Chapter 356: Jinbe Joins the Crew, The Nun's Photo

"Big news, big news!!"

While the other underground world bosses were confused, Morgans' camera-phone bug kept flashing as he got more and more excited.

"Will the rising Straw Hat Crew escape unscathed, or will they be killed by BIG MOM on the spot? This is interesting, very interesting!"

By the way, Morgans isn't actually a bird, but a man who has kept a half-beast form. He's a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, specifically the "Bird-Bird Fruit, Albatross Form." Despite his big belly, he's still quite strong! Because interviewing people on the seas is risky, like right now:

"My cake, the cake I was looking forward to so much—"

As BIG MOM stood up, growing angrier, it seemed as though the sky and the sea were both enraged with her! What was once clear skies instantly turned to dark clouds swirling like claws of a monster, with lightning flashing through them. The sound of thunder echoed across half the sky, while the other half was like a burning sun, with red flames swirling, making the sky seem like a mirage.

"Thundercloud Zeus, Sun Prometheus, tsk tsk tsk, each of them has the power of several Logia users..."

The oppressive pressure coming down from the Cake Tower made all the celebrating civilians drop to the ground, trembling with fear.

"I won't let you off, Straw Hat Crew! But before that—"

BIG MOM's eyes turned downward, landing on the chefs nearby.

"Make me a new cake!"

"That... is impossible... Mama, we don't have the ingredients and time..."

"Life or wedding cake?"

"This is it, BIG MOM's 'soul spell,' the ability to steal someone's life. This is the headline!"

While everyone else was terrified, only Morgans was excitedly taking pictures, thinking about his "big news." He's really the conscience of the industry. But there was even bigger news:

"Three-Sword Style, Extreme Tiger Hunt!"

Three dark blades sliced through the air, aiming to cut and swallow everything, their blade light blocking out the sun. The roar of a tiger, magnified thousands of times, echoed as it enveloped the enemy. The Charlotte family members nearby turned pale!

Even though the attack wasn't aimed at them, just being in its range gave the feeling that they had already been torn apart.

"Step back!"

At the critical moment, a cold voice shouted, and a tall figure stood up, holding a three-meter-long giant sword horizontally. The sword, coated in black Armament Haki, clashed with Zoro's attack.

The two weapons and their Haki clashed instantly, sending shockwaves and blade light in all directions. The Charlotte family members retreated one after another, knowing that if these sharp blades hit them, they'd be seriously injured or dead!

"What a wild sword, it's like a beast."

Facing Charlotte Smoothie's words, Zoro, who had a green headband and a sword in his mouth, grinned.

"Thank you for the compliment!"

On the other side: "Gomu Gomu no Hellfire Gun!"

This move was a mix of the Gum-Gum Elephant Gun and the Gum-Gum Fire Pistol, with Luffy's giant fist wrapped in both Armament Haki and blazing flames! His newly learned Haki, both external and internal destruction, was about to be unleashed! Because his opponent was:

"Hmph, trying to force me to take this punch with a wide-range attack?"

Charlotte Katakuri's expression didn't change as he swiftly punched back, "Grilled Rice Cake!"

This move was similar to Luffy's "Gum-Gum Hellfire Gun," with Katakuri covering his arm in Armament Haki and creating friction to produce flames as he swung at high speed!

Charlotte Katakuri had just fired his own "arm" forward! His Haki-infused fist, wrapped in roaring flames, intercepted Luffy's punch before turning into a massive wave of fire. The raging flames surged forward like a tidal wave, swallowing Luffy's entire figure. 

"Open!" 

With a sudden burst from within the fire, Luffy's unleashed Haki forcefully pushed the flames aside! The shockwaves from their clash sent fireballs flying in all directions, covering the entire Cake Tower in flames. Trees, buildings—anything in the area—were instantly ignited, turning into blazing torches. It was like a meteor shower of fire— 

"Impressive." 

'Gomu Gomu no Flame Pistol' was already Luffy's strongest move in Gear Third, yet Katakuri had effortlessly countered it and even turned the attack back at him… And that was while being surrounded by his own siblings, meaning he couldn't even dodge properly! 

Looks like he had to use Gear Fourth— If Katakuri's Observation Haki was really as strong as Roman said, then... 

"Ma-ma-ma-ma~~" 

"To be able to fight my two precious children for a few rounds… Looks like you do have some strength." 

A real expert could tell immediately— 

With Zoro facing Smoothie and Luffy up against Katakuri, the sheer impact of their battles forced everyone else to back away. The difference in power was obvious. Even Big Mom, who had been furious about losing her wedding cake, momentarily shifted her gaze. 

"Since we're already connected through marriage, why don't you all just join me? I can forgive your little offense—" 

"No way! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" 

Luffy instantly shot down Big Mom's offer. 

"You can't become the Pirate King by relying on a marriage alliance!" 

?! That was a direct slap in Big Mom's face! Furious, she waved her hand. 

"HEAVENLY FIRE!" 

A massive pillar of searing white flames shot toward Luffy. The terrifying heat was so intense it had turned pale, capable of melting metal and burning through anything in its path. 

"Fish-Man Jujutsu: Water Heart—Tide Shoulder Throw!" 

Just as the flames were about to engulf Luffy, a calm voice echoed from the nearby port. 

A towering stream of seawater shot up from the ocean like a rising dragon, surging higher and higher until it reached the height of the Cake Tower. Then, with a deafening roar, the powerful tidal wave crashed down, slamming straight into Big Mom's flames! 

BOOM!! 

Water and fire clashed, two opposing forces colliding head-on! At the same time, a fist covered in Armament Haki shot out from within the wave, smashing directly into Prometheus, forcing the "Sun Flame" backward! 

"Who's there?!" 

"That move—" 

"No way… Could it be…?" 

There weren't many people strong enough to interrupt Big Mom's attack. But someone using seawater—the natural weakness of most Devil Fruit users—could only mean one thing— 

"Jinbe?!" 

"You gave up on your 'decision,' didn't you? And now you're helping the Straw Hat boy… Should I take this as an act of betrayal?" 

With Zeus crackling with lightning on one side and Prometheus burning on the other, Big Mom glared down at Jinbe, who had just ridden the tidal wave onto Cake Tower. 

"I'm not preparing to leave, Big Mom. I'm leaving now— To join the Straw Hat Crew!" 

"Eh?!" 

Luffy's face lit up with joy—having Jinbe join was the best news possible. 

"Shocking! Another huge scoop!" 

While everyone else was still processing what just happened, Morgans' camera-snail was already flashing non-stop.

"Former Seven Warlords of the Sea, 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe, joins the Straw Hat Crew! This is the perfect day for headlines—this could fill ten issues!"

...This is some serious professional dedication. 

Standing motionless on the deck, Roman actually had his power activated to create a hidden passage on the 'Flying White Merry' that led below deck. It allowed Brook, Pedro, and Carrot to slip through the collapsed cake and enter the heavily guarded cake tower. 

Their mission was to quickly break into the treasure room and make a rubbing of the Poneglyph. While the battlefield above wasn't as dangerous, it was still a difficult task. 

"...That's right. As long as no one harms anyone other than me, you can take my life!" 

Facing Jinbe's unwavering resolve, Big Mom's massive form loomed over him like a shadow. At the same time, she unleashed her deadly power: 

"Leave... or your life?" 

"Life!" 

"...Leave... or your life?" 

But after repeating the so-called 'soul incantation' twice, Jinbe stood unharmed before Big Mom, without a single moment of his life being taken. Not even a fraction of a second. 

"How is this possible," 

"He's not afraid of 'Mama' at all?" 

"As soon as someone shows even the slightest fear in front of Mama, their life is taken..." 

Although they had prepared for this moment, the events were unfolding in ways that far exceeded the expectations of the Charlotte family children. The Straw Hat Crew was holding their ground against two of the Sweet Commanders, Jinbe had turned on them, and he showed no fear of Big Mom's soul-incantation. 

This world was so surreal that even the strongest of them were momentarily stunned. 

"I'm going to be a crewmember of the future Pirate King," 

"How could I possibly be afraid of the Four Emperors?!" 

!? Jinbe's powerful words left everyone, including Big Mom, stunned. At the same time, Jinbe pulled out a wine glass from his coat and set it down on the ground. It was the same glass he had used to toast when he joined the Big Mom Pirates. 

"I've always appreciated your care, but now I formally quit the Big Mom Pirates!" 

Starting and ending with honor—like a true knight. 

"Jinbe is so cool~~" 

"Captain Jinbe," 

"Wow, he's so manly!" 

"Yay~~!!" 

Great, Brook and the others had successfully infiltrated the cake tower below, and now it was time to strike. After all—*crack*, 

Big Mom stomped on the wine glass, shattering it, and immediately raised both fists. One crackled with thunder, the other blazed with flames! 

"Ma ma ma ma~~ Congratulations, Jinbe!" 

"So we're enemies now, huh?" 

With that, Big Mom launched her fists, powered by Zeus and Prometheus, straight at Jinbe, determined to destroy the traitor who had humiliated her in front of everyone! Her fists released thunder and flames, creating a storm of electricity and searing heat around her. The sky above seemed to twist, dark clouds swirling like a giant vortex, extending toward the ground like a massive funnel. The sound of howling winds echoed from the tornado, as if it could tear everything apart. 

Sunlight, thunder, and fierce winds! With all three forces crashing down, it could destroy entire cities! But— 

"Gomu Gomu no... King Kong Gun!!" 

"More More... 50 Times Freezing Fist!!" 

In an instant, two powerful fists covered in Armament Haki, infused with Conqueror's Haki, met Big Mom's fists—one from Luffy, the other from Roman! Luffy was completely immune to Zeus' lightning, and Roman, wrapped in high-level Armament Haki and wearing his freezing "gloves" that mimicked ancient ice, was able to resist Prometheus' flames for a short time. So—*BOOM!!!* 

A massive explosion engulfed everything, tearing apart the clouds in the sky. Cake Island trembled as the earth below split open, almost splitting the entire island in two! Meanwhile, black lightning and flames shot out in all directions, decimating everything in their path, turning both living beings and inanimate objects into dust and ashes. 

"Now that Jinbe is with us," 

With one powerful clash, Luffy, Roman, and Jinbe were pushed back, but Big Mom remained still, her fists wrapped in fire and lightning, trembling slightly.

The top level of Armament Haki's "internal destruction"?! These two brats... 

"I won't let you hurt my friends, BIG MOM!!" 

Luffy's loud declaration only made BIG MOM angrier! She swung her fist again. Even though these two brats had some skills, this was the heart of the BIG MOM Pirate Crew. She could take care of them herself, and the others were enough to back her up— 

"Looks like I'll need to use that." 

Facing the poised BIG MOM, Roman, still wearing his mask, casually clapped his hands. 

"Everyone, watch my next 'magic trick'..." 

"Mom, don't listen to him!" 

On the other side, Charlotte Katakuri's face changed drastically. He hadn't thought the Straw Hat Crew could actually hurt his mother, but what he saw in his 'future'... 

Damn it, how did they do it? Though Katakuri stopped himself from looking at the table next to BIG MOM, he saw that BIG MOM's gaze followed Roman's, falling on the table beside her: 

On BIG MOM's table, there was a photo frame, and inside it was a smiling old nun with a cigarette, looking very kind. 

"Explode!" 

Crack— 

The photo, which BIG MOM treated like her life, suddenly exploded out of nowhere! In an instant, BIG MOM seemed to lose all power, like a robot that had its battery pulled, standing frozen in place. 

Now's our chance—!! 

(End of Chapter) 

 ----You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu