441-445

Chapter 441: Target—The Poneglyph 

“So you’re the one that guy mentioned—Katakuri, right?” “He said you’re a real threat. Let’s see if you live up to the hype.” 

Barrett cast a glance at the man in front—Charlotte Katakuri—and a grin of excitement crept onto his face. 

“He actually showed up? Tch, this is trouble...” 

Katakuri’s gaze was heavy, locked onto Barrett with utmost seriousness. 

Barrett didn’t know him, but he knew Barrett all too well. 

He knew exactly how terrifying this man was. 

And yet... 

Something felt off. 

Since the moment Barrett arrived, Katakuri had been plagued by a creeping sense of dread—an ominous premonition he couldn’t shake. 

Meanwhile— 

Soaring high above the battlefield, Yoru remained completely unnoticed. He silently descended onto the tallest structure of Whole Cake Island. 

“So this is Charlotte Linlin’s residence, huh? Not a bad landing spot.” 

As the old saying goes, ‘the most dangerous place is often the safest’—and it hadn’t let him down. 

“Still... the guards are really everywhere, and man, those soldier designs are weird. No way I can sneak in dressed like that.” 

Yoru frowned slightly as he scanned the tightly packed patrols below. 

Then—BOOM! 

A distant shockwave suddenly rolled through the air. Yoru’s senses instantly picked up on a massive and overwhelming aura. 

Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin. 

The guards around her palace momentarily stopped, thrown off by the shift. 

“So Barrett’s made his move. Perfect.” 

Yoru suppressed his own presence completely and waited in silence for the Queen of Totto Land to take action. 

BOOM! 

THUD! 

KRAK-THOOM! 

The earth trembled. Buildings groaned in protest. And then—he saw her. 

Big Mom had arrived. 

“WHO DARES WAKE ME UP FROM MY NAP?!” 

Eyes burning with rage, her entire body radiating explosive fury, Big Mom roared: “*Zeus!!*” 

The fluffy little cloud hovering near her instantly transformed into a snarling thundercloud, and with Big Mom riding atop it, they shot straight toward the harbor. 

“Now’s my chance.” 

Watching her disappear, Yoru muttered a silent “Barrett, hang in there,” and made a break for the portrait of Mother Carmel—Big Mom’s greatest weakness. 

This framed photo was essential if they hoped to not just disrupt, but overthrow the Big Mom Pirates. 

“Who goes the—” 

SLASH! 

Yoru didn’t hesitate. Anyone who stood in his way was cut down without mercy. 

Thanks to Barrett creating a massive diversion, Yoru barely encountered any real opposition. 

And soon enough— 

He reached the photo. The one irreplaceable piece of leverage. 

“Next stop—the Poneglyph.” 

But unlike the photo, the Poneglyph’s chamber wasn’t left unguarded. 

Standing before him was none other than Charlotte Mont-d'Or. 

“Lightning Killer... I didn’t think you’d actually come here. And I definitely didn’t expect you to pull off such a clean distraction tactic.” 

Mont-d'Or’s face was tight with tension as he faced off with Yoru. 

Even with soldiers at his back, he didn’t feel safe at all. 

The Lightning Killer—just hearing the name sent chills down people’s spines. 

Said to be the strongest man beneath the level of the Yonko, even Katakuri had admitted he couldn’t beat him. 

Mont-d'Or knew—he didn’t stand a chance. 

“If you step aside, I might let you live,” Yoru said coldly, drawing his sword, “Break Illusion.” “But if you insist on stopping me... then don’t blame me for what happens next.” 

Time was tight. 

Now that Big Mom had joined the battle, Barrett wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. Katakuri might get switched out and head this way at any moment. 

If he got tied down by Katakuri... getting the Poneglyph would become a lot harder. 

Chapter 442: Versus Katakuri 

"I won't let you get away with this..." 

Mondor couldn't just let Yoru tamper with the Poneglyphs. He was about to seal them into one of his books using his ability— But... 

Before he could finish his sentence, a flash of cold light pierced straight through his chest! 

"You're out of your league!" 

Yoru’s smirk exploded in front of him, radiating an overwhelming wave of searing heat. 

"Phoenix Sunburst!" 

With a single palm strike, it felt like the burning sun was scorching his very soul. 

Mondor felt like he was being evaporated alive, the intense heat relentlessly devouring his life force. 

"You—" 

Squelch! 

Yoru didn’t give him the chance to say another word. 

She ran him through with her sword, pinning his body to the wall. Then— 

"Phoenix Pressure!" 

A wave of pure dominance surged out, flattening everyone in the vicinity. 

Without wasting another second, Yoru charged toward the Poneglyphs and began copying their inscriptions. 

"So, you showed up after all. But too bad... you're already too late." 

Just as she finished making copies of the three stone tablets— 

Yoru suddenly seemed to sense something. Calmly, she stored away the copied rubbings, drew her sword 破妄 (Hagane no Yume), and casually tossed a fruit she’d swiped onto Mondor's corpse. 

A Devil Fruit—she wasn’t about to let that go to waste. 

Boom! 

Right as she picked up the freshly-formed Devil Fruit from Mondor’s body, the large doors exploded open with a bang. 

There he was—Katakuri, storming in like a wrathful demon, dragging his long trident behind him. 

"Yoru!!!" 

His voice was ice cold, his glare sharp enough to skin her alive. 

"Looks like you’re late," Yoru said coolly, securing the Devil Fruit to her side like it was nothing. 

"You… want to die!" Katakuri exploded forward. 

Clang! 

Yoru drew her blade to parry, and the impact of their clash cracked the earth beneath them, even blowing open the walls. 

Despite the explosion, Yoru looked completely unfazed, even leisurely. "Now now, no need to get so violent, Katakuri!" 

She lifted her leg and launched a blazing kick wrapped in searing flames. 

"Mochi Wall!" 

Katakuri quickly raised a mochi barrier in defense— 

But... 

"Wha—?!" 

His eyes widened in shock as Yoru's attack blasted right through his Mochi Wall and struck him directly. 

"Advanced... Armament Haki!!" 

Katakuri was stunned and immediately leapt back to regroup. 

"Retreating?" 

"Where do you think you're going?" 

Yoru’s voice cut through the air, followed by another flash of her blade aimed to pierce Katakuri’s body. 

But in a split second, his eyes lit up—he dodged the fatal blow as if he had seen the future! 

Counterattacking instantly, he unleashed a Donut Ring, from which a massive mochi fist came crashing down. 

One of Katakuri’s signature chained techniques—Peerless Donut. 

A thunderous, crushing force—the sheer speed and power was its trademark. 

"Peerless Donut: Monster Mochi!" 

Yoru barely dodged the first strike, but before she could even land, another devastating blow was already upon her. 

This was the same move that, in the original story, blasted Gear Fourth Luffy across the battlefield, leaving him unable to recover for quite some time. Its power was no joke. 

“Looks like I can’t dodge this one…” 

Yoru grinned, her body erupting into blazing fire. The haki-clad punch went straight through her chest. 

"Gwah!" 

Even with the Devil Fruit’s powerful regeneration, Yoru couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. 

Katakuri was not an easy opponent to deal with. 

His strength level was a towering 84, just two points below Yoru’s. 

“Kyūtō...” 

Seeing Yoru falter, Katakuri moved in to press the advantage. 

But then—his eyes flared wide. As if he foresaw something, his expression changed drastically, and he quickly leapt away. 

Chapter 443: Long Time No See, Everyone 

"Just because you can see the future… doesn’t mean you can avoid it." 

Yoru’s voice echoed coldly in Katakuri’s ear. "That’s not always how it works!" 

"Flash Annihilation!" 

A blade strike of absolute precision and chilling light exploded in Katakuri’s vision— Then just barely grazed past him. 

Boom! 

The entire building shook violently— And was cleanly bisected down the middle, collapsing with a thunderous crash. 

As for Katakuri... 

Half his body had turned into mochi, the other half still flesh and blood— And across his waist, a deep crimson gash bled profusely. 

"Gah!" 

He coughed up blood, pupils narrowing. 

That last attack— It was bone-chilling. For a moment, even someone like him felt the icy grip of death. 

"Well then... farewell, Katakuri!" 

With the building split apart, Yoru leapt skyward, transforming into a blazing fire phoenix and taking flight. 

"You think I’ll let you leave that easily?!" 

Clutching his side, Katakuri grabbed a Den Den Mushi and immediately alerted all forces on Whole Cake Island. 

"I won’t let you escape!" 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Meanwhile, on another part of Whole Cake Island— The battlefield between Barrett and Big Mom had become a storm of pure chaos. 

Two absolute monsters clashing— Shaking the very foundations of the island itself. 

Bang!! BOOM!! Bang Bang Bang!!! 

Whether it was Douglas Barrett, the Demon Heir... Or Charlotte Linlin, the Yonko Big Mom herself— 

Both were overwhelmingly powerful to the point of despair. 

Their battle had reached a level where no one could intervene. 

Whole Cake Island was crumbling beneath their might. 

Countless members of the Big Mom Pirates were now scrambling to retreat. Survival was all they could think about—getting anywhere near that battlefield was suicide. 

Barrett’s Advanced Armament Haki was ferocious beyond belief— And Big Mom? She wielded Advanced Armament, Advanced Conqueror’s Haki, and had monstrous physical strength on top of that. 

Even one of the Three Sweet Commanders, Smoothie, didn’t dare get too close! 

"Ikoku Sovereignty!" "Thunderquake Domination!" 

Big Mom unleashed a thunderous storm of lightning, as if she herself had become the Goddess of Thunder. 

Crackling bolts, backed by a crushing, godlike force, smashed down on Barrett. 

Even someone as strong as him was driven deep into the ground. The surrounding ocean surged violently, creating towering waves like a natural disaster. 

"Barrett, you little punk! You think you can mess with me?! Let Mama teach you a real lesson!" 

Big Mom raised her great blade Napoleon, flanked by her Homies: the thundercloud Zeus and the sun Prometheus. She looked like a literal Queen of Apocalypse— Majestic, terrifying, unstoppable! 

"Heh… Old hag, teach me? You think you’ve got what it takes?!" 

Barrett emerged from the wreckage of lightning, steam rising from his body. 

His vitality blazed like a storm, eyes sharp like blades, muscles bulging like an awakened beast. 

"Fusion-Fusion Fruit: Merge!!" 

With a roar, something shocking happened. 

Everything around Whole Cake Island began to swirl with purple energy, pulled toward Barrett— He was fusing everything into himself! 

"Mamama~! Don’t get cocky now, little Barrett. You really think I’m gonna sit back and let you finish that?" 

Big Mom might act crazy, but she wasn’t stupid. 

She sensed danger from Barrett’s ability. 

So... 

She wouldn’t let him finish! 

"Then come and stop me if you can!" 

Barrett laughed wildly, stomping the ground and blasting forward toward Big Mom. 

His Advanced Armament Haki sent shockwaves through the air— Colliding with Big Mom in another devastating clash! 

BOOM!! 

It was like two mythical beasts crashing head-on— Or the end of the world itself. 

The force of the impact rippled in all directions like an explosion, flattening the land like it was made of paper. 

Chapter 444: Piercing Big Mom 

From afar, a wave of terrified screams echoed out—people were suddenly hurled through the air, completely out of control. The skies darkened. The sea howled. The clash between the two titans continued to tear apart Whole Cake Island—over and over, the ground cracked and collapsed beneath their feet. 

But it was becoming clear—Barrett couldn’t quite match Big Mom. The collision of raw power was tipping against him. 

“Found an opening, brat!” Big Mom wasn’t one to let a chance slip by. “*Prometheus!!*” 

Her fist, blazing with Prometheus’s flame, wrapped in Busoshoku Haki and laced with Haoshoku Haki, slammed straight into Barrett’s chest. 

CRACK! 

The sound of shattering bone rang out—but Barrett didn’t even flinch. His face showed no pain, only pure exhilaration. 

“An opening? We’ve all got one.” 

His right arm—now reinforced with layers of steel and hardened Haki—blasted forward and smashed into Big Mom’s chest in return. 

BOOM! 

Both of them staggered backward, but Barrett wasted no time. He launched his powers again— And in a flash, a massive, heavy steel mech appeared before Big Mom! 

A Gundam... A man’s ultimate dream! 

“You old hag! Round two—let’s go!!!” 

Barrett’s roar echoed across the island, his fighting spirit soaring to its peak. 

Violent Haki surged across the surface of the mech. He had to thank Yoru’s earlier flames— Without that, he wouldn’t have been able to temper the metal strong enough to hold this form. 

Otherwise, he’d have burned to a crisp. 

“Your era is over, Big Mom!!!” 

Barrett hurled the mech forward like a missile, charging at Big Mom. 

Even she looked small in comparison. 

“You damn brat! Don’t get cocky!” 

Big Mom transformed into her Queen of Lightning form, wielding her mighty sword Napoleon, and swung down in fury. 

CRACK!!! 

Their clash finally pushed the island past its limit— 

Whole Cake Island split in two. 

Big Mom grinned at the sight. “You’re finished, brat—down to the bottom of the sea with you!” 

No matter how powerful a Devil Fruit user is, the ocean is always their natural enemy. 

She surged her power, slamming the ground beneath Barrett and attempting to drop him straight into the sea. 

“That’s not gonna happen, Big Mom.” 

From the distance, a mocking voice rang out— A flash of light, and a lightning-fast katana pierced through the air, aimed directly at Big Mom’s chest. 

“A mere blade dares challenge me?” Big Mom didn’t dodge. She faced it head-on. 

And why wouldn’t she? Her body—called an Iron Balloon—was famed for its near-invincibility. 

Even Luffy in Gear Fourth couldn’t leave a scratch on her! 

But... 

Break Illusion (破妄) wasn’t some ordinary weapon. 

SHLUNK!! 

Blood exploded into the air. The Big Mom Pirates stared in disbelief— 

Big Mom had been pierced through the chest. 

“Let’s go, Barrett!” 

Yoru didn’t stick around. With Break Illusion pulled free, he shifted into his phoenix form, grabbed Barrett, and prepared to escape. 

“You brats...” 

Her voice came cold as ice. 

The skies blackened. Thunderclouds rolled. The air turned suffocating. 

“You think you can stab me, tear through my turf like this... and just walk away?” 

Big Mom roared: “Do you take me for a joke?!” 

“Zeus!!” 

At her scream, the once-silly cloud transformed into a storm demon. With a thunderous voice, it snarled: “Yes, Mama!” 

“Kill them!!” 

Big Mom pointed at Yoru, and Zeus’s entire body exploded in lightning. Thunderbolts lashed out like serpents from the heavens— And they were locked onto Yoru. 

Chapter 445: Show Off and Run  

“Hey, hey, hey, this is no joke!” 

Even Yoru, as cool-headed as he was, felt his scalp tingle under the aim of that lightning! 

Don’t be fooled by Zeus’s less-than-stellar track record in the original story—heck, even Nami could push him around.  

But in reality…  

As one of Big Mom’s top three Homies, Zeus’s ability to wield lightning was downright ferocious! 

Especially out here on the open sea, that power was terrifying. 

After all…  

Being able to fly was already a massive advantage.  

“No choice, gotta give it everything to get outta here!”  

Dodging a roaring bolt of lightning crashing down, Yoru let out a helpless sigh. His body suddenly erupted with unimaginable heat and a blinding glow.  

“Phoenix Sun!!”  

What’s the best way to deal with a thundercloud? 

Fire! 

Or, better yet, extreme heat!  

Vaporize the moisture, turn that thundercloud into a harmless white puff, and strip it of every last spark of lightning!  

But…  

This trick was risky on the high seas.  

The water vapor it created could turn those white clouds back into storm clouds in a heartbeat!  

The “sun” formed by Phoenix Sun blazed into existence!  

The sheer heat melted the steel on Barrett’s body like butter! 

Zeus let out a pained scream and plummeted from the sky!  

The sky cleared, the lightning scattered! 

The sea churned with mist, stretching out for miles!  

“Time to bail!”  

Seeing his chance, Yoru didn’t dare stick around—Big Mom could fly, after all!  

If she caught up, he’d be in deep trouble!  

And that’s not even counting Katakuri tailing him! 

Yoru wasn’t naive enough to think he and Barrett could take on an Emperor-level pirate crew by themselves.  

That’s just not realistic!  

Even an Admiral wouldn’t have the guts for that! 

But…  

Did Big Mom really think she’d let them slip away so easily? 

After causing such a ruckus in her territory, did they think they could just waltz out? Where would that leave her reputation as an Emperor of the Sea?  

“Lightning Killer, where do you think you’re running?!”  

“Thunderous Wrath!”  

Seeing Zeus crash, Big Mom rode in on Prometheus, chasing them down with fury.  

She unleashed a terrifying barrage of lightning attacks that made Yoru’s skin crawl! 

Boom!  

Boom…  

BOOM!  

The monstrous lightning seemed to flip the entire ocean upside down.  

Wave after wave of tsunamis roared outward, and every Sea King in the water, big or small, floated to the surface—dead.  

“Now that’s intense!”  

If Yoru were alone, he could’ve ignored the lightning entirely.  

His ability to be reborn in flames was his greatest trump card—the reason he, with the strength of an Emperor’s second-in-command, dared to invade a Yonko’s crew.  

But…  

He wasn’t alone. He had Barrett with him! 

So, he had no choice but to keep dodging the relentless, near-impossible-to-evade lightning strikes.  

“Unmatched Donut Mochi Slam!!!”  

Just then…  

Right after Yoru dodged Big Mom’s lightning, a swift, black attack—so fast he couldn’t react—slammed into his chest.  

“Gah!”  

The hit came out of nowhere, and Yoru spat blood as he staggered back.  

“Ka…ta…kuri!!”  

Gritting his teeth, Yoru steadied himself mid-air and glared ahead, his voice low and grim.  

Who else could’ve landed that hit but Katakuri?  

“Lightning Killer, you’re not leaving Cake Island!”  

“Airborne Unit, hold him down!”  

The moment Katakuri arrived, the disorganized Big Mom Pirates suddenly snapped into formation, like they’d found their backbone.  

In an instant…  

A swarm of pirates—some using Moon Walk, others with natural flight abilities—closed in, surrounding him.  

“Lightning Killer, you’re staying right here!!!”  

Big Mom’s shrill voice echoed, and Yoru found himself completely boxed in, enemies on all sides!