Ever since the news of Katakuri's defeat and the Big Mom Pirates' downfall spread, the skies above Whole Cake Island had never stopped rumbling.
Thunderclouds screamed in fury, echoing the rage of the Yonko, Charlotte Linlin, herself.
She was consumed by a storm of wrath that refused to subside. From the very day she heard the news, countless members of her own crew had perished by her hand.
"Unforgivable… unforgivable…" Big Mom muttered through bloodshot eyes, her massive frame trembling with fury.
In that instant, she sensed an all-too-familiar chakra, Arima, hovering right above her castle.
"So, you've finally come… you sinner! I'll judge you myself!"
Gripping her living sword, Napoleon, and stepping upon the thundercloud Zeus, Big Mom tore through the rooftop in a burst of lightning and rage, surging into the sky to confront Arima.
Their enmity ran deep. Years ago, Big Mom had joined forces with Kaido and the Marines to launch a three-way siege against Arima.
Later, she'd even taken advantage of his absence to sneak into Loguetown and ambush his ship, the Konoha Senju.
The moment they locked eyes again, no words were exchanged, only violence.
Elsewhere, Tsunade fought fiercely against a tide of enemies, including two of the remaining "Sweet Commanders": Charlotte Snack, and Charlotte Smoothie.
Big Mom's physical defense was monstrous. Still each strike from that black staff carved agony into her flesh, a searing, soul-tearing pain.
Whether from the pain or her uncontrollable fury, Big Mom fought like a mad beast, swinging wildly without care for her life.
Arima swung his staff, and instantly, a barrier of Truth-Seeking Orbs rose before him, effortlessly blocking her unrelenting assaults.
Seeing her sword aura blocked, Big Mom roared and dove from above, cleaving downward with overwhelming strength and terrifying power.
The force of her swing made the Truth-Seeking barrier tremble, cracks rippling across its surface.
Her scream carried across the heavens, a monstrous sound wave that shattered the land below.
The citizens of Totto Land clutched their heads in terror as buildings crumbled under the roar.
Arima, standing at the epicenter, felt his mind reel from the sonic blast. Big Mom seized the chance and sent him crashing into the sea below.
She wanted him dead, body and soul.
"Zeus! Swallow him whole!"
Riding her storm, Big Mom commanded the raging sea itself, sending monstrous waves to drown Arima.
But she didn't know, Arima had already used Kamui to slip into another dimension. In the next instant, he reappeared silently behind her.
By now, Arima had gauged the effect of his black staff against her Haki. Though she appeared uninjured, he could tell her body was nearing its limits.
Meanwhile, Tsunade's battle turned dire. Smoothie managed to land a surprise attack, injuring her severely.
Seeing Tsunade falter and Big Mom growing ever more berserk, Arima decided to end it quickly.
"Planetary Devastation!"
A black sphere shot from his palm and floated high above Big Mom.
To subdue such a relentless monster, Arima unleashed Planetary Devastation in his Six Paths Mode for the first time.
The sphere's gravity surged, pulling everything toward it. Big Mom, realizing the danger, gritted her teeth through the pain and urged Zeus to flee.
But no matter how she struggled, her massive body was dragged inexorably toward the dark core.
Seeing no escape, she roared one last time and swung Napoleon down upon the sphere.
The blade's energy shredded layers of seawater and debris clinging to the sphere, but it couldn't harm the dense black core within.
The remaining Big Mom Pirates saw their "Mama" being pulled toward the black vortex and panicked, launching desperate attacks at the sphere.
But the sphere devoured everything, their blasts, their screams, like a bottomless maw.
Blood seeped from Big Mom's pores. Her eyes went glassy, her face twisted in madness.
The once-feared Empress of the Sea, who had ruled for decades, now faced her end in delirium and ruin.
Arima appeared beside Tsunade, pressed his palms together, and poured more chakra into the black sphere. Its gravitational force spiked.
In a flash, Big Mom, the remaining Sweet Commanders, and every last soldier on the island were dragged in and sealed.
Whole Cake Island vanished, leaving behind a massive stone sphere floating in silence.
Arima reached out and touched it. Dark mist flowed from his arm, enveloping the sphere until it was swallowed into an endless void.
With the fall of the Big Mom Pirates, every Devil Fruit power in Totto Land disappeared.
The islands' residents gasped as the strange strength left their bodies, returning them to normal, souls freed from unnatural bondage.
Arima healed Tsunade's wounds, lifted her gently in his arms, and returned to their home on Skypiea.
News of Whole Cake Island's disappearance and Totto Land's restoration spread like wildfire.
The Big Mom Pirates' intelligence network had rivaled even the World Government's CP0.
Now, without their queen, their vast spy organization became a feast for vultures. Every major power turned its gaze toward Big Mom's legacy, the unclaimed Totto Land Kingdom.
Holy Land, Mariejois.
The Five Elders convened in haste to discuss the consequences of Big Mom's fall.
"We can't allow Arima to act unchecked any longer. He must be punished!" growled the bald elder, his sword gleaming in the lamplight.
"I agree," said the elder with the long mustache gravely. "We can contact Kaido. He was close to Linlin, and Arima's greatest rival."
"What about bait?" the bearded elder asked.
"Didn't they build Konoha on Skypiea? And there's a direct passage between the White Soil Island and the sky itself.
We'll feign an assault on White Soil, then launch a full-scale strike on Skypiea when it's undefended.
With his family there, Arima won't dare to run," said the blond elder, eyes narrowing.
"The Science Division must accelerate development. The attack on Skypiea will commence at the start of next year," the curly-haired elder ordered.
"Agreed!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sengoku's brows were furrowed tighter than ever.
"That damn Arima, can't go two days without causing trouble. The man just poked another hole in the sky!"
Across from him, Garp burst into hearty laughter.
"Hah! Isn't it a good thing? He just wiped out one of our biggest headaches!"
"Garp, stop joking around! You know how delicate the balance is.
Now that Big Mom's gone, the New World will descend into chaos! We barely have the manpower to manage the seas as it is. Arima, he kills, but never cleans up the mess!"
Sengoku shot him an exasperated glare.
"What can I do? I've only got these two fists. Point me at someone, and I'll punch them!" Garp said nonchalantly, digging in his nose.
Sengoku rubbed his temples, then suddenly had an idea. "What if we let Arima take control of Totto Land himself?"
Garp blinked. "No chance. The kid won't abandon Skypiea after building it up for ten years. He just wants to live in peace, not play king of the seas."
"Still… Garp, call him. Tell him Totto Land's in chaos, that it'll soon become a battlefield."
"…Alright, alright, I'll try."
Garp pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.