Watching the specks of green soul energy drifting down from the sky like snow, Ray knew for certain.
The Yonko, Big Mom, had left this world today.
Ray stood silently, reflecting on the battle. He had to admit, the clear-minded Charlotte Linlin had truly earned the title of a "Yonko."
originally, Ray had come to Big Mom's territory with two simple goals: to rescue Chouchou and to vent his anger by killing her.
He expected a messy fight against a madwoman.
But during the fight, everything changed.
This sane, powerful Charlotte Linlin had given him the most exhilarating battle he had experienced since arriving in this world.
Not just her physical strength but also her unyielding determination to challenge the strongest.
She chose to face death head-on.
She embraced her peak state, burning her very soul, just to shine brilliantly one last time.
That resolve... Ray felt it deeply.
She was a woman who had aimed for the pinnacle of the world.
She spent nearly forty years building her empire, and finally, at the very end of her life, she regained her clarity to reach her absolute zenith.
Of course, Ray wasn't blind to her past.
During those decades of accumulating souls, Big Mom had indeed become a spoiled, tyrannical "woman-child."
She committed countless selfish acts and killed innocent people over sweets.
That version of her was truly detestable.
But once her sanity returned, the ambitious, charismatic, and queenly Linlin returned with it.
If Ray hadn't pushed her to the brink of death, she might never have used that soul-burning power.
The clear-headed, passionate Linlin might never have resurfaced.
In Ray's eyes, the Linlin he just fought was not hateful.
In fact, he felt a strange kinship with her.
They were both warriors who lived by the sword!
That was why, when he saw her struggling to lift the Backlash Wave, he had made a choice.
He infused the Azure Dragon Break with the power of Tenseiga to stabilize the wind.
It was a final, dignified send-off for the woman who had dominated the New World for decades.
The Empress of the Sea, Big Mom, died standing tall!
...
As the green soul energy rained down and touched the ground of Whole Cake Island, a miracle occurred.
In the banquet hall, the withered, dried-up bodies began to glow.
Their skin plumped up, their wrinkles vanished, and their grey hair regained its color.
Life flooded back into them.
Not only Big Mom's children who had lost lifespan, but even the unlucky guests returned to normal.
Seeing this, Katakuri finally exhaled a long, shaky breath.
'Mom... she really didn't lie to me. She kept her promise.'
But as the relief washed over him, a new, freezing terror gripped his heart.
The problem was... Ray was still alive.
And the question remained: Would Ray spare them?
There is an old saying in the world of pirates: "If you cut the grass, you must dig up the roots."
If you leave the children of your enemy alive, they will eventually come back for revenge!
If Katakuri were in Ray's place, the most rational, logical choice would be to exterminate the Big Mom Pirates entirely.
Right here. Right now.
As for their prior agreements?
Ha. Promises were the most hollow things on these seas.
Whether a strong man honored his word depended entirely on his mood that day.
It wasn't just Katakuri feeling this fear.
Perospero, Smoothie, and Cracker were also trembling.
When the Big Mom Pirates ruled the seas, how often had they kept their promises to weaker crews?
Almost never.
Eradicating threats was their standard practice.
They knew the game better than anyone.
Thus, despite Katakuri and Smoothie making a deal with Ray earlier, they were terrified he would change his mind.
After all, Katakuri and his siblings weren't strong enough to realize that Ray had actually helped their mother in the final moment.
They just thought Ray had overpowered her completely.
So, they stood there, sweating bullets.
Cold sweat poured down their faces like waterfalls.
And why were they sweating so much?
Because Ray had landed and was walking toward them.
The four strongest siblings looked pathetic: Perospero was shaking so hard his candy cane staff was rattling against the floor.
Smoothie had forgotten how to breathe.
Cracker wanted to hide inside a biscuit soldier but was too scared to move.
Katakuri was trying to look brave, but his fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white.
The other children were even worse, huddling together like frightened sheep.
A Yonko crew, without its leader, had been reduced to this pitiful state.
Facing Ray, they were like legless rabbits staring down a hungry wolf.
They were utterly helpless!
The fate of the entire Charlotte Family rested entirely on Ray's whim.
But... look at his expression!
Had Ray ever shown a pleasant, happy expression? No!
He walked forward with his usual deadpan, cold, indifferent face.
'This guy... just give us a hint please!' Perospero screamed internally.
'We can't read your mind! Do you want to kill us or do you want our treasure? Just say it!'
'Even if you want to kill us, stop walking so slowly with that scary face! My heart can't take it!'
...
Ray paid no attention to their panic.
In his eyes, the lives of the remaining Big Mom Pirates meant nothing.
They were ants compared to the dragon he had just slain.
He had no intention of killing them. His rage had dissipated after the satisfying battle with Linlin.
As for Big Mom's children?
'Let the sea deal with them,' Ray thought indifferently.
A Yonko crew without its Yonko would inevitably drown in endless warfare.
Whether it was the Marines, other Emperors like Kaido or Shanks, or former allies seeking revenge, all eyes would soon turn to the "Big Mom" territories.
They were rich, vast, and now... undefended.
Besides, could these people even threaten him?
Ray's pride wouldn't allow him to worry about ants.
...
Ray hadn't come back to the banquet hall to chat with Smoothie or Katakuri.
He had only recalled one small matter and wanted to ask Katakuri about it.
He stopped in front of the trembling group.
"Among your guests," Ray said, his voice cutting through the tension, "is there anyone from the World Economic Times?"
When Katakuri saw Ray stop in front of him, his heart nearly stopped.
He thought, 'This is it. The execution order.'
But upon hearing the question, his brain froze.
'Wait... what?'
Ray was asking about Big News Morgans' subordinates?
'That likely meant the Charlotte family wasn't his main target right now.'
Katakuri grew even more nervous, terrified of giving the wrong answer.
"Yes," Katakuri answered instantly, his voice slightly hoarse.
He didn't waste a second.
Katakuri immediately used his Mochi Mochi Fruit powers. His arm transformed into white mochi, stretched out into the crowd of guests, and grabbed a bespectacled woman who appeared to be in her early twenties.
He dragged her to the front like he was offering a sacrifice.
"Eeeek!" the woman squeaked.
Smoothie, desperate to be helpful and not get killed, quickly stepped forward.
She grabbed her younger sister who was responsible for guest reception.
"Introduce her! Quickly!"
Her sister stammered, "T-This is... uh... Big News Morgans' niece! She is currently interning at the World Economic Times! Her name is Frieda Morgans!"
Ray looked at the terrified girl.
He nodded slightly. "You. Follow me."
Frieda turned pale. Of course, she dared not refuse.
She had just watched this man slice an island in half and kill an Emperor of the Sea!
"Y-Y-Yes, sir!" she squeaked, clutching her camera to her chest.
Frieda kept her head lowered, not daring to look at Ray's face.
She obediently trotted behind him like a scared puppy as he turned and walked toward the severely damaged coastline.
As Ray walked away, Katakuri, Perospero, and the others didn't move a muscle.
They remained frozen, staring at his back.
They knew the truth: As long as Ray remained on this island, their lives did not truly belong to them.
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