Chapter 221: Captain, Save Our Mama

"Charlotte Linlin... there's someone else inside her body?"

Gion was visibly startled by this revelation.

"Carmel, so you're still alive," one of the Five Elders said, his expression grim yet unsurprised. "When we learned of your disappearance and later discovered that Charlotte Linlin had inherited your Soul-Soul Fruit ability, we suspected the truth. You awakened the fruit's power and fused your soul with hers."

The two elders exchanged knowing looks, their theory confirmed.

"Mama… there was no other way. Life and death are beyond anyone's control. To avoid dying, I had no choice but to use this method. Besides, Linlin's physique was far too tempting to pass up," Sister Carmel said with a smug expression, clearly proud of being the longest-living woman on the seas.

"Sister Carmel, join forces with us," one of the Five Elders offered. "Just like before, let's work together. You can have whatever you desire."

"Endless wealth and supreme status," Sister Carmel replied with a grin. She cared only for fame and fortune.

"Done. We'll grant you enormous wealth, and the entirety of the Big Mom Pirates' territories in the New World will remain yours. The Navy will never invade, and you'll retain your title as Emperor of the Seas," the elder bargained, willing to pay such a price to deal with Kuke.

"Mama… now this is tempting! I've never been an Emperor of the Seas before. Deal!" Sister Carmel agreed without hesitation.

Her gaze then turned to Kuke, filled with malice.

"A fine man indeed. No wonder Linlin's soul keeps whispering your name," she said, studying Kuke with curiosity. She knew some details but not the full story.

In front of Kuke, Smoothie stood frozen, staring at the unfamiliar figure inhabiting her mother's body.

"Are you the Sister Carmel that Mama cherished so much?" Smoothie asked in disbelief.

"Strictly speaking, I am your mother. Linlin is nothing more than a five-year-old girl," Sister Carmel said mockingly.

Smoothie clenched her teeth. "Don't joke with me."

Drawing her sword, she lunged forward. "Give our mama back!"

"My ability, Linlin's physique, and my experience make me far stronger than before," Sister Carmel declared. With a wave of her hand, she forcefully seized the terrified Zeus.

Lightning crackled in her palm as she launched an attack toward Smoothie. The power was greater than anything before, and Smoothie stood no chance against it.

At the critical moment, Gion's sword intercepted Sister Carmel's claw-like hand.

"Have you forgotten us? With us here, you won't harm her," Gion said firmly, pushing back against the attack.

"Mama… you're strong, but I'm stronger!" Sister Carmel roared, forcing Gion back several steps.

The difference in strength was evident.

"You Five Elders are truly pathetic, allowing enemies like this to infiltrate Mary Geoise," Sister Carmel sneered disdainfully.

"Captain…" Smoothie turned to Kuke, tears streaming from her eyes. She looked at him pleadingly. "Captain, please… save our mama."

"I've told you—I am your mama," Sister Carmel corrected with a twisted smile.

"You're not!" Smoothie yelled, refusing to acknowledge her.

"If that's the case, then you can die. All of you can die together," Sister Carmel declared, unleashing a terrifying aura as lightning and flames enveloped her body.

Drawing Napoleon, she exerted control over the three strongest Homies with overwhelming force.

"Are you still not retreating, Kuke?" one of the Five Elders taunted.

With Linlin now under their control and the addition of Carmel, the Five Elders felt their confidence return. Though they couldn't claim certainty in defeating Kuke, they no longer felt as overpowered as before.

Kuke ignored their words, walking steadily toward "Charlotte Linlin."

"Are you going to fight me?" Sister Carmel asked, her voice full of confidence.

"It seems you didn't inherit the fear buried deep within Linlin's soul," Kuke said calmly.

He approached without hesitation.

Before Carmel could react, Kuke grabbed her head.

BOOM!

He slammed her into the ground with immense force, pinning her there as the earth cracked beneath her.

"Wh-what?!" Sister Carmel was stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"Zeus, are you and the others going to betray me too?" Kuke asked, his gaze falling on the terrified Homies.

"Captain! We were forced—we'd never dare betray you!" Zeus and the other Homies stammered, quickly fleeing Carmel's grasp.

"You traitorous creations! How dare you—!" Carmel shouted, but her words were cut off as Kuke stomped on her head.

CRACK!

The force drove her deeper into the ground, creating massive fissures that spread across Mary Geoise. The beautiful palaces began to crumble.

"It seems we have no choice but to fight," the Five Elders said grimly, signaling the mysterious fighters behind them.

Seven or eight powerful individuals attacked simultaneously.

"Captain Kuke, leave them to us," Gion said, stepping forward. Smoothie joined her, her sword at the ready.

Yamato, curious and eager, charged into the fray with a howl, easily blocking the group of fighters. Though their average strength was comparable to top officers of an Emperor's crew, some even reaching the level of Emperor's deputies, they couldn't overpower the trio.

"Focus on Kuke!" the two elders ordered, disappearing in a flash.

One wielded a mysterious soul-based ability, while the other commanded air-based attacks as a Logia user.

Their combined power was formidable, with combat strength estimated at over 200,000—a level surpassing Emperor's deputies but below that of the strongest Emperors.

"My soul has no effect on him?" the short-haired elder muttered in disbelief. His soul-manipulating powers, though not destructive, could typically affect even the strongest foes.

Kuke, however, only felt a brief flicker of discomfort before shaking it off. His will and inherent strength made his soul nearly impenetrable.

After recruiting Charlotte Linlin, Kuke's power had grown even more, especially with the additional boost to his soul strength.

Souls, like physical endurance, had a theoretical cap of 100. Before Linlin's recruitment, Kuke's soul strength was at 76. With Linlin, it increased by 16 to a staggering 92—nearing the theoretical limit.

"My attacks can't even harm his body," the bald elder admitted, his air cannon shattering everything within hundreds of meters but leaving Kuke entirely unscathed.

Even Whitebeard, at his peak, couldn't breach Kuke's defenses. With only 200,000 combat strength, the elder's efforts were futile.