As Carl flew forward through the sky, he turned his head slightly to glance at Doflamingo in the distance.
"That monster…!"
On the shores of Dressrosa, Doflamingo stood ankle-deep in the waves, his pink feathered coat fluttering in the breeze. His teeth clenched as he watched a lone figure and a battered ship fade into the horizon.
At first, he had considered following.
A battle of this scale—especially involving a Marine who could contend with an emperor's right-hand man—was the kind of spectacle that only a fool would ignore.
However, that "monster" had turned back before leaving and locked eyes with him.
The silent warning in those blood-red pupils had been unmistakable.
If he truly dared to follow—he would be cut down where he stood!
The killing intent that momentarily flooded the air had been so dense that the very space around Carl seemed to tremble.
Doflamingo's instincts, honed through years of bloodshed, screamed at him to stay put.
And so, he did.
High in the sky.
Carl's expression was unusually relaxed.
His target was just too big.
There was no need for advanced Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) to track it. Just slash at the whole ship, and the job was done.
If he were aiming at a single person, it would require far more precision to ensure the attack landed. But an entire ship?
He simply needed to keep slashing.
"Brother Katakuri, you can't keep this up much longer!" Opera gritted his teeth, his voice laced with desperation.
At this moment, Katakuri's clothes were soaked with sweat.
The strain on his body was immense.
To protect the entire ship, he had to continuously maintain his Awakened Mochi Mochi no Mi powers across a massive area.
At the same time, he needed to keep his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) infused defenses at maximum output.
His breathing was heavy. Too much stamina was being drained.
"It doesn't matter," Katakuri said, his voice calm despite the situation.
His sharp, observant eyes never wavered.
"That Marine's slashes are also accelerating us."
That was the truth.
Although Carl's attacks were placing a tremendous burden on him, the force of the slashes was also pushing the ship forward.
Their speed had already surpassed the ship's maximum sailing velocity.
"As long as I endure, we will reach Totto Land!"
Up above.
Carl murmured to himself:
"As expected of an Emperor's deputy…"
His red eye flickered.
"Then let's see how long you last!"
The crimson numeral "six" in his eye shifted—becoming "five."
A thick, ominous black energy oozed from the corners of his eye like an ink-stained tear.
[Human Path—Activated!]
Katakuri's entire body suddenly tensed.
His pupils shrank slightly.
"What?!
The strength of Carl's slashes hadn't changed.
But his stamina—his exhaustion—had suddenly increased exponentially!
The thick layers of mochi protecting the ship began emitting wisps of black smoke.
A sinister, almost cursed aura shrouded the vessel.
"At this rate…!"
For the first time, Katakuri's composure cracked.
His stamina was being drained far too fast!
Even if he had been able to hold out before, with this added burden… he might truly be unable to return to Totto Land!
Katakuri gritted his teeth, his veins bulging as he made a decisive move.
"Then I have no choice but to fight back!"
The entire ship—cabin, mast, and hull—was converted into mochi through his awakened Devil Fruit abilities.
Layer upon layer of hardened glutinous dough wrapped around the ship, forming a massive protective cocoon.
The outermost mochi, already corrupted by Carl's dark energy, was instantly peeled away and discarded into the ocean, sinking like charred remains.
Meanwhile, in Totto Land…
The heart of Big Mom's empire—Whole Cake Island—was surrounded by 34 islands, each ruled by a minister of the Charlotte Family.
This entire sea region belonged to the Big Mom Pirates.
Or rather, it belonged solely to Charlotte Linlin.
Because here, she was the absolute ruler.
Her will was law.
Her mood dictated the fate of all who lived under her rule.
On the distant island of "Crunch Town," located on the periphery of Totto Land…
A tall, muscular man with short yellow hair and large earrings sat lazily on a chair near the shoreline.
His blue padded jacket bore shoulder designs resembling mochi.
A distinctive belt, marked with a genie's symbol, was wrapped around his waist.
This was Charlotte Daifuku, the third son of Big Mom.
At the moment, his brows were furrowed as he gazed out toward the sea.
"If they don't get back soon, Mother's 'eczema' will start acting up again…"
Every so often, a terrifying aura emanated from the direction of Whole Cake Island.
That pressure only meant one thing.
Charlotte Linlin was growing impatient.
And when Big Mom's hunger pangs took hold, the entire archipelago trembled in fear.
Suddenly…
BOOM!
A thunderous shockwave rumbled in the distance.
Daifuku's sharp eyes narrowed instantly.
His ears picked up the low, muffled explosion that followed.
Out at sea, far beyond the horizon, giant waves surged violently.
At such a distance, most people would barely notice them.
But Daifuku knew better.
For the waves to be visible from this far away…
It meant they were colossal.
Daifuku abruptly stood up, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) expanding outward.
His perception locked onto a strange presence.
"…What the hell is that?"
A twisted, misshapen object was hurtling toward Totto Land at high speed.
At first glance, it resembled a ship.
But its shape was… wrong.
Chunks were missing from its frame.
A thick black mist coiled around it like a living curse, rising in tendrils into the sky.
"Is this an enemy attack?!"
Daifuku's expression darkened.
His fingers touched the belt at his waist.
"Hōshu no Akuma (Genie of the Lamp)!"
A massive, smoke-made warrior erupted forth from the belt—a hulking Lamp Devil wielding a scimitar.
The twisted ship was closing in rapidly.
Daifuku braced himself.
"Come at me!"
The Lamp Devil's sword gleamed as it was raised high.
"Daifuku!"
A desperate voice cut through the chaos.
Daifuku's body froze.
His sharp eyes focused on the distorted ship.
Within the writhing dark mist, a section peeled away—revealing a familiar figure.
Opera.
The Ninth Son of the Charlotte Family.
His face was pale, drenched in sweat.
"Hurry! Help us!!"
Behind him, Katakuri—normally so composed and mighty—was kneeling, black smoke rising from his exhausted body.
Katakuri didn't even have the strength to shout now!
Sa!
In the sky, a black-gold slash tore through the air, descending like judgment itself.
"Devil Slash!"
Daifuku's Hoya Hoya no Mi-created Lamp Devil stepped forward, swinging its massive curved blade against the incoming attack.
Slash!
A momentary resistance—then the black-gold energy wave sliced cleanly through the summoned entity, scattering it into dissipating smoke.
Daifuku's pupils shrank sharply as his Kenbunshoku Haki flared. His gaze locked onto a lone black dot in the sky.
"That's the enemy?!"
He turned sharply toward Opera, who was still struggling aboard the strange ship.
"You go ahead! I'll stop him!" Daifuku barked.
Opera hesitated for a split second, then clenched his teeth. His battered form leaned into the ship's remains, forcing it forward with whatever strength he had left.
"Live, Daifuku!"
"Don't worry, I—"
Slash!
Daifuku never finished his words.
A figure suddenly materialized in front of him—faster than he could react.
A black-gold slash cut cleanly across his waist.
Dark, slithering tendrils—Carl's ominous Haki—coiled around Daifuku's throat, leeching his life force at an unnatural speed.
His eyes widened. His mouth opened, as if to speak.
Then his breath faded.
"DAIFUKU!!!"
On the strange ship, Opera's guttural roar tore through the sea.
Carl wiped Daifuku's blood from Shusui with a slow, practiced motion. His piercing gaze swept toward the vessel still desperately crawling toward Totto Land.
"Stop screaming. I'll send your brothers to reunite soon. The family will be neat and tidy."
Carl's scarlet right eye flickered. The number "Five" changed to "Four."
His entire body became a black streak, shooting through the air like a meteor.
Onboard, Opera saw the Totto Land archipelago inching closer. A flicker of hope surged through his exhausted body.
"Brother Katakuri! Just hold on a little longer! We're almost there!"
Katakuri, slumped against the deck, barely responded. His fingers trembled as he gripped the ship's surface.
With what little energy remained, he forced his Mochi Mochi no Mi abilities to merge with the vessel.
The outer deck and core keel began transforming into hardened mochi layers.
His control was slipping.
Buzz—
A massive killing intent once again enveloped the ship.
"He's coming!" Opera gritted his teeth, the cream mochi on his head trembling as he jumped to the forefront.
"O…pe…" Katakuri's lips barely moved. He tried to stop him—but he had nothing left.
Opera didn't hesitate.
"CREAM MONSTER!"
A colossal mass of fresh cream burst forth from his body, rapidly taking shape into a towering monster of whipped cream and sugar syrup.
Carl's eyes narrowed.
"Lion・Thousand Slice Valley."
The night sky was illuminated by a storm of black-gold slashes.
One after another, they tore through the Cream Monster—its body splitting like molten butter beneath a hot knife.
Slash!
The slashes kept coming.
Opera barely had time to react before multiple attacks pierced through him—and the ship beneath him.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
The sea exploded.
The last remnants of the ship shattered.
Splintered wood, broken cargo, and sinking bodies—all swallowed by the dark ocean below.
Even the keel—which Katakuri had painstakingly transformed into mochi—couldn't hold.
It was over.
Carl hovered in the sky, his blade still humming with residual energy.
His crimson eye reflected the sinking form of Charlotte Katakuri.
The once-mighty Sweet Commander had fallen.
Shusui was lowered, but Carl's eyes remained sharp.
"To die at sea… it's a fitting end for someone like you."
Katakuri's body vanished beneath the waves.
His life signature vanished.
Carl exhaled.
He had to admit it.
Katakuri's endurance was beyond expectations. Despite the constant drain, despite the relentless pursuit, he had fought to the bitter end.
Carl respected that.
But the battle was over.
"…Now how the hell do I get back?" Carl muttered, scratching his head.
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