As Ren and Big Mom clashed, the Underworld Emperors who had been hiding on the island all set sail.
They had made up their minds—these monsters were too dangerous to confront directly.
But Ren seemed unwilling to let them go, moving the battlefield toward their path, determined to trap them.
"Mama, Ren, make a baby with me. Our children would possess the strongest talents," Big Mom said, no longer angry, now trying to entice Ren.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in a woman with dozens of husbands," Ren replied, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
His shirt was gone, and several deep scars now marked his chest.
But his back remained unblemished. He always faced his enemies head-on; no matter how badly injured, he never showed his back.
"Mama… Napoleon." Ren refused, and Big Mom began using her signature move.
Ren appeared on the ship of the Loan King, Lu Feld.
He tried to speak, but a single strike sank both man and ship into the sea. Ren gave him no chance to explain.
At the same time, Big Mom's attack arrived.
She was furious again—someone dared to threaten those under her protection, completely slapping her pride in the face.
Ren's blade clashed with Big Mom's Napoleon.
In an instant, Ren was thrown back, sinking what would become Cake Island.
He spat blood, thinking of another Underworld Emperor still alive, but this was not the time to ignore Big Mom.
He was not yet strong enough to do that.
"Damn it, full speed ahead!" Drug Peclo shouted as Lu Feld sank with his ship.
He was terrified of Ren at this moment and swore never to touch the slave trade again.
The next moment…
"Big Mom…" Drug Peclo roared in anger.
Big Mom's attack was lightning-fast and covered a wide area—impossible to dodge.
His ship was destroyed by her move.
Ren sensed the enemy's presence vanish with his Observation Haki, realizing that under Big Mom's strike, he was finished.
The Underworld Emperors here had been wiped out.
But Ren did not feel relief. To defeat two Underworld Emperors, he had taken two of Big Mom's attacks head-on.
"Ren!" Big Mom unleashed her powerful Conqueror's Haki.
But her Conqueror's Haki was quickly suppressed by Ren's own.
This only made Big Mom even angrier.
"Ha ha, this is huge news, absolutely huge news! The balance of the underworld has been completely shaken, and even the seas have undergone massive changes. This is getting more and more interesting," Morgans shouted, snapping photos nonstop.
Luckily, he only cared about the news agency, or else he would have caught the attention of Ren.
Neither side had the absolute power to dominate, so the battle turned into a war of attrition, lasting three days and three nights.
During that time, they sank countless islands, and countless people lost their lives. It was truly a clash of titans, with ordinary people suffering the consequences.
Ren, during his fight with Big Mom, fully mastered Internal Destruction Armament Haki, increasing his strength once again. He went from being reactive to proactive, beginning to counter Big Mom.
News of Ren spread worldwide. Originally, both Ren and Big Mom were already high-profile figures, but the death of the Underworld Emperors caused only waves in the underworld; ordinary people had no idea it even existed.
Now, pirates realized how strong Ren had become. Rayleigh had retired years ago, and Big Mom was still active on the seas, with the potential to become a Pirate Emperor.
A figure like that, fighting evenly with a Celestial Dragon like Ren, relying only on swordsmanship and Haki, naturally drew the attention of a certain swordsman.
No one dared approach the center of the battlefield. Big Mom's children watched closely.
Katakuri's wounds had been bandaged, and he clenched his fists, knowing that at that time, he didn't even have the right to protect his family.
Stussy was more relaxed. She had completely earned the trust of the Big Mom Pirates.
She knew that to end this battle, a third party had to intervene; otherwise, Ren and Big Mom would likely fight until one could no longer continue.
…
Ren and Big Mom created some distance. Ren stood with effort, covered in wounds despite his strong regeneration. Big Mom was also seriously injured.
The reason they didn't continue fighting was the arrival of a third Conqueror's Haki and came the Navy's ships.
Admiral Sengoku led the fleet, and all three Logia-type Vice Admirals were present, including Gion, who had fought Ren before.
With such forces involved, Big Mom could not continue. She was a pirate, and if Sengoku intervened, she would surely be defeated.
Her goal of ruling all races had not been achieved yet; she could not afford to be captured by the Navy.
"Mama, Ren, if you've made up your mind, you can come find me anytime," Big Mom laughed, then disappeared, avoiding the Navy.
Ren returned to his ship using Geppo. Before his crew could celebrate, he collapsed unconscious.
The all-powerful guards immediately checked Ren's condition.
His injuries had healed, and now he was just physically exhausted.
A short rest would be enough.
Sengoku ignored Ren for now.
This was the perfect opportunity to capture Big Mom, and he couldn't miss it.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought so many Marines into the New World.
But it wasn't just the Marines arriving—pirates were coming too.
Among them, the Silver Axe Pirates, notorious on the seas, had also grown old.
It seemed they wanted to finish Ren off.
Naturally, the Marines prioritized Ren's safety and clashed with the Silver Axe Pirates.
Big Mom, however, had no interest in the Silver Axe Pirates.
She couldn't protect herself right now, let alone face the Marines head-on, especially with so many strong fighters present.
...
Two days later.
Ren slowly woke up.
By his bedside lay a blue-haired girl.
Her tail was coiled neatly, and drool had dampened the bed, showing she had slept soundly.
"Lord Ren, you're awake," Reisa quickly sat up.
Ren gently ruffled her hair.
"How long have I been asleep?" he asked.
"Two days," Reisa said, her worry easing.
Ren's stomach growled loudly in protest.
"I'll call the chef immediately," Reisa said.
"Hm, which direction are we heading?" Ren asked.
"According to the Mink Tribe's Vivre Card, Zou," Reisa replied before leaving.
"Alright."
Ren went up to the deck and took the newspaper from his guard.
The New World's seas had remained chaotic over the past two days.
The Silver Axe Pirates were captured.
Facing the Marines' top-tier forces, they had no chance.
In the current New World, Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido each controlled their own territories, hinting at the presence of the Emperors.
Of course, Ren was even more fearsome.
The Underworld grew uneasy.
They abandoned the slave trade entirely.
Fish-Man Island is even more of a forbidden zone.
Ren had taken down two emperors in Big Mom's territory.
No one could resist him.
To oppose Ren was to oppose the World Government.
They didn't consider themselves stronger than the Underworld Emperors.
"Lord Ren, this is a message from CP. The Underworld has promised not to touch your territory. If they act, CP will intervene," a guard handed Ren a paper.
"Inform Neptune. Raise my flag over Fish-Man Island. It's my territory," Ren ordered before heading to the dining hall for a meal.
"Lord Ren, Zou is approaching," said a dog-girl by his side.
Ren saw a towering elephant.
Zou was constantly moving, which made it hard to locate.
Every step it took disturbed the sea.
The waves seemed determined to push their ship away.
**********
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