**Chapter 206: Finish and Leave**
Although Carl hadn't even unleashed his full power, **half of Cake Island lay in ruins**, with countless pirates—mostly from Big Mom's crew—lying dead in the wreckage.
As **Big Mom regained her senses**, the **devastation** before her sent her **blood pressure skyrocketing**. Meanwhile, Roger had already landed on the ground.
But instead of continuing the fight, Roger closed his eyes, extending his **Observation Haki** to listen to the voices across the island.
A moment later, he confirmed it—**Rayleigh was safe and on his way.**
Satisfied, Roger gave the order:
"Bullet! **We're retreating!**"
As captain, Roger had never cared about settling grudges here. His **goal had always been the Poneglyph**. Helping a **rampaging** Big Mom fight Carl?
Not a chance.
Of course, he **wanted revenge** for Gaban and his fallen crew, but he also knew the truth—**even if he and Big Mom could suppress Carl, they couldn't stop him if he decided to leave.**
Carl wasn't **fighting for victory or defeat**—he was fighting on his own **terms**, using his terrifying **speed and elusive abilities** to strike and vanish.
Roger had once enjoyed trading blows with **Garp**, brawling before laughing his way to an "escape."
But Carl?
Carl wasn't **laughing.**
He was **deadly serious**.
Without hesitation, Roger moved.
**Shanks in one arm. Buggy in the other.**
And then—**he vanished.**
Every pirate with a shred of **sense** knew to stay **far away from Carl**.
**Big Mom, however, wasn't in a sensible state.**
After her **flames** proved useless against Carl, she **abandoned Prometheus**, gripped **Napoleon** in one hand and **Zeus** in the other, and **charged** at Carl like a **raging beast**.
With **Roger gone**, her **threat level** plummeted.
Carl met her **sword with Muramasa**, engaging in a **fierce duel**.
The **few remaining combat-capable members** of the Big Mom Pirates clenched their teeth and **attacked Carl together**.
Carl **deflected Napoleon** with a casual stroke. Watching the **charging crew**, he chuckled.
"**Such a loyal bunch.**"
He **swung his arm**—
A **wall of towering flames** erupted between him and the pirates.
The crew hesitated.
**Katakuri** and the others moved to **extinguish** the flames—
But—
**ZAP!**
A **silver lightning bolt** shot out from the fire, piercing one of the pirates.
**THUD.**
A **tall woman wearing a large sunhat** collapsed, a **charred hole** in her back.
Perospero's face twisted in shock.
"**Amande!!!**"
A **second scream** followed—this one full of sorrow.
"**Sister!!!**"
It was **Charlotte Mondée**, another **snakeneck-human hybrid**, Amande's sister.
Blinded by **grief**, she **ignored the flames**, her **Armament Haki** flaring as she rushed in.
But—
Carl's flames **weren't ordinary**.
The moment she stepped into them—
**Her flesh seared. Her skin blackened.**
She screamed.
But the agony **didn't last long.**
In mere moments—**she was reduced to ashes.**
Silence.
None of the **other pirates dared to move**.
Perospero tried **smothering the flames with syrup**—but it was **pointless**.
Carl **extended his hand**—
The **flames surged forward**.
More lives would have been lost—
If not for **Big Mom**, who **released Prometheus** to **absorb the fire**.
She stood there, **untouched**, her monstrous body resistant as ever.
Carl, too, bore **no injuries**.
**But the battlefield had changed.**
Katakuri and the others attacked, **Haki-clad strikes raining down**.
Carl countered with ease.
He wasn't like **Garp**, who relied on sheer **brute strength**.
He was **untouchable**—using the **Dark-Dark Fruit's area attacks** and the **Vampir Fruit's endurance** to dominate **multiple foes at once**.
Yet—
**Carl wasn't here for an all-out battle.**
He was here to **annoy Roger.**
To **infuriate Big Mom.**
To **thin their forces** just a little more.
And Big Mom **finally realized it**.
Carl wasn't fighting **her**—
He was **hunting her children.**
Her **maternal instincts kicked in**.
Abandoning the offensive, she **shielded Katakuri and the others** with her **own body**.
Carl **hovered above**, his **wings spread wide**, watching her with **mocking amusement**.
A predator, circling his prey.
But he'd **had his fun.**
Cake Island was **littered with bodies**.
It was **time to leave.**
But not **without a parting gift.**
Carl **raised his arms**—
And **black rings** began to form around them.
Slowly, they **rose into the sky**, expanding as they ascended—
**Vanishing into the clouds.**
Carl smirked.
He **waved** at Big Mom—
Then—
**He disappeared.**
Big Mom **froze.**
What **was that move?**
She sharpened her **Observation Haki**, bracing for a **surprise attack**—
But Carl **never reappeared.**
Instead—
**BOOM.**
A shadow fell over **Cake Island.**
Tearing through the **clouds**—
A **massive meteor** plummeted toward them.
It was almost **half the size of the island**.
If it hit—**Cake Island would sink into the sea.**
Big Mom's **pupils shrank.**
"**Zeus!**"
She leaped onto **Zeus**, Napoleon **gripped tight in her hands**—
**SLASH!**
Her **blade cut through the sky**, splitting the meteor in half.
Then—
"**ZEUS!**"
**CRACK!**
A **storm of violet lightning** rained down, reducing the falling fragments to **dust**.
Silence.
Cake Island still **stood**—but barely.
Big Mom hovered in the sky, **panting**.
Carl was **gone.**
The battlefield was **silent**—
And then—
A **furious roar** echoed across **Totto Land**.
"**BLACK DRAGON!!!**"