Boom!
The sounds of explosions and destruction echoed across the entire island.
At the edge of Thriller Bark, several large ships bearing the Big Mom Pirates' emblem were docked.
Charlotte Amande and Smoothie stood at the bow of one vessel. Soon, a man approached them—one of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Cracker—dragging a woman with no shadow...
"Oh! Lola?! I wasn't expecting to see you here. No wonder Katakuri came to this island," Smoothie smiled, then her expression turned cold.
"Take her to the cabin and wait for Mama to destroy the island. We'll bring her back, and at last, Mama will deal with her."
"There are innocent people on the island, please don't do this!" Lola's large face twisted in sorrow, but Smoothie kicked her, making her clutch her stomach in pain.
"There won't be any problems, right?" Amande asked slowly, taking a cigarette.
"What does it matter? Mama's Tarts will be here soon. There won't be any problems."
Right after those words, Smoothie's pupils suddenly narrowed as she spotted a large ship resembling an enormous mousse cake. Underwater, the shadow of a monster loomed, swallowing everything in a single bite. The sea was perfectly still. The ship vanished without a sound, as if it had never even appeared.
"No!" several people shuddered all at once.
"Ooooo...!" The terrifying whale let out a long, resonant sound that shook people to their very core.
In an instant, an endless mist spread across the sea's surface, and a colossal figure emerged. One look was enough to drive the weak-willed insane. This was pure evil—unthinkable and shrouded in mystery. The layers of fog swirling around the monster's body shifted as it stirred up waves like a tsunami.
"What is that? What did it do? Mama will kill us all if the Tarts don't arrive!"
But by now, they had all figured out who had appeared.
There was only one person who could summon such a beast.
His Majesty, the Emperor of Alabasta!
Soon, everyone could see small ships that at any moment could be swallowed whole by the monster's towering waves, and each vessel bore the symbol of the Alabasta Fleet.
On board, shrouded in thick fog, stood soldiers dressed in pitch-black uniforms—solemn, silent, and radiating overwhelming indifference. At their head was an elderly, silver-haired Vice Admiral, who slowly extended his hand toward Amande's group.
Amande's eyes narrowed.
Boom! An explosion rang out as a shell landed in the sea right beside them! The explosion sent waves rippling across the sea.
"Oh, forgive me for such a greeting, but these waters belong to the Alabasta Fleet," announced Vice Admiral Smoker, a broad grin appearing on his face as the powerful blast echoed.
He was in high spirits, believing himself to be living out the very philosophy of the Emperor of Alabasta. They were about to stand against one of the Four Emperors.
Alabasta was a great nation.
Suddenly, they found themselves facing Big Mom's pirate crew—less than half the size of her full force—and on top of that, Big Mom herself had gone mad. This was truly a godsend of an opportunity!
Zephyr made a strategic decision at once, dispatching a large number of soldiers to Thriller Bark through the mirror to confront Big Mom's pirates.
....
His entire body was covered in blood, his muscles torn, skin ripped, his face battered and bruised.
Over thirty minutes had passed.
Katakuri was barely standing. He had kept his promise, but the boy in the straw hat hadn't managed to defeat the giant—let alone Gecko Moria.
"Brother!" Brulee's eyes brimmed with tears.
The wind had swept away his scarf, exposing his mouth, but at that moment he could hardly care. He stood his ground before Mama, even though she had succumbed to complete madness. It was clear she could hardly recognize Katakuri, consumed as she was by her uncontrollable hatred.
"Ka-ta-ku-ri... Ka-ta-ku-ri..." she muttered again and again, before bursting into wild laughter.
The giant sword in her hand was tossed aside and transformed into a hat that settled atop her head. Maybe she simply didn't want to end Katakuri's life so soon.
A thunderstorm erupted!
Endless bolts of lightning struck Katakuri's body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The attack utterly shattered him. Katakuri dropped to his knees as Linlin strode past him and made her way toward Vivi.
She despised Katakuri more than anyone, but at the sight of Vivi—whose face she faintly recognized—her memory returned to Ezekiel's insult.
"Nefertari scum!" she growled, stepping forward, but a strong hand seized her ankle.
Blood poured from Katakuri's nose and mouth. His gaze was fixed on Luffy, who was in a strange state and, with a single blow, had sent the giant flying into the air. He was on the verge of triumph.
"I have to—no, I must keep holding on! Even if it costs me my life, I have to do this!"
Thud! Linlin stomped down hard, grinding Katakuri into the ground.
Still, he wasn't dead; he was still clinging to Linlin's leg.
"Zeus! Blast him to hell!" Charlotte Linlin screamed, and a terrifying lightning bolt, accompanied by thunder, struck down to the earth.
She's insane!
Clearly, that terrifying thunderstorm didn't harm her at all. Meanwhile, Katakuri's injuries only got worse—his arm was stripped nearly to the bone. But even so, he still wouldn't let her go.
"Prometheus!"
At her call, an enormous blaze erupted, nearly scorching Katakuri. But he still hung on.
"Let go, brother!" Brulee exclaimed.
The Straw Hat Pirates' entire crew was already in awe of this man's courage and grit. This time, Vivi truly understood what it meant to be a real man.
"Let go!!!" Sanji and the others shouted.
But no matter how vicious Linlin's attacks became, Katakuri wouldn't release her.
Until finally...
Linlin raised her sword, Napoleon, about to cut him down—but suddenly, she stopped.
"Let go, Katakuri," came a calm voice from behind Big Mom.
As if under a spell, Katakuri released his grip! That voice alone was enough for Katakuri to end everything. A man he could trust completely.
Sanji and the others looked up, turning their gaze to where Linlin's back was. There, they saw a strikingly handsome man dressed in an elegant black suit and wearing a crown.
Beside him stood a beautiful woman who looked like a princess, as well as a blind warrior in a black Cloak of Justice. Along with them was a sturdy old man with purple hair, wearing the same Justice uniform. Behind them marched a large contingent of soldiers from the Alabasta Fleet.
There could be no doubt—this was unmistakably a lord of the sea!
Ezekiel reached out, took the Royal Sword of Alabasta, and leveled it at Charlotte Linlin.
"Big Mom, I'll be your opponent!"