Kingdom, Cake Island.
Inside the luxurious palace, the space was filled with whimsical, fairy-tale-like colors.
A red carpet imbued with souls smiled cheerfully, tables and sofas shifted themselves into proper positions, and a piano with sparkling eyes played a joyful tune on its own. Even the cakes, desserts, wines, and dishes seemed to have their own consciousness, lining up to serve the guests.
Ribbons fluttered, rainbows danced, and potted flowers harmonized with the piano's melody. The entire hall was alive with laughter and joy.
Without a doubt, these were all creations of Big Mom's Soru Soru no Mi abilities—Homies—animated objects that had come to greet the guests upon their arrival.
Beyond the Homies, peculiar beings from various races—Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, Fishmen, Dwarves, and more—gathered in the corners, adding to the backdrop of this surreal scene.
At the core of this grand dining table were the elite members of the Big Mom Pirates. Aside from the unconscious Snack, the remaining Sweet Commanders were all present.
Familiar faces like Perospero, Oven, and Daifuku were there as well, each wearing different expressions.
At the head of the table sat a tall woman draped in a pirate captain's cloak. Beneath her pirate hat, pink curls flowed down her back, and her towering 8.8-meter frame belonged to none other than Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom herself. She sat casually with one leg crossed, casually eating puffs that leaped into her mouth while scrutinizing Zyhark and his crew across the table.
Initially, when Big Mom heard about this newcomer arriving in her domain, her arrogance made her dismiss him outright. After all, in the era of the great pirates, she had seen many rookies rise to fame quickly—only to either be recruited by stronger pirates or be killed off and thrown into Impel Down.
Even seasoned pirates like Crocodile and Moria had been driven out of the New World, left to hide and wither away in remote corners.
What could a mere rookie like Zyhark possibly achieve?
That's why Big Mom had given Snack the casual order to kill him if he got in the way.
However, her initial dismissal had changed when Katakuri brought her the latest newspaper:
"Victory of Justice: Rear Admiral and Warlord Zyhark successfully recapture the fugitive Flying Pirates, led by the Golden Lion Shiki, sending them back to Impel Down!"
In their effort to suppress the morale of New World pirates, the World Government had published the news. But as usual, they muddied the waters with a clumsy lie—making it seem like an unnamed rear admiral took precedence over Zyhark!
Regardless of the government's spin, the news of Shiki's defeat shook Big Mom.
As a former comrade from the Rocks Pirates, she knew better than anyone the terrifying strength of Shiki—no way would someone lose to the Goro Goro no Mi alone.
Even setting aside the mysterious rear admiral, the fact that Zyhark participated in such a high-level battle proved that the rumors about him were true.
Snack's swift defeat at the hands of an unknown man only confirmed it further.
It wasn't just his Devil Fruit powers—Zyhark, along with his powerful crew, had proven they were worthy of speaking with her as equals!
So, after finishing her cake and feeling in a good mood, Linlin had decided to hear Zyhark out.
Unlike the fearsome Big Mom Pirates, Zyhark's side seemed far less serious:
Aqua was engrossed in a lively conversation with a talking tablecloth, while Meowth and Kanna were fully focused on their meals. King sat like a statue, and Escanor elegantly swirled his wine glass.
Only Zyhark seemed fully engaged, keeping a close eye on Big Mom's crew.
Linlin, sitting between youth and old age, didn't yet appear as unseemly as she would a decade later. Still, her figure was far from beautiful—plump and a bit overbearing, resembling a noblewoman more than a fearsome pirate.
As for Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker, they hadn't changed much aside from being slightly younger.
After the formal introductions, Big Mom's piercing gaze finally landed on Zyhark.
"You didn't come all this way just to freeload, right? Out with it—what's your purpose, brat?" she asked, her voice low and scrutinizing.
Zyhark paused briefly before replying bluntly, "I'm interested in the Road Poneglyph you hold."
From the moment he had set out, Zyhark had prepared for a potential battle with the Big Mom Pirates. There was no point in wasting time with pleasantries. He got straight to the point, ready to fight if necessary.
To Zyhark's surprise, Big Mom didn't react as violently as he had expected. She simply raised an eyebrow in mild surprise but didn't explode in anger.
"Ma ma ma ma ma! I see, I see! You really are as bold as the rumors say—a brat with no boundaries."
She then smiled wickedly and continued, "No problem. You want it? You can look at it as much as you like."
She agreed—just like that!
Katakuri's eyes flashed as he observed his mother's back. He suppressed the urge to intervene.
Zyhark wasn't fooled by Big Mom's unexpectedly generous offer. He stayed silent, knowing that there had to be a catch. Pirates always operated on the basis of exchange and profit—there was no way she'd hand over something so valuable for free.
"But before that, I want to see what else you can do," Big Mom added, her smile widening mischievously. "I'm talking about your abilities besides your lightning powers."
She wanted to gather more intelligence on his abilities before engaging in a direct confrontation.
Zyhark decided to play along and raised his hand, summoning a miniature version of the Sword of the Cliff into the center of the hall.
A column of molten lava erupted from the floor, releasing intense heat and light, scattering the Homies as they fled in panic.
"Ma ma ma ma! Impressive!" Big Mom clapped her hands in delight.
Clearly, this was no ability of the Goro Goro no Mi.
Katakuri, who had been collecting information, had already reported that Zyhark possessed incredible defense and even rumors that he was immune to the sea's weakening effects.
This confirmed the speculation that Zyhark was a member of a rare, powerful race—on par with King the Wildfire.
Slurp.
Thinking about it, Big Mom licked her lips hungrily.
Her gaze toward Zyhark now carried an unsettling mix of greed and something more... intimate.
As their eyes met, Zyhark felt a sudden sense of dread.
"Brat, marry me!" Big Mom said abruptly, her words like a bombshell.
"..."
The shocking statement stunned everyone, including Katakuri and the rest of the crew, as well as Aqua and the others.
The joyful atmosphere of the banquet hall turned dead silent.
"Huh? Huh?!"
After a few seconds of stunned silence, cries of disbelief filled the hall.
Zyhark's mouth twitched, his face dark and filled with speechless frustration. His expression was darker than Blackbeard's beard.
"Pffft—hahahahaha!"
Aqua, her blue eyes wide with disbelief, burst into hysterical laughter, slapping the table as she doubled over.
"Well, well, Zyhark, you lucky devil! Hurry up and accept that old hag's proposal! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" Aqua cackled, nearly collapsing from laughter.
She had been mocked endlessly when Boa Hancock had randomly proposed to Zyhark earlier. But now the tables had turned—this time it was Zyhark's turn to be in the hot seat!
Meowth covered his mouth, barely holding back his laughter, while King and Escanor stood frozen in shock.
Who would've thought that Zyhark's charm could even attract an Emperor of the Sea?
Little did they know, Big Mom's marriage proposal was nothing more than a means to create a powerful offspring...
"Little Zyhark, no!" Kanna, with a determined frown, stepped protectively behind Zyhark, her wary eyes locked onto Big Mom.
"If you marry me, the Poneglyph will be yours. How about it?" Big Mom completely ignored the reactions of the others, her predatory gaze fixed on Zyhark.
For Big Mom, it seemed like a fair trade—Zyhark could gain the Poneglyph, and she would get what she wanted. It would also create an alliance between the Big Mom Pirates and the Endless Dream crew, forming an unprecedented partnership between a Warlord and a Yonko.
In Big Mom's eyes, Zyhark would recognize the benefits of this deal and make the right choice.
With Big Mom's direct offer on the table, all eyes turned to Zyhark, awaiting his response.
"Marriage, huh…" Zyhark sighed deeply, feeling an intense wave of frustration. He had been after her Poneglyph, but now it seemed Big Mom was after his... genes.
Disgraceful! Ridiculous! Shameless!
"I'll be honest... I'm a pretty pure-hearted guy, so... no thanks," Zyhark replied, his tone firm.
Pfft.
The word "pure-hearted" triggered Aqua's laughter again, this time louder and more piercing.
Her shrill laughter echoed through the tense hall, only making the situation more awkward.
"Oh? So you're rejecting me, huh?" Big Mom's eyes darkened immediately.
Red electric arcs of Conqueror's Haki crackled around her, a warning of her rising fury.
"What if, instead of marriage, we simply trade? We have a copy of the Poneglyph as well. We could do a fair exchange," Zyhark suggested, his Haki rising to match Big Mom's aggression.
"An interesting offer... but why choose when I can have both?"
Big Mom stood up abruptly, her grin widening wickedly. "I'll take both you and the Poneglyph!"
As the last word left her lips, her Conqueror's Haki exploded outwards, dark red lightning bolts filling the hall as a suffocating pressure surged toward Zyhark and his crew.
Knowing the situation was beyond diplomacy, Zyhark unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki, meeting Big Mom's head-on.
The two clashing Haki erupted into a storm of energy, tearing through the hall.
Windows shattered, desserts flew into the air, and drinks spilled as the chaotic energy swirled around them.
The Homies, unable to withstand the sheer pressure of the two Haki, collapsed, their souls forcibly ripped out. Even the weaker members of Big Mom's crew fainted on the spot, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
This was the power of two conquerors clashing—ordinary pirates stood no chance.
"Ugh, why do they always have to do this stupid Haki thing before a fight? It's so overplayed!" Aqua complained, looking bored as she stood in the middle of the Haki storm.
"It's probably like charging up in a fighting game. I'm not entirely sure either," King chimed in thoughtfully.
The crew had long since become immune to these displays of Conqueror's Haki.
Even Escanor, who was relatively new to the crew, wasn't fazed—after witnessing Zyhark's battle with Shiki, this was just another day for him.
"Wait, King, when did you put on the Mark II armor, meow?" Meowth asked, surprised to see King already suited up in his high-tech armor.
Unbeknownst to them, King had pre-programmed the armor to activate in case of emergencies. He was always prepared.
"Everyone still conscious, prepare for battle!"
At Big Mom's side, Katakuri, having foreseen the impending battle through his Future Sight Haki, gripped his signature weapon, the Mogura Trident, tightly.
Hearing his command, Cracker, Smoothie, Oven, Daifuku, and the other Big Mom Pirates activated their abilities, ready to tear apart anyone who stood in their way.
Just moments ago, both sides had been enjoying a meal together. Now, they stood on the brink of all-out war.
Such was the brutal and unpredictable nature of the pirate world.
"Interesting. It seems my Rita has been thirsting for battle for quite some time," Escanor declared, fully embracing his power as noon approached.
With each passing second, Escanor's power grew stronger, and the intense flames around him made him seem even more fearsome.
The surge of Escanor's strength was so powerful that it disrupted the clash of Haki, tilting the balance toward Zyhark's side.
"Mama, I'm coming to help!"
Katakuri leaped to Big Mom's side, his eyes flashing as he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki.
With four powerful auras colliding, the hall could no longer contain the immense pressure. The energies splintered into countless crackling arcs before dissipating into the air.
"Elbaf Spear: Ikoku!"
Big Mom was the first to make a move, unleashing a devastating slash that cut through the air with terrifying speed and power.
"100 Million Volts: Dual Blades of Thunder Dragon!"
Zyhark retaliated with a massive lightning dragon, its scales crackling with electricity as it surged forward.
The two attacks collided in midair, creating a massive explosion that obliterated the entire hall.
(End of Chapter)
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