After hearing Big Mom's explanation, Ray showed little reaction on the outside.
Inside, however, he was analyzing everything.
In Ray's view, anyone who could rule during chaotic times couldn't possibly be a fool.
The current Big Mom proved he was right.
During her younger years—from 18 to 28—she was part of the legendary Rocks Pirates.
Being around such powerful figures likely kept her mental illness in check.
Or perhaps, her own ambition was so strong back then that it overshadowed her childhood trauma.
But when the Rocks Pirates fell apart, Big Mom lost her way.
Her mind slowly slipped back into the state of a child.
Her famous "hunger pang" wasn't just hunger; it was a tantrum.
It was the behavior of a giant, selfish baby who only cared about feeding herself.
That was why she could kill her own children without blinking—because she was, mentally, a child herself.
But the woman standing before him now was different.
This was the mature Charlotte Linlin.
She had the ambition of an Emperor and the heart of a human.
Her body was rejuvenated, slender, and muscular. Her strength and speed were back to their absolute peak.
And with her sanity returned, her fighting skills were far sharper than the wild swinging of the "old" Big Mom.
She had a youthful, perfect body combined with the power of nearly 40 years of harvested souls.
This was the strongest version of Big Mom that had ever existed!
The true Queen of the Seas, Charlotte Linlin, had returned.
...
"Ray, I hope you'll go all out. After all, this is my final battle."
Charlotte Linlin grinned, the corners of her mouth curling up.
She radiated a terrifying fighting spirit that made the air heavy.
Ray had always respected a warrior who was ready to face death without fear.
He held Tessaiga to his right.
Emerald demonic energy swirled around him, mixing with his own boiling battle spirit.
"Come on."
They moved at the exact same time.
In the blink of an eye, they clashed in mid-air.
BOOM!
Instantly, black and red lightning crisscrossed the sky.
The ground below split open, and the clouds above were torn apart by an invisible force.
It was another clash of Conqueror's Haki, but this one was on a different level.
This time, Ray and Linlin didn't stay locked in place.
They immediately launched into a frenzy of attacks.
While their spirits were high, both remained careful. They knew that a single mistake meant death.
Their blades were coated with everything they had—Advanced Conqueror's Haki, Ryuo, and their own unique powers.
Ray used his Demonic Power, while Linlin boosted herself with Soul Power.
At this moment, there was no room for stray thoughts.
There was only the battle.
To Katakuri and the others watching from the ground, they could only see two flickering shadows and a sky filled with terrifying lightning.
...
Ray felt a rush of adrenaline like never before.
It was the most thrilling fight of his life!
Unlike his previous fights which required strategy, this was a feast of pure violence.
The rejuvenated Linlin was Ray's equal in every way.
Strength, speed, reaction time—she matched him perfectly.
The thunder from their clashing Haki acted like war drums, beating faster and faster.
It stimulated their brains, making them more excited with every swing of the sword.
They abandoned flashy tricks.
They simply lost themselves in the joy of high-speed close-quarters combat.
For twenty minutes, they did not stop.
Ray and Linlin fought their way from the banquet hall into the forest.
Then, from the forest to the coastline.
Everywhere they passed, the earth was shattered, and mountains were crumbled into dust.
Massive cracks appeared in the ground, one after another.
The entire Whole Cake Island was nearly shaken to pieces.
Finally, as they fought, the two looped back to the space above the banquet hall.
CLANG!
With one massive strike, they used the shockwave to push themselves apart.
Linlin floated there, wrapped in lightning and flames.
Her beautiful face wore an excited smile.
She looked like a true Goddess of War right now.
Though she was clearly still ready to fight, she didn't attack immediately.
"Ray, it seems we won't decide the winner with just close combat," she said, her chest heaving slightly.
"Indeed," Ray replied.
His voice wasn't as cold as before.
Out of respect for a fellow warrior, he spoke honestly. "Your time is nearly up. Are you prepared for your final strike?"
"Hahahaha! You really see through everything, don't you? How annoying."
Linlin knew her life span was running out.
In her current state, fighting hand-to-hand with Ray would only end in a draw.
She had two new deep cuts on her body, and Ray had a bloody gash across his chest from her blade.
Both were injured, but neither wound was fatal.
To decide a winner, they would have to put every ounce of their remaining power into one ultimate technique.
That is, if Ray was willing to play along.
Ray could easily win by just running away and stalling for ten minutes until she died on her own.
But luckily, his attitude showed that he accepted her challenge.
'He truly is a warrior on par with Rocks' she thought fondly.
"How nostalgic... this warrior's spirit." Linlin got lost in her memories for a few seconds before looking at Ray again.
"Don't hold back, or you'll really die," she warned.
As she finished speaking, she threw Ray a playful, flirtatious glance.
"Hahahaha, you're strong, but you're still such an innocent little boy."
Ray's lips twitched.
He was slightly annoyed by the teasing, but he wasn't angry.
At this point, he felt no hatred toward Big Mom.
All he wanted was to send this legendary Empress of the Sea... to her end!
"Come. I'll give you the respect you deserve." Ray spoke first, inviting the attack.
Hearing this, Linlin burst into loud, happy laughter.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a massive surge of soul energy erupted from her body.
It shot into the sky before splitting and pouring into her three special Homies: the great sword Napoleon, the thundercloud Zeus, and the sun Prometheus.
At the same time, she poured an immense amount of Haki into them.
"Ray, this is the strongest attack of my life."
As the energy poured in, the forms of the three Homies began to change.
Zeus transformed from a cloud into a massive Thunder God.
Prometheus expanded into a giant Emperor of Flame.
The sword Napoleon became longer and sharper, looking like it could cut through reality itself.
"Ray, thank you for accepting this strike from me," Linlin said softly.
"In my entire life, this is my most glorious, most beautiful, and only once-performed ultimate attack."
The transformation looked complex, but it happened in just one second.
However, for warriors like Ray and Linlin, a second was an eternity.
Ray could have easily landed two or three cheap shots on her while she was charging up.
But he didn't.
He waited.
That was why Linlin thanked him.
...
The energy buildup was complete.
The Empress's eyes shined with anticipation.
This was an attack she had dreamed of mastering in her youth. It was a technique she had created to defeat Rocks and Roger.
Unfortunately, this technique required over thirty years of soul preparation.
By the time she was ready, Rocks and Roger were already dead.
Back then, Linlin had only two goals: to have a big, happy family, and to become the strongest pirate.
But when her rivals died, she lost her motivation.
Her warrior's heart was sealed away. She drowned herself in the pleasures of eating and having children.
Eventually, her sanity faded, and she became the cruel, gluttonous monster known as "Big Mom."
Snapping out of her memories, Linlin shouted at Ray.
"Ray, behold!"
"This strike contains all of my lost ambitions!"
"I, Charlotte Linlin, am a woman who will become the Pirate King!"
With that roar, Linlin gripped her massive blade with both hands.
She merged all the energy from Zeus and Prometheus directly into Napoleon.
Feeling the overwhelming power vibrating in the blade, she smiled confidently.
"HAKAI TENMEI: RAIGOKU HOU!"
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