"Yehahahaha! You're not bad. This god acknowledges you!"
By the time Karl and the others arrived at the battlefield, the fight was already over. Enel stood there in his Thunder God Form, crackling with residual lightning; across the shattered shore, Katakuri had been blasted away, steadying himself as he slid back, cloak torn and breath uneven. Even for Enel, the form had exacted a heavy toll.
"Captain," Enel reported, thunder dimming around him, "this guy said he was looking for you. He looked strong, so I fought him first."
Karl stepped forward, eyes on the Sweet Commander.
"Charlotte Katakuri, Sweet Commander of the Big Mom Pirates. What do you want with me?"
Katakuri hadn't expected the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user to be that strong; he'd underestimated the speed and pressure of Enel's lightning and paid for it. The mission was already a lost cause. He straightened his collar and spoke evenly.
"Karl-dono, I've come to deliver an invitation to Mama's Tea Party."
"Oh?" Karl's gaze cooled. "Big Mom's invitation? What does she want?"
"Mama wishes to propose a marriage alliance with you."
"A marriage?" Karl's eyes narrowed. "Katakuri, has that old crone lost her mind?"
His Conqueror's Haki exploded. Clouds boiled overhead; thunder rolled like drums of war.
"Azure Dragon Break!"
The black blade Xintinghou flashed. Katakuri's foresight saw the strike—yet couldn't evade it. The slash blasted him across the coast, carving a deep line through his side. Blood spattered the rocks.
"You're not qualified to negotiate with me," Karl said, voice like ice. "I'll spare you once. Go back and tell Big Mom: don't provoke me again. Or I'll walk into Totto Land and end her myself. Now—get lost."
Katakuri didn't argue. He knew raw power when he felt it—and that Haki… it was even more tyrannical than Mama's. He pressed a hand to his wound, then turned and left without another word.
Ellie quickly relayed what had happened to those who'd just arrived. Anger flared through the crew.
"That old hag dared to set her sights on Uncle?" Ann's voice went cold.
"Captain, should we hit Totto Land right now?" Bansen's jaw tightened. To him, Karl wasn't just a benefactor—he was the man his sister loved. To answer with a forced marriage? That was an insult.
"No," Karl said, shaking his head. "A war with the Big Mom Pirates only lets the Marines and World Government swoop in and profit. They're already itching for someone else to bleed us."
Everyone exhaled. He was right—without their own allied fleets, a frontal war would hand the advantage to the onlookers.
"Let's go back."
They returned to the inn—only to find Doflamingo waiting in the lobby.
"Honored Karl-dono," the man in pink feathers bowed with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "welcome to Dressrosa. As its king, I speak for all my citizens—enjoy your stay."
He'd learned fast that a fight had broken out on his shores. He'd feared it was his people offending Karl—but it turned out to be Katakuri, and the man had fled Dressrosa bleeding. If Big Mom herself came for payback, their clash could annihilate the whole country.
"Relax, Doflamingo," Karl said. "We'll rest two days and leave—as long as no one pokes the tiger."
"My thanks, Karl-dono. I'll ensure no one disturbs you." Doflamingo excused himself, and only once he was outside did the stiffness leave his shoulders. If he could help it, he'd avoid dealing with monsters like that forever.
"Captain," Aderian muttered after, "why's that 'king' so scared of us? Even if he can't beat us, he doesn't have to crawl, right?"
"Because we killed Celestial Dragons," Karl said, "and Doflamingo used to be one."
"Used to?" Karine blinked. "How does that even work?"
"It's a long story…" Karl gave them the short version—the fall from 'heaven,' the humiliation, the warped path, the patricide.
Karine wrinkled her nose. "He's twisted. Killed his own father."
"When you're thrown from paradise into the mud and kicked by those you looked down on, some people break and rot. He did." Karl waved it off. "Enough. Rest. Land sleep beats sea sleep."
Two days later, resupplied and silent, the Tiger God slipped back to sea.
Totto Land. Katakuri finished his report before Big Mom—and her face went dark as a storm front.
"Mamamamama… Blooded Swordmaster Karl!"
Her Conqueror's Haki thundered outward; servants collapsed where they stood and a swath of Homies winked out in terror.
"Zeus! Prometheus!"
"Here, Mama!"
"Perospero! Prepare to sail! I'll go carve that brat up myself!"
"Mama, wait!" Perospero stepped in quickly. "Karl's power is on par with yours—and he's got several strong officers. Marching into his tempo in their moment gives the other Emperors a free shot at our backs."
Big Mom's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying I can't beat him? If I don't hit back, what will the world think of me!?"
"That's not it." Perospero shook his head. "I'm saying an away-game fight risks everything. If we want payback, we need the right place and the right timing."
Silence stretched. Then Big Mom's breathing slowed, logic prying apart her rage. There were still two other hungry emperors circling the same throne.
"…Fine," she growled. "But this won't be forgotten."
"It won't," Perospero promised. "As long as they sail the New World—if their goal overlaps with that place—our routes will cross. That's when we settle the score."
Big Mom sneered at her gathered children. "Then train harder! At this rate, how will you help me take the Pirate King's throne?"
"Yes, Mama!" the children echoed, pale.
And somewhere beyond Totto Land's sugared shores, the Tiger God cut a bright wake through dark water—unaware that a storm with a candy-sweet scent had just chosen its moment to strike.
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