Sakazuki watched the last grains of sand slip cleanly from his fingertips and let out a soft laugh.
"It's her ridiculous dream…"
Whole Cake Island was heavily defended, and under normal circumstances taking it would have been troublesome, but a direct assault was unnecessary. After days of chaotic battle, taking something from it would now be easy.
Carlo smiled as well. "How cruel of you, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
Sakazuki looked at him and said quietly, "Watching them go mad while being powerless… isn't that interesting?"
* * *
Late at night. Whole Cake Island.
The defensive battle had already entered its fifth day and was about to reach the sixth. Half the island had been destroyed, and although the remaining half was still covered in green vegetation, even those plants were being steadily ruined.
Garp and Big Mom's battlefield had been pushed closer and closer together. After five days and five nights of fighting, their clash remained evenly matched.
Garp was famous for his powerful Armament Haki, while Big Mom ruled the seas with her flawless defense. It was like the strongest spear meeting the strongest shield.
Meanwhile, Aramaki was held back by Katakuri and the ministers rushing in from other islands. Even overwhelming strength had its limits; with so many people and so many abilities in play, not even Borsalino or Kuzan could simply crush their way through.
Above the island, Soter concealed his presence while his Observation Haki swept below again and again.
He had been there for some time, refraining from revealing himself because he was searching for something: the Road Poneglyph, the stone that, once all four were gathered, would point the way to the Laugh Tale.
Yet after scanning for so long, he still could not determine its location. The battle had left too many scars, and the clashing abilities and Haki interfered with everything, preventing any careful judgment.
"In that case…"
Soter took a deep breath and activated his ability.
Whoosh!
Boom!
His entire body slammed into the island.
The sudden impact left Aramaki and the Charlotte family's ministers confused, and before they could investigate, a violent rumble shook the island. The ground trembled like a sieve as cracks spread in every direction.
Crack!
With a massive tearing sound, the remaining half of Whole Cake Island suddenly shot upward. Then, before everyone's shocked eyes, the island rose into the sky.
* * *
On the other side, Big Mom and Garp stood atop the rising land, the scenery lifting higher and higher before them.
"What?!"
Big Mom's Observation Haki burst outward, instantly locking onto Soter's position as Napoleon pointed toward him.
Boom!
Garp appeared as if teleporting and punched her away.
"Bwahahaha! It's that brat Soter! Well done!"
Electric sparks flashed across Big Mom's body as her Conqueror's Haki pressed down like a storm.
"Garp!"
Boom! Boom!
Furious yet helpless, the rising mushroom clouds revealed her rage.
* * *
Elsewhere, among those fighting Aramaki, Katakuri suddenly felt a chill run through his heart as an image of the island shattering appeared in his mind.
It's that guy!
"Everyone! Prepare your defenses!"
The moment his words fell, years of trust drove them to unleash their strongest defenses without hesitation. Aramaki froze, but two seconds later he understood why.
Boom!
A thunderous blast echoed across the island, and the entire landmass shattered like broken earth into countless pieces that began to fall. Everything scattered as it dropped.
The massive square Road Poneglyph was instantly spotted by Soter. Activating the Float-Float Fruit, he turned into a streak of light and flew toward it.
Big Mom, falling with the debris, instinctively looked toward where it had been hidden, her eyes nearly splitting with rage.
"Stop right there!"
Napoleon crackled in her hand, and seeing Garp about to collide with her, she did not wait to fully charge.
"Maser Cannon!"
Like Borsalino's laser, it shot straight at him.
Soter had already reached the Poneglyph. Placing his hand on it, he activated his ability and flung it behind him, sending the Road Poneglyph crashing into the incoming Maser Cannon.
Boom!
The impact knocked it back at several times the speed, and it slammed into him, sending him flying. Just as he intended.
"Retreat!"
Soter's voice spread across the island. Garp grinned and withdrew at once, and Aramaki retreated as well.
Big Mom was nearly driven mad with hatred.
"Stop that brat!"
She meant Soter, who was flying away with the Road Poneglyph. If it was taken, it might never be recovered in her lifetime, and with it would vanish the legendary great treasure and her dream of Totto Land.
Just as Soter was about to leave, he was intercepted. Katakuri, having foreseen his intention, appeared in his path.
"Punch Mochi!"
Activating the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, his hands transformed into long strips of mochi coated in Armament Haki, and countless strikes rained down from all directions.
Soter frowned. Shifting the Poneglyph aside, he kicked it forcefully toward an empty direction while flying the opposite way.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the Poneglyph. Even Katakuri hesitated for a brief moment before chasing after it. The situation had unfolded too suddenly, and they had forgotten Soter was a Float-Float Fruit user, instinctively pursuing the stone instead.
Two seconds later, Katakuri suddenly turned back.
"Pudding!"
His anxious roar echoed across the sky.
Soter appeared like a streak of light among the weaker children on the outskirts, grabbed the girl with twin wavy ponytails, and shot into the sky. At the same time, he hooked the falling Road Poneglyph with his ability, and both rose in a perfect arc into the clouds before anyone could catch up.
"Pudding!"
"Sakazuki!"
The first cry was Katakuri's regretful shout; the second was Big Mom's furious scream.
* * *
Next morning.
New World. New Marineford.
Outside the Fleet Admiral's office, the massive Road Poneglyph rested quietly.
Beside it sat a girl in shackles, Pudding. She seemed to have let go of some of her fear; the Marines did not appear so terrifying anymore.
Carlo chatted with her nearby while Soter had already gone to rest.
Tap, tap, tap…
The sound of leather shoes approached, followed by Sakazuki's voice.
"What are you talking about?"
Carlo turned. "Ah. Nothing. Just comforting a child."
A girl who had grown up amid inferiority and bullying, protecting herself by pretending to be strong…
Sakazuki let out a faint chuckle and walked up to Pudding. She trembled slightly as he raised his hand and brushed aside the bangs covering her third eye.
"A member of the Three-Eye Tribe who can read the Poneglyph."
He nodded. "Very beautiful eyes."
His fingers slowly moved to the third eye. Pudding was stunned, and her trembling lessened.
This was the third marine who had called her eyes beautiful, and that was why her fear had faded.
The thoughts she had heard when she was captured by Soter, the sincere praise during Carlo's conversation, and now Sakazuki's firm approval were all different from her childhood, when everyone had treated her as an ugly monster.
Unfortunately…
Puchi!
Before Pudding could react, the sound of flesh being pierced rang out.
Sakazuki's hand had already withdrawn from her forehead, the black glove he always wore soaked in blood that dripped down slowly.
Between the three fingers of his right hand was an eyeball. The pupil was still twitching, unaware of what had just happened.
**
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