"Should I call this 'touch vermilion and you turn red, touch ink and you turn black'? Why do I feel like you've learned bad habits from me?"
That was what he said.
It really was rather unexpected. When Ren had watched Zoro fight, he had found it strange.
The ability of Future Sight was certainly powerful, but it was not as if Zoro had no means of countering it.
Otherwise, Ren would never have let Zoro fight Katakuri.
In the end, Future Sight only allowed one to see the future. It did not mean they could evade immediately.
There was a process in between.
If one's reaction could not keep up, then just like Luffy, even with Future Sight, he still had no way to dodge Kaido's attack.
And in terms of speed, after the second collective enhancement, Zoro did possess that ability.
"Pure speed alone couldn't kill him. His Haki mastery was only a little weaker than mine. If he focused entirely on defense, he could basically endure it.
"And I only had one chance to try. If there was a next time, he would become even harder to deal with.
"The starting motion for iaijutsu is too obvious. It had to be used at the most crucial moment.
"And besides—tactics are also strength. That's something I learned from you."
Zoro raised his hand and swung his sword, unleashing a flying slash.
A large amount of earth was thrown into the great pit, burying Katakuri's corpse.
"He was a respectable opponent. A true strongman."
That was what he said.
"Then we won't convert him. Being buried here is fine too."
Ren had no objections. He was not lacking top-level combat power right now.
Looking at the larger scale, Fujitora had already joined him, Dragon could also be mobilized by him, and even Whitebeard was the same.
Looking at the smaller scale, Nami and the others had all reached the level of "strong fighters."
Nojiko had killed Smoothie. Her strength was roughly at the one-billion level.
In other words, she was at the level of the Big Mom Pirates' major faces, above the Beasts Pirates' Tobi Roppo, but weaker than the All-Stars.
Hancock was the same. As for whether that proud woman would listen obediently...
All Ren could say was that if he worked a little harder, there was a high probability that he could ask Hancock that question in bed and receive a satisfactory answer.
As for Vivi...
His crimson eyes flickered, and his gaze instantly arrived at the coast.
Perhaps sensing that the situation had already deteriorated beyond recovery, Cracker had directly chosen to fight Vivi.
At that moment, on the frontal battlefield, the army of Biscuit Soldiers had already been crushed by the Angel of Glory legion.
The angels were currently purging the Homies that had come along with the ships and were being used under Cracker's command to draw attention.
So at this moment, Vivi was fighting Cracker alone.
Of course, this was not Cracker in his peak condition. The army battle had consumed too much of his stamina and Haki.
"Rolling Pretzel!"
Cracker charged forward with astonishing speed, rushing toward Vivi as she was surrounded and pinned down by Biscuit Soldiers coated in Haki.
The sword in his hand thrust out, erupting with a terrifying sword-energy shock wave.
Even if there had been a mountain of steel before him, it would have been ripped apart and pulverized by that sword energy.
Wind pressure rampaged in that instant, displaying a lethal sense of danger.
'Calm down. This is my chance too.'
Vivi opened her right hand and pressed it against her own body, using herself as the medium to apply her moisture-draining ability to everything touching her surroundings.
In a single instant, the Biscuit Soldiers restraining her instantly turned into powder.
At the same time, her left hand rose and transformed into two Desert Grande Spadas, colliding with the sword energy rushing toward her.
Boom—!
A thunderous roar stirred up a surging gale.
Cracker smashed through the dust curtain and slashed at the enemy before him.
The blade light tore through—sand!
His pupils contracted sharply, but he had no time to react.
The yellow sand scattered all around, including across the ground, formed an extremely fast sand blade behind him.
Desert Greatsword!
The blade light was cold, its edge unparalleled. In a single instant, it cut Cracker open, splitting him into left and right halves.
Vivi, who had poured most of her Haki into that one attack, appeared afterward, panting as she stood before the enemy's corpse.
Although there was some suspicion of her taking advantage of an already weakened opponent, she had indeed killed a Sweet Commander!
According to Ren, that was a strong fighter who was considered rare even in the New World!
"It's over, then."
Ren appeared at just the right time. Through the cluster network, his consciousness issued an order, directing the Angels of Glory to recover the corpses of those powerful fighters who had not been dead for long.
Aside from Katakuri, the Big Mom Pirates' officers would all be thrown into the Reincarnation Pool.
Yes.
The Reincarnation Pool's conditions for reincarnation were actually not all that strict.
Although the requirement was for the creature to be alive, someone who had only just died could also be used. The difference was that, after conversion, their strength might suffer a greater loss.
Considering that his own few fighters had not reached a level where they could completely crush their opponents, Ren had no intention of keeping anyone alive.
As the order was issued, the Angels of Glory began to move.
Because the Devil Fruit user had died, the Biscuit Soldiers, as creations, disappeared along with him.
So this war was basically declared over at this point.
If there was still any unexpected factor...
Then it was only—
Buru Buru.
The Den Den Mushi that Cracker had dropped began to ring.
Ren looked at it and could not help grinning.
New World, Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.
Big Mom, who was in the middle of eating, swallowed sweets in great mouthfuls while staring at today's newspaper.
The title was something she, as a pirate, could not ignore.
The original Fleet Admiral, due to the Marineford War's failure, was preparing to resign.
It sounded unbelievable. As long as one knew the situation that day, one would understand that the ones who had given the order to release Ace were the Five Elders.
Yet this was how the world operated.
"Mamamama, that old bastard Sengoku is already so old, yet he still has to be pushed out to take the blame.
"How laughable. That bastard has always been the World Government's most loyal dog."
Charlotte Linlin sneered, her eyes filled with disdain.
"That is indeed the case. What the World Government did this time is laughable."
Perospero, who was standing to the side, said, "First, they arrested those reporters and forced the newspapers that had reported it to retract their original articles.
"Then they issued a correction about the news and made the Fleet Admiral bear the blame. Even the World Economic News had no choice but to change its wording.
"But what's strange is that they didn't erase the matter of the Celestial Dragon being taken hostage.
"With the World Government's methods, it should not have been difficult to cover this up."
At this point, he revealed a puzzled expression.
That made Charlotte Linlin laugh loudly.
"That's because they plan to do something big.
"Kidnapping a Celestial Dragon is already shocking enough, and even more so using a Celestial Dragon as a bargaining chip in a trade. Something like this has never happened in who knows how many years.
"Even I, back in Rocks' era, only attacked Celestial Dragons to rob them.
"For something like this to happen, it can only prove that their authority is no longer enough to make the people of the world maintain reverence and fear toward the Celestial Dragons.
"Perospero, if some force dared to despise my authority, what should be done?"
"Exterminate them! Leave not a blade of grass behind!"
Perospero made a rather cruel gesture, then revealed a look of sudden realization.
"Mama, you mean the World Government will attack Whitebeard at all costs."
"They might rescue that Celestial Dragon first, but they might also ignore him.
"In the end, it's only one person. And you were wrong. It's the Whitebeard Pirates."
Charlotte Linlin took a sip of black tea and revealed a somewhat malicious smile.
"To go a step further, perhaps even those under his protection will be destroyed along with him."
"This..."
Perospero's pupils shrank, seemingly finding it somewhat unbelievable.
"You mean those islands that joined under Whitebeard's flag?"
"There is nothing more capable of shocking the world than complete destruction.
"Even being tainted by the slightest association could bring annihilation. Isn't that very much in line with the Celestial Dragons' style?
"The Five Elders—are also Celestial Dragons."
Charlotte Linlin's eyes shone with a cold light.
"Have the people below begin preparations. The great era is about to arrive.
"That old man Whitebeard won't die so easily. Even if he does die, he'll heavily wound the World Government before that.
"No matter the result, it will be our opportunity. Even if there are no people left on those islands, the islands themselves still have resources we can seize.
"Perospero, next will be our period of expansion."
"So the reason you invited Kaido was because you planned to join hands and completely devour the entire New World?"
"Red-Hair is a very troublesome opponent, but more importantly, there's the possible reaction from the World Government's side."
Charlotte Linlin seemed somewhat concerned.
If the World Government could deal with Whitebeard...
No. They would definitely deal with Whitebeard.
A mere Celestial Dragon hostage was important if one called him important, but compared to the overall situation, what did he amount to?
If Sengoku was preparing to resign, then his successor would have to be chosen from the current Three Admirals.
Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu were all on the same level. If there was competition between them... then the Whitebeard matter would be the best opportunity.
And at that time, the World Government would gather a large number of top-level combatants.
After dealing with Whitebeard's forces, they would either disband and return to normal...
Or turn their guns toward the other Yonko.
The matter of trying to strangle Ace at Marineford made that clear.
The birth of a second Pirate King was not something the World Government wanted to see.
If they believed pirates had already caused serious harm to the World Government, or if they planned to strangle threats in the cradle...
Then if they aimed their guns at her, she had no confidence that she could get through it safely.
This was also why she had chosen to invite Kaido and was certain he would come.
However, if she wanted to take the initiative before Kaido, and if she wanted to pick up Whitebeard's leftovers afterward...
She needed one person, or rather, the military force she wanted.
Demon Ren, and those winged creatures that called themselves angels!
At that moment, Perospero suddenly said, "Mama, there is no need to worry. We will soon obtain a new batch of fighting forces.
"Katakuri's side has already arrived in the sea near Kuja Island. If nothing unexpected happened, the battle should already be resolved by now."
"Hm?"
Charlotte Linlin frowned.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Afternoon tea..."
Perospero lowered his head in fear.
"Forget it. Bring me a Den Den Mushi. I'll personally ask Katakuri how he did."
The sea slugs commonly used in Totto Land had no way of transmitting radio waves across the entire world.
To contact Katakuri, who was far away in the Calm Belt, a Den Den Mushi was still needed.
Buru Buru~ Buru Buru~
The Den Den Mushi rang, and after one second, it was connected.
"How did you do?"
Charlotte Linlin swallowed her last mouthful of black tea, her tone casual, though in truth, she was greatly looking forward to the answer from the other side.
The other side was silent for a moment, as though organizing his words.
Then—
"Very well. We annihilated the Big Mom Pirates' great fleet. We're currently cleaning up the battlefield."
(End of Chapter)