The blinding flash of light split the thunderclouds in the sky into two. High above, Kizaru gazed down at Charlotte Linlin, who was gradually losing her sanity.
During her journey to Marineford, Linlin's children had frantically offered her various desserts to stave off her intense cravings for Klee's jerky. Yet, over time, her obsession grew uncontrollable. Now, she teetered on the edge of madness.
"Give me that jerky!"
Bellowing, Charlotte Linlin pointed toward the shattered thunderclouds above, which had been blasted apart by Kizaru's light cannons.
"Thunder!"
Souls emerged from Linlin's body, surging back into the clouds.
Boom!
The fragmented thunderclouds rapidly transformed. A pair of enormous eyes emerged from the clouds, and with Linlin's will, a bolt of lightning struck toward Kizaru like a divine pillar.
"Oh my, as expected of an Emperor," Kizaru murmured, adjusting his sunglasses as he looked at the descending bolt.
"But with the Four Emperors gathered here and the seas already under control…"
"There's no need to hold back anymore."
For the first time, Kizaru stood straight, shedding his usual laziness. His right hand extended toward the lightning column, and a golden flash shot from his finger.
The smile on the Homies within the thundercloud froze as Kizaru's light pierced through them. The clouds disintegrated completely.
On the massive pirate ship below, a muscular red-haired man stood not far from Linlin. His pupils dilated with terror as he yanked the scarf from his neck, exposing scarred cheeks.
"Mama! Dodge it!"
Charlotte Katakuri, Linlin's second son, roared in panic. Using his advanced Observation Haki, which allowed him to foresee the future, he had glimpsed what was to come. In his vision, the Marine Admiral known as Kizaru would unleash a power he couldn't comprehend, easily defeating his mother.
Moving at supersonic speed, Katakuri dashed toward Linlin, who stood dazed and drooling, her eyes devoid of focus.
"I have to make it!"
Katakuri's desperate howl echoed as Kizaru spread his arms wide against the backdrop of the sun.
"Light, obey me."
The bright world plunged into darkness, an all-encompassing void swallowing everything, leaving only a faint glimmer of light in the sky.
Reaching out to touch the glowing fragment, which shimmered as if alive, Kizaru's expression softened with an almost tender smile.
"Illuminate the world," he whispered.
The speck of light seemed to caress Kizaru's face before descending into the void below. In the darkness, the light scattered like fireflies, dancing until they found their places.
The fragments transformed into starlight, which then became a radiant sun, illuminating the world.
Frozen in place, Katakuri stared at the now-vanished Linlin, swallowed by the sun's emergence. He raised his hand instinctively, shielding his siblings behind him. If death was inevitable, it was his duty as an elder brother to face it first.
"Oh dear, this won't do."
A casual voice broke through the silence. Opening his eyes, Katakuri realized Kizaru now stood before him, holding the radiant sun.
With a smirk, Kizaru wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead and chuckled. "Oops, I got carried away and forgot this isn't a training ground. Nearly destroyed everything… that would've been bad for business. Sengoku might've fired me for this."
Casually rolling the miniature sun like a dough ball, Kizaru shrank it into a marble-sized sphere and tucked it into his personal dimension.
From the high platform, Sengoku remained seated, his expression stoic. By now, nothing could surprise him.
Broadcasts across the world displayed Qiqi's calm demeanor as she held a massive microphone. Her crimson eyes gazed at the Den Den Mushi.
"The bad granny… has been defeated by Uncle Kizaru."
Her concise declaration announced the demise of Big Mom to the world. Viewers everywhere held their breath, captivated by the icy yet endearing girl on screen.
As the camera shifted, the battlefield came into view. A towering man with horns glared furiously at a younger figure before him. Gripping his spiked club, Kaido roared, his anger palpable.
"Linlin is dead! If not for you stopping me, I could've saved her and repaid my debt! But now that she's gone, I'll kill you and make that bastard who killed her pay with his life!"
With an explosive roar, Kaido swung his club, black and purple lightning crackling as it descended upon Hiroshi. The immense force compressed the air into a near-liquid state, pinning Hiroshi in place.
Smiling, Hiroshi raised his arm to meet the attack.
"I heard your Devil Fruit powers let you transform into a dragon. Show me."