Boom!
After the deafening roar, the Armament Color on Katakuri's body shattered instantly. Struck by immense force, he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the broken wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately fell unconscious.
Silence once again fell over the scene. The few survivors stared at the towering Sandstone Giant, their eyes filled with shock. Even Big Mom's smile froze for a moment.
However, she quickly regained her seemingly gentle demeanor and burst into loud laughter again.
Yet, the wariness in her eyes grew even deeper.
This was the true strength of the Fox of Shadow Garden!
If Fox was serious, a single strike infused with Advanced Conqueror's Haki would be enough to easily defeat Katakuri!
Even she couldn't have done better!
Looking at the unconscious Katakuri, Big Mom laughed heartily:
"Impressive, truly impressive, Mr. Fox! You are indeed one of the rare peak powerhouses on the seas!
With such strength, even the Marine Hero Garp might not be able to suppress you!"
As her words fell, those still conscious around hurriedly chimed in. The Six Underground Kings fawned:
"Mr. Fox's strength is formidable, absolutely a peak powerhouse on the seas!"
"As expected of a cadre from Shadow Garden. This level of power is truly monstrous!"
The remaining members of the Charlotte Family also nodded repeatedly, their gazes toward Fox filled with awe and reverence.
Yet Fox, praised by everyone, remained expressionless.
He slowly retracted his Sandstone Giant form, then raised his eyes, coldly staring straight at Big Mom, and provocatively said:
"Big Mom, since you praise me so highly, I have a request.
I also wish to cross hands with one of the legendary Four Emperors. I want to see just how formidable the defense of the famed 'Iron Balloon' truly is."
These words were like ice water, instantly dousing the lively atmosphere.
The previously fervent mood stiffened abruptly, as if the very air had frozen solid.
The smile vanished completely from Big Mom's face. Her cheeks tightened fiercely, her eyes widened, glaring viciously at Fox.
Without a doubt, this was Fox's response to her earlier request for him and Katakuri to 'perform.'
Similarly, it was an undisguised provocation toward Big Mom!
In the past, Big Mom's ferocious glare was enough to terrify countless pirates, but when directed at Fox, it was like a stone sinking into the sea.
Fox remained cold and indifferent, meeting Big Mom's gaze head-on without a trace of fear.
It was as if, should Big Mom make a move, he would not hesitate to confront her directly, tearing apart all pretense!
Big Mom stared fixedly at Fox. After a tense standoff, she ultimately recognized reality.
She had no confidence in defeating Fox. If they truly fought all-out, the losses would outweigh the gains.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in her heart, forced an awkward smile onto her face, and her tone softened:
"Mamamama! Mr. Fox truly has great courage! Of course, we can have a match!
But to avoid harming the goodwill between Shadow Garden and the Big Mom Pirates, let's keep it to a friendly contest. We'll settle it with just one move, one move to decide the outcome. How about that?"
The reason for deciding the match with one move was that Big Mom had deeper calculations in mind.
As a towering giant-like figure, she possessed a terrifying technique known as the Elbaf Spear: Ikoku Sovereignty.
This move was adapted from the giants' 'Ikoku Sovereignty.' It consumed an immense amount of stamina but was also horrifyingly powerful.
When an ordinary giant unleashed Ikoku Sovereignty, it was enough to level a small country.
Even though her 'Ikoku Sovereignty' was slightly weaker than the original, when used by a Four Emperor standing at the pinnacle of the seas, its destructive power was sufficient to pierce through an island.
Fox was undoubtedly strong, but he might not possess a burst technique surpassing her Ikoku Sovereignty.
By setting the rule of one move to decide the outcome, she could unleash her full-power Ikoku Sovereignty directly at Fox, confident she could gain the upper hand.
She stared intently at Fox, awaiting his decision.
If Fox refused the one-move agreement, she would immediately mock him for lacking courage and use that as grounds to refuse the match.
But if Fox agreed, that would be even better.
By overpowering Fox with Ikoku Sovereignty, she could leverage Shadow Garden's fame to boost her own reputation, stepping on Shadow Garden's prestige to further solidify Whole Cake Island's position in the New World.
At this moment, the atmosphere at the Tea Party grew even more solemn. Everyone stared fixedly at Fox, quietly awaiting his reply.
Without the slightest hesitation, Fox spoke in a calm yet resolute tone that brooked no doubt: "Fine. One move to decide the outcome."
A flicker of cunning gleamed in Big Mom's eyes. Her scheme had finally succeeded.
She had been waiting for these very words. As long as Fox agreed to settle it with one move, she was fully confident of gaining the upper hand.
Moreover, she could use this to establish her authority, letting the entire New World know that she, Charlotte Linlin, remained an Emperor standing at the very peak of the seas.
After Katakuri was carried away by his sister for treatment, the two immediately ended the already soured Tea Party. They leaped into the air, heading straight for a deserted, uninhabited island near Whole Cake Island.
Even if it was just a single clash, with their terrifying combat power at the level of Emperors of the Sea, the aftermath alone could easily tear apart half an island.
If they fought on Cake Island, the entire Whole Cake Island would be reduced to ruins in an instant.
To avoid involving the others present, moving far away from Cake Island was the safest choice.
Their speed was extreme. In the blink of an eye, they stood upon a desolate island.
Above the barren island, fierce winds suddenly howled. Dark clouds gathered at a visible pace.
Ivan and Big Mom faced each other from a distance of several hundred meters, like two volcanoes on the verge of eruption. Their auras continuously surged and clashed.
Around each of them, Conqueror's Haki erupted violently. Black and red lightning crazily crackled between the two, emitting piercing explosions.
Soon, the entire sky seemed to be forcibly torn in two by this terrifying power.
Big Mom's expression turned grave, devoid of any previous politeness.
She clenched the Emperor Sword: Napoleon tightly in her five fingers. The pitch-black blade was instantly entwined with dense Conqueror's Haki Lightning.
Every muscle in her body tensed. The ground beneath her feet cracked open violently. She gathered all her strength without reservation, pouring it entirely into the blade.
She intended to display her peak destructive power within this single move.
"Elbaf Spear: Ikoku Sovereignty!"
A roar that shook the heavens erupted. A terrifying aura, capable of tearing the seas apart, instantly burst forth.
The air was forcibly compressed, forming a visible shockwave that violently crushed toward Ivan, as if intending to erase him along with the entire island.
Feeling the world-annihilating pressure, Ivan's hairs stood slightly on end. His eyes sharpened abruptly, and he held nothing back.
Hyper-Speed Computation activated fully in his mind. Countless trajectories of power flowed rapidly through his consciousness.
The ground around him trembled violently. Hard rocks converged toward him, enveloping his body.
Soon, his entire form transformed into a majestic, ten-meter-tall Sandstone Giant.
He gripped a Stone Greatsword formed of rock with one hand. Black Flash and Conqueror's Haki Infusion intertwined on the blade. He, too, unleashed his currently most powerful strength to meet Big Mom's ultimate strike!