Chapter 222 — Katakuri and Shiryu
Inside the Whole Cake Chateau, treasures glittered in every direction.
"Shiryu, you saw it." Katakuri pointed toward the celestial phenomenon unfolding in the sky. His voice was calm, but his gaze burned with conviction.
"That man already possesses the strength to claim the throne. He told me himself—he'll overthrow all the Four Emperors soon… and create a new era."
Katakuri lowered his scarf, revealing the scars that marked his jaw. His expression hardened as he looked straight at Shiryu.
"I have that kind of power too. You must have realized it just now. I already have a complete plan. So tell me, Shiryu—will you join me… or will your journey end here?"
Ace's confrontation with him had ignited something in Katakuri—a long-suppressed ambition. Now, he had begun seeking his own crew, laying the groundwork for the rise of Charlotte Katakuri as a power independent of Big Mom.
The one he set his sights on was Shiryu of the Rain—the infamous former Head Jailer of Impel Down, now aligned with the Big Mom Pirates. To win him over, Katakuri had revealed the full extent of his strength—power rivaling that of the Four Emperors themselves.
"..."
Shiryu looked at Katakuri silently, a thousand curses in his heart.
You've made it pretty clear—if I don't surrender, I die. If I can't beat you, what choice do I have?
He exhaled and sheathed Thunderstorm, his black blade, saying dryly, "Fine. I'll join the Big Mom Pirates."
Katakuri shook his head. "No. Not the Big Mom Pirates. You'll be under me—Charlotte Katakuri."
Shiryu stared for a moment, then nodded slowly, his tone turning serious.
"I understand. From this moment on, I'll follow you, Katakuri."
"Good." Katakuri gave a rare approving nod.
Thus, the battle between them ended. From that day forward, Shiryu would publicly serve under the Big Mom Pirates, but in truth, his allegiance would be to Katakuri—the twenty-fifth son of the Charlotte Family, and a man now walking a path of his own.
Shiryu didn't like the arrangement, but the situation left him no choice. Had he known things would turn out like this, he would never have accepted Big Mom's invitation to come to Totto Land.
Still, regret was useless now. He briefly considered telling Big Mom about Katakuri's ambition—but quickly discarded the idea.
Oddly enough, serving under Katakuri felt far less oppressive than submitting to Big Mom herself.
---
Southeast Coast of Whole Cake Island
High above the clouds, the battle between Portgas D. Ace and Charlotte Linlin—the fearsome Big Mom—had raged all night without pause.
Dark clouds swirled violently over Totto Land, pressing lower and lower, as if the heavens themselves were about to collapse.
Were it not for their deliberate control, the island beneath them would have been obliterated long ago.
Because the fight took place in the air, few could even approach the battlefield. Those who tried were swiftly repelled by the overwhelming power of the two. The people below could only gaze upward at the cataclysmic clash between fire and lightning.
Though every member of the Charlotte Family had absolute faith in their mother, even they had to admit—after a full night of combat—that the man known as the Fire Emperor truly possessed the power to challenge a Yonko.
As dawn crept closer, murmurs spread through the ranks of the Big Mom Pirates.
Could it be… that Big Mom might actually lose?
Inside the chateau, Shiryu turned toward Katakuri.
"If Big Mom is defeated by that man… are you ready to seize control and lead the Big Mom Pirates yourself?"
Katakuri shook his head. "He can't defeat her. Not yet. And if she does fall now… unless I kill him on the spot, the Big Mom Pirates will collapse immediately."
"Then… would you kill him?" Shiryu asked.
"If Mom falls," Katakuri said quietly, "I'll act. But she won't. Not yet."
Shiryu chuckled, glancing toward the battlefield raging in the sky. "Heh. Then let's see how long your mother can hold out."
---
Sweet City
In one of the shattered streets below, Crocodile led Monkey D. Luffy and Daz Bones (Mr. 1) straight into battle.
There they encountered Charlotte Snack, one of the former Sweet Commanders, along with several high-ranking Big Mom officers.
Snack's bounty of 600 million berries wasn't for show—but Crocodile was no longer the same man who had fallen in Alabasta. His defeat had stripped away arrogance and left him sharper, colder, stronger.
The moment the two clashed, Snack found himself completely overwhelmed.
Each wave of sand swept through the battlefield like a desert storm, crushing his defenses with sheer elemental force.
"Whoa… Crocodile's this strong now?" Luffy exclaimed, watching wide-eyed as Crocodile toyed with a Sweet Commander. "He's way tougher than before!"
---
Near the Whole Cake Chateau
Elsewhere, the Queen of Pleasure District, Stussy, was fleeing through the ruins—her once-flawless dress torn and bloodied.
She was surrounded and pursued by Charlotte Oven, Charlotte Daifuku, and their sister Charlotte Dandan.
Her Moonwalk steps carried her high into the air, desperate to break free from the siege. But the moment she rose above the rooftops, a hammer came swinging down from above.
"Trying to fly away? Don't be stupid."
It was Charlotte Yuen, the 35th son, who had been waiting for her.
"Nice job, Yuen!"
"This woman isn't escaping this time!"
Stussy plummeted to the ground, crashing through the debris as the Charlotte siblings closed in from all sides.
Just when her hope began to fade—
a thunderous roar split the heavens.
"Elbaf's Spear: Mighty Nation!"
"Armament Style—Emperor Flame Seal!"
The sky erupted.
A blinding explosion tore through the clouds, and a massive hole opened above Whole Cake Island.
A moment later, a furious hurricane descended from the heavens, sweeping across the island and the surrounding sea in an instant.
The world itself seemed to tremble—
as Ace's flames and Big Mom's might collided once more, shaking the New World to its core.
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