The Battlefield Falls Silent!
As the reality set in—their strongest mother had fled in fear of the Demon King's three sword strikes—everyone in the Charlotte Family felt their strength drain from their bodies.
Their hope…
Their psychological defenses…
Everything was shattered.
Staring at the untouched Bai Yu Pirates and the overwhelming, suffocating presence of the Demon King, a wave of powerlessness, despair, indignation, and hatred surged within the hearts of Big Mom's children.
But there was no time to dwell on their emotions.
Katakuri quickly composed himself, preparing to speak—
"Don't waste your breath."
Before Katakuri could utter a word, Bai Yu interrupted, his voice indifferent yet absolute:
"First option: You pick up your weapons and fight us to the bitter end, in which case—your entire family, men, women, and children, will be exterminated."
"Personally, I admire that kind of resolve. So go ahead—rush at me!"
A suffocating silence settled over the battlefield.
Many of the Charlotte Family members were unwilling to submit, their hearts burning with resentment, urging them to fight.
But the sheer oppression radiating from Bai Yu paralyzed them in fear.
"Second option: Drop your weapons, line up, and kneel. Surrender—and you will live."
Bai Yu's Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, thick with killing intent.
"Listen carefully!"
*"Anyone who says another word of nonsense—I'll make the choice for you.**I will pick Option One—*and no one will be left alive!"
Gulp.
Fear spread like wildfire.
The oppressive silence was broken only by the sound of Charlotte family members swallowing in horror.
In the tense atmosphere—
"Enough!"
Katakuri's stern, icy gaze swept across his family, silencing anyone who dared speak.
There was no room for defiance.
Katakuri understood—Bai Yu meant every word.
If anyone spoke out of turn, they would all be slaughtered.
Katakuri himself was unafraid of death.
But his younger siblings…
His eyes flickered toward the frightened children scattered across the battlefield.
Many of them were still just kids.
For them… he had to live.
Dignity?
Pride?
None of that mattered.
"Everyone—come to me."
At his command, even Perospero, grinding his teeth in frustration, hesitated—before stepping toward Katakuri.
"Brûlée, bring them out."
Katakuri's voice was resigned, yet firm.
Because he knew—Bai Yu already knew.
He knew Brûlée had hidden many of their younger siblings in her Mirror World.
Brûlée's hands trembled as she opened a portal.
Bai Yu's eyes flickered—he had been waiting for this.
The Mira Mira no Mi (Mirror-Mirror Fruit).
A Devil Fruit with vast potential:
• Create mirrors for defense.
• Reflect attacks.
• Project illusions.
• Imitate others.
• Enter the Mirror World—a stable alternate dimension that allows for storage, teleportation, transportation, blockade, and communication.
A powerful support ability.
It could be used to move armies, relay messages across vast distances… The strategic value was immense.
Bai Yu smirked.
"Brûlée's ability is quite useful."
One by one, the hidden Charlotte children cautiously emerged—eyes wide with fear.
Some of them were as young as six years old.
As they trembled, staring at their trusted second eldest brother, Katakuri felt his heart ache.
Silence.
Rayleigh and the others sighed.
Bai Yu watched calmly.
Then, Katakuri took a deep breath and lowered his head.
"On behalf of the Charlotte Family—"
"We kneel and surrender… to the merciful Demon King, Lord Bai Yu."
"Boom!"
Katakuri slammed his forehead into the ground.
The other Charlotte siblings followed, kneeling one after another.
Perospero, Cracker, Smoothie… all of them.
Their pride was crushed.
Their hatred burned.
If only Mama hadn't abandoned them…
They would have died in battle, rather than kneel in disgrace.
But Big Mom had fled.
And in doing so, she had shattered everything.
Bai Yu walked toward Katakuri, his voice cold.
"How does it feel?"
"For your pride to become shame?"
"How many times have you watched your mother hurt or even kill your siblings, and yet—you never dared to resist?
"That fear… it has been ingrained in you since birth."
Katakuri raised his head, his expression empty.
"For someone as strong as you… why do you feel the need to humiliate those who have already abandoned their dignity?"
Cracker and the others lifted their heads, glaring at Bai Yu in silent rage.
Bai Yu remained indifferent.
"I just want to tell you one thing…"
"She doesn't deserve to be called your mother."
He turned back to Katakuri.
"Especially you."
"You've lived your entire life suffocated, bound by a cage of fear and expectations."
"You'll never grow stronger that way."
Bai Yu's next words struck like a lightning bolt—
"You don't even… dare to take off your scarf."
Katakuri's body froze.
His fist clenched tightly.
From a young age, Katakuri had been carefree and strong-willed.
But after his younger sister, Brûlée, was attacked because of him, he changed.
For the sake of his family, he became the perfect, invincible older brother.
Never weak.
Never vulnerable.
Never showing his true face.
Silence.
Then—Katakuri smiled bitterly.
"You're right."
"I don't dare."
"I don't want to disappoint my siblings, yet I don't even have the courage to show my own face. How can I ever surpass my mother like this?"
"Boom!"
Bai Yu kicked him in the chest.
Caught off guard, Katakuri slammed to the ground.
"Katakuri—!"
Cracker shot to his feet, enraged.
But—
"Wait—look!"
Perospero grabbed Cracker's arm, his voice trembling.
Katakuri's scarf… had fallen off.
And beneath it—
A perfectly normal face.
Not a monster.
Not a terrifying beast.
Just Katakuri.
"Brother Katakuri…"
Little Pudding whispered, confused.
"He always looked like this… why did he hide his face?"
Even Daifuku and Oven were stunned.
For years, they had assumed Katakuri's mouth was horrifying.
But now?
He was just a cool-looking guy with slightly sharp teeth.
That was it.
Katakuri touched his face.
No scars.
No stitches.
No fangs.
His voice was hoarse.
"You… you fixed it?"
He stared at Bai Yu, baffled.
When did he do it?
Was it when he kicked him?
After a long pause—
"…Thank you."
Katakuri took a deep breath, then bowed.
For the first time in decades—he felt free.
And his Conqueror's Haki… surged.
The chains had been broken.
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