The moment the light vanished, the truth became clear: Big Mom had not been defeated. Instead of returning to their owners, the souls—which had been floating toward the sky like dumplings—began to merge into a singular, terrifying mass. A voice that chilled the very air of the Totto Land sea area rang out: "Straw Hat!"
Luffy's face went pale. "You want to save your companion, don't you?" Big Mom taunted.
Luffy roared in fury, "Of course! Give me back Usopp's lifespan!"
"Mamamamama, do you see? Your companion's lifespan is among them!" Big Mom laughed. "It's a pity. You pushed me to this point. Even if you are truly the reincarnation of the Sun God, your companion's lifespan will not be returned to you. They will transform into my power. Witness my greatest technique: Soul Sacrifice!"
"What?!" Luffy shouted.
Across the Totto Land sea area, a haunting wail erupted as the Homies Big Mom had created surrendered their souls, the energy rushing back toward Cake Island. The massive light orb in the sky swelled like a Spirit Bomb. Sensing the encroaching disaster, Luffy charged forward, his hands coated in Conqueror's Haki to launch his strongest Gear Fourth attack, but he was too late.
A colossal sphere of soul energy descended, creating a blinding explosion and a shockwave that enveloped the entire region. When the light finally dissipated, the spectators looked toward the center of the devastation and were struck dumb.
Standing in the heart of the wreckage was a woman with a curvaceous figure, long pink hair, and fiery red lips. She wore a captain's uniform, held Napoleon, and had three flame clouds floating behind her. Big Mom had transformed into her youthful, peak self.
"Charlotte Linlin... she actually became younger," Loki muttered, completely dumbfounded.
"What kind of power is this? The Soul-Soul Fruit is capable of such a feat?" Jia Peng added.
Shanks furrowed his brows, his expression grim. "What a truly remarkable power."
Big Mom clenched her fists, relishing her restored vitality. "It's a wonderful feeling. Kaido, I truly owe you a great favor for this!"
Luffy, trembling with red lightning crackling around him, let out a furious roar. "What did you do to Usopp's lifespan?"
"Mamamamama! He has been completely burned, transformed into a part of my body," Big Mom laughed wildly. "Even if you kill me, your companion's lifespan can never be restored."
Anger mixed with raw despair ignited a massive surge of Conqueror's Haki within Luffy. "Big Mom! I'm going to kill you!"
Luffy lunged like a red lightning bolt, but unlike before, Big Mom easily blocked the attack with an arm coated in her own Conqueror's Haki. Luffy's eyes widened in shock.
"Hey, Straw Hat, you had your fun hitting me, didn't you?" Big Mom sneered.
A crimson light flared in her eyes. Luffy's Observation Haki screamed a warning, but she had moved too fast to track. Before he could react, a massive mouthful of blood erupted from his lips. Napoleon, now imbued with the vibration power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, had slashed deep into his body.
The tide of the battle had flipped instantly. Luffy, who had just been dominating the exchange, was now forced into a passive defense against an opponent who had regained her youth and speed.
"So terrifying!" members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet gasped. "Save Luffy!"
Zoro lunged forward to assist, but the power gap was now too immense for him to intervene, and even Yamato struggled to keep pace with the rejuvenated Emperor. On the deck of the Red Force, Benn Beckman looked to his captain. "What should we do? Will you make a move, Shanks?"
Shanks hesitated. Before he could decide, Big Mom unleashed a devastating, final-tier slash.
"Thunder Shock Cannon!"
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