"That sword… is that where the title Fire Sword God came from?"
From a distance, Stussy watched the clash between Big Mom and Rhett Vane with sharp attention. Her eyes fixated on the blade in Vane's hand—Ryujin Jakka. When dormant, it appeared like a simple sword, the kind you'd see collecting dust in any weapons shop. But once it unleashed its flames, it radiated terror. The sheer heat made it clear—this blade was far from ordinary.
"Could this pirate really be on the same level as Charlotte Linlin?"
"If that's true, things just got a lot more complicated."
As a CP0 operative, Stussy was assigned to monitor or eliminate Vane, the man who dared defy the Celestial Dragons. Taking him down wasn't just her mission, it was her obligation. But looking at the battle unfolding, she began to question whether anyone could.
Meanwhile, Vane's Ryujin Jakka flared to life. The temperature soared, reaching that of the sun's surface. These flames were part of Vane's soul, and so they posed no harm to him—but Big Mom was already feeling the pressure of the rising heat.
"What an unbearable temperature!"
Even from ten meters away, the heatwave was oppressive. Big Mom frowned, curious yet unfazed.
"So this is where 'Fire Sword God' comes from?"
"Fire sword? Tch, what a pathetic nickname from the Marines."
Vane lunged forward and slashed at Sun Prometheus. But Big Mom intercepted the strike, her fist cloaked in Armament Haki. Her defense only held for a moment—the unbearable heat forced her to pull her hand away. Prometheus hovered behind her while Thundercloud Zeus swirled beneath her feet, forming a thunderous platform.
"Don't think you can harm Prometheus while I'm watching!"
Big Mom reached for her signature pink bicorn hat, Napoleon. It transformed into a massive sword in her hand.
"Sun Prometheus!"
With her roar, Prometheus descended, attaching himself to her hair, turning it into a mane of blazing fire. Despite the inferno, Big Mom remained unscathed—after all, Prometheus was her own creation. Zeus darkened beneath her, crackling with electricity.
Flames now surrounded her giant sword as well. Though not as fierce as the fire enveloping Ryujin Jakka, the power was unmistakable.
"Emperor's Sword!"
Big Mom roared and brought her massive weapon down upon Vane.
"This woman's insane."
Vane stared at the flames erupting from her head as her sword came crashing down. Without flinching, he raised his own burning blade to counter.
A thunderous explosion followed as their weapons clashed. The shockwave ripped through the battlefield, shaking the ground and flattening nearby buildings. Dust, debris, and raw energy blasted in every direction. The sheer force shredded everything in a one-meter radius.
"So strong!"
Even Stussy, standing dozens of meters away, was swept away by the force. She grabbed her hat just in time as the air trembled around her.
"Two pirates of equal strength! Besides Kaido, that madman obsessed with death.
Fights at this level are rare! Except for Kaido provoking them, nothing like this has happened in the last decade!"
The clash between Vane and Big Mom continued, sword against sword. The battlefield was in ruins—entire blocks crumbled, and the very earth split open beneath them. Neither of the two combatants cared for the devastation they left behind. Anyone witnessing the spectacle would be struck with awe.
This was the power of a Yonko-level battle.
If word spread that Rhett Vane had fought Charlotte Linlin to a standstill—or even survived—it would shake the world.
A new Pirate Emperor.
"I need to report this immediately."
Stussy backed away quickly. The waves of power from the two fighters made even her breathing difficult. She retreated another twenty meters into a narrow alley and pulled out a special Den Den Mushi from her bag.
This wasn't an ordinary line. It connected directly to the Five Elders—the highest authority in the World Government.
Stussy's report was swift and detailed. She had spent years undercover on Totto Land as a guest and confidant of Big Mom, all while secretly serving the Celestial Dragons. Her age and deep ties to the Underworld helped secure her position as one of Big Mom's trusted guests.
After her transmission, silence filled the line from the Five Elders' end.
No one could say how this would unfold.
Stussy: "So far, the fight seems balanced. I can't tell who's stronger."
Elder with the sword: "You're saying their strength is equal?"
Stussy: "It looks that way."
But in truth, even a report to the Five Elders changed little. The real action would come from the Navy Headquarters.
Elder with the sword: "Let us know when it's over."
Stussy: "Understood. My lords, what's the final plan?"
Elder with the long beard: "We won't intervene directly, not at this range."
Elder with the sword: "But if the opportunity arises… Stussy, kill him. Do it quickly. Don't let him escape Totto Land."
The short-haired Elder added coldly: "A monster like him cannot be allowed to grow. The balance we've maintained for decades will collapse. The Shichibukai system is already obsolete. In the New World, four Emperors are enough. We don't need a fifth."
"Stussy, your flying finger gun is among the best. How effective is it right now?"
Stussy: "I can kill a target from a thousand meters away."
The flying finger gun—an advanced form of the Rokushiki technique—could be fired with bullet-like precision. Stussy's skill made her lethal from extreme range.
Elder with the sword: "His body may be strong, but every body has weaknesses. Aim for the head. Kill him. Do not let him leave that island."
"Also, retrieve the corpse and return it to Mary Geoise."
"The corpse?"
"Don't ask. You shouldn't."
The cold, absolute command came down like the judgment of Im-sama himself—the true power behind the World Government.
Extinguish the light.
The body of a dual Devil Fruit user like Vane held secrets. If they could deliver it to Vegapunk, the possibilities were endless. With Bartholomew Kuma's body and Kizaru's lasers already forming the backbone of Pacifista research, Vane's body could elevate the program even further.
"Stussy, don't fail us."
"…Understood."
Her expression turned grim. The command had been given. She would kill Rhett Vane.
And she would make sure he never left Totto Land alive.
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