"Ma… ma… ma… MAMAMA!" A thunderous bellow of laughter echoed through the grand tea party venue, drawing the attention of everyone present. Heads turned as the source of the laughter, the infamous Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom herself—stepped into the spotlight, her massive frame exuding a commanding presence.
She personally escorted a group of towering figures, the delegation led by none other than Prince Loki of Elbaf. Almost every guest rose instinctively from their seats as a wave of subtle yet undeniable soul pressure rippled from the Yonko.
Though most understood the mechanics of her Soul-Soul Fruit—knowing that her powers only worked on those who feared her—standing fearless before Big Mom was no small feat. For many, instinct triumphed over logic; even the seasoned warriors among them couldn't entirely suppress the chill creeping up their spines.
Linlin's lips curled into a broad, toothy grin as her sharp gaze swept over the crowd. She savored the sight of her guests rising in unison, a silent acknowledgment of her dominance. This was more than a show of power; it was a calculated display meant to impress her new partners, the mighty giants of Elbaf.
The partnership itself was a remarkable feat. Through delicate negotiations, Linlin had managed to establish a preliminary understanding with Prince Loki. She had even extended a bold proposition, offering herself as the mother of his heirs—a suggestion that was met with a blunt and unceremonious rejection.
Unperturbed, Linlin adjusted her offer, presenting Loki with a choice among her numerous daughters to solidify their alliance through marriage. Loki, though yet to make his selection, seemed open to the idea.
For him, this union wasn't just about appeasing Big Mom; it was a calculated move to further his own ambitions. An alliance with the Big Mom Pirates could prove a powerful asset to his cause.
However, as Linlin surveyed the room with satisfaction, her gaze landed on a conspicuously empty section of tables near the far right. At one of these tables sat only three figures: with her son, Katakuri, who had dutifully risen to his feet, and a man seated beside him, casually swirling a wine glass.
The man made no effort to stand, nor did he so much as glance in her direction.
Big Mom's grin faltered, her eyes narrowing with a flicker of irritation. She recognized him instantly: Donquixote Rosinante, a figure infamous enough to challenge her authority with such a blatant display of indifference and that too on her own turf. But what truly stoked her ire wasn't his casual defiance—it was the giantess seated at the same table.
Linlin's gaze shifted toward Loki, whose own eyes were locked on the woman: Dora, the runaway princess of Elbaf. Her presence here was both unexpected and provocative. It took every ounce of Loki's self-restraint not to abandon decorum and march straight over to confront his wayward sister. His fingers twitched with impatience, his mind already spinning with plans to deal with her once the tea party concluded.
Feigning ignorance, Linlin let out a slow, rumbling chuckle. "Oh? I wasn't aware we had another giant among our guests today. How very brave of her to wander into my territory alone." Her words dripped with mockery, though her tone carried an undertone of menace. She knew perfectly well who Dora was and why she had come.
Loki didn't take the bait, his expression tightening as he replied. "Brave? No, just reckless. What interests me more is the man who convinced my sister to abandon Elbaf and sail the seas." His eyes burned with thinly veiled hostility as they settled on Rosinante, a silent challenge radiating from his every word.
I felt the weight of their combined gazes and casually raised my wine glass, offering a lazy wave as though greeting a neighbor over a garden fence. Beneath the veneer of nonchalance, my Observation Haki and subtle manipulation of my Devil Fruit powers kept me acutely aware of every shift in the room. Big Mom's territory, her plans, the delicate dance of alliances—none of it escaped my notice.
The so-called alliance between Linlin and Loki was a fascinating spectacle, equal parts theater and intrigue. Big Mom had sweetened the deal by offering Loki something of great value: a copy of the red Poneglyph rubbing, once a prized possession of her crew.
It was an artifact of immeasurable worth, its secrets key to finding the One Piece. Yet even that treasure couldn't mask the underlying fragility of their arrangement.
"Tell me, Prince Loki," Big Mom purred, her grin widening into a teasing sneer. "Do you need my assistance in bringing back your sister?" The question dripped with mockery, her sharp teeth glinting as she leaned forward ever so slightly. The tension in the air was palpable, a potent cocktail of veiled threats and power dynamics.
Loki, however, didn't take the bait. Instead, his lips curled into a smirk, his golden eyes flicking to the far table where Dora sat.
"It seems," he said, voice laced with amusement, "that you already have your plate full. I wonder… do you need my assistance with your problem?" His words were a deliberate jab, referencing the subtle clash of wills between Big Mom and the casually seated Rosinante. Loki's excitement was barely concealed; the prospect of watching such a battle unfold intrigued him.
From the aura exchanged in fleeting bursts, he could tell Rosinante was no ordinary man. Rumored to be as powerful as the Emperors of the Sea, this was the perfect opportunity to test whether such legends held any truth.
If nothing else, it would give him insight into just how formidable Big Mom truly was—and whether the title of Yonko was worth the respect it commanded.
Big Mom's smile faltered at Loki's retort, a shadow of irritation flickering across her face. Her eyes snapped to Katakuri, who met her gaze with a subtle nod. The silent command was clear: I will deal with this insolent brat later. For now, the party demanded her attention.
The event officially commenced moments later, and the grand hall of Totto Land was alive with a dazzling display of excess and opulence.
The tea party was nothing short of theatrical. Long tables stretched across the venue, covered in pristine white cloth and adorned with overflowing platters of exotic delicacies—candied fruits that glittered like jewels, cakes piled so high they seemed to defy gravity, and drinks served in crystalline goblets that refracted light into kaleidoscopic hues. Living food creatures danced across the tables, giggling and singing in high-pitched voices, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
Above, a floating candy chandelier sparkled, casting a warm golden glow over the gathering of infamous underworld figures, pirates, and elites from across the seas. Conversations buzzed in hushed tones, punctuated by bursts of raucous laughter. But no one forgot where they were; the ever-present pressure of Big Mom's soul lingered in the air like an unspoken warning.
As the hours passed, the time came for the main event—the gifting ceremony. This was the moment everyone had prepared meticulously for, the moment to reaffirm their allegiance to Big Mom by presenting her with offerings worthy of her status. Every attendee understood the stakes; a poorly chosen gift could turn them into dessert for the Yonko in an instant.
One by one, guests approached the central dais where Big Mom sat like a queen upon her throne. Her eyes glinted with excitement as she tore through elaborately wrapped packages, each containing treasures of immense value: rare gemstones, priceless artifacts, and devil fruit delicacies that could fund entire kingdoms.
Her grin grew wider and more menacing with each new gift. The hall was filled with nervous chuckles and murmurs as everyone held their breath, praying that their offerings would meet her expectations. The memory of past tea parties lingered heavily—parties where gifts had fallen short, and the givers were never seen again.
Meanwhile, at one of the far tables, Charlotte Counter scowled, muttering to himself as he scanned the room. "Why isn't that birdbrain here yet? I'm going to skin him when I find him later," he growled, his sharp teeth grinding together. He waved over one of the chess soldiers, barking, "Go find Morgans. Now."
As the soldier saluted and marched off, Counter continued grumbling under his breath. "He better be dead, or I'll kill him myself," he snapped, before turning back to entertain the remaining underworld members seated at his table.
The procession of gifts continued until Big Mom's gaze shifted sharply toward me. Her fiery eyes narrowed as she addressed me directly, her voice cutting through the ambient noise like a knife.
"I am sure the Donquixote brat knows manners," she sneered. "I hope you didn't come here empty-handed."
The room fell silent. Conversations ceased, and attendees quickly backed away, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire. All eyes turned toward me, some filled with curiosity, others with dread.
Casually, I rose from my seat, brushing off the front of my finely tailored suit. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. If she hadn't called me out, I might have flipped the table myself from sheer boredom. This party was testing my patience, and I wasn't in the mood to humor her power games any longer than necessary.
I turned to Lucci, who silently handed me a large package, its wrapping immaculate and its presence commanding attention. Big Mom's expression flickered with confusion for a moment, then morphed into anticipation. She assumed I had reconsidered challenging her, that I was bending to her authority.
"Interesting," she mused, licking her lips. "I knew you'd see sense. Now let's see what you've brought me."
As I began my approach, her grin turned wicked. She raised a hand, halting the next guest in line, and gestured to one of her chess soldiers.
"I'm sure everyone here is getting a bit bored. Why don't we make this more… entertaining?" Her laughter echoed through the hall as the soldier saluted and disappeared into the shadows. "Bring me the roulette!" she bellowed.
The hall erupted into murmurs of excitement and apprehension. The infamous roulette wheel was Big Mom's twisted instrument of fate, a tool that turned any interaction into a gamble for life and limb. Her cackling laughter filled the room as I ascended the steps toward her throne, unhurried and unbothered by the rising tension.
As I stepped closer to the dais, the room seemed to hold its breath. All eyes were on me, but my focus was on Big Mom. Her gaze sharpened dangerously as it drifted to the blade strapped to my side.
Her sharp, predatory grin faltered for the briefest moment, replaced by something far more primal. She could feel the weapon's aura, the suffocating pressure it exuded. As someone attuned to the essence of souls, her body trembled—not with fear, but with unrestrained excitement.
Her mind raced. Has there ever been a weapon so perfect for me? But there was something off—something different about this blade. She couldn't place it, and the thought unsettled her.
Before she could voice her curiosity, I casually tossed the wrapped box at her feet. The entire venue erupted in a collective gasp. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint sound of the package rolling to a stop before Big Mom's massive form.
"Brat…" Her voice was low, dangerous. "Do you have a death wish? I was going to offer you the mercy of spinning the roulette. But now, you dare—"
"No, it can't be…" someone whispered from the crowd.
Before Big Mom could finish, the wrapping tore open, and the contents spilled across the floor—a black diamond, glinting ominously in the golden light of the chandeliers. A ripple of panic spread through the room as the realization hit.
"That's… a black diamond," one guest hissed, their voice trembling. "That thing represents death! Is Rosinante asking Big Mom to die?"
Chaos erupted in the crowd as murmurs turned to panicked screams. Katakuri was already at Big Mom's side, his instincts screaming at him. His earlier hesitation after my warning was gone, replaced with steely resolve.
His sharp gaze cut through the chaos, and he realized what many in the room had not: I wasn't here to join the tea party. I was here to end it.
Despite the turmoil, Big Mom remained seated. Her massive hand rested on her knee, her gaze locked on me, unflinching. Her lips curled into a sinister smile as she began to chuckle—a low, rumbling sound that grew louder until it shook the walls.
"Sigh… I really wanted to make you my underling," she said, her voice dripping with mock disappointment.
"But it seems like you're too stubborn to understand." Her laughter stopped abruptly, her expression twisting into one of pure malice. "Very well, brat. You'll understand what's the true difference between the two of us."
I shrugged, brushing a stray speck of dust from my sleeve. "Tell me, Linlin, are we going to keep talking nonsense?" I asked, my tone light and mocking.
"I've already sunk three of your islands and marched into the heart of your territory. How much clearer do I need to be? I'm not here for peace."
The words barely left my mouth before Big Mom roared with fury, her massive fist blazing with the hellish flames of her homie, Prometheus. She lunged at me with terrifying speed, her fist descending like a meteor, intent on crushing me into the ground.
I didn't flinch. My arm shot up, coated in jet-black Armament Haki, and caught her flaming fist in my palm. The impact was deafening, a shockwave exploding outward that rattled the very foundation of the venue.
"Boom!"
The sound roared like a death knell. Those who still hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation were now paralyzed with fear. The tea party was officially over. This was now a warzone.
Big Mom's eyes widened ever so slightly as her momentum came to a dead stop in my grip. For the first time, there was a flicker of shock in her gaze. Her massive form trembled with raw power, but I held firm, meeting her strength head-on.
"You brat!" she bellowed, her voice shaking the air. "I'm going to enjoy tearing you limb from limb!" With a roar, she summoned her enormous weapon, a massive halberd, the blade igniting with the combined fury of Prometheus and Zeus.
The air around her crackled with lightning and fire as she swung the massive blade down at me, the sheer weight of her attack bolstered by her monstrous Conqueror's Haki.
I raised my arm again, meeting the strike with my palm. The clash sent a torrent of energy rippling outward, splitting the ground beneath us and shattering the walls of the venue.
Sparks flew as my Haki clashed with hers, the force of our exchange radiating like a storm. Her massive halberd came to a halt in my grasp, and for the briefest moment, her grin faltered.
"You shouldn't have done that," I said, my voice low and calm.
Before she could react, I twisted my grip on the blade and yanked her forward. Using her momentum against her, I drove a devastating punch into her gut. The impact was catastrophic, sending her massive form flying through the air like a cannonball.
She crashed through the walls of the buildings surrounding the venue, obliterating everything in her path before slamming into the ground outside with an earth-shaking impact. Smoke and rubble billowed into the air as the remaining buildings around her collapsed.
I turned back to the Charlotte siblings, brushing off my suit once more. "Come at me," I said, a mocking grin spreading across my face. "If any of you want to be buried with your mother today."
The venue erupted into chaos again, but Katakuri remained still, his face pale. His Observation Haki had already shown him the truth of what was to come. He could see it clearly—intervening now would only lead to more death.
"No!" he roared, trying to stop his siblings as one of them lunged at me in blind rage. The fool swung down with his blade, hoping to end things with a single strike. But they didn't realize—or perhaps couldn't comprehend—what they were up against.
Shusui moved faster than the eye could follow, the cursed blade slicing cleanly through the air. The Charlotte sibling froze mid-attack, their body suddenly splitting in two as blood sprayed into the air. The room fell silent, the gruesome sight stunning everyone into stillness.
Katakuri roared, his trident flashing forward in a desperate attempt to avenge his sibling. I leaned back effortlessly, the weapon passing mere inches from my face.
Before the battle could escalate further, a deafening roar shattered the air. The ground trembled as rubble shifted, and from the smoke emerged a massive figure. Big Mom rose to her feet, her body wreathed in crackling lightning and roaring flames. Her monstrous aura consumed the battlefield, and her laughter echoed like thunder.
"Katakuri!" she bellowed, her voice shaking the island itself. "All of you, stay back! This fight is between me and this brat. Anyone who interferes…" Her eyes burned with fury as she slammed Napoleon into the ground, using it to push herself upright. "I'll kill them myself."
The storm of her power surged around her, a cataclysmic force of nature. I grinned, resting Shusui on my shoulder as I met her gaze. The battle was just beginning.
As the skies above cracked open, a massive pillar of black lightning descended with a roar, its intensity shaking the very foundations of the newly built island. The energy radiating from it was oppressive, suffused with my indomitable will, my Conqueror's Haki spreading like an invisible storm over the battlefield. The air itself seemed to hum with its power, forcing even the most stalwart of warriors to take a step back.
Big Mom's eyes widened—not in fear, but in sheer, unbridled excitement. The sight of such raw, untamed energy stirred something primal in her. This wasn't just lightning; it was something far greater, a force that could reshape the battlefield. Her lips curled into a grin, her monstrous teeth glinting in the chaotic light.
"Hera!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the din like a war horn. "Take it! Make it yours!"
From her side, the air shimmered, and a swirling mass of white storm clouds materialized. Hera, her newest Homie, emerged with a cackling laugh that echoed with childlike mischief. The elemental being darted toward the descending lightning, eager to claim it for her mistress.
Big Mom's hands stretched outward, her Soul powers surging to the forefront. A surge of her essence flowed into Hera, her will entwining with the Homie's as it reached for the massive black bolt. Hera's form swelled, her stormy mass growing larger and darker as she attempted to merge with the descending lightning.
But something was wrong. The moment Hera touched the lightning, she let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The black lightning wasn't ordinary. It was infused with my will—my unyielding determination, the core of my Conqueror's Haki. The sheer weight of it crashed into Hera like a tidal wave, forcing the Homie to recoil. Hera's form began to distort, crackling with chaotic energy as my will and hers clashed violently.
"AAAAARGH!" Hera screeched, her normally mischievous voice now filled with agony. The oppressive force of my Conqueror's Haki crushed down on her, choking her essence. She struggled, her stormy form writhing as she tried to subdue the lightning under her control. But it was no use. This lightning wasn't just a tool; it was a manifestation of my power, my spirit, and my unyielding intent to kill.
Big Mom's grin faltered. Her connection to Hera was still active, and through it, she could feel the searing pain coursing through the Homie. For the first time in decades, she hesitated, realizing that this was no ordinary clash of wills.
"Hera! Obey me!" she roared, pouring more of her soul into the Homie, trying to bolster its strength.
But Hera's cries only grew louder, more desperate. "I… I can't! M-Mama, it's too much! It's— IT'S NOT JUST LIGHTNING!" Hera's voice cracked, filled with terror. "It's… HIM!"
Big Mom's eyes narrowed, and her grin twisted into a scowl. She understood now. The lightning wasn't a mere natural phenomenon; it was an extension of me. Every crackling spark carried my intent, my defiance, and my promise of destruction.
Hera's form began to splinter, bolts of black lightning tearing through her stormy body. The Homie's essence destabilized, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure. Big Mom's Conqueror's Haki surged, colliding with mine in a violent explosion of energy, but the black lightning did not waver. It was relentless, its descent unstoppable.
With a final, agonized scream, Hera exploded, her form scattering into fragments of dissipating storm clouds. The black lightning, no longer contested, slammed into Big Mom with the force of a mountain. The ground beneath her shattered, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Big Mom's massive form was engulfed in the storm's fury, her laughter turning to a low growl as she staggered under the assault. But even as her Homie was destroyed and her body bore the brunt of the attack, her eyes burned with determination.
"You think… that's enough to stop me?" she snarled, her voice filled with equal parts rage and exhilaration. She slammed her massive halberd into the ground, steadying herself, her monstrous aura flaring back to life despite the damage she had taken.
The battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos, and the real fight was only just beginning.