Chapter 40: Frost That Bites the Soul
Yamato and Big Mom's battle raged across the sky above Wano, their clash splitting clouds and shaking the sea below. Blood was still fresh at the corner of Big Mom's mouth, staining her grin crimson.
The air itself trembled under the weight of their Conqueror's Haki, lightning tearing across the heavens as if the world could not bear their presence. Ships below creaked from the pressure alone.
Yamato moved like a white phantom through the storm. It could not be helped—she had grown stronger through relentless combat and an endless reserve of stamina flowing through her Mythical Zoan body.
She had mastered every advanced form of Haki, sharpening them through constant battle. Her Future Sight allowed her to see beyond Big Mom's intentions, and her speed outpaced even Linlin's monstrous reactions.
Her Conqueror's infusion and Internal Destruction Armament ignored Big Mom's natural defenses, slipping past hardened skin and iron balloon durability as if it were paper. Each strike was calculated, precise, and merciless.
Big Mom was one of the most gifted individuals on the sea, born with terrifying natural power. But she had never truly cherished that gift, never refined it through disciplined training.
Her life revolved around building a family empire and birthing children, not pushing her limits through battle. She had never bothered to master Future Sight, relying instead on overwhelming brute force.
Her massive body had slowed her speed over time, turning her into a walking fortress. She was a tank—unstoppable in durability—but tanks could still be outmaneuvered.
Yamato's speed and Future Sight were the perfect counter.
Big Mom blocked another kanabo strike, haki exploding between them. "Mamamama! You've grown into a troublesome brat!" she roared, her voice cracking like thunder.
Yamato smirked mid-air, frost swirling around her horns. "Troublesome? I'm just getting warmed up."
"You think speed alone makes you superior?" Big Mom snapped, Napoleon elongating into a blazing saber. "I've ruled these seas longer than you've been alive!"
Yamato vanished from sight, reappearing above her. "And yet you still can't touch me."
Her kanabo slammed downward, coated in Conqueror's infusion. The blow struck Big Mom's shoulder, Internal Destruction Haki blooming inside her body.
Blood sprayed again from Linlin's mouth as she steadied herself on Zeus. Her grin twitched, but her eyes had grown sharp. She was not stupid.
If this continued, she would lose.
She had assumed Whitebeard and Ren were fighting seriously, locked in a war that would distract them both. But their Haki felt controlled—measured.
"They're just greeting each other…" Big Mom muttered, irritation flashing across her face.
Yamato tilted her head. "What was that?"
"Nothing, brat!" Big Mom roared, swinging Napoleon in a wide arc.
Below, her crew watched anxiously. They understood that if they interfered, Ren would descend like a calamity. Whitebeard would not stop him.
Big Mom clicked her tongue. Alone, she wasn't Yamato's match in this configuration. It wasn't that Yamato was stronger in raw power.
It was the matchup. Speed, Future Sight, and Internal Destruction were slicing her apart from within.
Big Mom suddenly pulled back, hovering at a distance. "Mamamamama… little girl, how about we talk?"
Yamato froze mid-charge, eyes narrowing. "Talk?"
"You're Kaido's daughter, right?" Big Mom continued smoothly. "Your father owes me a big favor. How about marrying my son and joining my crew?"
The sky fell silent for half a heartbeat.
Yamato's battle lust snapped. Rage erupted like a frozen volcano. She had wanted a good fight, a test of strength—but this old hag dared to reduce her to a bargaining chip.
"Fuck off, you overgrown fat granny!" Yamato snarled, frost exploding outward. "Why would I marry your son?"
Big Mom's grin widened mockingly. "Mamamama! Political marriages are the foundation of power!"
"If I have to marry," Yamato shot back, veins bulging at her temple, "Ren will be the first choice!"
She vanished.
Thunder Bagua descended, infused with the freezing aura of her Devil Fruit, Conqueror's infusion crackling violently, and Internal Destruction at its peak.
The frost energy merged with the destructive haki and pierced into Big Mom's body. The impact echoed like a cannon blast across the sky.
Ice began forming inside Linlin's massive frame, freezing her from within. Her muscles stiffened, veins crystallizing as the cold bit into her core.
Yamato moved so fast she became a shadow. Each strike carried Armament and freezing energy, battering Big Mom relentlessly.
"You brat! Don't get ahead of yourself!" Big Mom roared, swinging Napoleon wildly at the afterimages.
"You can't even see me!" Yamato shouted back, her voice echoing from three directions at once.
Another blow struck Big Mom's ribs. Internal Destruction bloomed inside her chest cavity, frost spreading deeper.
"Mamamama! I am Charlotte Linlin!" Big Mom bellowed. "I don't fall so easily!"
"Then stand up properly!" Yamato retorted. "Stop hiding behind your durability!"
After a continuous barrage that shattered clouds and froze sections of sky into glittering fragments, Yamato leapt high.
She inhaled sharply, haki spiraling around her kanabo. "Thunder Bagua!"
The strike descended with monstrous force, slamming Big Mom downward.
Linlin's body crashed into her own ship, splintering decks and sending shockwaves through the fleet.
Silence swallowed the battlefield.
The Big Mom Pirates stared in horror. Their mother… defeated. And not by Ren, the man who had brought down Kaido.
But by Kaido's daughter.
A chill ran down their spines. This was no ordinary crew. It was a two-person crew where both stood at Emperor level.
And now they had Wano's samurai backing them.
Ren noticed the shift immediately and halted his clash with Whitebeard. Their weapons disengaged as both men sensed Big Mom's fall.
"Ha! Old man, wait a few minutes. I'll be back," Ren said casually, spinning his staff.
Whitebeard chuckled. "Gurararara! Don't keep me waiting too long, brat."
Ren vanished in a burst of speed and appeared beside Yamato. His eyes scanned her quickly.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She huffed. "Of course. Did you think I'd lose?"
He smiled faintly. "Never."
Turning toward Perospero and the recovering Big Mom, Ren's gaze sharpened. "Hey, you losers. Leave the waters of Wano."
Perospero swallowed. "W-We were just—"
"And prepare ten billion berries as compensation for making my girl angry," Ren continued coldly.
He turned toward Big Mom, who was slowly pushing herself upright. "You old hag, say that bullshit again to Yamato and there won't be any Big Mom Pirates left for you to marry out."
"You bastard! Are you looking down on m—"
She never finished.
Ren moved in a blur. His staff connected with Big Mom's face, coated in Conqueror's infusion and Internal Destruction.
Her eyes rolled back as she was sent flying off the ship, crashing into the sea with a massive splash.
Ren's gaze shifted to Perospero. "Well?"
"Y-Yes! We will leave! The money will be ready, Sir Ren!" Perospero stammered, regret flooding his voice. He should have insisted Katakuri come instead.
The crew scrambled. Non-Devil Fruit users dove into the sea, retrieving their unconscious captain.
As their fleet retreated, Morgan's laughter echoed from above. "Kuhahahaha! Big Brother Ren! Do you want to keep Lady Yamato's strength secret?"
Ren's clone folded its arms. "Nope. I told you, spread it. Let the Marines regret crossing us."
"Kuhahahaha! You are the best!" Morgan cackled. "This will shake the world!"
Back on the sea, Ren returned to Whitebeard. "So, old man, wanna keep going?"
Whitebeard threw his head back in laughter. "Gurararara! That was fun, but that's enough for today."
Ren smiled, then tilted his head thoughtfully. "Hey… you wanna meet Hiyori?"
Whitebeard froze. For a moment, he seemed to see a small child in his massive hands from decades ago.
Many of the older Whitebeard Pirates fell silent. They remembered her birth.
Ren waved a hand. "Don't be so serious about it. Go meet her. I've got a new guest to entertain."
Whitebeard grinned. "Fine, brat. Boys! Let's go meet our little princess!"
"Wooooooo!" the Whitebeard Pirates roared, cheering as they sailed toward Wano.
Yamato approached Ren, watching the departing fleet. "You're just going to let them go?"
"Whitebeard isn't the type of man I need to worry about," Ren replied calmly. "And the Giant Prince is coming to meet us. Don't get shocked later."
"Hmph. Who do you think I am?" Yamato snorted.
Ren chuckled. "His Devil Fruit is Spacial. Just giving you a warning."
Yamato's eyes sharpened instantly. "Spacial..…?"
"Yeah," Ren said lightly. "So don't blink at the wrong time."
Far on the horizon, a massive ship approached. The sea itself seemed to part before it.
And Wano's skies prepared for yet another storm.