Ezra D. Vale's expression remained calm as he gazed toward the colossal Whole Cake Kingdom in the distance.
"Yuan, Kuzan, stop here. Take care of any stragglers," he instructed, his tone flat yet commanding.
"I understand, Admiral Vale," came the response.
"Vale, stay safe," Kuzan added.
Ezra nodded faintly before setting off toward the massive kingdom.
With a soft tap, his pointed shoes touched down on Cake Island. The two guards at the gate stared in shock as the man appeared out of nowhere.
"Who… who is that?!" one of them shouted.
"Wait… wait! That's Admiral Vale!?" the other gasped, recognition dawning instantly.
"Impossible… a Marine Admiral… Vale?!"
Ezra extended his right index finger without a word. A scorching burst of spiritual pressure shot through both guards' hearts. They barely had time to scream before their eyes rolled back. In an instant, they were gone from the world.
Inside the distant castle, Big Mom's eyes narrowed. Her observation haki flared as she immediately sensed the anomaly at the gate.
"Ezra D. Vale! So you finally decided to show yourself!" she bellowed. "This tea party is just for you!"
A cruel smile twisted her face.
"Charlotte Cracker! Go greet him!" she commanded.
"Yes, Mama!" Cracker saluted and rushed toward Vale.
Ezra's brow arched slightly as he walked forward. "This sensation… Big Mom's observation haki?"
His steps never faltered as he pressed onward.
"What… a Marine here?!" one subordinate cried. "Damn! That's an admiral!"
Wherever pirates crossed his path, Ezra didn't spare a single one. Only a few had ever proven themselves honorable enough to follow Big Mom—but none had crossed Ezra before.
The pirate corps fell rapidly under his path. Meanwhile, Cracker coordinated with the remaining pirates to converge on Vale's location.
Inside the castle, countless biscuit soldiers blocked his path. As they parted to reveal him, a towering figure of purple armor stepped forward—Charlotte Cracker himself.
"So, you are Admiral Ezra D. Vale?" Cracker's voice was both challenging and incredulous.
Ezra's gaze remained cold and unreadable.
"Biscuit Soldier, Charlotte Cracker, is it?" Vale's calm tone contrasted sharply with Cracker's tension.
Cracker's lips twitched. "You know my name… and yet remain so calm! Do you realize where you stand? This is Whole Cake Kingdom—Mama's stronghold. Do you wish to die?!"
Vale smirked lightly. "Ugh, so noisy."
"What did you say?!" Cracker's face darkened with fury. "Biscuit Soldiers, attack!"
With a sweeping gesture, Cracker sent countless soldiers charging toward Vale.
"How troublesome… I really don't want to waste time," Vale murmured, raising his right hand.
"[Path of Destruction, Thirty-Three: Falling Blaze]."
A fierce explosion of flame erupted from his hand, forming a roaring fire dragon with spiritual pressure infused into its core. It tore through the biscuit soldiers with a deafening roar.
The dragon's flames consumed the soldiers instantly, shattering their reinforced bodies into pieces.
Cracker's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! Biscuit Soldiers are incredibly durable… how can they be destroyed in a single strike?!"
Regaining his composure, Cracker stared at Vale with a mixture of wariness and respect. "Admiral Vale, I admit… I underestimated you."
Drawing his sword, Cracker's expression hardened. "Now, I'll take this seriously."
In an instant, Cracker appeared before Vale.
"Rolling Pepper Biscuit!" he shouted, spinning his sword with lethal intent.
"Die, Marine Admiral!"
Vale's crimson eyes glimmered with amusement. "Is that all? Not enough to kill me, it seems."
He extended his right index finger, focusing spiritual pressure at its tip. When it connected with Cracker's sword, a sharp, metallic clang rang out.
"What?!" Cracker's heart skipped a beat, though he quickly recovered.
"Not finished yet!" he growled. "Double Rolling Pepper Biscuit!"
Two additional arms sprouted from Cracker's shoulders, each wielding a spinning sword. He lunged again, a deadly flurry of spiraling steel.
Vale's lips curled in disdain. With a flick of his fingers, a tremendous force shot along Cracker's swords. Unprepared, Cracker was slammed into a wall, staggering from the impact.
"Damn Marine Admiral…" Cracker gasped, fear flickering in his eyes but quickly suppressed.
"Wave Pepper Biscuit!" he roared, releasing a spinning wave of sword energy toward Vale.
Vale moved effortlessly, dodging with minimal effort, his calm aura unshaken.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Cracker's eyes blazed with fury. "Do you only know how to dodge?!"
Vale froze for a moment, creating an opening.
"Exploding Pepper Biscuit!" Cracker shouted. Flames ignited along his blade as he slashed at Vale, detonating in a massive explosion.
Cracker stood back, breathing heavily, convinced he had succeeded. "Hah… is that a Marine Admiral? Pathetic!"
His laughter faded as he realized the flames dissipated harmlessly. Vale emerged from the smoke in his black suit, movements calm, casual, and almost mocking.
"What… how is this possible?!" Cracker's eyes nearly popped from his skull. He had witnessed the fire consume him moments ago!
Vale pinched his neck casually, his crimson gaze glinting with amusement. "Any more tricks to show me?"
Cracker trembled. "Impossible! You're a demon… a monster!"
Vale's lips twitched in a lazy smile. "Boring."
With a swift movement, he appeared in front of Cracker, who had collapsed to the ground in terror.
Vale raised his right hand, fingers glowing with spiritual pressure.
"Descend into hell!"
"[Path of Destruction, Thirty-Two: Cherry Blossom Flash]."
A shockwave of cherry blossom-colored energy shot from Vale's fingertip, piercing straight through Cracker's chest.
Cracker screamed in agony as his body shattered from the inside out, bones snapping like glass. He was dead before he even hit the ground.
Vale casually slid his hand, now clad in a dark red glove, into his pocket and continued deeper into Cake Island, humming a light, cheerful tune.
Deep within Cake Island, Perospero, wearing his candy-striped top hat, approached Big Mom, holding a charred Life Card.
"Mama… Cracker failed," he reported.
Big Mom's face darkened with rage. Her temper teetered on the edge of explosion.
"Children can be replaced!" she bellowed. "Perospero, Smoothie! Bring him back!"
She dispatched the last of her Sweet Generals: her fourteenth daughter, Charlotte Smoothie, and her eldest son, Charlotte Perospero.
Both obeyed immediately, moving swiftly to intercept Vale.
"Perospero, can you locate the Marine's position?" Smoothie asked.
Perospero closed his eyes, his observation haki scanning the area. Moments later, he smiled. "Found him. Second floor. Let's go."
"Wait, Smoothie. Since his target is Mama, we don't need to chase him. Set traps on the third floor and wait quietly," Perospero instructed.
Smoothie nodded, and both ascended to the third floor, ready to ambush Vale.
Meanwhile, Vale had cleared the second floor of every pirate. Not a single one remained alive.
Tap… tap…
A lone surviving pirate, hiding behind a door, pressed a hand over his mouth, terrified to make a sound. He peered out, thinking Vale had passed.
Suddenly, crimson eyes stared through the crack in the door.
"Ahhh!!"
The pirate died from sheer terror.
Vale pinched his neck again, muttering, "Seriously? Am I that scary?"
He shrugged and continued toward the third floor.
There, a candy house stood before him. Vale recognized the signature: Charlotte Perospero. A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Ah… waiting for me, are you?"
He pushed open the candy door to reveal a round table. On the opposite side sat Perospero himself.
"Admiral Ezra D. Vale, pleasure to meet you. I am Charlotte Perospero. Please, have a seat."
Vale sat calmly. "So… how shall we play this?"
Perospero's eyes glimmered. "Ah, the courage of Admiral Vale is impressive. But Mama's orders must be followed."
The candy floor suddenly sank, trapping Vale's lower body in a gooey sugar swamp.
"Now, Smoothie!"
From the shadows, Charlotte Smoothie charged, sword drawn. A pink wave of energy struck Vale's body.
"Impossible!" Smoothie realized her strike felt like hitting steel. Her arm vibrated violently, barely maintaining her grip.
She slammed her hand on Vale. "Juice!"—her paramecia fruit power could extract all fluids from a living being.
Yet Vale remained untouched, calm as ever.
"Perospero… something's wrong!" Smoothie shouted. Attempting to retreat, she discovered her hand locked by Vale, who had silently freed himself and seized her.
"I despise sneak attacks," Vale said with a faint smile—demonic in its delivery.
"No! Let me go!" Smoothie struggled, panic overwhelming her.
"Perospero! Help!"
Vale's crimson gaze flashed as he raised his hand. Cherry blossom energy surged, piercing Perospero's heart, shattering his body in a gruesome display.
Vale tucked his glove into his pocket and continued deeper, humming cheerfully. "Big Mom will join you soon," he muttered, his crimson eyes gleaming.
_______________________
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