At that critical moment—
Guruguru—
A massive magma shockwave flew in from mid-air, like a leaping orange rabbit colliding with the fireball.
Magma clashed with fire.
The magma, far hotter than the fire, instantly consumed the flame lance, making Prometheus shriek loudly.
"Aaaaah… Hot! So hot! Mama! Mama, save me!"
Prometheus tumbled through the air, its flames dimming significantly, its size shrinking by nearly half.
It frantically hid behind Big Mom.
Big Mom looked up and saw that the attacker was Yotsuba, whose arms had turned into orange-red magma.
Glowing magma flowed over her arms, dripping to the ground and burning black holes into it.
"You—!"
Big Mom's expression changed dramatically.
She recognized this woman… the girl who had trained under her for two years, learning how to use her Devil Fruit ability.
Yotsuba stepped forward, looking at Big Mom with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
"Linlin-sensei, please accept your fate. That way, Makoto-kun can at least give you a dignified end."
Yotsuba had primarily trained under Big Mom back then, learning how to use Devil Fruit powers.
Although she had heard about the horrific things her former teacher had done since arriving in this timeline, watching her face death now still stirred some reluctance.
She couldn't help it... she had always been this kind of softhearted person.
Big Mom flew into a rage.
"You all die!"
She released the Emperor's Sword and clasped her hands together to summon another of her main Homies.
"Zeus!"
The golden cloud flew out from beneath her feet and transformed into a massive thundercloud.
Zeus had an even more timid personality than Prometheus, but still began gathering lightning under Big Mom's control.
Lightning churned within the clouds, emitting a low rumble, dyeing the entire sky deep purple.
"Mighty Drum!"
Deep purple lightning shot out from Zeus's body like razor-sharp blades, sweeping toward Yotsuba and Saeko.
Wherever the lightning passed, the air ionized with crackling sounds, and scorched black trenches were gouged into the ground.
Each bolt carried destructive force enough to split a warship in half.
However—
Just as the lightning was about to strike, another female voice rang out.
"60 Million Volt - Thunder Dragon!"
Blue-white lightning roared from another direction, transforming into a massive azure dragon that opened its maw and devoured the purple lightning fired by Zeus.
Big Mom's expression changed again as she spun her head around.
The attacker was none other than the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user… Chika.
She stood on the rubble nearby, her kanabo crackling with blue-white lightning, a confident smile on her lips.
Her body had fully elementalized into lightning form. Her hair drifted in the electric glow, her eyes shone white, and she looked like a thunder god descending upon the world.
"Aunty Linlin, your thundercloud can't compare to the real Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you know."
Chika said with a grin.
"You—!"
Big Mom gritted her teeth, unwillingness flashing in her eyes.
By infusing her extracted soul fragments into those elemental forces, she had gained the ability to manipulate them… Sun Prometheus and Thundercloud Zeus.
But in the end, these Homies' powers still couldn't match those of a true Logia user.
She refused to accept it.
She is an Emperor of the Sea.
She had been a queen ruling the seas for decades.
How could she lose to these brats who once studied under her?
Big Mom gripped her sword with both hands and charged at Saeko.
Though her size was enormous, her speed was astonishing, each step leaving a deep imprint in the ground.
"Ikoku Sovereignty!"
The greatsword came down coated in Conqueror's Haki, dark red lightning crackling along the blade as it fell toward Saeko's head.
The blade tore through the air with a sharp shriek.
Saeko did not dodge. She gripped her sword with both hands, coating the Shodai Kitetsu in both Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
Black Armament Haki intertwined with dark red Conqueror's lightning, forming a strange totem on the blade.
The two swords collided again.
Boom—!
The shockwave spread outward, leveling the surrounding buildings.
A massive crater exploded in the ground, sending rubble flying and smoke billowing.
All buildings within several hundred meters collapsed, chocolate floors powdered, cream spires sheared off by the blast wave.
Saeko was forced back three steps.
Her hands stung, her arms trembled slightly as she marveled at Big Mom's strength.
Big Mom was also forced back a step. Surprise flickered in her eyes.
"You little brat... I see. Now I remember… you trained under that guy Shiki back then."
No wonder the way Saeko swung her sword had looked so familiar.
"I appreciate the care you all showed me back then."
Saeko said coolly, pressing forward again.
Meanwhile, Yotsuba faced off against Prometheus.
Prometheus transformed into a massive pillar of fire and charged at her.
The fire column burned so hot that the air itself combusted, leaving a charred trail wherever it passed.
"Stolen Fire!"
Prometheus shrieked, charging at Yotsuba with the momentum of mutual destruction.
Yotsuba turned her arms into magma and crossed them before her.
Magma surged from her limbs, forming a massive shield in front of her.
Blazing magma flowed over the shield, radiating suffocating heat.
The fireball slammed into the magma shield with a sizzling sound.
Flame and magma collided, steam billowed, sparks flew.
White steam spread outward like clouds, obscuring everyone's vision.
Though Prometheus's flames were fierce, they were no match for magma.
Its fire continuously evaporated under the magma's heat, its size shrinking, dimming.
"So hot! So hot! Damn it! Why do I have to fight someone who counters me?!"
Prometheus screamed, wanting to flee, but Yotsuba's magma attacks only intensified, each strike further eroding Prometheus's power.
Chika, in turn, battled Zeus.
Zeus fired countless bolts of lightning at her.
Lightning poured down like a storm, each bolt capable of reducing an ordinary person to charcoal.
But Chika was lightning itself.
She didn't even need to dodge.
The lightning struck her like raindrops falling into the ocean, stirring no ripple. Her body flickered within the electric glow, like a spirit dancing in a tempest.
"Wow! The Soul-Soul Fruit can do this too?"
Chika examined Zeus, so close she could almost touch it, then suddenly struck back.
"60 Million Volt - Thunder Dragon!"
A thunder dragon shot from her palm, opened its massive jaws, and swallowed Zeus whole.
Zeus screamed and tumbled through the air, its lightning significantly dimmed.
"It hurts! It hurts!"
Zeus wailed, frantically fleeing toward Big Mom.
Reze stood beside Alice, arms crossed, watching the battle with interest.
With three people already fighting Big Mom, there was little need for her to join in.
…
After hours of sustained combat…
The sun set, dyeing the sky dark red. The sky over Totto Land was thick with smoke and steam, the air filled with the acrid-sweet smell of burnt sugar and the scent of blood.
Big Mom's stamina began to wane.
Her sword swings grew slower, the blade's edge duller.
Prometheus's flames grew weaker, Zeus's lightning dimmed, both nearing exhaustion.
She panted heavily, sweat and saliva dripping from her forehead to the ground with a sizzle.
Her clothes were soaked through, clinging to her body, her disheveled hair plastered to her face.
Saeko's swordsmanship remained sharp, each strike precisely aimed at Big Mom's vitals.
But landing a fatal blow was difficult… Big Mom's [Iron Balloon] physique had incredible defensive power.
Still, each strike drained Big Mom's stamina, each left a shallow blood trail on her body.
Those blood trails, though not deep, covered her body from head to toe.
Chika and Yotsuba stood on either side of their lone duck companion, facing off against Big Mom's Zeus and Prometheus.
"Damn it... damn it..."
Big Mom gritted her teeth, fury and unwillingness blazing in her eyes.
Her lips trembled, her fingers trembled, her entire body trembled.
She refused to accept it.
She was going to be defeated by these brats who once studied under her?
"I will not... lose..."
Big Mom's voice was hoarse and low, as if forced from the depths of her throat.
Before she could finish—
"Now!"
Saeko shouted, the Shodai Kitetsu in her hand erupting with dazzling light.
She gripped her sword with both hands, pouring all her strength into this one strike. The golden blade beam that erupted took the form of a roaring lion charging at Big Mom's chest.
"Lion Slash Wave!"
At the same moment, Reze pulled her ring, transformed into her Bomb form, snapped her fingers, and further amplified Saeko's attack.
BOOM!!!
Whole Cake Island was rocked by an ear-splitting explosion. The entire island convulsed violently, nearly sinking.
Through the thick smoke, Big Mom's massive body could be seen beginning to sway, about to fall.
"Erina, Alice, your turn now."
Reze called out in her Bomb form.
Erina and Alice exchanged a glance and charged forward simultaneously.
They had only one goal—
Land the final blow on Big Mom.
And claim the Soul-Soul Fruit.