After the birthday wishes and laughter faded, everyone across Totto Land continued staring at the live broadcast in the sky, watching the souls floating above the sea.
"No! No! No!"
Sister Carmel's despairing screams echoed through the air, mixed with the cheerful laughter of the House of Lambs' children.
'Buzz!'
The chill of the Yomi-Yomi Fruit continued spreading. The Soul Cannon Inoshi had compressed to its absolute limit, hadn't lost its power after shattering Big Mom's fused soul; its effects were still lingering.
"Ah, I feel so light."
"I'm floating!"
"It's kind of cold! Hey, Linlin, you're so big, come block the wind for us!"
The children's souls still had no idea what had happened, but the people of Totto Land did.
"..."
Katakuri clenched his fists. And not just him, nearly every member of the Charlotte Family did the same.
By now, they all finally understood what their "Mother" truly was. The one who ruled the nation with absolute authority, who filled them with fear, who never tolerated disobedience... was the black part of her soul. The childlike mother who had loved them and watched them grow was everything else.
But now, both had reached the same end. Their bodies were gone, their souls had shattered into fragments, and only death awaited them.
Silence fell over all of Totto Land.
"Soul Sacrifice! Soul Sacrifice! Soul Sacrifice! Linlin, stop getting in my way! Don't you understand? We're one! If I die, we'll both die!"
Only Sister Carmel's hateful, desperate screams continued echoing across the sea.
But in the next instant…
"...Quiet."
A calm voice rang out above the silent ocean.
'Bang!'
Everyone watched as two hands emerged from empty space. The surrounding air cracked apart as they appeared, and with those hands, countless stars flowed around them.
One hand gently reached toward Linlin and the souls of the House of Lambs' children. It closed softly.
'Buzz!'
The souls that had been breaking apart instantly stopped crumbling, resting safely within that hand.
"Wow! It's warm now!"
"Linlin, is that you?"
The children still had no idea what was happening.
"Ah... I think I remember you..." Only Linlin seemed able to sense something. Unlike the other children, the soul that had suppressed Sister Carmel for decades was itself monstrously powerful.
"It's you!" Before she could finish, the pitch-black soul beside her suddenly shrieked. "Save me! Save me! Please! Please! You can protect souls, can't you? I'll serve you! I can…"
She never finished. The other hand was already reaching toward her.
For a brief moment, Sister Carmel thought she'd been saved. Joy spread across her face, but only for an instant.
"No! W-What are you doing!? No! I…"
Her scream was cut short. The black soul was caught in that hand, then it was crushed completely.
The fragments of the black soul scattered like dust. Only then did the figure finally reveal himself beneath the heavens.
Wearing the Mask of Shifting Stars and a flowing robe, he stood among the drifting soul stardust. At that moment, he seemed even brighter than the rising sun on the distant horizon.
At the same time, everyone inside Totto Land, and everyone watching from beyond its seas, saw what happened next.
On the ruins of Cake Island stood Youji, Inu, and Zishu. On Dreamland Island were Hitsuji, Inoshi, and the countless creatures of Dreamland. Even Shinryu floated high above Totto Land while holding back the raging heavens.
Every one of them turned toward that lone figure.
Then, Inoshi removed his mask. Zishu bowed respectfully. Youji folded his wings. Inu lowered his head. Shinryu bowed. Hitsuji placed a hand over his chest.
"Leader."
The six voices spoke in perfect unison.
That sight left everyone in Totto Land feeling as though they were dreaming. These were the same six people who had nearly sealed off the entire nation, launched an all-out war against a Yonko, and ultimately killed one. Yet now, they showed unmistakable respect toward that single figure.
There was no need to explain who he was. Everyone already knew.
"...Star Lord," Linlin softly whispered his name. "Thank you."
She smiled as she spoke.
"The Assembly of Stars protects pure souls." Star Lord's voice remained calm and gentle. "Sleep well."
As those words fell, Linlin and the children of the House of Lambs slowly closed their eyes. Invisible spirit vessels appeared from nowhere, gently embracing their souls. One by one, they became part of the stars held within his hands.
And that was exactly what had happened.
---
'Fusion Devil Fruit , Paramecia , Underworld Fruit LV5'
'Fusion Materials:' Yomi-Yomi Fruit LV5 + Soul-Soul Fruit LV3 + Spirit-Spirit Fruit LV5
'Devil Fruit Effects:'
' Combines the powers of all three Devil Fruits.
' Grants the chill of the Underworld and absolute suppression over souls.
' Gives the user one perfect resurrection by allowing their soul to return from the Underworld.
' Freely creates soul beings ("Homies") and soulless spirit vessels. These spirit vessels can house souls that have not completely perished, preserving, restoring, and healing them.
' Allows Soul Transfer, enabling the user to merge their soul into objects, temporarily becoming a Homie and gaining complete control over that object.
'Additional Fusion Ability , This Is the Underworld'
'Effect 1:' The user may designate an area as the 'Underworld'. Within this domain, anyone the user permits may freely leave their body as a soul. Souls in this state can neither attack nor be attacked, but they retain their senses and can still perceive and feel the outside world.
'Effect 2 - Devil Fruit Awakening: Return from Yomi'
If the user possesses a recently deceased person's intact body, they may temporarily summon a fragment of that person's soul back from the Underworld. The soul exists in spiritual form for three minutes. This ability has a one-month cooldown. As the Fusion materials continue to improve, the duration can eventually be extended to fifteen minutes.
---
Ever since ancient times, sailors had told the same story: those who died at sea would become stars. So if the Lord of Stars was also the Lord of Souls, there was nothing strange about that.
Star-Lord slowly lowered his hand and looked across the silent sea.
"..."
The silence covering Totto Land grew even deeper. Then he spoke calmly.
"The rest is up to you."
"Yes!" The six Constellations bowed once again in unison.
Star-Lord gave a slight nod, turned around, and disappeared into thin air, as though he had never been there at all.
Only the lingering starlight and the vanished souls proved that what had just happened had not been a dream.
(End of Chapter)
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