"Huh?"
Big Mom froze, her expression suddenly shifting. Katakuri's warning could only mean one thing—
Several seed-like objects appeared in front of the mochi wall, just about to be blocked!
The guests gasped, too stunned to react—when suddenly, with a sharp ring of steel, a powerful slash split the mochi wall apart!
Through the gap, the seeds shot through!
"Two-Sword Style: 712-Pound Phoenix!"
Katakuri's forehead bulged with veins—those seeds had already detonated!
"Damn it! Too late!"
"Midori Boshi: Platanus Shuriken!"
Katakuri dashed forward, transforming the mochi into a giant hand imbued with Armament Haki, slamming down toward the shuriken—but a massive fist, also clad in Armament Haki, collided with his!
"You—Straw Hat Luffy!"
A flurry of spinning leaves burst forth, their tremendous force destroying everything in front of the bewildered Big Mom!
And among the wreckage—was Mother Carmel's photograph!
"Damn it!"
Big Mom's children realized what had happened, their faces full of disbelief:
"Katakuri-san!"
"Straw Hat Luffy?!"
"Mother's photograph!"
"This is bad! Really bad!"
Chaos erupted throughout the hall. The Straw Hat Pirates, who were supposed to be the "offerings" at this tea party, had struck before the sacrifice ceremony even began!
"Impossible! How dare they?!"
"Everyone—take them down!"
Big Mom stared blankly as Mother Carmel's photograph shattered right before her eyes, smashed by the sudden barrage of leaves!
Even Katakuri, who could glimpse into the future, hadn't been able to stop it—in large part because Usopp had launched the attack from the very edge of the hall, aided by Zoro's precise support!
"How did you know the importance of that photograph?!"
"Only we were supposed to know that secret!"
"Everyone! Stay alert! Defend! Quickly!"
Perospero, Smoothie, and Cracker sprang into action. Perospero began crafting a "Candy Wall," while Smoothie and Cracker charged toward the Straw Hats—only to be intercepted by a sudden figure!
Twin claws gleamed with shockwaves as Sabo struck the two Sweet Commanders with overwhelming force—the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit sending them flying!
"You think you can lay a hand on my brother?"
"Whoa! Big news! The Revolutionary Army's here too?! Kuwahahaha!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates! Such precision! An impeccable ambush!"
"Kuwahahahaha! This news will shake the world to its core!"
"That freelance journalist Absa's been hogging the headlines lately, but I—I'm the boss of the World Economy News Paper! I'm still an ambitious reporter, dammit! Kuwahahaha!"
Morgans, hiding in the corner, whipped out a Visual Den Den Mushi and snapped photos wildly, so excited that all his feathers stood on end!
"This time, my headlines will crush yours!"
Big Mom, stunned by the sudden attack, plunged into turmoil.
Three seconds until the wail would erupt!
At the four corners of the hall—northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest—four rings that had fallen earlier began to rapidly transform!
One second—transformation complete!
The cores of four Lightforged Beacons emerged!
Two seconds—four hands pressed against the beacons, radiant golden light bursting forth as the Vinsmoke siblings activated them with their own Holy Light!
Even without Lightforged Crystals, the Lightforged Sigils on the beacons began generating power autonomously!
Three seconds—a flash of gold—and before Reiju, at the eastern beacon, the figure of Wright appeared, clad in the Justice Cloak!
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
A furious, monstrous scream erupted from Big Mom's position, accompanied by an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki that swept across the hall!
Katakuri, however, stared in shock:
"Holy Light Wall — Encirclement Barrier!"
Boom—!
A barrier formed by the Holy Light Wall enclosed the entire center of the hall, trapping all the tea party participants inside!
"Fleet Admiral Wright of the Marines—'Orange Horse' Wright! Impossible!"
The monstrous scream was sealed inside the barrier as radiant halos glowed beneath Wright's feet, and the Lightforged Beacons at the four corners blazed brighter!
"What—what is that?!"
Just as the guests noticed the Holy Light Wall, Big Mom's monstrous scream hit them like a tidal wave!
Even the mighty Three Sweet Commanders couldn't move!
And it wasn't just the sound—it carried Big Mom's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki!
The tea party hall was massive, but the improved Lightforged Beacons had been positioned perfectly to accommodate the vast space.
Golden light flashed again—and Admiral Sakazuki ("Akainu"), Admiral Issho ("Fujitora"), and multiple Vice Admirals appeared outside the barrier, each leading a formation of a thousand Marines!
Big Mom was at her weakest!
At the critical moment, the Marine Fleet Admiral had appeared—and thousands of elite Marines had surrounded the hall...
Bege, who was rallying his men and readying rocket launchers, was completely dumbfounded:
"W-what the hell is happening?!"
"Am I dreaming?!"
Despite the Conqueror's Haki, Bege and the Straw Hats—having prepared earplugs in advance—managed to resist. Morgans too was prepared.
But the other guests and Big Mom's children had no such defenses!
The weaker guests immediately collapsed, unconscious. Cold sweat poured down Big Mom's children's faces—they knew, without a doubt: this was a catastrophe!
This was clearly a Marine Headquarters operation!
They had dared to storm into Totto Land—right into the heart of the Whole Cake Island banquet hall!
How... how was this possible?
Were they planning to wipe everyone out?!
The Lightforged Beacons were still in their three-minute cooldown phase. The Marine soldiers, empowered by Wright's halos and blessings, sweated nervously as they watched the carnage inside the Holy Light Wall—
This was the terror of a Yonko.
Even an unconscious scream could wreak such havoc!
If not for the barrier, they would have ended up like the fallen guests!
Wright glanced at Sakazuki and Issho. The two Admirals nodded firmly.
This was the decisive moment—Big Mom at her weakest.
Wright's radiant wings of Holy Light unfurled behind him, and Ashes was drawn, gleaming as it soared skyward!
Issho unsheathed his gravity blade, sending waves of gravitational force rippling upward, while Sakazuki's fists transformed into searing magma that blasted toward the sky—
"Ryusei Kazan!"
The pirates at the center of the hall were completely paralyzed—the guests were already wiped out, and the only ones still standing were Big Mom's pirates!
The Marine Fleet Admiral and two Admirals had stormed into Whole Cake Island—this was crazier than any nightmare!
Boom—!
The nightmare of the Summit War two years ago had returned—giant magma fists raining down, massive meteors descending, and the figure clad in the Justice Cloak charging straight for Big Mom!
...
The Straw Hat Pirates, already wearing earplugs, silently retreated toward Bege, signaling him to let them in—time to run!
Bege gritted his teeth, shooting an angry glare at the grinning Luffy—this time, the Straw Hats had stolen the show—and he got nothing!
But he knew full well: this was a Marine operation now. If he stayed, he was a dead man!
Reluctantly, Bege activated his Castle-Castle Fruit powers, pulling the Straw Hats inside. Sanji lingered for a moment, glancing back at his Vinsmoke siblings now clad in their combat suits—then entered the castle.
Meanwhile, outside the Holy Light Wall—
Sabo caught sight of Ace, and the two brothers exchanged a smile.
Koala appeared behind Sabo, and together they rushed to Bege.
Sabo extended a hand, and though reluctant, Bege recognized the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff—and knew the rumors about Straw Hat Luffy's true connections...
Clenching his jaw, Bege grabbed Sabo's hand. Koala, her lower body vaporized into gas, seized Sabo's other hand—and the three of them shot into the sky!
"If we don't leave now, it'll be too late!"
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