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Shen Yuan easily sidestepped Big Mom's sluggish punch and flowed like liquid shadow in his Soul Stance — a technique from his awakening path that fused spiritual pressure and observation haki into instinctive evasion!
At this moment, Shen Yuan's eyes sharpened, overflowing with a murderous aura — like Enma unsheathed!
He raised the sky-splitting blade in his hand, its edge humming with awakened Conqueror's Haki, and was about to bring it down when—
Boom!
A white, doughy arm suddenly stretched from the distance and intercepted, slamming Big Mom aside!
The arm struck with such force that the Yonko staggered, crashed to the blood-slicked earth, and hacked up blood!
Shen Yuan's suspended arm froze midair. Slowly, he turned his head toward the one who dared interfere.
"Oh?"
His brows arched slightly.
There, rising from a mound of bodies and steaming gore, stood Charlotte Katakuri — tattered, bloodied, and unmasked!
The signature scarf that once veiled his fanged mouth was gone. His muscled torso was riddled with wounds, steam rising from deep cuts sealed in haste by his mochi.
At Katakuri's flanks stood Cracker and Smoothie, barely upright, breath shallow.
Their clothing was in tatters, and bruises covered every inch of them. Smoothie's curves, no longer shielded by armor, drew attention even amidst the ruin.
"Please show mercy..." Katakuri gasped, one mochi-arm bracing the earth, the other pressing a cracked rib, "…I'll trade my life… for my mother's."
Shen Yuan tilted his head, amused. "Oh? Boy... You've got guts."
Katakuri coughed violently, blood spilling through his clenched teeth.
"I know I'm not worthy... but if one must die... let it be me. Spare Mom."
Shen Yuan slowly lowered his blade. Droplets of blood dripped from its tip, ticking like the countdown of a soul's demise.
"You're a good man," Shen Yuan sneered. "I'd call you a strong one... if we weren't enemies."
Katakuri forced a thin smile.
His lips were pale, his limbs trembling. He looked like a corpse animated only by duty and will.
"But this is how it is," Shen Yuan declared coldly. "One between Kaido and Big Mom must die. I'll spare whichever side offers a heavier price... in lives."
Kaido's already shaken spirit twisted in dread!
Before the battle began, he might've laughed and met Shen Yuan head-on.
But now?
After watching Shen Yuan slaughter dozens of Charlotte elites with awakened Soul Slashes and Haki of the Abyss, Kaido's arrogance crumbled.
This monster could erase legacies in a single swing.
The might of Shen Yuan's Awakened Skill Tree — especially the Soul Severing Path — was terrifying beyond logic!
Kaido's massive draconic form quivered. His instincts, honed over decades of war, screamed at him to flee!
"I…"
Kaido hesitated, looking between the unconscious Linlin and the three kneeling Sweet Commanders.
The weight of sacrifice loomed.
And then—
"We, the three All-Stars, offer our lives for Lord Kaido's survival!" Jhin shouted, his voice like burning ash.
Jack and Queen joined in, eyes determined.
"Let us be the price!" they cried in unison.
Shen Yuan grinned.
"I was about to say…"
But then—
"We, the Three Sweet Commanders, will trade our lives for Mama's!" Cracker bellowed back.
The declaration sent a wave of tension across the ruined battlefield.
Both sides... were willing to die?
Shen Yuan snorted, mind racing.
This wasn't supposed to be a negotiation.
Still, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
> [Ding! Option Triggered: Select One – Kill 4 Enemies to Advance "Soul Hunter: Tier II" / Kill 8 to Unlock "Soul Engraving" Skill Tree]
His gaze grew darker.
"Then let's make it simple. Four of you eight must die. No less."
Everyone froze.
Shen Yuan looked back to Katakuri, his tone calm yet ominous.
"You're not afraid to die, are you?"
Katakuri's heart tightened. He prided himself on honor and strength, but meeting Shen Yuan's eyes now… it was like staring into Yomi no Kuni!
"Let's begin with you."
Shen Yuan stepped forward, every footfall thunderous.
Boom.
The earth cracked beneath him.
Dead limbs and shattered bones splintered beneath his feet, crushed without a second glance.
Katakuri shook violently.
"Shave."
Shen Yuan vanished and reappeared like a ghost.
Katakuri's senses screamed, but it was too late.
Slick!
A blade pierced his chest.
The pain was searing—but Katakuri didn't scream.
"A tough guy… but tough doesn't mean future."
Another thrust — this time into his heart.
"Your death… will preserve Totto Land's peace. For now."
Shen Yuan yanked the blade free.
Blood sprayed from Katakuri's heart, the air thick with copper.
Katakuri's vision blurred.
In his fading thoughts, he recalled his childhood—mocked for his fangs, forced to hide his face, pushing himself to invincibility to protect his siblings…
Thud.
Katakuri collapsed.
The strongest Sweet Commander was gone.
Shen Yuan turned to Cracker, his smile twisted.
"Hmm? Feeling pain, Master Cracker?"
There was mockery in his voice—four parts amusement, three parts cruelty, and three parts disgust.
"Y-you…!"
Cracker stammered, rage and terror battling inside him.
"I-I'll never—!"
Slice!
Cracker's right arm flew off, blood geysering from the stump!
"AAAAARGH!"
Cracker screamed, clutching the wound, pain blinding him.
"Kneel. And beg."
Shen Yuan's voice was like death's whisper.
Cracker's pride shattered.
He dropped to his knees, kowtowing like a broken doll.
"P-please… spare me! I don't want to die! I'm afraid! I—!"
Shing!
Cold steel flashed.
Cracker's head flew off, rolling across the battlefield and landing at Smoothie's feet.
"Ah! AHHHHH!"
Smoothie recoiled, her face drained of blood.
Her body instinctively shrank back, trembling.
Shen Yuan turned to her.
"What about you? Want to live?"
Meanwhile, Kaido's crew was paralyzed by fear.
Jhin stammered, "L-Lord Kaido, allow us to—"
Queen interrupted, "Yes, Kaido-sama, we might survive. But we will die!"
Jack added, "Let us trade our lives, brother!"
Kaido's face darkened further.
This wasn't war.
This was butchery.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED 30+ CHAPTERS.
patreon.com/FrancisMW
Five chapters every two days on Patreon.
One chapter everyday on webnovel.
patreon.com/FrancisMW
ENJOY THE BENEFITS.