Chapter 61 Looking Back In Time, Carlos’S Heyday

Off the coast of Wanokuni, below the towering cliff waterfall, the tension was palpable.

On the deck of a warship, Momousagi stood by the railing, her eyes fixed upward. The sky above was bathed in an orange-red glow, and the roar of battle echoed from above.

"The fight has begun," she said, her voice serious.

Momousagi turned to face her crew. "Ain, you take the others in through the submersible port. I'll go up the waterfall to support Carlos."

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Ain insisted, her determination clear.

Momousagi shook her head. "The next battle will be extremely dangerous. Once it starts, I can't guarantee anyone's survival. It's safer if you stay here."

Ain met her gaze with resolve. "Vice Admiral Carlos gave me an important mission. I have to be part of this fight! Besides, I can use Moonwalk from the Marine Six Styles to get up the waterfall—no problem."

Momousagi studied her for a moment before nodding. Without another word, she launched herself into the air, using her Moonwalk technique to ascend. Ain followed closely behind.

In a short time, the two of them reached the top of the waterfall, where waves of heat and shockwaves battered them.

Momousagi frowned as she surveyed the battlefield, her expression shifting suddenly. "Wait! How can this be? Why are they here?"

She focused on a group about two hundred meters away. They were sitting on the ground, drinking and chatting as if they weren't on a battlefield. It was more like a banquet than a war.

"Who are they?" Ain asked, puzzled.

Ignoring Ain's question, Momousagi quickly pulled out a Den Den Mushi from her coat.

"Gion, what's the situation over there?" Sengoku's voice came through, sounding more weary than usual.

"Marshal Sengoku, we've arrived in Wanokuni, and Carlos is currently fighting Big Mom. But…"

She hesitated, then added, "The Red-Haired Pirates are here too!"

"What? Red-Haired Shanks?" Sengoku's shock was evident.

After a moment of stunned silence, Sengoku lowered his voice. "Are you sure it's really them?"

"There's no doubt," Momousagi confirmed.

The line went quiet. Sengoku removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. The Red-Haired Pirates might be a relatively new crew, but their captain, Shanks, was once a member of the Pirate King Roger's crew. And just a year ago, he fought an incredible duel with the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. Although Shanks had lost, the battle had sent shockwaves around the world.

"Gion, you can't handle Shanks," Sengoku said gravely.

Momousagi didn't argue. She simply nodded and said, "Marshal Sengoku, please send reinforcements immediately."

Sengoku sighed heavily. "We can't. The main Marine forces are at Impel Down, and there are no additional troops available to support you. And…"

Not long ago, the Marine fleet had reached Impel Down and reunited with those defending the prison. But unexpectedly, Kaido and Bullet had launched a surprise attack, breaking out of Impel Down without warning. To make matters worse, Shiryu of the Rain, the second-in-command of Impel Down, had betrayed the Marines, releasing all the prisoners and slaughtering hundreds of jailers. After defeating Magellan, Kaido and Bullet joined the war as a third faction.

According to the latest reports, Akainu and Aokiji had both been defeated and gravely injured. Fortunately, Kaido, Bullet, and Whitebeard had started fighting each other for unknown reasons; otherwise, the entire Marine force of 100,000 could have been annihilated.

This unprecedented breakout had led to hundreds or even thousands of prisoners escaping, leaving the Marines with devastating losses. The situation was dire, and Sengoku knew the challenges ahead would be immense.

As for Wanokuni, just dealing with Big Mom in her prime was already a daunting task. Now, with the Red-Haired Pirates as an unpredictable variable, the operation in Wanokuni seemed doomed to fail. The priority now was to minimize losses.

Sengoku felt a deep sense of helplessness. His face seemed to have aged overnight, with more wrinkles and gray hairs.

"It's a shame… If only Carlos had more time to grow…"

But he knew that there were no 'ifs' in this world.

"These are chaotic times, and the Marines can't afford any more losses. Gion, if the mission becomes impossible, prioritize your life and Carlos's. Do you understand?"

Listening to the exhausted sigh from the Den Den Mushi, Momousagi was silent for a moment. Then, she turned her attention back to the battlefield.

The battle between Carlos and Big Mom had grown fiercer. After another intense exchange, they momentarily separated.

During the brief respite, Big Mom gasped for breath. Even for her, the high-intensity combat was taking its toll.

"Damn it! How is this brat still standing?" Big Mom snarled. As an Emperor of the Sea, the fact that she couldn't defeat a mere upstart was infuriating. The boasts she had made in front of everyone now felt like empty words. If news of this got out, her reputation would be tarnished.

The piercing stares of the onlookers felt like needles pricking her pride. Her face flushed with a mix of anger and frustration. Unwilling to accept this, she gritted her teeth and roared, "You little brat, let me show you the true power of an Emperor of the Sea!"

With those words, the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit surged within her. In a desperate move to increase her strength, she sacrificed thirty years of her own lifespan.

This heavy price granted her a terrifying surge in power. Her already formidable body grew even stronger, and her aura intensified, radiating waves of overwhelming pressure.

"Mother's Visit Cannon: Three Thousand Miles!"

Under the influence of her Soul-Soul Fruit, Prometheus, Napoleon, and Thundercloud Zeus combined into a single entity. Big Mom transformed into a fearsome witch, her speed belying her size as she charged at Carlos.

The sheer energy radiating from her attack obliterated everything in its path, even distorting the space around them.

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, Carlos was sent flying, blood streaming from his body. His left arm was disintegrated, and he was thrown hundreds of meters away like a shooting star.

From afar, Big Mom panted heavily, a twisted grin spreading across her face.

"Well, well, well!" she cackled. "Did you see that? This is what happens when you defy the Big Mom Pirates! Over the decades, many fools like you have challenged the authority of an Emperor of the Sea. But without exception, they've all been sent to the depths!"

"Kid, you're the most talented fighter I've seen in decades. At your age, even Roger, Whitebeard, and the Golden Lion weren't much better. If I gave you a few more years, I might not be able to defeat you. It's really a pity…"

"But the outcome is decided. No one can survive a direct hit from me. You should be proud to have pushed me this far."

The members of the Big Mom Pirates erupted into cheers. The battle with Carlos had cast a dark shadow over them, but now their spirits were lifted. At last, their mother had used her true power, delivering a devastating blow to their enemy.

Perospero, Oven, and the other high-ranking officers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

On the other side, morale had plummeted.

Yamato, Denjiro, Shutenmaru, and others stared in shock, their faces filled with disbelief. The sight before them was almost too much to bear.

"How is this possible? Is Lord Carlos really defeated?" Yamato asked, his voice trembling.

"Damn it! Why didn't he run away?" Denjiro shouted, frustration evident in his tone.

"He couldn't help it; that attack was too powerful..." Shutenmaru replied, his voice low.

"No! Even if I die, I will fight this old hag!" Yamato declared with determination.

"Death is the worst that can happen. I'm not afraid of that!" Shutenmaru added defiantly.

"That's right! Wano is behind us! As samurai, we can't back down!" Denjiro agreed.

Shanks sighed deeply, putting down the wine bottle he had been holding, and stood up.

"The battle's outcome has been decided."

"Everyone, it's time for us to take action."

The rest of the Red-Haired Pirates and their allies drew their weapons, ready for battle.

At this moment, Beckman frowned and said, "Wait, it seems it's not over yet."

Everyone turned their attention to the battlefield, their eyes widening in surprise. A woman hurried to Carlos' side, her hands surrounded by pink flames as she pressed them against his body.

In no time at all, Carlos, who had been lying in the pit with his body covered in wounds, stood up, his missing arm regrown and his injuries healed.

"Good job..." Carlos said, looking at the woman.

"Why are you here alone? Where's Momousagi?" he asked.

Ain nodded. "She's here too, waiting for your signal to attack."

She then asked with concern, "Do you feel that something is wrong?"

Carlos looked at his hands and smiled. "Haven't we tested this many times before?"

"Don't worry, your ability is very effective. My state has been successfully reverted to an hour ago."

Since their previous duel, Ain had realized the gap in strength between them. To contribute more effectively, she had stopped fighting and focused on support. Under Carlos' guidance, she developed a new use for her Devil Fruit, which allowed her to rewind his state to an earlier time. Though using this ability twice was her limit, it was incredibly valuable, effectively granting Carlos two extra lives.

The scene before everyone was astonishing. They watched in stunned silence as Carlos, previously on the brink of death, now appeared completely unscathed. Even his clothes were restored.

Shanks stared in disbelief. "Could this woman be using a Devil Fruit power?"

"Recovered from all injuries in an instant? How is this possible?" another crew member exclaimed.

"Exactly! Carlos, who was dying just moments ago, now looks completely healed. His clothes are even new!"

"It's not just healing; it's like going back in time!" another added.

"Damn little brat, this is unbelievable," Big Mom muttered angrily. She had put so much effort into defeating Carlos, even sacrificing thirty years of her own life. To see him recover so quickly was infuriating.

After years of battling Devil Fruit users, Big Mom had seen a lot, but this was beyond her expectations. Though it was hard to accept, she knew one thing: to defeat Carlos, she had to eliminate that woman first.

With a sneer, Big Mom raised Napoleon high and shouted, "Weiguo!"

As the massive slash hurtled toward them, Ain's body went cold, and she involuntarily closed her eyes. Suddenly, a strong hand pulled her into an embrace.

Before she could react, a dazzling blue light enveloped Carlos. A colossal skeleton began to form around them, growing larger and more distinct, until a giant warrior, hundreds of meters tall, stood before everyone.

The giant warrior waved two massive swords and slashed forward. Black flames erupted, scattering Big Mom's attack effortlessly.

"Let's go, the second round officially begins!" Carlos declared, his eyes turning cold.

His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was fully activated, displaying intricate patterns on his armor and enormous wings on his back. The black flames enveloping him gave him a fearsome, demonic appearance.

Shanks' eyes narrowed, and his expression turned extremely serious. "What an incredible transformation. Is this his ultimate trump card?"

It wasn't just Shanks; Beckman and the other Red-Haired Pirates also felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Big Mom's face reddened with rage. She took a deep breath, her voice filled with contempt. "It's ridiculous. So what if all the injuries are healed? It doesn't change the outcome of your defeat!"

"In ten minutes, only your bodies will be left here!" she roared. "Mother's Visit: Cannon Three Thousand Miles!"

"Flame Blade: King-Slaying Death Cut 0.2!"

As Carlos prepared his attack, the sharp sound of a sword being unsheathed rang out from the other side of the battlefield. Momousagi drew the Gold Pharaoh from her waist, her movements elegant and precise.

However, she radiated an astonishingly powerful aura. The onlookers felt a shiver run down their spines, as if an invisible blade was slicing through the air.

A brilliant light burst from the sword, forming an emerald green half-moon-shaped slash. Without any verbal cues or eye contact, the two Admiral candidates launched their attacks simultaneously.

Two devastating slashes flew toward Big Mom.

"What?!" Big Mom's face changed drastically as she sensed the lethal intent behind her. Her attention had been solely focused on Carlos, leaving her unprepared for the simultaneous assault.

Unable to dodge in time, she used all her strength and Armament Haki to protect her back. The emerald green sword light sliced through her, leaving a deep bloody mark and sending her flying dozens of meters away.

"It's absurd. Do you really think you can defeat me with just that attack?" she spat, struggling to regain her footing.

Meanwhile, the giant warrior combined his hands and performed a strange gesture. "Water Style: Shark Bomb Technique!"

As he spoke, the nearby waterfall began to churn, and the sea water rose dramatically. It transformed into a gigantic shark, over a thousand meters in size, which lunged at Big Mom in mid-air.

The massive beast bit down on her, forcing her into the sea below with overwhelming force.

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