Chapter 173: Combined Strike! Death of Big Mom?
Undoubtedly.
What happened on the live broadcast screen now was something no one in Totto Land could have predicted.
The Big Mom on the screen, devoid of any consciousness, emitting meaningless strange roars with her mouth open, and the figures appearing before her.
Everything was completely beyond the imagination of Totto Land's citizens and Charlotte Family executives.
"Sea... Sea Beast Mask!?"
At this moment, exclamations came from various islands in Totto Land.
With The Zodiac's name resounding across the sea, no one misunderstood the meaning of a Sea Beast Mask.
"Is it... a Top Executive of The Zodiac?"
"Haven't seen this mask among the bountied ones—a new executive!?"
"Dog head mask? Is he 'Inu'?"
By now, The Zodiac's naming convention for Top Executives wasn't a secret on the sea, so many people could guess Inu's identity and codename.
But the key was Inu's stance.
Declaration of War.
No need to wait for Big Mom—The Zodiac had already declared war on the Emperor of the Sea officially and... launched an attack!
"How did they infiltrate Whole Cake Island? What about Oven and Cracker?"
On Cacao Island, Smoothie clearly had countless questions.
"And how did they know Mama's weakness!?"
She gritted her teeth.
Yes—Weakness.
This was a secret known only to senior executives of the Big Mom Pirates and Charlotte Family.
Most of the time, Big Mom's physique was in the state of an "Iron Balloon", possessing defense and vitality far exceeding normal Armament Haki.
She hadn't been injured for years.
But in only one situation, she would lose the "Iron Balloon".
That was when her mind was lost and consciousness confused—she would emit a "Strange Sound" and burst out with terrifying Conqueror's Haki.
But simultaneously, her body would become extremely fragile.
And the easiest way to stimulate her into this extreme state was "Mother Carmel's" photo.
But this was a secret; even few Charlotte Family members knew. How did The Zodiac know?
"..."
Perospero looked grim, silent.
As the eldest son and the strategist known for "Strategy" and "Conspiracy".
At this moment, he vaguely guessed the chilling truth.
From Cracker's injury and weakened ability months ago, to Cracker actively naming a few people as "Guards" to defend Whole Cake Island with him recently, the outlined facts were quite clear.
"They prepared long ago... not just a day or two."
Thinking of this possibility, Perospero's long tongue almost straightened.
"We must help Mama immediately. Hey... Katakuri..."
He turned to call Katakuri.
But when he turned around, he saw Katakuri, who was rushing toward the "Mirror Passage", had stopped.
"Too late..."
At this moment, Katakuri's usually cold and calm expression carried unprecedented shock and visible panic.
"More than one."
"Mama... Mama she..."
His words contained clear complexity and horror.
He saw that shocking "Future" again.
Meanwhile, atop Whole Cake Chateau.
"Everyone, prepare to act."
Inu looked at Big Mom nearby.
Emitting the strange sound, her intense Conqueror's Haki had directly affected the physical world—the ground around her cracked completely, everything crumbling.
Yes.
In the original story, Luffy and others cooperated to trigger this "Strange Sound" state by destroying Mother Carmel's photo, attempting to assassinate her.
But ultimately, they failed because of Big Mom's terrifying Conqueror's Haki—the "Weapons" meant to kill her were shattered.
But clearly, this didn't mean Luffy's plan was flawed.
On the contrary.
In Roy's view, that plan was almost perfect in both completeness and feasibility.
The reason for failure was simple.
Luffy and others were too weak back then.
But this time, the situation was different from the original story.
Because this time, Big Mom faced... "The Zodiac"!
"Let this sea... tremble."
As Inu's words fell.
VMMM!
The eight clones standing on Whole Cake Chateau moved abruptly.
They swallowed their shadows without hesitation, then merged with Inu.
[Shadow's Asgard · Ninefold Devour]
[Mix-Mix Fruit · Giant Warrior Fusion]
And finally...
[True Mirage Shadow · Rocks]
Without hesitation, he transformed into Rocks.
The power of the former Hegemon blessed his body—although excluding fruit ability and Haki, the terrifying aura still pierced the clouds instantly.
And this was just the beginning.
Next moment...
VMMM!
From above the pierced clouds, dazzling brilliance poured down.
Within the brilliance, a sturdy figure with crimson-gold scales, burning golden light, and wings on his back manifested slowly.
That was...
The Zodiac, Tori (Rooster).
His form was clearly the strongest form he displayed in Sabaody Archipelago.
[Winged Dragon of Ra Form]
And the next moment...
RIP!
Above Big Mom's head, space cracked suddenly.
BOOM!
A massive slash appeared out of thin air.
At the source of the slash, a figure wearing gloves and a Rat Mask stood with hands behind his back.
The Zodiac, Nezumi (Rat).
At this moment, Nezumi's figure had become extremely massive, like a giant.
And the slash he waved out... visibly cut and distorted space wherever it passed.
"Th... Three!"
"Nezumi didn't die!? What happened?"
"Rat, Rooster, Dog—it... it's three Top Executives of The Zodiac!? Appearing on Whole Cake Island simultaneously!"
"Their target... is indeed Mama?"
At this moment, people watching the broadcast on various Totto Land islands exclaimed simultaneously.
They weren't familiar with Inu.
But Nezumi and Tori were names resounding like thunder on the sea today.
Of course, the most critical point wasn't this.
The appearance of these three indicated a fact.
The Zodiac's goal here wasn't mere "Threat", "Revenge", or "Ulterior Motives".
From the start... their goal was—Kill the Emperor of the Sea.
And it was true...
"Mirage Shadow · Curse of the Abyss!"
"Winged Dragon Strike · Solar Fist!"
"Space Slash · Grand Secret Technique · World Severance!"
Without hesitation, the three used their strongest attacks from three directions toward the screaming Big Mom.
By the way, the three Homies supposed to protect Big Mom were immobilized by the "Strange Sound" too.
BOOM!
Inu's pitch-black slash seemed to darken the sky of Whole Cake Island.
VMMM!
But within that darkness, Tori's sun-like brilliance seemed to illuminate the night.
SWISH!
Finally, Nezumi's slash cutting everything swallowed and severed both night and day.
For a moment—Whole Cake Island seemed to alternate between night and day.
Under the terrifying aftermath of power, the castle standing on Whole Cake Island for years, symbolizing Big Mom herself, began to collapse instantly.
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
With roaring sounds, three attacks rushed toward Big Mom.
Naturally—even Big Mom's intense Conqueror's Haki couldn't erase or resist attacks of this level.
SPLAT!
The next moment, Inu's slash severed Big Mom's head!
BOOM!
Following closely, Tori's fist pierced Big Mom's heart!
CRACK!
Finally, Nezumi's space slash split Big Mom's body... in half from the middle!
Without the "Iron Balloon", her body was clearly no harder than paper.
The next instant...
THUD!
The corpse of the Emperor of the Sea fell heavily.
And the entire Totto Land fell into... Dead Silence!
☆☆☆
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