Whole Cake Island – Big Mom's Castle
Charlotte Linlin chewed slowly.
For a moment, the entire palace was silent, save for the crunching sound of her powerful jaws pulverizing the sweets.
Then—
Her expression softened—just slightly.
"Mmm… Well, well. It's not as good as the sweets from Fish-Man Island, but…"
A grim smile spread across her massive face as she turned her piercing gaze toward Katakuri.
"This is your last chance."
Katakuri, standing tall despite the suffocating pressure of her presence, remained unfazed.
"Understood," he replied, his voice unwavering.
"This time, I will personally make sure we bring back the sweets, Mother."
—
Perospero, who had been watching in horror, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He knew full well that if they failed again, their souls would be at risk of being ripped out by their mother's terrifying ability, Soru Soru no Mi.
—
Big Mom's eyes gleamed murderously.
"Then don't waste time!" she roared.
"And while you're at it—take care of that Marine, Solomon Carl!"
—
Perospero flinched at the mention of that name.
But he wasn't the only one.
The entire room had gone dead silent.
Nobody dared to question Big Mom's decision—not when she was already on the edge of an outburst.
—
"That disgraceful brat Snacker actually lost to a new Marine?"
Her face twisted with disgust.
"He's no longer worthy of being a Sweet Commander!"
—
Nobody dared to refute her words.
Snacker had lost to Urouge of the Worst Generation before, and now, he had fallen to a Marine who wasn't even an admiral.
His standing in the Big Mom Pirates was effectively finished.
—
Not until they had left the throne room did Perospero finally exhale, his shoulders slumping in relief.
He turned toward Katakuri, his face tense with uncertainty.
"What do we do?" he asked, voice low.
"Who do we send to Fish-Man Island?"
Then, after hesitating for a second, he continued—
"And about that Marine, Solomon Carl… I've heard rumors."
His voice wavered slightly.
"They say he's a monster. Are we really going to try and get rid of him?"
—
Fish-Man Island was non-negotiable.
If they failed again, Big Mom's food cravings would spiral into another rampage, threatening to sink Whole Cake Island itself.
But if Solomon Carl was really as strong as the rumors suggested…
Katakuri was silent for a moment.
Then, he made his decision.
"I'll go myself."
—
Perospero's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You?"
Then, after a moment, his expression shifted—
He nodded slowly, his voice turning firm.
"If it's you… then we won't have a problem."
—
Charlotte Katakuri, the strongest Sweet Commander.
The pillar of the Big Mom Pirates.
The man who was known as the perfect creation of the Charlotte Family.
He had never lost a battle in his entire life.
His Observation Haki was so advanced that he could see into the future.
His Mochi Mochi no Mi was a Special Paramecia, capable of overwhelming even the strongest foes.
His armament haki was among the best in the world.
If anyone in the Big Mom Pirates could ensure success, it was him.
—
Fish-Man Island – Ryugu Kingdom
Meanwhile, on Fish-Man Island—
Solomon Carl had spent a few more days in the Dragon Palace Kingdom, ensuring stability.
But with everything settled, he set off toward Sabaody Archipelago.
He left Vice Admiral Stolo Berry in charge, along with a detachment of Marine forces to maintain Marine presence on the island.
—
At the same time—
The Marines were moving.
From the Four Blues to the Grand Line and into the New World, the World Conscription was underway.
Marineford was recruiting en masse, preparing for the next phase of military expansion.
Carl, knowing how important this movement was, was preparing to return to Marineford.
—
Sabaody Archipelago – Naval Port
Carl had spent a single day at Sabaody before he was ready to depart.
Onboard a Marine warship, he stood near the railing, his signature cigar smoldering between his lips.
—
"Vice Admiral Carl! There's a call from headquarters!"
A Marine officer ran toward him, holding a den-den mushi.
Carl took the receiver without a word, pressing it to his ear.
"Connect it."
—
The den-den mushi's features morphed, taking on the gruff, scowling face of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu).
—
"Carl."
His voice was cold and sharp.
"Something's happened at Fish-Man Island."
—
Carl's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Huh?"
He took a slow drag from his cigar.
"I just left Fish-Man Island a day ago. What happened?"
—
The anger in Sakazuki's voice was undeniable.
"Fish-Man Island was raided by the Big Mom Pirates."
"Stolo Berry and the Marines stationed there have been defeated!"
—
Carl exhaled, a thin stream of smoke escaping his lips.
His eyes darkened.
—
"Tch."
He had expected the Big Mom Pirates to retaliate.
It was only a matter of time.
But even with Stolo Berry and his forces reinforcing the garrison, they hadn't been able to hold out?
—
"The Marines will not tolerate failure!"
Sakazuki's voice rose in intensity, making it clear just how furious he was.
"Carl! I'm sending you back to Fish-Man Island. You're in charge now."
Then—
"Even if this leads to a war with the Big Mom Pirates—I'll take full responsibility!"
—
Carl closed his eyes for a moment.
Sakazuki was a hardliner.
To him, all pirates were trash.
Even the Four Emperors were nothing more than large piles of garbage waiting to be burned to ash.
Fear?
That word didn't exist in the Fleet Admiral's dictionary.
—
Carl let out a slow breath.
Then—
"Understood."
He hung up.
—
Standing on the deck, he took a long puff of his cigar before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
—
A tense silence hung in the air.
The Marines around him could sense it.
Even though Carl hadn't released his Haki, the temperature in the air felt like it had dropped.
—
Something dangerous was coming.
—
"Vice Admiral Carl…?"
A Marine officer, Bright, swallowed nervously.
"What… what's our next move?"
—
Carl turned to face them.
His golden eyes gleamed beneath the rising embers of his cigar.
Then, in a voice calm yet absolute, he gave the order.
—
"We're going back to Fish-Man Island."
A gleam of scarlet light flashed in Carl's eyes. "I want to see who dares to defy me."
"Yes!" Bright saluted and immediately turned to relay orders to the soldiers.
Almost none of the top executives of the Big Mom Pirates truly took Carl seriously. Only Charlotte Katakuri posed a potential threat—after all, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) was so advanced that he could glimpse into the future.
But as long as that old witch, Charlotte Linlin, didn't come personally, Carl didn't care.
In the Big Mom Pirates, the true nightmare wasn't the Sweet Commanders or even Katakuri—it was Big Mom herself, a monstrous force of nature.
Carl took a slow drag from his cigar, his eyes cold. "Besides, do they really think I fear them?"
He had a body reinforced to its limits, and his raw strength was already on par with the elite of the New World. His [Tough Body] granted him incredible endurance, but the Soul-Soul Fruit (Soru Soru no Mi) was the real problem.
If not for that ability's ability to steal souls through fear, Carl wouldn't even rate Big Mom as a greater threat than the legendary Golden Lion, Shiki.
Grumble… Grumble…
The warship submerged, cutting through the currents as Carl stepped onto the deck.
A red glow spread out from beneath his feet—the [Killing Field], his unique domain of murderous intent. The sheer pressure of his Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) materialized into a phantom-like hand, pushing the ship forward at terrifying speed.
10,000 Meters Below—Fish-Man Island
The Ryugu Palace Plaza was in chaos. Dozens of Marines lay sprawled across the stone pavement, their bodies battered.
"Cough… Cough…"
Vice Admiral Stainless Stolo Berry clutched his ribs, collapsed within a fissure, his gaze locked onto the tall, imposing figure before him.
"Katakuri…!"
Charlotte Katakuri, the strongest of the Four Sweet Commanders, stood motionless. His long scarf swayed slightly, barely covering his shark-like fangs, his eyes scanning the battlefield with cold precision.
"Where is that Marine… Solomon Carl?"
Stolo Berry's pupils contracted sharply. "You're here for Carl?!"
For all the fearsome combatants within the Big Mom Pirates, Katakuri was their most trusted warrior. If he had come personally, it meant they saw Carl as a real threat.
"…No." Katakuri shook his head, his tone calm as ever.
"I only came to retrieve the snacks Mother demanded."
But— his crimson gaze flickered. "If I encounter him… I will settle Snacker's humiliation."
Family meant everything to Katakuri. His overwhelming strength wasn't for personal gain—it was to protect his siblings.
And Snacker's defeat had left a stain on their family's honor.
"Heh…" Stolo Berry coughed up blood but smirked. "Is that so? Well then, I'm afraid your revenge will never happen."
As one of Marine Headquarters' most senior Vice Admirals, he understood Carl's terrifying potential.
It wasn't just strength—Carl had mastered the advanced techniques of Haki to an extent that few could match.
That was why Fleet Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu) himself had already marked Carl as a future Admiral.
And in the Marines, power alone determined rank.
Even the World Military Draft (Fujitora & Ryokugyu's recruitment) prioritized those with undeniable might.
"You seem confident in him," Katakuri remarked, unmoved.
His Kenbunshoku Haki pulsed, sensing the island's surroundings.
"Unfortunately, I don't have time to wait for him."
Big Mom's hunger pangs wouldn't be appeased until she had freshly made Fish-Man Island sweets.
If they delayed too long, her rage could level Totto Land itself.
"Brother Katakuri! We've secured the snacks!"
The towering Charlotte Oven arrived, his voice echoing through the ruined plaza.
"Good. We move now." Katakuri nodded.
The Big Mom Pirates' fleet activated their bubble-coated ships and disappeared into the currents, returning to Whole Cake Island.
A Few Moments Later…
BOOOOM!
The sea erupted in a massive shockwave.
Carl's warship breached the barrier of Fish-Man Island at breakneck speed, its hull reinforced by his Haoshoku (Conqueror's) aura.
Standing at the bow, Carl's eyes gleamed ominously, scanning the devastated island.
"Over there."
He vanished.
With a single shave (Soru), he appeared beside Stolo Berry, his gaze darkened.
"Agh… Carl…" Stolo Berry coughed, still conscious despite his wounds. "I failed… I couldn't hold them…"
Carl exhaled a stream of cigar smoke, cutting him off. "Save your breath, brother. Just tell me—who did this?"
The Vice Admiral clenched his teeth.
"Katakuri… The First Sweet Commander of the Big Mom Pirates."
"Bounty—1,057,000,000 Berries."
Carl's gaze sharpened. "So it really was him."
He turned to his Marines. "Coffey! Get Emily over here to treat the wounded."
"Yes, sir!"
From the distance, Coffey led Emily towards the injured soldiers. Thanks to Carl's extended stay on Fish-Man Island, his markings were everywhere, allowing instant movement.
While Emily tended to the wounded, Carl strode forward, his eyes glowing red.
The entire island bore fresh scars from the pirates' assault. In his Kenbunshoku Haki, the lingering life signatures across Fish-Man Island flickered weakly.
The streets were wrecked. Countless civilians lay in shock.
Carl's hand reached for his cigar, snuffing it out.
The air around him thickened.
A tangible wave of invisible force spread outward.
His Haoshoku Haki boiled, his Killing Intent smothering the battlefield like an oncoming storm.
"How dare they… the Big Mom Pirates…"
The ocean itself seemed to tremble.
The New World would soon learn what it meant to make an enemy of Solomon Carl.
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