As the Twin Goddesses shot up into the sky, the protective bubble surrounding the ship burst apart.
They had finally entered the New World, and everyone had been filled with excitement and anticipation.
But the moment they saw the terrifying scene before them, all that excitement vanished.
This was nothing like the beautiful sight they had witnessed when entering the Grand Line from Reverse Mountain.
The world was dim and lifeless, with only the sound of waves echoing through the silence.
Howling winds carried seawater that lashed against everyone's faces.
If Enel hadn't grabbed her in time, Baby-5's small frame might have been swept away by the gale.
With a thunderous crash, the Twin Goddesses slammed onto the sea. The impact snapped everyone back to their senses.
Standing on the deck, Flare's expression shifted from eager anticipation to complete confusion. She looked around, then turned to Yemu and Tiger.
"Is this the New World? It's nothing like Reverse Mountain at all!"
Before Tiger could respond, something suddenly struck her head.
"Ow! What was that… huh?!"
Flare looked up, only to see countless hailstones pelting down. Worse, they were getting bigger by the second.
Seeing this, Yemu immediately drew Tengoku from his waist.
"Tengoku·Flying Flame Soothing Slash!"
A surge of scorching heat burst forth as a blazing slash shot into the dark clouds above. In an instant, the hailstones melted, turning into rain.
Even though Devil Fruit powers were incredibly strong, going head-to-head with nature was never a wise choice.
After dispersing the hail, Yemu turned to Tiger.
"Let's move out of this area first. It'll be much better once we're clear of here."
Tiger nodded and looked into the distance.
...
On the Pink Cake Pirates' ship, the deck was filled with Big Mom's many children. As they watched the Sky Pirates sail straight toward them—seemingly without any regard for the Big Mom Pirates—their faces showed clear shock.
They had never seen anything like this.
In the New World, aside from Whitebeard's crew and a select few others, any pirate who saw the Big Mom Pirates' flag would keep their distance. No one had ever dared to charge straight at them like this.
"Perospero Nii-san, the Sky Pirates are coming straight at us…"
Charlotte Galette, the youngest, spoke nervously.
"Damn it! How dare they look down on Mama's flag!"
Charlotte Daifuku's face darkened.
Perospero, on the other hand, licked his lips, looking rather excited.
"Just like Mama said, these rookie pirates really are arrogant, aren't they?"
At that moment, Charlotte Oven stepped forward, unable to hold back any longer.
"Hey, Perospero Nii-san, Katakuri nii-san, since that's the case, it's fine if we teach them a lesson, right? Mama only said to bring them back anyway."
"Hehehe, go ahead, Oven."
"Do as you like."
Seeing that neither of his older brothers objected, Charlotte Oven grew excited and picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"All Chess Pawns, heed my command! Aim your cannons at their ship. Let our BIGMOM pirate crew teach this newcomer to the New World a lesson."
"Fire!!!!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom…"
Thirteen pirate ships, nearly a hundred cannons, fired in unison. Pitch-black cannonballs tore through the air, trailing flames as they hurtled toward the Sky Pirates, who had sailed straight into their firing range.
But in the next moment, their expressions shifted to shock.
The cannonballs were sliced in half mid-air and exploded before they could reach their target.
"Looks like they've got quite a capable swordsman on board, Amande!"
Charlotte Daifuku cast a glance at his younger sister. At her waist hung the Meito named Shirauo. Charlotte Amande, a swordsman herself.
A member of the Longleg Tribe with a slender figure and a large hood, Charlotte Amande lifted her head slightly and looked toward the distant pirate ship, speaking in a casual tone.
"It should be that swordsman called Killmonger Erik."
Just then, as if responding to the BIGMOM pirate crew's attack, a brilliant slash burst forth across the dark sea.
"They really don't hold back at all."
Perospero grinned as he watched.
"Leave it to me."
Charlotte Amande drew Shirauo, stepped to the bow, and swung her long blade, unleashing a slash of her own.
In an instant, the two dazzling slashes collided.
"Not even worth—what…?"
Charlotte Amande hadn't even finished speaking when her slash was cleanly split in two. The remaining force of the opponent's attack continued surging toward their ship.
It looked as though the slash would cleave their ship in half.
At that moment, a pitch-black trident appeared in front of Charlotte Amande and swung forward with force.
The incoming slash was blocked outright, dispersing into a powerful shockwave.
"Katakuri nii-san!"
Katakuri withdrew his trident without even turning his head and spoke calmly.
"Don't get careless. Don't forget—even that swordsman has a bounty of 280 million Belly."
"I'm sorry…"
At those words, BIGMOM's children immediately stopped underestimating the group of rookie pirates before them.
"Kukuku, who would've thought an unknown swordsman could be this strong? He even managed to put you at a disadvantage, Amande."
Perospero chuckled, clearly surprised.
Charlotte Amande clicked her tongue, her face full of displeasure.
"Tch. I was just careless."
"Oh? Is that so? Kukuku!"
Just as the two looked like they might start arguing, the ever-composed Katakuri stepped in to stop them.
"That's enough. Don't forget—although these pirates haven't been to the New World before, their bounties are higher than most of ours. Especially their captain. He fought that monster Bullet, came out unscathed, and even killed Barobar. If we underestimate him, we'll pay for it."
Only then did everyone calm down.
At that moment, Charlotte Custard, who had remained silent the whole time and was known among her many sisters for her exceptional beauty, spoke up with confusion.
"If that's the case, Katakuri nii-san, why did you have Oven provoke them? What if…"
"Hmph!"
Katakuri let out a cold snort at his sister's question and glanced at his siblings.
"With their personalities, do you really think they'd listen to me without testing things themselves?"
The group fell silent.
Perospero, however, laughed cheerfully.
"As expected of Katakuri! Mama was right to send you. Alright, the Sky Pirates are right in front of us. We can chat later. Let's handle the business first. If the mission fails, Mama will be furious."
Just the thought of Mama's anger sent a chill through everyone.
At that moment, the Twin Goddesses had already sailed up before them.
As the eldest son and the one in charge of this mission, Perospero stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Yemu, captain of the Sky Pirates, I am—"
Before he could finish, a voice interrupted him.
"I don't like the weather here. If you have something to say, wait until we leave this place…"