One Piece: A Warlord's Path

Chapter 923: Chapter 923: War Begins – The Breakdown of Negotiations

"That’s right, Big Mom. Zhurong is an animate being I created using the power of the Animate-Animate Fruit!"

Aeridar held Pudding in his arms, levitating directly opposite Big Mom. He let out a wide grin. "I even fed him the Flame-Flame Fruit. How about it? Not bad, right?"

Charlotte Linlin was momentarily taken aback, but her expression soon twisted back into a snarl. "I’ve heard of your other abilities. Impressive... and you’re certainly bold, feeding a Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit to a construct. Zhurong, was it? Quite a capable little fellow."

"To be honest, if I hadn’t clashed with you last time, I never would have realized the Animate-Animate Fruit could breathe life into fire itself. I really should thank you!" Aeridar said, pointing a finger at her with a smug look.

Hearing that the responsibility for this new threat lay with her own inspiration caused Charlotte Linlin’s temper to flare instantly.

"Golden Ring brat! Hand over Pudding and the research data for ’Gigantification.’ I’ll pay a fair price, and in exchange, I won’t hold you responsible for the mess you’ve made of Whole Cake Island. We can go back to our peaceful coexistence!"

She gripped the giant sword Napoleon, her bloodshot eyes bulging. A wave of Conqueror’s Haki surged out like a physical tide, making the very air groan under the pressure.

"Otherwise... prepare for war!"

When it came to traitors, Charlotte Linlin showed no mercy, even to her own flesh and blood. Moreover, the technology for "Gigantification" had been her lifelong dream. She would stop at nothing to see it realized.

"First off, I’m not handing Pudding over to you."

Aeridar chuckled, glancing down at Pudding, who was trembling in his arms like a frightened kitten. He continued, "But as for the Gigantification data? If you want it that badly, I might just give it to you for free!"

"So, there’s nothing left to discuss?" Linlin’s face fell into a dark, emotionless mask.

"That’s up to you," Aeridar shrugged, spreading his hands.

"Mamamama! Fine!" Linlin’s fury boiled over into a sinister laugh. "From this day forward, the Big Mom Pirates no longer recognize the Clifford Kingdom as a ’Neutral Zone.’ We are... AT WAR!!!"

"Go! Zeus!!!"

With those words, Charlotte Linlin surged forward atop the thundercloud. With a demonic snarl, she swung her giant sword and launched herself at Aeridar like a lethal arrow.

"Enel!" Aeridar barked.

"On it!"

Enel gave a sharp nod, lightning arcing across his skin. He transformed into three brilliant streaks of lightning to intercept the Empress.

"Spear of Elbaf: Ikoku!!!"

Charlotte Linlin gripped Napoleon with both hands and swung with everything she had.

In an instant, a colossal wave of pink sword ki erupted. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze in silence as the massive shockwave tore through the air.

"Witness the power of ’God’!" Enel’s eyes widened with intensity. He thrust his right arm forward, palm open. "El Thor!!!"

Zzzzt—bzzzz—!

Arcs of electricity coalesced in his palm, the white light becoming blinding. In a roar of thunder, a gargantuan pillar of lightning erupted, clashing head-on with the sword beam.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, the two terrifying attacks collided.

BOOM!!!

A split second later, the sound caught up, a deafening roar that felt like it would burst eardrums. Blinding light and searing heat mingled with a massive shockwave, forming a white dome of energy that expanded violently, unleashing a tidal wave of raw power.

Gale-force winds swept across the sky and the sea. Half of Whole Cake Island was engulfed in the storm, sending dust and debris spiraling into the atmosphere.

Aeridar, meanwhile, emitted continuous pulses of repulsive force, creating a protective field that shielded him and Pudding from the raging energy storm.

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, a dark silhouette streaked through the howling winds.

"That guy..."

Aeridar squinted. It was Katakuri. Beneath him, a purple candy staircase over a hundred meters long stretched from the roof of the chateau into the sky.

Katakuri’s target was clear. He wasn’t aiming for Aeridar, he was going for Enel, who had just finished clashing with Big Mom!

"Buzz Cut Mochi!!!"

Katakuri leaped into the air. His right arm transformed into a length of mochi that rapidly spun and expanded into a massive, spiked club. Coated in blue-black Armament Haki, it slammed down toward Enel.

"Nani?"

Enel’s Observation Haki flared, but he only had time to turn his head before the metallic-sheened spiked club reached him.

WHAM—!

Enel had no time to defend. The blow connected squarely, sending him plummeting from the sky. He became a blur of black shadow as he fell.

CRASH!

Enel slammed into the plaza of Whole Cake Chateau with an earth-shaking roar. The impact sent a massive shockwave outward, kicking up a tower of dust.

"Katakuri, are you trying to help me?"

In the sky, Big Mom looked at her son, who had utilized Perospero’s candy to reach the heights. She barked, "You are merely my son! Do not overstep!"

"It’s not that, Mama!"

Katakuri stood at the top of the candy stairs, his voice low and urgent. "Enel was just a distraction to keep you busy while Aeridar escaped with Pudding. Because I saw it... high above the clouds, there is an island!!"

"Tsk... so you saw it after all." Aeridar frowned, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"An island... the power of the Float-Float Fruit!"

Big Mom immediately recalled another of the man’s three stolen powers, the legendary ability of the Great Pirate, Shiki the Golden Lion.

Down in the plaza, Enel stood up in a crater over ten meters wide. He wiped a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze cold and lethal.

"That bastard Katakuri..."

Fury boiled within Enel. He cast a chilling glance at the surrounding horde of Homies and Big Mom Pirates’ officers. Arcs of electricity danced around him like serpents of light.

Back in the sky, Aeridar looked at Big Mom and Katakuri. He slowly raised his right arm toward the heavens and spoke in a calm, level tone. "It seems if we don’t have a real fight, you won’t let us leave quietly."

Then, Aeridar suddenly clenched his fist and made a sharp pulling motion downward.

WHOOOSH—

Seconds later, a gargantuan shadow broke through the cloud layer. It brought with it a violent wind, descending like a massive meteorite from the heavens. It blotted out the sun, casting a colossal shadow over the island.

"Wh-What is that?"

"A meteorite?"

"No! It’s... it’s an island! A whole island is falling!"

The people of Whole Cake Island looked up, faces frozen in horror.

"Come then, Big Mom!"

Aeridar’s expression turned wild and reckless. "Let’s turn this place upside down!"

SCREECH—!

ROAR—!

KE-KE-KE—!

All sorts of bizarre, monstrous cries erupted from the floating island. Then, three figures descended from the clouds, cutting through the sky toward the battlefield.

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