Whole Cake
Inside the colossal castle made of layered cake and sugar, the Den Den Mushi went silent the instant Charlotte Linlin — the dreaded Big Mom — ordered in her deep, commanding voice:
"Remove that Den Den Mushi from here."
Law's cold, calculating eyes showed no emotion, yet the faint sweat on his temple betrayed the pressure of the presence before him.
Big Mom turned toward one of her most loyal daughters, Charlotte Smoothie, who stood beside her with impeccable posture.
"Our guest must be treated well. Smoothie, tell the kitchen to prepare the desserts — something worthy of a special visitor."
"Yes, Mama," she replied, bowing slightly before leaving in silence.
Soon after, Law was escorted by several Homies to the grand dining hall.
The table before him was absurdly extravagant — mountains of candy, towering three-tier cakes, chocolate fountains, and colorful bubbling juices.
The sweetness in the air was almost dizzying.
But Law wasn't hungry.
In truth, the very idea of eating anything offered by Big Mom was practically suicide.
He stared at the desserts suspiciously, wondering how many might be poisoned... or even possessed by souls.
Still, with dozens of eyes fixed on him — children, ministers, and even the living creations of the Yonkou — he swallowed dryly and took a small bite.
A burst of sugar and butter melted on his tongue.
For a brief moment, Law nearly forgot where he was.
Damn it... it's too good.
---
Hours Later
Peace didn't last long.
The once-clear blue sky darkened within seconds.
Thunder rumbled over the island, and a heavy rain began to fall — but something was wrong.
"It's hot!" someone shouted in panic.
"This rain... it's boiling water?!"
From every corner of Sweet City, citizens and subordinates looked upward in terror.
The black clouds swallowed the sun completely, and the sizzling rain hissed like a living beast.
Above the storm... something enormous was moving.
"Hey, is that... an island?!"
Panic spread like wildfire.
Smoothie rushed out of the castle, unleashing her Observation Haki.
Her senses expanded like a wave across the sky and sea — and what she detected made her blood run cold.
"There are... so many powerful presences. All coming from the same direction!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Go warn Mama — the Straw Hats are here!"
"Straw Hat Luffy?!" gasped the onlookers.
Within minutes, Charlotte Linlin emerged from the castle, surrounded by her strongest children — Perospero, Oven, Daifuku, and others.
Law was forced to follow, silent and tense.
When they looked up, they saw it —
a massive floating landmass hanging above Whole Cake Island like a living shadow.
An entire island... suspended in the sky.
"That's not... the Lion's Devil Fruit power, is it?" murmured Perospero in disbelief.
"They brought an island over our heads?!"
"If the deal fails, they'll drop it... and wipe us out," Smoothie said grimly.
Big Mom raised her hand, letting a few drops of the boiling rain fall onto her palm.
Even for her, it was hot — but there was something else.
"This... isn't normal rain," she muttered, frowning. "These droplets carry Haki."
Smoothie's eyes widened. "They're... probing us?"
Before anyone could react, a massive boulder broke off from the floating island and descended slowly, landing before the gathered army.
A sound shell rested atop it.
Big Mom snatched it up with disdain.
"Hmph. What cheap trick is this, Straw Hat?"
She pressed the button — and a familiar voice echoed out:
"I'm up here... if you've got the guts, come get me."
It was Monkey D. Luffy.
Big Mom's teeth ground together as fury trembled through her body.
"That arrogant brat!" she roared, crushing the sound shell in her fist — the snap echoing like thunder.
"Gather everyone! We're going up there — NOW!"
---
The Banquet Hall
Deep inside the castle, the banquet hall was eerily quiet.
A soft breeze rustled the curtains.
Luffy slowly opened his eyes, lying across a massive dining table.
The first thing he saw was Uta — unconscious, face flushed, sprawled on the wood.
Her colorful hair clung to her cheek, and a puddle of spilled drink glistened beneath her.
"Don't drag me back into your song world again..." Luffy thought to himself with a faint chuckle.
Uta groaned and pushed herself up, glaring daggers at him.
"Luffy! This is all your fault!"
"My fault? I was just resting."
"What you did to me is not resting, you idiot!"
He lifted his hands in mock innocence.
"I'd love to argue, but our guests are here, so maybe later, huh?"
Just then, the ground trembled.
Massive double doors burst open with a thunderous boom as Charlotte Linlin entered, flanked by her children and surrounded by a wave of Conqueror's Haki.
"Straw Hat... so you really came to me!"
Her gaze swept across the room — and in an instant, a crushing wave of Conqueror's Haki filled the air.
The floor cracked. The air itself quivered.
Several of her weaker subordinates fainted on the spot.
Luffy, however, merely lifted his cup and took a sip of tea.
Beside him, Zoro grinned — and a second wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body, colliding with hers like two storms clashing in the air.
The shockwave rattled the chandeliers, flipped tables, and sent curtains flying.
Big Mom's crew looked at one another, terrified.
"The same level as Mama's Haki?! Impossible!"
"He's... matching her?!"
Katakuri watched silently, his jaw tense.
Zoro... that damned swordsman... he's growing faster than anyone should.
The pressure alone made him realize something horrifying — the Straw Hats' power had already surpassed every expectation.
Big Mom, pale, narrowed her eyes.
Her Conqueror's Haki hadn't overwhelmed Zoro's.
It was like hitting an unmovable wall.
Ridiculous... a mere subordinate...
Before the tension could erupt into all-out war, Luffy set down his cup and smiled.
"Zoro, relax. They're guests — it's not time for a fight yet."
Instantly, the atmosphere calmed.
The Conqueror's pressure faded.
Zoro took a swig straight from his sake bottle and muttered,
"Thought it was about time to cut someone."
Luffy laughed under his breath.
Big Mom bit her lip, restraining her fury.
But deep down, she knew — if she fought here, she might lose more than just her pride.
Luffy crossed his arms and gestured toward the table.
"Sit down. 3! Serve our guests some tea."
Mr. 3, trembling under the leftover Haki, obeyed immediately.
Big Mom strode to the long table and sat, her glare locked on Luffy.
Her voice came out like a contained thunderclap:
"You don't need to serve me tea, Straw Hat. Let's start this talk... before I lose my patience."
Luffy leaned back, grinning as if it were a casual picnic.
"Sure thing, Grandma. Let's talk."
The entire hall fell silent.
---
(End of Chapter)
Sorry for the lack of chapters, I had a commitment that consumed my time these past two days