"Swish!"
As Jack's enormous mammoth form charged toward Vivi, Nojiko, and Conis, a striking figure suddenly appeared, standing in the path of the rampaging beast.
With a cold expression, the figure's right hand struck Jack with incredible force.
The impact sent shockwaves through the figure's body, causing violent tremors. Muscles contorted unnaturally, accompanied by the harsh sounds of tearing fibers. The bones throughout the figure's body emitted terrifying cracks, as though on the verge of shattering, sending chills down the spine of any observer.
Despite this tremendous toll, the figure's collapsing muscles, splintering bones, and even ruptured internal organs seemed to unleash a horrifying, concentrated energy.
The violent surge of power flowed outward, amplified by a layer of Armament Haki that coated the figure's body.
As this overwhelming energy burst forth, the figure's golden hair danced wildly in the wind, glowing with an almost divine brilliance.
But for Jack, the sight was nothing short of a nightmare—the harbinger of his defeat.
"Black Flash!"
"Boom!"
Kaya's cry echoed as the devastating energy exploded against Jack's mammoth body. The force tore through his muscles, shattered his bones, and wreaked havoc on his internal organs.
The combination of raw energy, infused with powerful Armament Haki , unleashed a destructive force that far surpassed even the infamous White Tiger Gale of Gion.
Blood gushed from Jack's mouth in torrents. His fierce eyes rolled back, turning white, and his colossal form collapsed with a deafening crash.
"Boom!"
Jack, one of the Three Calamities of the Beasts Pirates, had been defeated with a single punch!
"Jack!!!"
Queen's voice erupted in disbelief as he watched his comrade fall unconscious in an instant.
"The 'Fallen Doctor' of the Entei Pirates?!"
Katakuri's heart sank, his scalp tingling as he processed the scene before him.
"But how...?"
How could someone possess such strength? With a single blow, Kaya had incapacitated Jack the Drought, a calamity of the Beasts Pirates.
If not for the remarkable vitality provided by his Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit , Jack might have perished outright.
This level of destructive power could only belong to someone with Admiral-level combat strength .
Not the average level of an Admiral like 'Black Arm' Zephyr , but the upper echelon—warriors like Kizaru or Kuzan , capable of unleashing terrifying attacks.
That means it's another Admiral-level combatant!
Katakuri's confidence faltered as his gaze shifted to Kaya, now standing alongside Vivi.
Facing a single Admiral-level combatant in a battle of attrition was already daunting.
But two?
Even the Four Emperors themselves would tread cautiously.
And one of them was Vivi, a Logia user with Admiral-level strength.
No matter how numerous their forces were, Katakuri could no longer see a path to victory.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, the battlefield shimmered with golden particles of light.
These dazzling motes scattered across the scene, swiftly merging into the bodies of Hancock, Nami, and Gion.
Their physical injuries, sustained in battles against the Four Emperors—Kaido and Linlin—began to heal at a rapid pace.
The healing fruit, fully awakened!
As the golden particles enveloped Kaya, the earlier damage to her muscles, bones, and internal organs vanished. She stood restored, though beads of sweat on her forehead betrayed the steep cost of her miraculous recovery.
For Kaya, whose Healing Fruit had reached the awakened state, the Black Flash move wasn't limited by physical damage—her body could regenerate even faster than a Zoan user's recovery ability.
Instead, the greatest challenge was the immense pain caused by the attack. The tearing of muscles, shattering of bones, and destruction of internal organs inflicted unbearable agony, testing Kaya's mental fortitude to its limits.
If the pain exceeded her threshold, she would fall unconscious.
At present, Kaya could only perform Black Flash three times before reaching her limit.
But in those three attacks, Kaya was an Admiral-level powerhouse—one even more fearsome than Gion.
"So that's how it works," Katakuri muttered, his voice tinged with both awe and unease.
His Observation Haki , honed to the point of seeing brief glimpses of the future, unraveled the secret behind Kaya's devastating move.
"Using the healing fruit's regenerative power and advanced medical techniques, she forcibly pushes her body beyond its limits.
The price? Complete destruction of her muscles, bones, and internal organs—only to unleash a desperate, all-out attack.
A truly terrifying woman…
But even at such a high cost, Admiral-level combat power is Admiral-level combat power.
Moreover, the ability to break the body's natural limits, bypassing its self-preservation mechanisms, and forcibly unleashing its full potential—this is a feat even the Four Emperors cannot achieve.
Only Kaya, with her exceptional medical expertise and devil fruit ability, can fight in such a way.
Katakuri's expression grew grim.
"That strike... It must not hit me."
Jack's Elephant Fruit—Ancient Species—Mammoth Form was renowned even among rare ancient Zoan types for the unparalleled defensive boost it granted its user.
Yet, despite that, Jack was pushed to the brink of death.
If Katakuri had taken that attack head-on, there would be no doubt—he would have died instantly.
This level of attack far exceeded the power of the Desert Princess!
Even when facing her, Katakuri wouldn't fear being killed in a single blow.
"'Fallen Doctor'? I dislike that title."
The figure, Kaya, lifted her golden hair, her red lips curving into a faint smirk.
"I much prefer to be called 'Flame Doctor' Kaya."
——
"Damn it! Another one of them!"
Kaido's roar shook the battlefield as his eyes locked on Jack's unconscious body.
——
"Another Admiral-level combatant!"
Among the Entei Pirates , Admiral-level strength was almost commonplace.
And several more Admiral-level powerhouses had yet to reveal themselves.
Even without Entei himself, the Entei Pirates fleet had eight confirmed Admiral-level combatants.
"This strength… it surpasses even the Rocks Pirates!"
Kaido's breath hitched as realization dawned.
These elite members alone were more than enough to dominate the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates' Alliance.
And if Entei himself joined the fray, even the combined forces of the four Four Emperors wouldn't stand a chance.
Worse still, the Fallen Doctor's Devil Fruit ability was an unparalleled advantage in battle.
Once her Healing Fruit awakened, the entire battlefield became a domain of regeneration.
Within its range, members of the Entei Pirates could recover from injuries and regain their stamina almost infinitely.
Combined with the amplifying effects of the Vocal Fruit , their combat power reached terrifying new heights.
Even without Rayleigh , Kuzan , or Issho —three of their strongest forces—the battlefield was already deadlocked.
"How do we turn this around?!"
For the first time, Kaido felt utterly helpless, his scalp tingling with unease.
Who could have predicted that their calculations of the Entei Pirates' strength would be so disastrously wrong?
Originally, Kaido had envisioned a balanced battle—a 50-50 chance of victory or defeat.
He believed that the home-ground advantage of Wano Country and Onigashima would tip the scales in their favor, neutralizing the Entei Pirates' slight edge.
But now?
Entei himself hadn't even appeared, nor had their most feared cadres— Rayleigh , Kuzan , or Issho —entered the battlefield.
Yet, the battle was already spiraling out of control.
This wasn't a clash between equals; it was a 100-10 mismatch.
The Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates weren't even on the same level!
---
"Alala, still resisting, are you? Beasts Pirates."
---
"!!!"
The members of the Charlotte family, who had finally escaped the influence of the Sand-Sand Fruit , prepared to activate their Devil Fruit abilities to support Katakuri.
But a cold, bone-chilling voice made their blood run cold.
---
"You…!!!"
Katakuri spun around sharply, his pupils contracting in shock.
---
"Run!"
Charlotte Cracker, one of the three sweet commanders and the Biscuit Minister known for his Bis-Bis Fruit ability, shouted in desperation.
---
As the others hesitated, Cracker charged headlong at the figure before them—a figure exuding an aura of frozen death: Kuzan.
Cracker's blade swung down with all his might.
"Swish! Snap! Snap!"
But in an instant, the powers of the Frozen Fruit overwhelmed him.
Kuzan's ice shattered both his Haki and his Devil Fruit powers with ease.
Cracker continued to swing his weapon, but his entire body was completely frozen by the power of the Frozen Fruit.
"Cracker!"
The last of the Three Sweet Commanders, and the only female among them, Charlotte Smoothie , wielder of the Squeezing Fruit and the "Juice Minister" of the Charlotte family, screamed as she saw Cracker frozen in an instant. Her eyes turned red with rage.
"Buzz!"
Activating her Paramecia—Squeezing Fruit ability, Smoothie quickly extracted and stored water from her surroundings, channeling it into her body.
Her figure and weapon grew massive, almost rivaling the size and strength of a giant.
"Die!"
Smoothie roared, her Armament Haki and Squeezing Fruit abilities fully activated as she swung her enormous blade with devastating force.
"Gravity Tiger!"
"!!!"
Suddenly, a terrifying gravitational force descended upon her.
Smoothie's towering figure halted abruptly and crashed to the ground.
Her Armament Haki crumbled under the crushing gravity, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't escape its overwhelming pull.
"Damn it! What... what is this ability?!"
Her eyes were bloodshot as she bit her lip in frustration, her face contorted with fury and helplessness.
"Sister Smoothie! Brother Cracker!"
The sight of Smoothie and Cracker being defeated so swiftly sent waves of panic through the Charlotte family. Their screams echoed across the battlefield.
The Three Sweet Commanders were always regarded as the strongest cadres of the Charlotte family.
Charlotte Katakuri , the "Minister of Flour," was celebrated as the family's finest masterpiece and served as the second-in-command of the Big Mom Pirates
Both Smoothie and Cracker commanded bounties exceeding 800 million berries .
Yet, despite their formidable reputations, they had been taken down in mere moments!
---
"Don't bother struggling, Charlotte family."
"Tap. Tap."
A middle-aged man with a cane sword approached leisurely, his eyes closed in calm composure.
---
"'Kuzan. Issho."
The names sent shivers down Katakuri's spine.
His body trembled uncontrollably as he recognized the two approaching figures.
The combined might of these two wasn't even in the same realm as Desert Princess Vivi or Kaya .
When Kuzan and Issho fought side by side, even her mother might not be able to match their strength.
Without their mother present, these two alone were enough to annihilate the entire Charlotte family.
This was no longer a battle between equals.
"But I can't watch my siblings being killed!"
Katakuri gripped his weapon tightly and, with a fierce determination, charged directly at Kuzan and Issho.
"Bang!"
Facing both Kuzan and Issho at once, Katakuri—still far from reaching Admiral-level strength—didn't last a second.
"Crack! Crack!"
His weapon shattered in his hands, and as Kuzan activated the power of the Frozen Fruit, Katakuri's body was encased in ice.
——
"Why would you charge at us like that? Katakuri, you're not usually this reckless."
Kuzan spoke in an even tone, his expression unreadable.
Facing the combined strength of Kuzan and Issho was pure suicide.
The moment they arrived, the battle was already over.
---
Katakuri's scarf fluttered in the wind, revealing for the first time the fanged, exaggerated mouth hidden beneath it.
"At all costs, I must protect my younger siblings."
"If I can't save them... then I must at least fall before them!"
Katakuri's monstrous grin stretched across his face as he began to laugh loudly, his voice echoing defiantly across the battlefield.
"Brother!"
Charlotte Brûlée burst into tears upon hearing his words.
"Brother Katakuri!"
Even the other members of the Charlotte family, some of whom had never seen Katakuri's true face and once feared it, were moved to tears.
"I see... A man worthy of admiration. But what a shame."
Kuzan's calm voice carried an air of finality.
In the next moment, the freezing power of the Frozen Fruit completely engulfed Katakuri.
"Katakuri!!!"
"Boom!!!"
Suddenly, the battlefield was thrown into chaos as a dramatic turn of events unfolded.