"Mama Mama, Rolan, I should thank you," Charlotte Linlin said, her voice carrying an unusual softness. "If it weren't for you, my strength would never have advanced this far."
Rolan studied the impossibly young-looking figure in front of him, feeling a mix of caution and respect. After their last battle, Big Mom had technically died, but her soul had fused with her own, allowing her powers to awaken fully. Until now, the Soul-Soul Fruit had been restrained by the presence of another consciousness within her.
He carefully sensed her strength, noting that she was now nearly on par with Whitebeard. Her title as the weakest of the Four Emperors no longer applied. Yet Rolan merely snorted.
"Oh-ho-ho, your strength is still not enough for me."
Big Mom did not take offense; instead, a booming laugh erupted from her, filling the air. "Rolan, enjoy your last moments."
Kaido, wielding his massive club, met her gaze with equal amusement. "It's been a while since we last fought together, old woman. Don't drag me down again."
Linlin smiled at him. "Yes, Kaido. This time, we are equals."
Though they exchanged teasing insults, there was no malice, only the camaraderie of two warriors who had once sailed together in the Rocks Pirates. The only difference now was that Linlin no longer protected Kaido like an elder sister—now, they stood as collaborators of equal standing.
Rolan understood the danger he faced. The combined might of two top Emperors was unlike anything he had encountered before. Previously, he had defeated them only because Big Mom had just revived, and Kaido had been severely weakened. Now, he had little confidence in victory.
But where there's a will, there's a way. Rolan ignored hesitation, too lazy for words. His hand stretched through the air, and the Electromagnetic Blade appeared.
He moved instantly, appearing before Big Mom.
"Sword Draw Slash!"
In a heartbeat, the blade pressed against her face.
Big Mom's pupils rotated wildly, forming black and yellow concentric rings. Rolan felt his soul shiver, a strange force slowing his movements for a fraction of a second.
In that instant, Big Mom struck. Her fist slammed into Rolan's head.
Bang!
He flew backward, regaining control mid-air. The power in her gaze had tried to devour his soul.
Has Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit fully awakened? he thought, blood trickling from his mouth.
Rolan teleported next to her with Electromagnetic Instant Transmission. His right flip-flop shimmered with purplish-black Conqueror's Haki, as he brought it down, slicing Prometheus in half. Simultaneously, he kicked Big Mom directly in the face.
She fell, a crimson blur through the air.
"Mama!" Zeus cried, rushing beneath her to catch her. But Big Mom, like molten iron, tore through him, unstoppable. Her momentum remained unchecked.
Zeus' wounds glowed with purple soul energy, slowly regenerating, while Prometheus reformed in a faint shimmer of soul power. By the time Zeus caught her again, she had fully stabilized.
Rolan frowned. That attack should have had an effect. He hadn't expected it to fail.
Before he could analyze further, a ferocious gust blew past his head.
Kaido's club.
Rolan vanished and reappeared above Kaido. His Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the supreme flip-flop. With a forward flip, he struck Kaido's head. The impact erupted into red and black lightning, shaking away the clouds.
A-pfft!
Kaido spat blood, sent hurtling toward Big Mom. As he flew backward, he transformed into a massive blue dragon. He hovered, poised, facing Big Mom's stabilizing figure.
"BIG MOM, Rolan, haven't you eaten?" she said with amusement, touching her cheek.
Rolan smirked. "Is that so? Then you two better be careful not to die here."
Kaido eyed him, bemused. "The worse it is for you, the more excited you get. Strange young man."
Rolan appeared before both Emperors, sweeping his leg in a kick. His flip-flop, charged with Armament and Conqueror's Haki, glowed crimson as it slammed toward Big Mom's temple.
"Napoleon!" she called, blocking with her left hand.
At the same time, Kaido's blue tail, crackling with purplish-black lightning, lashed toward him. Rolan did not retract. He bent his arm, deflecting the strike while adding a surge of Haki to his foot.
Big Mom could not withstand the strike. She flew sideways like a comet. Kaido's tail whip sent Rolan flying as well.
Kaido laughed heartily. "Hahaha, Rolan, I am Kaido!"
But before his words finished, Rolan's flip-flop connected solidly with his chin. The dragon shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Elsewhere, Qimo Ji's voice oozed seduction. "Hehehe, give up resisting, or I might just surprise you with how light or heavy my dagger is."
Law froze, horrified. He moved toward Vivi, but hesitated.
"You dare get distracted while fighting us?"
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