Totto Land, the sea surrounding the nation.
Five full days had passed since Xiano's declaration of war, and the entire country had long been enveloped in a tense atmosphere of preparation for battle.
A formidable enemy was approaching!
Their opponent—a man who stood as one of the Sea Emperors alongside their mother!
—Xiano, with a bounty exceeding four billion Berries, hailed as the World's Greatest Swordsman!
Since the founding of Totto Land, the expansion of the BIGMOM Pirate Crew had slowed considerably.
This also meant that the Charlotte Family hadn't engaged in a full-scale war of this magnitude for quite some time.
Some of the younger siblings couldn't help but feel nervous in the face of such a grand confrontation.
At this moment.
On the terrace of Whole Cake Castle.
"Brother Katakuri, is that Xiano really that terrifying?"
The eleven-year-old Charlotte Brûlée clutched the hem of her skirt and asked in a small voice.
Originally, she had been immersed in researching chocolate recipes, dreaming of opening her own café and dessert shop once she grew a little older.
But starting a few days ago,
the atmosphere had inexplicably shifted. Her siblings of similar age gathered together day and night, heatedly debating who would win this war.
Hearing so much of it, Brûlée couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She didn't particularly like her mother. Because of the third eye on her forehead, she had been despised by her since childhood—even forced to cover it with her bangs.
At the last Tea Party, if Katakuri hadn't intervened, their mother had even planned to send her, barely ten years old at the time, as a political marriage candidate for Xiano.
But…
Even at her age, she understood one thing: all the glory and safety of Totto Land rested solely on their mother's shoulders.
If their mother lost to that Xiano, Totto Land would…
In that case, would she still be able to open her café?
Katakuri remained silent, arms crossed, standing at the edge of the castle wall as he gazed at the distant horizon.
"Yeah, he really is a terrifying guy."
After a long pause, he finally murmured in response.
Truly, truly terrifying.
This was something he had confirmed the moment that man first entered the New World.
And precisely because of this,
Katakuri had always advocated maintaining friendly relations with him. It was his efforts that had secured the Curtain Closer's participation in last year's Tea Party—even going so far as to serve as his sparring partner for an entire week.
For the sake of the family's future, he had done everything he could.
But.
Oh, Mother…
Was it worth it? To destroy this hard-earned peace, all for the sake of chasing an impossible fantasy?
A sudden weariness washed over Katakuri.
Still.
No matter how tangled his thoughts were, he couldn't show them in front of his little sister.
So when he turned around, his expression had already returned to normal. He gently ruffled Brûlée's hair and smiled.
"But there's no need to worry, Brûlée. Besides Mother, you still have your brothers. No matter what, no one will be able to hurt you."
"Brother Katakuri…"
Brûlée felt a surge of warmth in her heart at his gentle reassurance.
She shyly turned her head away, about to say something.
Buru buru, buru buru—!!
The wall-mounted Den Den Mushi of a special model suddenly emitted a piercing alarm sound.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The Sea Slugs deployed at the perimeter have sent signals. A massive fleet has been spotted at approximately seven o'clock!"
"They are expected to arrive in Totto Land waters within 90 minutes!"
It's the Curtain Closer!
The alarm signal wasn't limited to Whole Cake Island; it simultaneously spread to over thirty other islands.
The Charlotte children and the other officers within the BIGMOM Pirate Crew, no matter what they were doing, all stopped in their tracks at the same time, looking up in the direction of the signal with solemn expressions.
Although they had been preparing for this all along, the moment had truly arrived!
"It's time to move out!"
Katakuri took a deep breath and gave one last glance at Brulee's pale face before calmly saying:
"Brulee, just keep focusing on making your chocolates. After all, the agreed time hasn't come yet, right? Once we crush these invaders, I'll come back and savor them properly."
With those words, his body suddenly shot upward, reaching the highest point of Whole Cake Castle in an instant. Then, using Moon Walk, he dashed toward the docks of Whole Cake Island.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In no time, he became a tiny black dot in the distance.
"..."
Brulee, still feeling the lingering warmth above her head, clenched her small fists tightly as she stared in the direction where Katakuri had disappeared.
No matter who the opponent is, I believe in you!
This time, you must win again.
My undefeated brother, Katakuri!
——————
"The enemy is approaching fast—they're already in sight! We're about to clash!"
At the outer edges of Totto Land's waters, the azure sea surface was suddenly engulfed by a massive shadow.
It was an overwhelmingly large pink ship, like a floating castle on the sea, blocking the path of the fleet and completely sealing off the route to Totto Land.
Queen Mama Chanter!
The flagship of the BIGMOM Pirate Crew, one of the most feared vessels on the seas!
Its design was extravagantly flamboyant—the hull painted in bright pink, the edges of the deck adorned with cream-like engravings, and the mast flying a flag bearing a skull with lipstick.
Most striking of all was the figurehead—a giant singing, talking face with rolling eyes, scrutinizing the approaching fleet of the Curtain Closer.
The earlier warning had come from it—
"They're coming, Mama! Getting closer and closer!"
Surrounding it, over sixty pirate ships had already gathered, most shaped like two-layered Tarts.
They lined up densely, forming a protective formation around BIGMOM's flagship at the center!
"All hands, highest alert!"
On the deck of the Queen Mama Chanter, Katakuri's cold, commanding voice carried across the entire fleet with the sea breeze.
Standing at the highest point of the bow, his red scarf fluttering wildly in the wind, he gripped his trident, Earth Dragon, firmly.
"The Sweet Commanders and core officers are the key to this battle—give it your absolute best! Everyone else, take your positions! Adjust formations as planned and prepare for battle!"
"Yes, Lord Katakuri!"
The pirates responded in unison, beginning their final preparations—some adjusted the angles of their cannons for precise aiming, while others started turning the rudders.
Dozens of tart warships swiftly completed their formation adjustments, forming a crescent-shaped encirclement on the vast sea, trapping the vanguard of the Curtain Closer.
Meanwhile, the Sweet Commanders emerged one after another from the cabins, all gathering at the very front of the deck.
"Facing the 'Four Calamities,' huh? It's a perfect match for us, the Sweet Commanders," came Cracker's eerie laughter from within the pile of Biscuit Soldiers.
"Hey, Brother Katakuri, shall we stick to the plan from the earlier strategy meeting? Each of us picks our opponent, and you handle that mysterious Swordsman, Issho?"
"Star Fall" Issho, with a bounty exceeding two billion Berries.
In the Emperor Crews, only Red Hair's vice-captain could match that, surpassing even King and Marco.
Though no one had heard of him before the Sabaody Incident, that staggering bounty was undeniably intimidating.
"Kukukukuku, if it's Katakuri, he can handle it, right?" Perospero licked his chin with his long tongue, grinning.
"We're fighting on home turf. Whether it's numbers or quality, our officers outclass theirs. The only wild card is this Issho..."
"Of course, I have that confidence, Brother Perospero," Katakuri said, gazing into the distance. "But from the looks of it, we've miscalculated. That Issho doesn't seem to be here at all."
From the approaching fleet, the only strong auras he could sense were the familiar ones—all of whom had appeared at the last Tea Party without exception.
"Eh?" Cracker froze, poking his head out from the Biscuit Soldiers. "That fatty didn't come? Does that mean..."
"We're being underestimated," Smoothie sneered, clutching her longsword. "As expected of a man I once took an interest in. But to attack Totto Land without even bringing all his top officers? That's sheer arrogance."
"Mamamama! Isn't this perfect?!" A deafening laugh suddenly erupted from within the Queen Mama Chanter's cabin.
Thud. Thud.
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, BIGMOM's massive figure appeared on the deck, striding toward the bow.
"Mother!"
The Charlotte siblings on either side hastily retreated like a receding tide, clearing a wide path.
"Hey," one Charlotte whispered after observing for a while, lowering his voice to his twin brother beside him. "It's weird. It's been days, but Mother still hasn't used that Bonney girl's ability to regain her youth."
"It's probably because of that. Mother, you see, is the type who values so-called Pirate honor," the brother whispered back. "But I heard her temper's been getting harder to control lately. If this war had been delayed another two days, that little girl might've ended up eaten by Mother."
Their conversation went unnoticed by BIGMOM.
"Mamamama! Are they afraid of retaliation from the Marines or the World Government? Is that why they had to leave their strongest forces behind to guard their base?"
She grinned, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"That should be about right... Pretty easy to guess. With the numerical disadvantage and all these hesitations preventing a full-scale assault, they're only destined for a one-way trip!"
"Hey, Katakuri! Order all flanking fleets to advance and open fire. Let these rookies of the Curtain Closers get a proper taste of our firepower first!"
Her fleet of Tart ships might look pink and harmless on the outside.
But the firepower they conceal is among the most formidable on these seas!
"Yes, Mama."
Katakuri responded solemnly.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and began issuing commands. As time ticked by, the vanguard of the Curtain Closers' fleet had completely entered their firing range.
"Fire!"
At Katakuri's command, the cannons of dozens of Tart warships simultaneously ignited!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A torrent of cannonballs poured forth like a storm, carving hundreds of scorching trails across the sky, nearly enveloping all of the Curtain Closers' ships in shadow.
"Even if that old man Whitebeard brought his grand fleet here, he'd be in for a world of hurt!"
BIGMOM roared with laughter, "You brat! With your pathetic little ships, you're still far from ready!"
Katakuri remained silent, a crimson glint flashing in his eyes as he murmured to himself, "At this level, there's no need for me to intervene personally?"
"Mama!" His expression suddenly changed, "They're all coming back!"
"What?" BIGMOM turned her head in surprise.
Almost in the next instant!
WHOOSH!
Two nearly transparent giant Bear Paws abruptly unfolded before the Curtain Closers' fleet, rapidly expanding with the wind.
Within mere seconds, they had swollen to a size that blotted out the sky, large enough to cover the entire fleet!
"Ursus Shock!"
Accompanied by a deep voice, Kuma appeared on the deck at the forefront of the fleet.
He pressed his palms together, then forcefully pushed them outward.
BANG!
The massive Bear Paw barriers instantly erupted with blinding light, deflecting all the incoming cannonballs and sending them hurtling back toward the Charlotte Family's fleet!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The fastest of the rebounded cannonballs exploded directly amidst the Charlotte fleet. Several of the leading Tart ships were immediately engulfed in raging flames, with Pirates scrambling in panic to put out the fires.
As for the remaining barrage of cannonballs still raining down...
"You've got some nerve, Kuma!"
BIGMOM's eyes blazed with fury as her massive figure suddenly leaped high from the deck, bellowing:
"Hera!"
(End of chapter)