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Aboard the Queen Mama Chanter. Smoothie nervously dialled Big Mom's number, her expression grim.
Although the mission's failure was due to unavoidable circumstances, she knew that with Big Mom's temperament, a punishment was inevitable.
"Mamamama! Smoothie, why are you calling me? Did you successfully capture that bastard Pizarro?" The call connected, and Big Mom's unique laugh echoed from the receiver.
Gulp—!
She instinctively swallowed. Smoothie's voice was strained as she said, "Mama, we've run into a situation over here."
"Hmm—!?"
The elongated tone made Smoothie's heart pound with anxiety. She knew this was the prelude to her mother's rage.
"Mama, we ran into the 'Byakko.' That guy, Kanos Atlas, showed up on Broccoli Island for some reason. He's the Marine who fought Kaido a few days ago."
Without giving Big Mom time to explode, Smoothie quickly explained the current situation.
"Atlas? Mamamama! I remember now. So it's that brat. What an infuriating memory."
On the other end of the line, Big Mom bared her teeth, veins bulging on her forehead. She had clearly recalled something very unpleasant.
"Stall him for me! I'm going to settle the score with him this time! Mamamamama!"
Big Mom remembered very clearly how Atlas had killed Oven and frequently harassed Totto Land's waters.
She was... extremely vindictive!
...
Broccoli Island, the port.
The high-speed, rotating trident thrusts toward Atlas's face with terrifying power. Countless roars echoed as the surrounding air vibrated violently.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Atlas calmly watched the approaching Mole Trident. A bright red light flared in his eyes as he forced his body to the side, narrowly dodging the trident's tines.
Peak Observation Haki! Future Sight!
As expected... This guy's Observation Haki has already reached the same level as his.
During their last fight, Katakuri had already sensed that Atlas's Observation Haki was close to the level of Future Sight.
But even so, he had not anticipated that "close" meant only a few short years.
However, Katakuri was mistaken. In reality, not long after being hunted by Big Mom, Atlas had successfully achieved Future Sight with the help of the Sheep Talisman.
And this was something only Marco was really aware of.
Although both were first mates of Emperor crews, they weren't exactly on friendly terms. Every time they met, they would fight.
"You're too slow, Katakuri!"
Atlas couldn't help but tap his brow, chuckling softly.
"Although you're much stronger than before... my progress is far greater than you imagine!!"
Swish!
The moment he finished speaking, Atlas's figure shot forward, leaving a deep crater where he had stood. His fist erupted in flames, pulsing with powerful explosive energy.
In less than an instant, the massive fist was right in front of Katakuri.
"Let me show you just how wide the gap between us has become!"
Atlas's application of the Dragon Talisman was no longer just about spewing explosive flames.
He could now use the recoil from an instantaneous burst of power to achieve unexpected effects. It was like how Akainu developed the Magma-Magma Fruit.
He didn't just focus on the magma's high temperature; he simulated his body as a volcano, using the explosive force of an eruption to crush his enemies!
Faced with this menacing punch, even Katakuri, who had prepared himself, winced slightly.
He made a split-second decision, immediately using his Devil Fruit Awakening. The surrounding buildings and ground were rapidly assimilated, turning into white mochi!
A thick, black defensive wall abruptly appeared in front of him.
Boom—!
A massive explosion rang out. The terrifying shockwave billowed as the fist, packed with immense explosive force, slammed into the defensive wall.
The massive explosive flames spread like a plague, rapidly engulfing the entire barrier!
The wall, which had seemed indestructible, quickly crumbled, and a giant arm burst through!
"This level of explosive power..."
Seeing this, Katakuri's heart grew heavier, but his mind remained exceptionally calm, a flash of red in his eyes.
He had to admit, Atlas was even more difficult to deal with than he was years ago. Back then, Atlas had only surpassed him in strength.
He never thought that after just a few years, Atlas's physique and strength would both be at a level that completely crushed him!
However, he couldn't afford to get lost in thought. Atlas's fist was upon him!
—[Shrink]—
His chest suddenly caved in, allowing the fist, filled with destructive power, to pass right through his body.
"I..."
Atlas raised an eyebrow, not at all surprised. He gave Katakuri a ferocious grin. "I predicted your prediction!"
If Katakuri's Observation Haki could foresee events 3 seconds into the future, then Atlas, with the Sheep Talisman, could predict a full 5 seconds!
Not good!
A bad feeling suddenly struck Katakuri, and his Observation Haki screamed a warning.
Unfortunately.
It was too late!!
Boom—!!
An explosion roared, and a massive fireball completely engulfed Katakuri. Atlas shot backward, calmly watching the mushroom cloud bloom.
That last attack wasn't just a simple Dragon Talisman explosion. It was combined with a burst of advanced Armament Haki and the internal destruction technique.
Even for someone like Katakuri, that was enough to make him suffer!
"Cough, cough..."
The smoke cleared, gradually revealing Katakuri's battered figure. The scarf that had covered his lower jaw was gone, exposing a giant, fanged mouth to Atlas.
The charred mochi covering his body began to fall off, revealing a deep fist imprint on his chest.
"Pfft—!!"
A sweetness rose in his throat, and he couldn't stop himself from spitting out a large mouthful of blood. He no longer cared about covering his exposed fangs.
Inside his body, mochi intertwined, rapidly binding his ruptured organs back together.
One punch!
Just one punch, and he was already on the ropes!
He now confirmed that this man, who had been his equal just four years ago, now undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the world!
He couldn't hesitate any longer. He had to stall until Mama arrived, or else he and Smoothie might never leave this island!
At this thought, a fierce look flashed across his face. The assimilated mochi around him surged wildly, and two giant hands appeared on either side of Atlas, wreathed in Armament Haki.
They slammed together, aiming to crush Atlas between them!
[Clapping Mochi]
—!!!
...
--Marine Headquarters, Marineford--
Knock, knock, knock—!
"Come in!"
Sengoku remained focused on the documents in his hands.
The current Fleet Admiral, "Steel Bone" Kong, was already in the running for Commander-in-Chief of the World Government, so most of the Marines' affairs had been dumped on him.
Sengoku was now like a regent, just one official appointment away from becoming Fleet Admiral.
As the next guaranteed Fleet Admiral, the amount of work he had to handle daily was immense.
He was nothing like Garp, who was always carefree.
Garp...
Just thinking about Garp made Sengoku's blood pressure skyrocket.
If Garp hadn't refused the Admiral promotion time and time again, he wouldn't be working this hard.
"Admiral Sengoku, sir..."
The Marine Captain who had just entered had no idea what Sengoku was thinking.
Seeing Sengoku's angry expression, he thought the Fleet Admiral was in a bad mood and couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Oh, it's nothing." Sengoku was startled but quickly composed himself, his face returning to its usual calm. He spoke in a deep voice, "Is there a situation to report?"
"Reporting to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, our surveillance units monitoring the Big Mom Pirates have discovered that Big Mom has left Totto Land!"
In truth, the Marines dispatched numerous spies to monitor the territory of every Emperor. After all, each Emperor was a mobile fortress.
Their every move had major repercussions. The Marines had to keep track of their general movements!
"Have you identified her objective?" Sengoku felt a weight in his chest. That madwoman, Big Mom, never left her territory for any good reason.
"Er, it's unclear. As you know, Admiral, among the territories of the three Emperors, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates are the most difficult to monitor."
The Big Mom Pirates' territory, Totto Land, is teeming with Homies, creations of her own power. It was a fool's errand for the Marines to try to infiltrate it.
They could only maintain a 24-hour watch from a great distance outside Totto Land's waters.
As for the Beasts Pirates, due to the special sea currents, the Marines had not yet found a safe passage into Wano Country.
The only CP agent they successfully planted in Wano last time was discovered. It's time to start arranging for undercover agents to infiltrate the major pirate crews...
Sengoku's index finger tapped slowly on the desk as he began to rethink the Marines' strategy.
The Marines actually had a secret special forces unit, but it hadn't been established long.
It was responsible for monitoring the Emperors and other major threats, but for now, its work was only at a surface level.
It wasn't like over a decade later, when they had infiltrated the internal ranks of the Emperors.
"Hmm? Is there something else?" Sengoku paused, looking at the Marine Captain who hadn't left.
"I saw you were deep in thought, sir, so I didn't want to disturb you. Also, Vice Admiral Chaton just called."
"Beasts Kaido...He sank the prison ship and escaped!" The Marine Captain said with a wry smile.
This was the first time Kaido had escaped by sinking a prison ship. Previously, the Marines had always tried to execute him.
This time, left with no other options, they were trying to transport him to the great undersea prison.
Unbelievably, the man had sunk the prison ship and escaped while wearing Seastone chains.
"What!!?"
Sengoku was stunned. He shot up from his chair, forgetting his Admiral's decorum.
That bastard Kaido... Is it his Devil Fruit, or some innate ability that allows him to ignore high-purity Seastone?
He knew the Marines had taken this transport very seriously, using the highest-purity Seastone shackles available at headquarters.
"I understand. You're dismissed. Report back to me if there are any new developments with Big Mom."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
After the Captain left, Sengoku stared at the unfinished paperwork on his desk, lost in thought.
He remembered. When Kaido was being transported to the prison ship, CP agents had apparently met with him under orders from the Five Elders.
Sengoku didn't know the details. The CP agents had not allowed any Marines to be present.
After a long time, Sengoku slowly picked up his long-cold tea and took a sip. His dark glasses glinted against the light, hiding his expression.
The World Government...
...
Meanwhile, back on Broccoli Island.
Faced with the giant hands that swept in with terrifying wind pressure, Atlas didn't move an inch, as steady as a rock.
Clang—!!
The giant hands slammed together, and a crisp echo rang out, long and clear like a temple bell.
"Not good!"
Seeing this, Katakuri felt not joy, but alarm.
Because the two giant hands hadn't fully closed, Atlas was holding them apart, a relaxed look on his face.
No matter how hard Katakuri tried to control them, the hands wouldn't budge an inch.
"Hey! Have you ever heard of...A palm technique that descends from the heavens?" Atlas grinned, his smile bright and sunny.
"...Hmm!!?" Katakuri snapped his head up.
A giant hand made of seawater had appeared in mid-air at some point and was now hurtling downward, and its target was his exact position!
"Chestnut Mochi!!"
With a furious roar, a giant donut appeared above his head, coated in Armament Haki. Countless spikes emerged from it, shooting toward the giant hand!
Swish—!
Without pausing, the seawater hand mercilessly swallowed all the spikes!
"Damn it!"
"Clapping Mochi!"
Left with no choice, Katakuri once again summoned two giant, dark hands.
But this time, it wasn't to attack Atlas. Instead, the hands clasped together, rapidly enclosing his entire body.
Boom!!!
The giant seawater hand slammed down violently!
The entire island of Broccoli trembled, and the land where the port was located sank several feet!
Splash—!!
The seawater receded.
Katakuri panted heavily, his right hand tightly gripping the Mole Trident.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he looked up at Atlas, who had broken free and was now walking toward him step by step.
"Give up. Don't you understand yet? You are no match for me!"
Atlas's clothes weren't even torn. He was as clean as when he started, his gaze calm.
"Surrendering now would be less painful than taking a beating, wouldn't it?"
"What do you say, Katakuri?"
Taking a moment to regulate his ragged breathing, Katakuri straightened his back and said coldly, "Cut the crap. I will never surrender!"
His expression was resolute, his eyes unwavering. Clearly, this was not just an excuse.
"Hah—! Fine. Today, then you will die here!"
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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