Chapter 29: The Sweetest Prison
The infiltration of Whole Cake Island was a masterclass in controlled chaos. Under the guidance of Jinbe and Pedro, the Straw Hats navigated the treacherous, sentient waters and deceptive landscapes of Totto Land. From his celestial perch, Arata tracked their every move. He felt the unique, soul-based energy of the Homies, the twisted, gluttonous aura of Big Mom herself at the center of the archipelago, and the countless powerful signatures of her children.
He watched as they secured the aid of the Fire Tank Pirates, felt the tension of their undercover work in the Seducing Woods, and monitored Sanji's emotional turmoil as he was reunited with his vile, biological family. Arata's jaw tightened as he sensed the cruel, manipulative energy of the Vinsmokes. They were a different kind of poison than Doflamingo—colder, more clinical in their cruelty.
His primary focus, as always, was Robin. He felt her calm, intelligent aura moving through the chaos, a steady flame in a world of pastel-colored madness. He tracked her through the Mirror World with the others, his senses straining to pierce the unique dimensional barrier created by Brulee's power. It was like trying to see through frosted glass, but he could still feel the essence of her life force, a reassurance that she was safe.
The plan proceeded, albeit with the expected hitches. The encounter with the treacherous Pudding, the destruction of the Sanji retrieval team's ship, and Luffy's brutal fight against the enraged army of Cracker all played out on Arata's internal map. He was a ghost at the feast, an unseen witness to their struggle.
When the time was right, and the Straw Hats were established within the Chateau, albeit as prisoners-turned-"guests," Arata knew his window for the Reverie was closing. He had to move.
He found Robin during a rare moment of solitude in the gardens of Whole Cake Chateau. Using a minute application of his power, he created a localized, silent static field around them, ensuring their conversation would not be overheard by any listening Homies.
"The situation here is stable, for now," he whispered, his voice a mere breath in her mind, a technique of advanced Kenbunshoku Haki. "Big Mom is preoccupied with the wedding preparations. I must go. The Reverie begins in two days."
Robin, tending to a strangely docile, talking flower, gave a barely perceptible nod. "Be careful, Arata. Mary Geoise is the heart of the enemy. It is more dangerous than even this place."
"The heart of the enemy is where I need to be to protect our friends," he replied. "I will be swift. Remember the stone. If anything happens, if you feel the slightest true danger, crush it. I will tear the sky apart to reach you."
"I will," she promised, her own thoughts projecting back with a clarity that spoke of their deepening bond.
With that, the connection severed. High above, in the hidden Raiju, Arata opened his eyes. He took one last, long look at the candy-coated nightmare of Whole Cake Island below, committing the positions of his friends to memory. Then, he turned his gaze east, towards the Red Line.
The Raiju hummed, its energy core flaring. Instead of sailing through the air, it seemed to dissolve into a streak of golden light, a comet shooting across the sky at a speed that defied physics. He was not flying; he was translating, moving from one point in the world to another by riding the planet's own electromagnetic ley lines. The journey that would take a normal ship weeks was, for him, a matter of hours.
He left behind a world of candy and madness, heading towards a world of marble and absolute power. The Straw Hats were in a gilded cage, but their key was now streaking across the heavens, on a mission to ensure that another set of friends would not walk into a cage of their own.