[154] : Whole Cake Island!

~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on Patreon

❁❁❁❁

In the small village on Wheat Island, smoke curled from chimneys as the residents prepared their meals. The villagers, their faces alight with excitement, gathered around Arthur as he returned.

"Sir Arthur!"

"You're back!"

Arthur's return meant Gram was dead, their immediate crisis averted.

"Is the flag ready?" Arthur asked, his voice calm, even.

Hours earlier, he'd instructed Novich to have someone create a flag for him.

Every territory in the New World flew a flag, a symbol of ownership, a warning to other pirates. Some Emperors even allowed their flag to be flown on other islands, offering protection in exchange for tribute, their name alone a powerful deterrent.

A pirate crew's Jolly Roger was more than just a symbol, it was their face, their reputation. To destroy it was a direct challenge—an insult.

"It's ready, Sir Arthur!" Novich gestured, and a villager unfurled a large black flag.

Unlike traditional Jolly Rogers, with their skulls and crossbones, this one depicted a hand, crackling with lightning, a blue orb of electrical energy pulsing in its palm.

"Excellent." Arthur examined the flag, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Raise it at the highest point of the island. Let everyone know this territory is mine."

A thrill of excitement coursed through him, his first territory in the New World!

It was a symbolic victory.

Wheat Island, located near Totto Land, was a dangerous acquisition, a tempting target for rival pirates. But Arthur didn't care.

"Yes, Sir Arthur!" A young villager, his face mirroring Arthur's excitement, grabbed the flag and rushed off.

Arthur addressed the remaining villagers, some beaming, others still apprehensive, his voice calm and reassuring. "You don't need to worry about Big Mom anymore. I'll...negotiate with her."

To earn their loyalty, he had to protect them, to demonstrate his strength, his power to shield them from Big Mom's wrath. It was the way of the New World.

He would take control of Wheat Island—and make sure Big Mom never set foot on it again.

Two outcomes were possible: He'd yield, or she would.

And the only way to determine the victor was through battle.

Minutes later—Arthur's flag, stark black against the fiery hues of the setting sun, flew proudly from the highest peak on The Island, a symbol of his conquest.

"Live your lives. You have nothing to fear. I'll be back." Arthur turned and walked away, heading towards the beach where Gram's ship was anchored.

The villagers watched him go, their gazes filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

——

Arthur boarded the ship, retrieving Gram's Vivre Card. He set a course, following the card's pull.

Vivre Cards, unique to the New World, were created by imbuing a piece of paper with a sliver of the user's fingernail, making it indestructible, immune to both fire and water. It acted as a compass, its direction and intensity indicating the user's location and health.

People often tore off pieces of their Vivre Cards, giving them to loved ones as a way to stay connected across the vast distances of the Grand Line.

The torn pieces would point towards each other, acting as a homing beacon.

The card would shrink if the owner was injured or ill, returning to its original size as they recovered.

Arthur wasn't sure whose Vivre Card this was, but it pointed towards Whole Cake Island—a direct route to Big Mom.

Navigating the Grand Line was a time-consuming endeavor, the vast distances, coupled with unpredictable weather, often requiring weeks or even months of travel.

But Whole Cake Island was only two days from Wheat Island. With favorable winds, he could arrive even sooner.

Arthur spent the journey honing his skills, his Electromagnetism and Haki growing stronger with each passing day—The thrill of battle, the pursuit of power—they fueled him.

——

Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.

Big Mom's dream, a nation of harmony, where all races coexisted peacefully.

Thirty-four islands surrounded the central island, Whole Cake Island itself a bizarre creation—a massive, edible landscape resembling a giant cake, covered in colorful frosting, adorned with massive candles, like something out of a child's dream—another testament to the strange and wonderful nature of the One Piece world.

In a lavish palace, decorated with sweets and pastries, Big Mom—her massive form sprawled on the floor, her face covered in garish makeup—devoured plate after plate of cakes and desserts offered by her chefs.

"Two more days until the Tea Party. I can't wait for my wedding cake! Mamamama!" She swallowed a donut whole, turning to one of her ministers. "Have all the invitations been sent?"

"Yes, Mama. But..." The Minister hesitated, his voice trembling.

"But what?! Speak!" Big Mom's heavily-lidded eyes narrowed, her voice sharp, a palpable pressure descending upon the room.

"Yes, Mama!" The Minister's voice was barely a whisper. "Gram went to Wheat Island to collect the flour. We haven't heard from him. Without that flour...there might not be enough cake for the Tea Party."

Big Mom's hand, reaching for another sweet, froze. Her face darkened. "Gram is missing?"

"Yes, Mama. We've received reports... Roger's crew was seen in the area—and members of the Golden Lion Grand Fleet. And... Mama, Thunder God Arthur was also spotted there..." The Minister's voice trailed off, afraid to state the obvious.

Big Mom's face, already dark, twisted with rage, a wave of Conqueror's Haki radiating outwards.

"Shiki?! The Roger Pirates?! All in the same area?"

"Seabury D. Arthur?! That brat again?! He said he'd attend my Tea Party! If he shows his face...I'll rip his soul out and make him a Homie!"

Big Mom's fury was a terrifying force, her own crew, her own children, fearing her wrath above all else.

And she wasn't wrong.

Whole Cake Island, rebuilt after Shiki's attack—was a fortress now, its defenses impenetrable, even for the Flying Pirate himself.

❁❁❁❁

~ 12 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)