Trafalgar Law was the first to snap out of his daze,"Scatter! Everyone, find cover!""It's impossible for one person to eat two Devil Fruits! That is an absolute iron law of this sea!""Two different devilish powers will react violently inside his body!... He's about to explode and die!""If a monster like that self-destructs, the resulting destructive force will completely evaporate this entire sea area!"However,three minutes passed,and the world-ending self-destruction they expected failed to happen.Standing in the middle of the deck, Kaido not only showed no signs of painful struggle, but his rugged face actually showed an indescribable sense of comfort and intoxication."Kaka kaka kaka—!!!"Immediately after, a visible pink stream of light actually lit up from his heart, and then spread frantically along his blood vessels and meridians toward his entire body at extreme speed.This pink light was like a puzzle piece that had been missing for years, finally finding its perfect position, blending together like milk and water!!"Roar—!!!!!"Kaido suddenly threw back his head and let out a violent dragon roar that made all of Wano Countryand the surrounding seas tremble violently!In the midst of the roar, he transformed into a giant Azure Dragon and soared into the sky!But the transformation had only just begun!Kaido's original Azure Dragon form, though massive, was only around a thousand meters in size.But now, under the horrified gazes of everyone, the Azure Dragon soaring into the sky actually began to swell wildly without restraint!...Three thousand meters!Five thousand meters!Eight thousand meters!Ten thousand meters!!!In the blink of an eye, a world-destroying dragon ten thousand meters long stretched across the firmament!What does ten thousand meters mean?The thousand sunny was not even a grain of insignificant dust in front of it.When everyone looked up, they couldn't see where the dragon's tail even was; just that massive dragon head was already comparable to the area of a medium-sized island!The sunlight was completely blocked out.But around this ten-thousand-meter dragon, four terrifying Astral Rings of different colors actually condensed out of thin air!The first was a violent, interlacing purple-black lightning!The second was a crimson-red fire that could burn the heavens and boil the seas!The third was a cyan hurricane that tore through everything!The fourth was an absolute zero, ghastly white frost!Thunder!Fire!Wind!Ice!The four natural elements seemed to possess consciousness at this moment, bowing down to this ten-thousand-meter dragon like the most loyal subjects!"What... what on earth is this thing..."For the first time, a trace of confusion appeared in Zoro's eyes.His palms gripping the hilt of his sword were covered in cold sweat.As a man who aspired to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, he had never feared any strong enemy.But now, looking up at that ten-thousand-meter dragon surrounded by the four elements, a sense of despair at having no way to even strike it arose deep within Zoro's heart....The cigarette in Sanji's hand had long since fallen onto the deck, but he was completely unaware of it.He stared blankly at the sky, his legs feeling slightly heavy."Are you kidding me... this isn't something a human or a pirate can contend with!!""This is simply... a living god descending, isn't it?"And on the shore not far away.The withered King was now dragging his broken body, falling heavily to both knees.He looked up, and in his eyes, which were originally dull, an unprecedented and extreme fanaticism erupted.Hot tears flowed wildly down his ashen cheeks."Big Brother Kaido..."King's hands were pressed together as if he were performing the most devout pilgrimage."You have finally reclaimed the true power that belongs to you! This is the form worthy of you!""You are the only ruler of this sea, of this world!""...Those Celestial Dragons who call themselves gods are not even as good as maggots in a gutter compared to you!"At this moment, everyone except Luffy was plunged into deep shock and fear.High in the sky, Luffy, who had stabilized himself after being bounced away, was floating in front of the ten-thousand-meter dragon's massive breath.He didn't feel fear like the others; instead, he was filled with intense curiosity."System! System, come out quickly!"Luffy called out in his mind."Why didn't Kaido explode? I clearly saw him eat the Pink Dragon Fruit just now!"After a brief sound of static, a mechanical system prompt sounded deep in Luffy's mind.[Ding! Detected a leap-level mutation in the life magnetic field of the target individual 'Kaido of the Beasts'.][Performing logical deduction and deep scan...][Scan complete!!][host, this is not the stacking of two Devil Fruits, but a Return to the Source.]"Return to the Source? What does that mean?"Luffy scratched his white hair in confusion.[The host needs to understand that Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits possess absolute 'uniqueness' on this sea!!][They are not just tools for changing one's constitution, but also contain the complete divinity of a certain legendary creature.][The birth of the Pink Dragon Fruit was precisely because Vegapunk used advanced technological means to steal nearly 1/3 of the 'Divine Source' inside the Azure Dragon Fruit!]Hearing this, Luffy's eyes widened in realization.[It is precisely because the source was forcibly split into two that the upper limit of Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit suffered great damage!!][That is why, despite Kaido's terrifying talent and invincible Haki, he was never able to truly touch the highest level of Mythical Zoan awakening over the long decades!!][...He has always been in an incomplete state.][And now,][The two dragons have merged, and the source is replenished!!][Kaido has completely broken through his original biological limits, and a true Legendary Power has been born!!]After the system finished its explanation, Luffy's mind was quiet for a brief two seconds.He organized the system's explanation in his mind and then reached a conclusion that he felt was very reasonable."In other words, that fruit was originally my trophy, a gift I was going to give to Hiyori. Now it's been stolen and eaten by Kaido?"Luffy said indignantly."Doesn't this mean he owes me a huge favor, and even half the credit for his current power belongs to me!"[System:...][The host's angle of understanding is very unique, but from a certain logic, there doesn't seem to be much wrong with it!!]Ending the mental exchange with the system,Luffy looked up and stared straight at the majestic ten-thousand-meter dragon in front of him.At the same time, Kaido, feeling the endless power within his body, his mindset had completely drifted into the clouds."Worororororo!!!"Kaido let out a terrifying wild laugh that shook the entire New World.The tsunami kicked up by that laughter even caused aftershocks to be felt on islands thousands of nautical miles away."Power! This is the power that I truly should possess!"Kaido's massive dragon pupils were filled with an arrogance that looked down on everything.He felt that he was simply too powerful now.So powerful that with just a casual turn of his body, he could completely flatten Wano Country.As long as he exhaled, he could burn the sea dry!What Three Admirals!What God's Knights!What Gorosei!In front of his current self, they were all ants that could be crushed with one foot!"That damn thief Vegapunk! So he stole such an important thing from me back then! It caused me to be frustrated for so many years!"Kaido circled in the sky, the four elements rolling violently with his emotions.He lowered his head, which was as massive as an island, and his giant eyes looked down condescendingly at Luffy, who was hovering in mid-air."Straw Hat! Can you feel it! This is the power of a true god!"Kaido opened his bloody maw and snorted two thick streams of incandescent hot air from his nostrils."Let's go! Brat! For the sake of that fruit just now, I'll allow you to follow behind me!""Follow me to the Holy Land! Come see how I crush those hypocritical Celestial Dragons into meat paste! Worororororo!"After Kaido finished speaking, he turned his massive dragon head with full confidence, and with a sudden flick of his tail, he made a move to soar toward the Red Line.However,"Bang!"A dull thud suddenly came from directly above his head.Immediately after, two palms with a massive pulling force unceremoniously and firmly grabbed his two giant dragon horns, which were like pillars reaching to the sky!Kaido was stunned, his giant dragon eyes rolling upward.He saw that Luffy didn't have the slightest intention of showing respect; with a high-speed bounce, he actually sat down on Kaido's head.He grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, his white hair flying wildly in the gale, and a natural arrogance flickering in his eyes."What kind of nonsense are you talking?!""You ate my fruit, took my benefits, and now you want to just pat your butt and leave? There's no such cheap thing in this world!"Luffy gave Kaido's dragon horns a hard tug and announced loudly:"From now on! You, this big long worm, are my exclusive mount!""It just so happens that the journey to Mary Geoiseis long, and I was thinking it would be too tiring to fly there myself! Since you've gotten bigger, carrying me is just right!"As Luffy shouted, like a cowboy riding a horse, he raised his heels and kicked Kaido's forehead hard."Giddy up! Let's go! My mount! Target Mary Geoise, full speed ahead!"This series of smooth operationsdirectly caused Kaido, who had been laughing wildly just a moment ago, to go completely stiff in the sky.Kaido's head was buzzing.I am the ultimate world-destroying dragon, ten thousand meters long and controlling the four elements!You, this rubber idiot who doesn't know the height of the heavens, not only don't kneel and worship, but actually dare to sit on my head?And you're using me as a mount?!And you even shouted 'Giddy up'?!"Straw Hat! Are you tired of living!!!"Kaido was completely enraged.The dragon head began to shake and roll wildly in mid-air, trying to throw that white piece of gum on his head off."Get the hell off me! Who the hell is your mount!""Stop talking nonsense! If you eat my stuff, you have to work! That's the pirate's rule! Giddy up! Giddy up! Fly faster!"Luffy was being tossed around on top of Kaido's head, but his hands were like they were welded to the dragon horns; no matter how Kaido rolled, he remained as steady as a mountain, and was even having a great time, letting out a "Hee hee hee" laugh.An enraged ten-thousand-meter dragon.A thick-skinned Sun God.The two of them, ten thousand meters high in the sky,while shouting the nastiest insults at each other, flew uncontrollably toward Mary Geoise on the Red Line amidst Kaido's exasperated rolling."Straw Hat, I'm going to kill you!""Don't shake so much, worm! Watch the direction! You're flying off course, off course!"Accompanied by the sounds of their fading bickering, the rolling four elements and the massive body in the sky eventually turned into a shooting star and disappeared at the end of the clouds.Leaving behind only the group of people at the port of Wano Country, who still maintained their upward-looking posture....On the deck of the thousand sunny.The sea breeze blew, kicking up an awkward silence.Trafalgar Law maintained his open-mouthed posture; he slowly raised his hand, covered his face, and a despairing sigh came from between his fingers."I knew it... no matter what myth it is, as long as it gets involved with this idiot, it will eventually turn into an absurd farce."Zoro sheathed his sword, his mouth twitching twice, his forehead covered in black lines."Using Kaido as a mount... that idiot really can do it."Sanji silently picked up the cigarette from the deck, relit it, and took a deep drag."I actually feel a bit of sympathy for Kaido now. To be stuck with a Captain like that, it's truly a misfortune."And on the shore, King the Conflagration, who had been devoutly worshipping just a moment ago,was now completely petrified.He stared blankly at the sky; his lofty faith regarding Kaido had shattered into pieces when he heard that line "Giddy up! Fly faster, worm," and he couldn't put it back together....
Chapter 595: Cake Island · Marine Hegemony!Meanwhile, in the New World, the Totto Land sea area.Heart-stopping flashes of lightning rolled through the clouds from time to time, casting a flickering light over the land that had been turned into ruins.This subjugation campaign, which concerned the survival of a Four Emperors of the old era, had no prelude or probing; it went straight into a white-hot stage from the very beginning.Marineford, with an unprecedented level of force and dominance, demonstrated to the entire New World their absolute foundation as the World Government's supreme military power...."Oh my... this is truly troublesome~~""I only recently heard you were defeated by the Straw Hat crew. I thought I'd be able to deal with you easily..."Borsalino wore his signature yellow striped suit, his hands casually tucked into his trouser pockets.His body hovered in mid-air as if weightless, his lips slightly pursed as he looked down at the tall man below with a nonchalant attitude.The masterpiece of the Big Mom Pirates, the head of the Three Sweet Commanders—Charlotte Katakuri!At this moment, Katakuri's condition had recovered to an unprecedented peak!As the most perfect brother of the Charlotte Family, he did not sink into despair after experiencing that crushing defeat against Sanji.Instead, under the unreserved trust and healing of his younger siblings, he completely shattered the shackles in his heart.He was no longer a machine living to maintain the appearance of "perfection," but an older brother fighting to protect his family."Marine Admiral, if you only know how to talk big, you won't be able to cross this defensive line of mine."Red light flared in Katakuri's eyes as he pushed his Observation Haki to the limit of being able to predict the future.In his vision, the flow of the surrounding air, the refraction of light, and even Borsalino's next move had already been rehearsed countless times in his mind."As long as my legs can still stand, as long as I have a weapon in my hand, you people who attempt to destroy my family's home won't take another step forward!"With a low growl, Katakuri's right arm suddenly exerted force, pulling the trident named "Mogura" out of the hard rocky ground.Extremely condensed Armament Haki instantly covered the trident's blade like black flowing water, emitting a chilling, heavy hum."What terrifying eyes!! It seems that after being defeated once, you've become even more difficult to deal with!!"Borsalino shook his head helplessly, then slowly withdrew his hands from his pockets."Since you have such strong resolve, then this old man will play with you for a bit."Borsalino's hands made a hollow grasping motion in front of his chest, and blinding golden photons instantly gathered and compressed frantically between his palms.The massive light energy caused the surrounding temperature to soar rapidly, and even the air was scorched into distorted ripples."ama no murakumo."Accompanying his lazy voice, a brilliant light sword condensed from pure high-energy photons instantly appeared in his hand.Without any warning, Borsalino's figure turned into countless golden spots of light on the spot, disappearing directly at the speed of light."Upper left!"Katakuri's pupils contracted sharply.In the future predicted by his top-tier Observation Haki, he had already clearly seen the scene that was about to occur.His waist suddenly sank, the muscles of his thick arms bulged instantly, and the "Mogura" in his hand, carrying a violent whirling force, accurately and ruthlessly thrust into the empty void to his left!Clang—!!!Dazzling sparks and golden light particles sprayed frantically.Borsalino's figure, which appeared like a ghost, was perfectly parried by Katakuri's strike."Oh? In your peak state, you can even predict and intercept the speed of light!!""...Is this the Observation Haki after a complete awakening of resolve? It's truly an eye-opener~~"Borsalino held the ama no murakumo with one hand, that nonchalant smile still hanging on his lips."But, even if your eyes can see the future, how long can your defense hold out?"Before his voice had even faded, the light from the ama no murakumo in Borsalino's hand flared up.He changed moves in an instant, the light sword in his hand turning into a sky full of golden sword shadows, pouring down toward Katakuri like an impenetrable golden rainstorm.Katakuri grit his teeth, the future images in his mind flashing continuously at a maddening speed."Mochi Thrust!"Katakuri didn't just blindly defend.His left arm instantly turned into mochi paste, then under the hardening of Armament Haki, it became like a massive heavy spear, aiming straight for Kizaru's chest through the gaps after blocking three light swords."Your speed is still a bit lacking~"Kizaru shifted his body slightly, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth, while simultaneously flicking the ama no murakumo upward from below.Bang! Bang! Bang!The two engaged in a dazzling top-tier duel on this scorched earth.Every collision between the light sword and the trident stirred up a strong storm, cutting the surrounding remnant candy buildings into pieces."I absolutely cannot retreat."Katakuri muttered to himself in his heart.He stubbornly intercepted Kizaru's steps at the outskirts of the plaza....On the other end, several hundred meters away from this battlefield, the state of the battle presented a suffocating one-sided crushing.The heavy sense of pressure almost caused the ground of the entire island to completely collapse.Marine Admiral "Fujitora" Issho!!He wore a light purple kimono, with the large cloak symbolizing justice draped over his shoulders.The cross-shaped scar on his face looked exceptionally solemn under the dark sky. Although his tightly closed eyes could not see, his Observation Haki, as vast as the sea, clearly captured the wails of every living being on this island.From the moment he stepped onto this island, Fujitora did not intend to hold back at all.In front of him was a large group of pirate lackeys attempting to rush to the core battlefield to support Big Mom, as well as many core ministers led by Sweet Commanders Smoothie and Cracker."Since the filth of this world has become so nauseating to this extent, this old man shall use the sword in my hand to cleanse it all today."Facing the tide-like pirate army, Fujitora's right hand slowly gripped the simple-textured cane sword at his waist.As the cane sword was pulled out bit by bit, a dark glow flowed over the blade. This was the true form of this Supreme Grade Blade—"Gamblers Fire Line"!On the blade of this sword, there was a strange pattern that burned like a raging fire."Let this old man... weigh the gravity of the sins upon you all."Clang—!The moment the long sword was completely unsheathed, Fujitora swung it with a backhand, pointing the blade directly at the sky, then heavily pressed it downward!"Gravity Blade: Suppression!"A terrifying gravity that could not be measured by common logic, in this instant, with Fujitora as the center, arrogantly covered the entire block for several thousand meters around!Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Thousands of pirates had their knees buckle at the same time, pressed flat against the ground by this terrifying gravity!Even the hard rocky ground was squeezed into human-shaped depressions by this heavy pressure."This... what kind of monster-like ability is this!"Cracker stood at the rear, his eyes nearly popping out as he watched the horrifying scene of the area being cleared in an instant.He immediately brandished the famous sword "Pretzel,""Biscuit Armor! Hold on for me!"A dozen giant Biscuit Soldiers surrounded Cracker, attempting to share that terrifying pressure.But Fujitora merely turned the "Gamblers Fire Line" in his hand slightly with an expressionless face.Crack... crack...Those Biscuit Soldiers, claimed to be incredibly tough, were quickly covered in dense cracks under Fujitora's continuously increasing gravity field.Waaah!Cracker suffered a backlash, and his entire body was forced to his knees under this heavy pressure, his kneecaps letting out an overburdened wail."Brother Cracker!"Seeing this, Sweet Commander Smoothie's face instantly turned pale.She frantically absorbed the moisture from the surrounding ruins, causing her body to swell instantly into a giant state over ten meters tall."Mere gravity, don't think you can crush our Charlotte Family!"Smoothie roared, holding the massive long sword with both hands, carrying a violent wind pressure, attempting to hack down at Fujitora against the gravity field.However, her massive body froze in mid-air the moment she raised the long sword."A large size only makes the weight of the sins you bear more obvious!!""...Bluffing is meaningless."The expression on Fujitora's face did not waver in the slightest, and his right hand holding the "Gamblers Fire Line" suddenly sank."For this old man... kneel!"Boom—!!!The gravity field doubled in an instant!Smoothie's ten-meter-tall body could no longer maintain its footing, her legs trembling frantically.Amidst a series of earth-shaking booms, this world-renowned Sweet Commander was pinned ruthlessly to the ground by this unreasonable gravity, to the point where even lifting a finger became a luxury.Fujitora leaned on his cane sword, standing in the gravity-induced ruins he had created with his own hands, announcing the Marines' absolute dominance to the entire Big Mom Pirates....And at this very moment.In the core area of Cake Island, in the center of the ruins of that completely collapsed giant castle.A truly world-shaking, beast-like deathmatch was being staged frantically in the bloodiest way possible!Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin!Marine Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki!These two monsters standing at the very top of this world had completely abandoned all fancy probing and defense, engaging in a melee where they only sought to trade life for life!"Red Dog—!!!"Charlotte Linlin let out a shriek like a vengeful spirit, her large, bloated body erupting with startling speed at this moment.Her reason had long since been burned to ashes by various blows; at this moment, she was a complete, through-and-through crazed beast."Give me back my Totto Land! Give me back my family!"She gripped the Homie "Napoleon," which had turned into a giant sword, with both hands.A thick, dark-red lightning frantically coiled around the blade of the giant sword.At the same time, Prometheus's high-temperature flames, capable of incinerating everything, also attached to it.A perfect combination of top-tier Conquerors Haki Infusion and violent flames!"Cognac: Ikoku Sovereignty!"Charlotte Linlin, with the momentum to split the entire island in two, leapt high and slashed down toward Sakazuki in front of her.Facing this wrathful strike from a Four Emperors, Sakazuki did not retreat even half a step."The nauseating house-playing games of pirates should have long since vanished from this world!"The right half of Sakazuki's body had completely transformed into his element, as dark red, scalding magma continuously rolled and boiled.He actually met Big Mom's world-destroying giant sword head-on, using his own flesh and blood to face it!Squelch—Pshhh!!!Napoleon's blade, coiling with Conqueror's Haki, slashed deeply into his left shoulder.The sharp blade cut through the muscle all the way, getting stuck right in his hard collarbone!"Ugh!"Sakazuki spat out a large mouthful of blood.The violent destructive power of Conqueror's Hakisurged into his body along the blade, frantically tearing at his internal organs.That nerve-shredding, terrifying pain was enough to make anyone with weak will faint on the spot.But in Sakazuki's eyes, there was a gruesome grin that made one feel horrified.He suddenly raised his left hand, actually gripping the giant sword Napoleon that was lodged in his bone!Blood flowed frantically from his palm, but as if he couldn't feel the pain, he locked Big Mom's weapon inside his own body, completely sealing off the opponent's space to retreat!"Do you think an attack of this level can stop this old man from carrying out absolute justice! Old hag!"Sakazuki let out a beast-like roar, and his elementalized right arm erupted with an unprecedented, terrifying high temperature at this moment.The ultimate destructive power of the Magma-Magma Fruit and the internal destructive power of top-tier Ryou merged perfectly in this one punch."Completely purge the stench of you pirates from this sea!"Ignoring the blood continuously gushing from his chest, Sakazuki's right punch, carrying world-destroying kinetic energy, smashed ruthlessly into Charlotte Linlin's abdomen!"Great Eruption: Meigo!"Charlotte Linlin's proud "iron balloon" defense was almost synonymous with being unbeatable on this sea.No sword had ever been able to easily cut through her skin.But this time, she was facing the Marine Fleet Admiral, who held the title of having the highest attack power in the pirate world!Boom—!!!Crack... sizzle sizzle...Big Mom's invincible defense, hailed as the iron balloon, was actually... burned through under Sakazuki's zero-distance bombardment that completely disregarded his own life!The dark red magma arrogantly penetrated the barrier of flesh and blood, booming directly into Charlotte Linlin's body!The extreme high-temperature magma exploded within her abdominal cavity, frantically incinerating and destroying her internal organs and flesh."Ugh aaaaaah—!!!"Charlotte Linlin's crimson eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.Her body, as massive as a mountain, flew backward like a kite with a broken string under the immense piercing force of Sakazuki's punch.Rumble rumble rumble!Big Mom's body crashed through the ruins of a dozen blocks in a row, plowing a bottomless, charred trench flowing with magma into the ground.At this moment, the entire Cake Island battlefield came to a standstill.The Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin, that undefeated myth who had ruled the New Worldfor decades.Her defense had actually been pierced head-on by the Marine Fleet Admiral in such a tragic manner!A breeze blew past, stirring up charcoal and dust that filled the sky.Sakazuki stood where he was, the blood on his left shoulder staining his Justice cloak red, and even his breaths carried bloody froth.But he still stood tall like an iron tower.He raised his right punch, which was still dripping with magma and blood, and stared at that massive body in the distance whose life or death was unknown."No matter what price is paid..."Sakazuki's low voice echoed over the ruins, as if tolling the death knell for the old era."The era belonging to justice will absolutely not allow you pirates to act insolently!"...
Chapter 596: Cake Island · Light Chain Execution!Sakazuki stood where he was, the cape symbolizing the highest authority of the Marinealready soaked through with blood.Big Mom's greatsword, "Napoleon," had left a terrifying wound on his left shoulder and collarbone, deep enough to see the bone.The right half of his body had already completely elementalized; dark red, scalding magma churned and boiled incessantly, instantly vaporizing the blood flowing down his arm into acrid, blood-colored mist."Tap, tap, tap."Fujitora, leaning on his cane sword, stepped over the wreckage scattered everywhere and walked slowly to Sakazuki's side."Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, your aura is extremely unstable. If you continue to force yourself, I fear you will suffer irreparable hidden injuries."He could perceive that this Fleet Admiral, in order to forcefully pierce the Four Emperors' defenses, had adopted a desperate fighting style that completely abandoned defense, and his body was already riddled with holes."I'm not dead yet!"Sakazuki snorted coldly.He paid no mind to the wounds that were bleeding profusely, the magma on his right fist churning even more violently, emitting a suffocating, terrifying heat."Pirates are the filthiest tumor in this world. As long as we can pull this level of the root of evil out from the sea by its roots!!""Even if it means draining the last drop of blood from this old man's body, it is a price that must be paid to carry out Absolute Justice!!""Do you expect this old man to stop and rest at a time like this, Issho!"Facing Sakazuki's near-paranoid questioning, Fujitora fell into a brief silence."As for the pirates on the perimeter, this old man has already suppressed them all!!""Now, let this old man lend you a hand and put a complete end to this absurd tragedy!!""...Even for the Four Emperors, they must face justice here today."The moment the words fell,"Boom!"The thousands of tons of giant rocks pressing down on Big Mom were blown away by a violent force.Big Mom stood up unsteadily from the abyss.Her long pink hair was now completely disheveled, dancing wildly behind her head.The severe injuries, with her internal organs largely incinerated, were ruthlessly draining the life force of this overlord of the old era."Akainu... Blind man..."Big Mom's blood-red eyes seemed about to pop out of their sockets, filled with crazed bloodshot veins."Give me back my Totto Land! Give me back my family!"She suddenly reached out her thick arm and grabbed the greatsword "Napoleon" that had fallen to the ground.She desperately urged the last remnants of Conqueror's Haki in her body, black-red lightning like maddened vipers raging wildly around her."Don't underestimate the Four Emperors too much! You lackeys of the World Government!"Fujitora held "Gamblers Fire Line" backhanded, the blade slowly unsheathing, pointing straight to the firmament."Gravity Blade: Meteor!"Above the firmament, the churning lead-gray clouds were instantly torn apart by an invisible, massive gravitational force."Zzzzt!!"Outside the firmament,A giant meteor with a diameter of over several hundred meters, burning with raging flames, dragged a long black tail of fire and locked directly onto Big Mom's location, crashing down.The surrounding air emitted a deafening screech under the extreme heat of friction, as if even the sky were about to be completely crushed by this power.In the face of this giant fire-meteor, any resistance seemed insignificant."Don't think you can crush me with this kind of trash rock!"Big Mom's large, bloated body erupted with astonishing power.She kicked off the ground with both legs, her entire body rising against the falling meteor."Prometheus! Napoleon!"Extremely thick black-red lightning tightly entwined around the blade of Napoleon, and the flames of Prometheus completely covered it as well."Emperor Sword: Heaven Splitter!"Big Mom held the greatsword high with both hands, bringing with her the overbearing momentum to cut through all obstacles in the world, and slashed fiercely at the very center of the meteor."Boom—!!!"A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar exploded in mid-air.Big Mom's blade, entwined with top-tier Conqueror's Haki, actually forcibly cleaved open the indestructible surface of the meteor.Under the crushing force of pure monster strength, the giant meteor with a diameter of several hundred meters was violently split in two from the middle.Two halves of the giant burning meteor slid past the sides of Big Mom's body and slammed heavily onto the ground of Cake Island, kicking up soaring flames and dust."That is why this old man says that pirates are just idiots who only know how to show off brute strength!"This Fleet Admiral did not let go of any opportunity to kill the enemy.He actually used the meteor summoned by Fujitoraas cover, completely hiding his elementalized body behind the trajectory of the falling meteor."Great Eruption!"Sakazuki's entire right arm completely transformed into a lifelike, giant magma dog head.The scalding magma was compressed to the limit, and the dog head opened its blood-red mouth flowing with magma, bringing with it destructive temperature and violent impact, biting fiercely straight at Big Mom's neck.Big Mom's pupils contracted sharply.Unable to borrow force in mid-air, facing this long-planned, fatal execution, she could only rely on her fighting instincts to forcefully raise her left arm, covered in Armament Haki, to block in front of her chest."Sshh!"The magma dog head bit fiercely into Big Mom's left arm.The extreme heat burned directly through her skin and flesh, instantly destroying her muscle tissue and bone structure."Ugh—!"The terrifying kinetic energy generated by the magma explosion smashed her directly from mid-air heavily toward the ground."Bang!"Big Mom slammed heavily onto the ground, smashing another huge deep pit into the already devastated earth.Her left arm was almost completely charred, skin and flesh curled, hanging powerlessly at her side; the injury was already irreversible.But, even after suffering such a fatal chain of attacks, Big Mom still did not fall."You bunch of Marines who only know how to use despicable means!"Big Mom struggled to lift her head from the bottom of the pit.She rushed out from the bottom of the pit, completely ignoring the magma still gushing from Sakazuki's right arm, and actually grabbed Sakazuki's cape with her intact right hand."Go to hell!"Big Mom's right leg, carrying black-red Conqueror's Haki lightning, swept fiercely toward Sakazuki's waist.Sakazuki's expression changed drastically; in his haste, he could only cross his arms in front of his chest to block it hard."Crack!"Sakazuki spat out a mouthful of blood, and his whole body was kicked away like a kite with a broken string, crashing through more than a dozen ruins before barely stopping."And you, you blind man!"After kicking Sakazuki away, Big Mom turned sharply.Her giant fist, carrying a fishy wind, locked directly onto Fujitora, who was trying to suppress her with gravity.Fujitora quickly raised his cane sword to block, but in the face of Big Mom's pure monster strength, the ground under his feet collapsed directly.The web between his thumb and index finger holding the sword split instantly, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his whole body was forcibly pushed back dozens of meters, the blood and qi in his chest churning.A dying Four Emperors, relying on that unreasonably tyrannical strength, had forcibly withstood all the fatal damage, and in a desperate counterattack before death, simultaneously pushed back and injured the two top combatants of the Marines.Big Mom stood where she was, gasping for air; her legs had already begun to tremble involuntarily.The fatal penetrating wound on her abdomen and the charred injury on her left arm were destroying her life force at an irreversible speed.And at this time, in the plaza tens of thousands of meters away from the core area.Katakuri was gripping the giant trident "Mogura," engaged in a dazzling confrontation with MarineAdmiral Kizaru.Although Katakuri, relying on his state at his peak and top-tier Observation Haki, was able to barely keep up with Kizaru's unreasonable light speed, and even blocked the slashes of the ama no murakumo with "Mogura" many times.But he knew very well in his heart that facing an Admiral with no upper limit to speed, this was a tightrope walk that allowed no mistakes.He had to maintain absolute calmness; his brain had to be in a high-load state of predicting the future at all times, and there could not be the slightest emotional fluctuation.Because once Observation Haki became chaotic, in this game of light speed, the price was death.As the masterpiece of the Charlotte Family, he had always forced himself to maintain the image of the perfect brother.He had always done it very well; before every slash of Kizaru's light sword, his body had already performed avoidance and blocking actions in advance.Until... Big Mom's voice pierced into his eardrums along with the wind."Mama!"Katakuri's originally calm eyes contracted sharply at this moment.Although Big Mom was a cruel and unrighteous mother, in the bottom of Katakuri's heart, she was the absolute pillar of the entire family, the sky that all their younger brothers and sisters relied on for survival.This momentary emotional fluctuation might just be a distraction for an ordinary person.But for him, who was engaged in a limit-pushing game of Observation Haki, it was a fatal disaster."Crack—!!"The fragments of the future shattered; he saw Kizaru's afterimage, but did not see the final landing point of that light sword."Bad!"The hair all over Katakuri's body stood on end!!And on the opposite side, Kizaru keenly captured this fleeting flaw.Under the tea-colored sunglasses, Kizaru's face, which always maintained a careless smile, suddenly retracted all its laziness."Oh my, oh my..."Kizaru's voice drifted uncertainly in the air, his speed instantly peaking to an unprecedented limit.The pressure of a Marine Admiral was revealed without reservation at this moment."Do you think you're the only one who can predict the future?"Golden photons condensed instantly on Katakuri's left side, and Kizaru's figure appeared like a ghost.The ama no murakumo in his hand shone brightly, and the extreme heat emitted from the blade cut the surrounding air, making a harsh hissing sound."Daring to be distracted in front of me...""You really don't take this old man seriously~"Before the words fell, that dazzling light sword had already turned into an unstoppable golden fan-shaped crescent, slashing fiercely toward the left side of Katakuri's body.Katakuri's body instinct was faster than his brain reaction.He twisted his waist violently, trying to put the "Mogura" in his hand horizontally on his left side to block.However, "Sshh—!!!"The golden light sword cut through the muscles and bones of Katakuri's left shoulder without any suspense.Scalding blood sprayed wildly in mid-air, staining his iconic white fur scarf red.Katakuri's thick, sturdy left arm was severed at the root.The severed arm, accompanied by the splashing blood, slammed heavily onto the scorched earth, making a dull sound."Ugh!"Katakuri let out a muffled groan.The pain brought by losing his left arm made this perfect man who had never let his back touch the ground unable to maintain his standing position any longer.His tall body trembled violently, and he fell heavily to one knee on the ruins full of rubble.Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, he gasped heavily for air, his only remaining right hand stuck the trident into the ground, forcing himself not to collapse completely.He did not look at his left shoulder spurting blood, his eyes staring fixedly at Kizaru in front of him."What an admirable willpower~~""Losing an arm, and yet not letting out a single scream!!"Kizaru was not in a hurry to pursue.He dissipated the ama no murakumo in his hand, put his hands back into his trouser pockets, and looked down at Katakuri kneeling on one knee."It's just a pity, this old era dream belonging to pirates is time to wake up. The era of the Marines does not allow you to continue to be presumptuous."Kizaru slowly raised his right hand.He raised his index finger, and a golden cross star light, dazzling to the limit, frantically gathered and compressed at his fingertip.The cold laser beam was aimed directly at the center of Katakuri's eyebrows."Farewell, perfect brother of the Charlotte Family."Kizaru mercilessly pronounced the death sentence.Katakuri gritted his teeth tightly; he knew that with his heavily injured body, he couldn't dodge this fatal light-speed strike.He slowly closed his eyes, his heart full of powerlessness and guilt."Forgive me... everyone..."Just at this moment, "Crack!"On the ground beside Katakuri, a nondescript broken mirror surface suddenly erupted with a strange, twisted light of space.A thin, withered hand suddenly reached out from that narrow mirror surface."Brother Katakuri!"It was Brulee!This younger sister, who was ugly in appearance but full of infinite love and respect for her brother, had actually been hiding in the mirror world nearby, watching the battle situation outside intently.Even though she was facing a Marine Admiralcapable of killing her instantly, even though her body was trembling violently with fear, she did not hesitate at all.That hand grabbed Katakuri's back tightly.The ability of the Mirror-Mirror Fruit was pushed to the limit at this moment, and the spatial pulling force erupted instantly."Whoosh!"Katakuri's tall body, the moment it touched the mirror surface, turned directly into a stream of light and was forcibly dragged into the mirror world."Boom—!!!"Almost at the same microsecond that Katakuridisappeared.The golden laser beam from Kizaru's fingertip shot out with a bang.The beam grazed the afterimage of where Katakurihad just been and smashed fiercely onto the mirror fragments on the ground.The huge explosion instantly kicked up dust filling the sky, the mirror was blown into powder that the naked eye couldn't even distinguish by the high heat, and a bottomless scorched pit was left on the ground.The smoke and dust gradually dissipated under the blowing of the sea breeze.Kizaru maintained the posture of extending his index finger, looking at the empty ruins in front of him.His sure-kill strike had actually missed at the last moment.Kizaru raised his head slightly, looking through those tea-colored sunglasses at the place where the mirror had just disappeared."Rescuing someone in such an incredible way under this old man's nose..."Kizaru touched his chin, feeling the desperate atmosphere still permeating the battlefield, and let out a long sigh."...How interesting!!"
Chapter 597: Cake Island · Totto Land's End!Meanwhile, in the Mirror World.This dimension, once the absolute safe house for the Charlotte Family, was now filled with a suffocating, deathly silence."Brother Katakuri~~~ Wuuu~~~ Please don't scare me! You've lost so much blood!!!"Brulee's face, covered in hideous scars, was already completely drowned in a flood of tears.She sat slumped on the cold floor, her thin hands clutching Katakuri's right shoulder.Katakuri's left shoulder was empty, and hot blood was gushing out like a spring.Large pools of blood gathered on the sleek mirror floor, reflecting that pained face.Not far from them, at the edges of several giant mirrors, dozens of Charlotte Family children were huddled together.These were the family members who had been desperately pulled into the Mirror World by Brulee's Devil Fruit ability during the Marines' ruthless purge outside, barely saving their lives.Among them was Flampe, who had once blindly worshipped Katakuri.At this moment, Flampe no longer had any of her usual arrogance or haughtiness.Looking at Brother Katakuri, who was usually invincible, and seeing his broken body missing its left arm, the massive gap in expectation caused Flampe's faith to completely collapse."How could this happen? Even Brother Katakurilost?! Are we really doomed..."Flampe covered her mouth with both hands, her body shaking violently. Low sobs spread through the crowd, turning into a storm of despairing low pressure.The crying of the brothers and sisters intertwined, echoing in this enclosed Mirror World, heartbreakingly desolate.Hearing these familiar cries, Katakuri felt pain that made it impossible to breathe.The physical pain of his severed arm was not even one-ten-thousandth of the mental torture he was enduring at this moment.As a man who had trained his Observation Haki to the pinnacle, even in this absolutely enclosed Mirror World, his perception remained extremely sharp.He could clearly feel that the earth-shattering battle outside was heading toward an irredeemable abyss.This was Ragnarök in the true sense.Katakuri felt the magma-like violence of the Fleet Admiral.Mama's defenses had been completely shattered, and her vitality was withering.Once Mama fell, losing the protection of this towering tree that blocked out the sky, the Charlotte Family, a behemoth that once ruled the New World, would surely face its most cruel destruction."Totto Land is truly finished!!"In Katakuri's sharp eyes, a bottomless despair flashed for the first time.He closed his eyes, and scenes from many years ago flashed through his mind: being mocked for his split mouth, which led to Brulee's face being slashed by thugs.From that day on, he covered his mouth with a scarf, vowing to become the perfect brother, vowing to ensure that none of his brothers and sisters would ever be hurt again.But now, he didn't even have the strength to stand up."Brother Katakuri... Say something! Are you in pain?!""What should we do now?! Mama can still win, right?!"Brulee was crying so hard she could barely breathe, staring fixedly at Katakuri, trying to hear even the slightest bit of comfort from this omnipotent older brother.Katakuri took a deep breath, forcibly squeezing out the remaining strength in his body.He reached out his only remaining right hand, grabbed the Mogura trident, and struck the shaft against the floor."Clang——!!"Relying on Mogura for support, Katakuri dragged his bleeding, broken body and straightened his spine once more."Wipe your tears dry, all of you!!!""Children of the Charlotte Family, even if we die, we must not show such weak and ugly behavior at a time like this!"He turned his head, looking at Brulee with deep eyes, his tone softening."Brulee, well done. Thanks to you not hesitating, you saved the last of the family's bloodline.""Brother Katakuri..."Brulee looked at him blankly, "You're still bleeding...""Listen."Katakuri's gaze swept over everyone present."The situation outside has exceeded our control; we simply cannot withstand Admiral Kizaru's speed!!""And... Mama may no longer be able to protect us!!"As soon as these words were spoken, suppressed exclamations erupted in the crowd, and several younger sisters collapsed directly onto the ground.Katakuri ignored the panic, his brain racing."Brulee, listen well. Immediately use your Devil Fruit ability to find a mirror coordinate in this space that is closest to Wano Country, or any desolate sea area not surrounded by the Marines!""As soon as you find an exit, take everyone and escape immediately!""Leave Totto Land, hide the Charlotte name, and live in anonymity!!""...As long as you are still alive, as long as the embers of the family are not completely extinguished, there is still hope!"Katakuri gripped the trident tightly."Then what about you, Brother?!"Brulee seemed to have sensed something and lunged forward to hug his right leg."I want to go with you! If you aren't going, I'm not going either!!!""Don't say foolish things!" Katakuri scolded in a low voice.He had already prepared himself for death."The Marines won't let us go so easily!""I will stay here to guard the entrance. If he really pursues us in here, I will buy you all one last bit of time."As a brother, he had to pave a way for these young chicks who hadn't grown up yet, even if it meant filling that bottomless pit with his own flesh and blood.However—A sudden change occurred!"Hum——!!!"The giant main mirror closest to them suddenly rippled with eerie water waves!Immediately after, a golden light so blinding that one couldn't even open their eyes erupted from inside the mirror!"Ah! So dazzling!""What is this thing!"The brothers and sisters let out terrified screams, all covering their eyes and retreating.Katakuri's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of suffocation instantly enveloped his whole body.He saw those golden photons refracting, interweaving, and reorganizing within the mirror space.Finally, gathered by countless spots of light, a tall, slender figure wearing a yellow striped suit stepped out of the mirror slowly.Marine Headquarters Admiral — "Kizaru" Borsalino!"Oh my, my... This really is a good, hidden place~~"Borsalino's signature lazy tone drifted through the Mirror World.To this group of Charlotte Family children who were already scared out of their wits, this voice was even more terrifying than the summons of a hellish demon!!!An Admiral!A Marine Admiral had actually pursued them directly into this supposedly absolute safe haven?!"You... How did you get in!"Katakuri's sharp eyes stared straight at Borsalino."Do you pirates have some strange misunderstanding about things like light?"Borsalino pushed up the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose."As long as there is a reflective surface, as long as there is even the slightest gap for light to penetrate..."Borsalino slowly raised his right hand, a dazzling golden cross of light shining at his fingertip."Light... is everywhere, you know~~"These words shattered the last shred of luck in Katakuri's heart.Indeed, in front of a Marine Admiral who represented the speed of light, this space created by mirrors was no different from an undefended backyard."The game of hide-and-seek in the dark is over."The golden light at Borsalino's fingertip grew brighter."It's really a pity, your brotherly love!!""But the old man's job is just to clean up the trash!!"Just as Katakuri closed his eyes in despair, thinking he was dead for sure.The golden cross of light at Borsalino's fingertip suddenly flickered, and then... it slowly extinguished.Katakuri opened his eyes in confusion.He saw Borsalino sigh and put his hand back into his trouser pocket."Oh my, my, thinking about it, if I were to kill all you brats who have no power to resist, that retired old man Sengoku might nag me again about being too cruel.""..."One hour later, Cake Island main battlefield.The leaden clouds were torn open by Haki, and faint daylight sprinkled onto this purgatory that had already turned into scorched earth.The death match between the Four Emperors Big Mom and the two highest Marine combat powers had finally reached its final moment.The so-called indestructible "iron balloon" was already riddled with holes.She was covered in blood, like an ancient beast driven to a dead end.Extreme high temperatures had burned her internal organs over a large area."Die... for me!!!"Charlotte Linlin held Napoleon in both hands, black and red lightning coiling around the blade."Unrepentant madness!!"Fujitora Issho kept his eyes tightly closed, two lines of bloody tears slowly sliding down his cheeks.He had pushed the power of the Gravity-Gravity Fruit to its limit; he was practically risking his life!!"Gravity Blade - Absolute Suppression!"Veins bulged on Fujitora's hands as he held his cane sword, and a terrifying gravity field that severely distorted the surrounding space pressed down hard on Big Mom's body.And under Fujitora's extreme control, Sakazuki, like a magma Asura without a shred of emotional fluctuation, pushed his killing intent to the maximum!"Sshhh!""End it completely, ghost of the pirates!"Sakazuki's right arm turned into a lifelike, giant magma dog head, and the extremely compressed magma, mixed with top-tier Ryou Haki, punched mercilessly into Big Mom's already tattered chest."Bang——!!!"The ultimate explosive power of the Magma-Magma Fruit triggered a destructive chain reaction inside Big Mom's body once again.Big Mom's massive body, like a mountain drained of all its strength, fell backward violently."Ugh, ahhh——!!"The great sword Napoleon slipped from her hand.Charlotte Linlin crashed into the scorched ruins, kicking up dust that filled the sky.This time, she no longer had the strength to stand up again.Big Mom lay on her back in the rubble, her vision beginning to blur rapidly, and the drifting clouds in the sky slowly turned into all sorts of strange, twisted shapes in her eyes.Countless fragments of memories buried deep in the years flashed wildly in her mind.She saw the desolate scene of being heartlessly abandoned by her biological parents on the coast of Elbaf because she was too big and ate too much.The scene shifted, and Mother Carmel's gentle smiling face appeared before her eyes, the Lamb House full of laughter—that was the first warmth she had ever felt in her life.Then, there was that eerie Tea Party.Piles of croquembouche, she ate so happily, so satisfied.But when she opened her eyes again, Mother was gone, and her little friends were gone too.All that remained was a torn piece of Mother's clothing."Why did you leave me?""Why does everyone want to abandon me?!"She searched for answers in her memories...Later, she joined the Rocks Pirates, full of monsters and slaughter.She desperately gave birth to children, desperately using bloodlines to weave her own network of power."I want to build a Totto Land... I want all races in this world to be able to sit together without discrimination, sitting at a table as equals and eating snacks!"But why did everything change?Her so-called Totto Land was actually just a cruel lie built on the sin of cannibalism.And now, her utopia had collapsed!!Kaido was defeated!!Her children were suppressed by the Marines!!Even she herself was about to die in front of this cold and cruel reality."No... I am not reconciled..."That obsession transcended the death of the flesh; it was the final defiance belonging to a Four Emperor of the old era!She used the last bit of strength in her chest, raised her head, and stared at that vast sky.The figure of the man who started this whole crazy era, the man who made her jealous, made her hate, yet made her yearn for so much, froze in her mind."Roger——!!!"Big Mom used her last breath."That thing... that thing you left on the final island...""It must be there, right?!""ONE PIECE!!!!"This roar, mixed with endless unwillingness, madness, and sorrow, seemed to drain the last bit of vitality from her massive body.The moment the words fell.Charlotte Linlin's massive body, like a giant beast whose spine had been completely ripped out, crashed to the ground.The earth gave a dull tremor.Between heaven and earth, a sudden, eerie silence fell due to the fall of a Four Emperor.The woman who had ruled half of the New World, building supreme hegemony with terror and sweets.A corner of the old era was completely shattered at this moment.[Four Emperor] BIG MOM — Deceased!Smoke from the ruins filled the air.Sakazuki stood a hundred meters away from Big Mom's corpse.The condition of this Marine Fleet Admiral was now also miserable to the extreme.He was covered in blood, and the wound from his left shoulder to his chest had almost cut him in half diagonally, blood mixing with the still-boiling magma dripping onto the ground, emitting a pungent, burnt smell.Ninety percent of the fatal wounds on Big Mom's body were hammered out by him in this completely reckless, life-for-life manner.As a price, he was also the most heavily injured of all the Marines present.But he still stood like an iron tower, unfallen.Sakazuki looked coldly at Big Mom's giant, wide-eyed corpse.He slowly raised his slightly trembling right hand, which was still stained with hot magma.He fished out a slightly deformed cigar from his suit pocket.The high temperature of the magma on his fingers instantly lit the cigar.Sakazuki put the cigar into his mouth and took a deep drag.The pungent, thick smoke rushed into his lungs instantly, forcibly suppressing the terrifying, agonizing pain that threatened to tear him apart."Roger's last words started the Great Pirate Era, and your last words are nothing but a mournful cry before the old era completely rots away."Sakazuki exhaled a smoke ring, his voice low and full of absolute iron-blooded strength."No matter what the cost, no matter how many treasure-hunting frenzies are stirred up on this great sea.""Justice will surely wipe out you criminals completely."...
Chapter 598: Hachinosu · Who's Next to Die?Hachinosu, that "Pirate Paradise" once filled with revelry and noise, had now completely transformed into a Shura purgatory."Teach, the sins you have committed on this ocean must be fully settled here today!"A furious roar, like the tolling of a great bell, exploded over the ruins.The former Fleet Admiral, Sengoku, took a step forward.Accompanied by his low growl, a dazzling golden light that made one's soul tremble erupted instantly from within his body!"Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Buddha Model!"Sengoku's body expanded rapidly amidst the brilliant Buddha light, transforming into a hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha.His solemn, dignified face bore an air of murderous intent, and his pure gold palm, carrying the terrifying pressure to crush space, locked onto Blackbeard and pushed forward!"Buddha Impact!"The golden shockwave, over a hundred meters in diameter, carried kinetic energy capable of destroying everything, instantly vaporizing the earth along its path."Don't get cocky, Sengoku!"Blackbeard threw his hands open, and endless pitch-black mist, like a tide surging from hell, instantly obscured half the sky."Great Black Heaven!"The gravity black hole capable of devouring everything collided violently with the golden Buddha shockwave!"Rumble—!!!"Golden light and darkness split the sky in two."Ze-hahahaha! Old man, your era ended long ago!"Blackbeard, bearing the heavy pressure of Sengoku's palm wind, desperately grabbed the Buddha's arm.The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit activated wildly, attempting to strip away Sengoku's Devil Fruitpower.Sengoku's golden Buddha light began to flicker violently, but there was not a hint of retreat on his majestic face.Even with his fruit ability suppressed, his tempered, top-tier martial arts and Armament Haki remained as indestructible as steel.Their fists and palms met, each strike making the island's foundation groan.Sengoku felt Blackbeard's increasingly fierce power, his heart calm.He knew he couldn't defeat this guy in a short time, but as long as he could drag him here, the outcome of this battle was already decided!Because, standing behind him, was that Demon God who made all pirates tremble with fear!!!...On the other side of the battlefield.Garp was listlessly loosening his wrists.The "crack-crack" sound of his joints rubbing together sounded exceptionally harsh in the ruins.Surrounding him were the "Great Pirate" Ochoku, Shiliew, "Fighting Champion" Burgess, "Demon Sheriff" Laffitte, and "Supersonic" Auger.All the core executives of the Blackbeard Pirateshad surrounded him in a fan shape.Yet, this group of monsters who killed without blinking in the New World, facing the unarmed Garp, had beads of cold sweat oozing from their foreheads.In their Observation Haki perception, the person standing there was not a senile old man, but a prehistoric beast that had just awakened from its slumber!The oppression radiating purely from his flesh and Haki was even more despairing than Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit."What's wrong? Brats."Garp stopped his movements and slowly raised his head."Weren't you just clamoring to tear me to shreds?... Since you've boarded this pirate ship, you should be prepared to be crushed by Justice!"..."Don't look down on people! Old man!"As the Captain of the First Ship of the Blackbeard Pirates, Burgess could no longer endure the humiliation of being looked down upon as prey.He let out a heaven-shaking roar, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.Pushing the power of the Strong-Strong Fruit to its limit, the muscles in his arms swelled wildly."Weehahaha! I am the highest-ranking executive of the Blackbeard Pirates! Turn into meat paste for me!"Burgess kicked the ground violently, causing the earth to collapse.He instantly rushed to a massive fortress that hadn't completely collapsed,and dug his hands into the hard rock base!!"Crack—Crack!!"He actually lifted this tens-of-thousands-of-tons fortress up from the ground!The huge shadow instantly obscured the sky above Garp.Burgess's arm veins bulged, and with the violent, monstrous strength to flatten everything, he... smashed that huge fortress down at Garp!"Die! Garp!"There was a glimmer of hope in Burgess's eyes.He longed to prove himself, to forge his fame with the blood of this marine hero.However, facing the massive fortress crashing down like Mount Tai, only a trace of disappointment flashed across Garp's face."Relying solely on the fake power brought by a Devil Fruit, you dare to challenge the pinnacle of this ocean..."Garp shook his head slowly and pulled his right fist back casually."You dare to show off this soft, weak strength in front of me? It's laughable!""Hum—!!!"A thick, almost viscous black-red Haoshokulightning instantly exploded and intertwined on Garp's right fist."Fist Bone!"Garp threw a simple, unadorned straight punch, meeting the falling fortress, and blasted it away effortlessly."Boom—!!!!"The moment his fist made contact with the tens of thousands of tons of rock!!The violent fist wind, carrying unstoppable penetrating power, instantly blasted the entire fortress into dust dancing in the sky!But this was far from over.The aftermath of the Fist Bone turned into a visible crimson-black shockwave, piercing through the sky full of dust, and hit Burgess's chest accurately!"What?!"Burgess's maniacal expression froze on his face instantly.His proud Fighting Champion physique and the indestructible mechanical armor on his arms emitted a crisp cracking sound the moment they touched the fist wind."Crack! Bang bang bang!"Metal fragments flew everywhere, and the bones in Burgess's arms were crushed by this absolute power.His sternum collapsed in a large area, and his internal organs felt like they were being stirred in a meat grinder."Waaahhh—!"Burgess flew backward at a terrifying speed exceeding the speed of sound, smashing through seven or eight ruins, and finally became deeply embedded in a cliff a thousand meters away, his life or death unknown.One punch!Just a casual punch, and the Captain of the First Ship of the Blackbeard Pirates, without even touching the corner of Garp's clothes, was crushed!This scene made the hearts of the remaining executives twitch violently.That deep sense of powerlessness spread like poison.But under this extreme pressure, there was always the calmest killer looking for even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of a flaw."Burgess, that idiot, although reckless, created an opening for you to punch."A cold voice suddenly sounded behind Garp's head.—Auger!He was not frightened by Garp's terrifying punch, but used the power of the Warp-Warp Fruit to cross space and appeared behind Garp like a ghost!Without any hesitation.The beloved gun in Auger's hand, "Senri", was already pressed against the back of Garp's head.Inside the chamber, a special Sea Stone armor-piercing bullet had already completed its charge."This is the end of fate, hero Garp."There was no fluctuation in Auger's eyes as his index finger coldly pulled the trigger."Bang!"The supersonic sniper bullet, carrying fire and a sharp piercing sound, was less than an inch away from the back of Garp's head!At this distance, with this speed, even if Observation Haki predicted it, the physical body absolutely could not react to dodge!This was a perfect assassination!However, the coldness in Auger's eyes, full of certainty, froze completely in the next ten-thousandth of a second.Facing this fatal supersonic bullet, Garp didn't even turn his head.His right hand, which had just shattered the fortress, moved with an eerie speed, reaching back to pinch the air."Snap!"A slight crisp sound.That special Sea Stone armor-piercing bullet was actually caught steadily in mid-air by Garp using only two fingers covered in Armament Haki!The bullet spun and rubbed frantically between Garp's fingers, sparks bursting out, but it couldn't move forward even a millimeter!"This... How is this possible..."Auger's face, which always remained calm, collapsed completely at this moment.Cold sweat soaked his back instantly.That was a supersonic snipe!How could he catch it with two fingers without even looking?!This was no longer a reaction speed or physical strength that humans could understand!Facing this absolute gap in strength, Auger's proud sniping skills and fruit ability were simply ridiculous!!"The speed is not bad, brat."Garp's deep voice rang in Auger's ear, like the verdict of the Grim Reaper."However, my back is not something that vermin like you, hiding in the dark, can touch!"Garp grinned, revealing a cold smile, and flicked his wrist violently."Return it to you!""Whoosh—!!!"The bullet that Garp had held between his fingers, following the flick of his finger, flew back at a terrifying speed!Auger's pupils contracted violently!!"Puchi!"The returning bullet pierced through Auger's right shoulder without any suspense, bringing up a large spray of blood.The huge kinetic energy carried his thin body and nailed him directly to a remaining cliff hundreds of meters behind!"Cough..."Auger was nailed to the cliff, vomiting blood from his mouth.His beloved gun "Senri" fell to the ground powerlessly, and on that face that was always calm, only pain and endless fear remained.In less than half a minute.Two core executives, one dead and one injured, and Garp hadn't even moved a step.A breeze blew, rolling up the gravel at Garp's feet.This Demon God of the Navy slowly turned around, clenching his cracking fists, his eyes full of violent murderous intent, like a king inspecting his territory, sweeping over Ochoku, Shiliew, and Laffitte, who were already sweating coldly not far away."So..."Garp curled his lips, revealing a violent smile that made people's livers and gallbladders crack."Who is next to come and die?"