Carl had already deciphered the mysterious ability of the Tama Tama no Mi—the Egg-Egg Fruit. This Paramecia-type Devil Fruit allowed its user, Baron Tamago, to transform into an egg upon sustaining a fatal injury. From the cracked shell, a new, evolved body would emerge, stronger than before.
Each rebirth increased his power significantly.
"I just don't know if there's a limit," Carl muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Click—
Finally, Baron Tamago broke out of his shell once again!
This time, his avian features had intensified—his head, once resembling that of a chick, had fully developed into the form of a rooster. He had evolved past his previous states of Viscount Hiyoko and Count Niwatori. Now, he stood before Carl in his final and strongest form.
"So much stronger?" Carl raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued.
The sheer intensity of Count Niwatori's presence had already far surpassed Charlotte Snack, one of the lower-ranked Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates. A pirate of the "Knight" class, yet his current strength seemed comparable to the highest-ranking officers under Big Mom's command!
"Is this the potential of a special Devil Fruit?" Carl sighed.
Though fascinated by this power, he also understood its rarity. Very few Devil Fruits granted such unique and cumulative evolutionary abilities.
Carl looked composed, but Count Niwatori's face was dark and grim.
"Solomon Carl, do you Marines really intend to wage war against the Big Mom Pirates?!" His voice was heavy with tension.
Despite his evolved form, he knew the truth of his ability—this was the final stage. If he sustained one more fatal blow, he would not hatch again. He would die for real.
That realization made him hesitate.
"You're overthinking this," Carl responded with a faint smile.
"No matter how reckless that crazy woman is, she wouldn't start a Summit War just because of you two."
Carl knew Big Mom's personality all too well. She cared little for individual subordinates, unless they were directly related to her or played a crucial role in her ambitions. Her true concerns were her insatiable hunger and her dream of creating Totto Land—a utopia of all races.
Even if she did want to retaliate, it would be impossible for her to directly assault Marine Headquarters or break through the Grand Line's first half, where Sakazuki and the Admirals maintained a powerful defensive network.
Carl had no reason to fear her.
Count Niwatori clenched his fists but remained silent. Carl was right—Big Mom would not go to war over them.
"So, let's wrap this up, shall we?" Carl said, his calm smile unwavering.
Huff—
Count Niwatori took a deep breath, and then—with explosive speed—he launched himself forward, stomping the ground so hard that the earth shattered beneath him.
BOOM!
His strongest attack—a Hasshoken-infused kick—sliced through the air toward Carl!
Carl did not flinch. He simply lifted his right leg and countered.
BOOM!
Their legs clashed in mid-air, coated in advanced Armament Haki, causing a massive shockwave that fractured the surrounding terrain. The ground beneath them erupted like an earthquake.
"He's reached this level?" Carl was genuinely surprised this time.
The Tama Tama no Mi allowed its user to rise like a phoenix, reborn from defeat into something stronger every time.
BOOM!
Another clash—airwaves exploded outward, creating a devastating impact across the battlefield.
"You're more suited for a commander's position than Snack," Carl mused.
Count Niwatori's face dripped with cold sweat.
Even at his peak, he couldn't overpower Carl. Worse, Carl wasn't even trying.
A deep sense of dread crept into Count Niwatori's heart.
"How can a monster like you exist in the Marines?!"
It made no sense.
A warrior of this caliber should have been stationed in the New World or at Marine Headquarters, not somewhere like Fish-Man Island.
Carl smirked.
"Alright, let's see if you can evolve even further."
His eyes darkened, and suddenly—black lightning crackled from his body.
Then—strange, terrifying figures began to emerge.
Shadowy lions coiled around Carl's form, their scaly bodies twisting like serpents, their glowing red eyes radiating an aura of pure killing intent.
"Hiss—"
A dreadful, primal sound filled the air.
Count Niwatori's entire body stiffened—his instincts screamed at him to run.
It was the reaction of prey encountering its natural predator.
A horrifying chill surged through his spine.
BOOM!
The ground shattered apart beneath Carl's feet.
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared—and then reappeared right in front of Niwatori!
His scarlet eyes burned with overwhelming killing intent.
One punch.
"Die!"
Count Niwatori had no time to dodge.
BOOM!
He barely managed to cross his Haki-coated arms, but—
It was useless.
Carl's punch crashed through his guard, sending a devastating shockwave through the battlefield.
The entire island shook.
The ground collapsed.
A massive crater formed—dust and smoke shot up into the sky, obscuring everything.
—
Marine Observation Post
The watching Marines stood frozen, mouths agape.
Vice Admiral Stolo Berry had led a reinforcement unit just in case, despite Carl's confidence.
Now, he and every Marine present could only stare in stunned silence.
"Vice Admiral Carl is a monster…" someone muttered.
"That Big Mom pirate is finished," another Marine whispered.
No one believed Count Niwatori could survive that punch.
Slowly, the dust settled.
In the center of the massive crater, two figures remained standing.
Carl stood calmly, his stance relaxed.
Count Niwatori, on the other hand—
Blood dripped from his mouth, his arms were broken, and his legs trembled.
Black lightning flickered across his battered body.
He was still alive, but barely conscious.
Every Marine held their breath.
Fish-Man Island Battlefield
Carl reached into his pocket, retrieving a thick cigar. With a flick of his lighter, the end ignited, casting a faint orange glow against his stoic face. He took a slow drag, letting the bitter smoke roll over his tongue before exhaling.
Across from him, Count Niwatori—one of Big Mom's veteran warriors—stood trembling. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling in desperate gasps. Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, staining his flamboyant white suit.
His arms, which had been crossed in a last-ditch defense, were now twisted awkwardly, forced back into his own face.
His long, slender legs, once symbols of his agility, had sunk deep into the fractured earth, as if trying to escape the battle itself.
From time to time, black lightning crackled around his body—the remnants of Carl's Haki-infused attack, still lingering in the air like aftershocks from a natural disaster.
—
Hiss—
A collective sharp intake of breath spread through the watching Marines.
Even Vice Admiral Stolo Berry, a veteran of many battles, felt the corner of his eye twitch.
"This is… brutal," a Marine muttered under his breath.
—
Step. Step.
Carl emerged from the crater, his figure illuminated by the embers of his cigar. He exhaled another plume of smoke before addressing the Marines.
"Since you're all here, don't just stand around. Round up any stragglers—if they're still breathing, arrest them."
For a brief moment, the Marines remained frozen. Then, snapping out of their daze, they straightened up and saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
Stolo Berry, watching the efficiency of Carl's leadership, let out a small chuckle.
"Carl, that was impressive," he admitted, his lips curling into a rare smile.
Few Marines would have stood their ground against the subordinates of a Yonko without hesitation.
Carl had done so without a second thought.
That kind of calm resolve—that absolute confidence—was reminiscent of Admiral Borsalino (Kizaru), the man Carl was rumored to succeed.
Carl shrugged, taking another slow drag of his cigar.
"They came looking for trouble first," he said, blowing out a thin stream of smoke.
"No reason to just let them walk away."
—
New World – Totto Land, Whole Cake Island
Far away, deep in the heart of the New World, a critical message had just arrived at Whole Cake Island.
Perospero, eldest son of the Charlotte Family, gripped a den-den mushi tightly as cold sweat trickled down his face.
Despite trying to delay the inevitable, his feet carried him forward, step by step, toward the largest bedroom in the castle.
Finally, he stood at the threshold.
Swallowing hard, he stepped inside.
"Mama…"
On the enormous bed before him, a gigantic figure stirred.
Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors—slowly turned her massive head toward him.
A wide, toothy grin spread across her face.
"Huh? Perospero, my son~!" she cooed.
"What brings you here?
Her tone was deceptively sweet, but Perospero knew just how quickly that could change.
"Well, well! Could it be that the sweets from Fish-Man Island have arrived?"
Perospero gritted his teeth before replying.
"About that…"
He swallowed hard, his fingers twitching slightly as he forced himself to continue.
"We just received word—Snacker and Baron Tamago… were defeated by the Marines at Fish-Man Island."
—
Silence.
—
"WHAT?!"
A thunderous roar erupted through the castle.
The very sky above Whole Cake Island seemed to darken.
BOOM!
The palace shook violently, furniture rattling as if the castle itself feared its master's wrath.
Her Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, sending a shockwave that made weaker soldiers collapse unconscious in the corridors.
The entire island trembled, like a lone ship caught in a violent storm.
—
"So you're telling me—"
Charlotte Linlin's voice dripped with venom.
"The sweets from Fish-Man Island… are GONE?!"
Her face contorted into a demonic snarl.
—
"It—it was Solomon Carl!" Perospero blurted out, panic evident in his voice.
"That Marine… Solomon Carl! He was the one who defeated Snacker and Baron Tamago!"
Big Mom paused.
Her massive frame loomed over Perospero as her expression shifted slightly.
"Solomon Carl?"
The name rolled off her tongue slowly, her eyes narrowing.
Perospero nodded frantically.
"Yes! We've confirmed that the Marines have established a permanent garrison at Fish-Man Island."
"And Carl is the one in charge."
Big Mom's eyes flickered with realization.
Then—
She laughed.
"MAMAMAMAMAMA~!"
Her booming laughter echoed through the entire palace, sending shivers down the spines of her subordinates.
"So, Solomon Carl… my mother is waiting for you in the New World!"
—
But then—
Her laughter cut off abruptly.
Her dark fury returned.
"BUT!"
A new wave of pressure crashed down, making the walls tremble.
"Snacker! You failed to bring me my sweets!"
Her massive fist clenched, cracking the air itself.
"I CAN'T FORGIVE THAT!!"
—
Perospero dropped to his knees, trembling violently.
The weight of her Conqueror's Haki pressed down like an avalanche, leaving him breathless.
—
At that moment, a new figure entered the room.
"Mama, please wait a little longer," a deep, calm voice interrupted.
It was Charlotte Katakuri, the strongest of Big Mom's children.
Despite the suffocating aura in the room, he remained completely composed.
Big Mom turned toward him, her fury momentarily held at bay.
Katakuri remained unshaken.
"We will send another team to Fish-Man Island," he said smoothly.
Then, he turned toward the doorway.
"Is it ready?"
From outside, a hurried voice called back.
"Coming now!"
The next moment, Streusen, Big Mom's chief chef, entered the room, carrying a towering plate of sweets.
—
Big Mom's eyes widened.
Her anger momentarily forgotten, she opened her mouth subconsciously.
With perfect timing, Streusen tossed the entire plate into her mouth.
—
CRUNCH.
—
A moment of silence.
Then—
A wave of satisfaction spread across her face.
Katakuri exhaled softly.
For now, the crisis had been averted.
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