Arriving on Whitebeard's ship, Ren sat directly on the deck and looked at Whitebeard. "The upcoming war will decide the fate of this sea."
"Ren, what is your goal?" Whitebeard asked cautiously. He had been sailing for years, yet only controlled places like Fish-Man Island and other strange territories.
It seemed like Ren's goal in causing conflict was to make others uncomfortable, to create one shocking headline after another. Yet all along, he had taken no real action, appearing to have no purpose.
"My goal… I can tell you, but only you can hear it," Ren said, staring at Whitebeard.
"Father."
The others immediately frowned, unhappy that their father would be alone with someone else.
"My sons, you can leave for now," Whitebeard said.
"But…"
"I'm Whitebeard. I'm not so old that I need my sons to protect me."
Seeing Whitebeard's determination, Marco led the others away, leaving space for the two of them.
"Now I can speak freely," Whitebeard said, looking at Ren.
"My goal is simple. I want to change the World Government that has ruled for 800 years. To do this, I cannot allow a fourth power to exist," Ren said clearly.
If Whitebeard refused to accept this, he would eliminate him if needed; now, he could end the fight quickly since Whitebeard is alone.
His true enemy had always been just one person—the mysterious Imu. Everyone else was irrelevant to him.
"You mean you won't allow pirates to exist?" Whitebeard asked first, suspicious.
"They'll have a different name later, maybe adventurers or something," Ren said, tapping the hilt of his sword.
"And if I refuse…"
Ren interrupted, "Then you and your family will die. The test you just faced should have made that clear. I have the power to do it."
Whitebeard fell silent. He remembered his conversations with Roger long ago. He remembered everything. Even Roger had been wrong sometimes in his predictions.
Ren urged, "So, have you made your decision?"
"I can go with you, but my sons cannot," Whitebeard said, showing a weakness. If it had been during the Rocks Pirates era, he would have fought to the death without hesitation. But now, he had no chance of winning against Ren.
"Alright." Ren agreed readily, then turned and walked away.
It wasn't until Ren's ship disappeared into the distance that Marco and the others appeared. Looking at their father, it was as if he had aged many years in an instant.
"Pops, what happened? What did he say?"
"Marco, gather everyone," Whitebeard sighed deeply.
Soon, all of Whitebeard's crew had assembled. He began to speak, "I promised Ren that I would join the final war."
"Pops, don't go. Everyone saw what kind of attacks World Government used."
"Yeah, maybe we can't beat that guy, Ren. But can't we even hide from him?"
Marshall D. Teach frowned. He still hadn't found the Devil Fruit he wanted, but what was happening with this sea? Even staying on Whitebeard's ship might not be safe now.
Whitebeard looked at his noisy sons but said nothing. There was no need to explain caution or precaution. If he had promised, he would go.
In the territories of the Tottot Land, Ren's ship arrived. Now a moving hotspot, it immediately drew the attention of Big Mom's ship. Her children, and Big Mom herself, were there to meet him.
"Mamama, Ren… I didn't expect you to still be alive," Big Mom said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned by the previous battle.
Ren spoke directly, "Big Mom, submit to me. The Big Mom Pirates will follow my orders."
"Mamamama!" Big Mom laughed angrily. Her reply brought dark clouds over the sky, filled with flashes of lightning and booming thunder.
At Ren's signal, the fishmen in the water began attacking Big Mom's ship. Big Mom charged straight at Ren. This time, she wanted his head.
"These fishmen…" Oven slammed his fists together as he approached the ship, ready to teach them a lesson.
Before his hands even touched the water, a figure appeared in front of him. It was Pedro of the Mink Tribe, and his electrified great blade was blocked by a three-pronged spear.
"Oven, step back," Katakuri said in a deep voice.
Oven was reluctant but realized that attacking in the open sea would expose him too easily.
"Unmatched Donuts!" Katakuri launched his attack.
But Pedro moved swiftly. His electrified blade struck the mochi arms Katakuri had created, softening them immediately.
"Speed and Haki… all surpassed me, and there's this strange electrical ability too." Katakuri instantly analyzed the gap between them. He moved backward rapidly, and dozens of fists appeared in the air, striking toward Pedro.
"Ichibanshuu, Flash of Lightning."
Pedro unleashed a powerful surge of electricity, slicing through the incoming fists at incredible speed.
The mochi, softened by the heat, was easily cut, and with one strike, he severed Katakuri's body, leaving only a small connection.
"Brother Katakuri!"
His younger siblings screamed in panic.
Pedro, however, looked at Katakuri with caution. "Strange sensation… seems you have a very strong Observation Haki."
Katakuri said nothing. His split body began to fuse back together.
He grabbed Mogura's handle and launched a counterattack, while mochi fists continued to assist him from the surroundings.
Pedro moved swiftly, charging straight at Katakuri.
But the result was the same—he could not feel the impact of a successful strike.
The battle quickly came to a halt because the fight of the Captain had ended.
Ren had struck, ending Big Mom in one decisive blow.
The emperor of the New World fell at that very moment.
"This can't be real… it's been less than five minutes."
The Charlotte Pirates stared in shock at the scene.
Ren drew out Muramasa, letting it drip with blood, and addressed everyone present. "Surrender and you'll live."
The Charlotte Pirates fell silent.
If they continued resisting, they would likely be wiped out entirely.
This was something Katakuri, who loved his family deeply, could not accept.
Just as others considered resisting, Katakuri dropped his weapon and looked at Ren. "The Charlotte Pirates surrender."
"Good. Next, you come with us."
Ren said this and returned to his ship.
The others, he had no interest in; if needed, they could go as cannon fodder.
"Brother Katakuri, don't go! If it comes to it, we'll fight them!"
Oven ran over, shouting.
"Yeah, who in this world are we Charlotte pirates afraid of?"
"Mama is already dead."
Other siblings spoke up as well, some for resistance, some for surrender.
They were all waiting for Katakuri's decision.
Without Big Mom, he was the one they trusted most.
"Charlotte Pirates, surrender. I can't let you all die here."
"It's not certain we'll lose…"
"Mama was defeated in five minutes. He didn't even use his Conqueror's Haki. His strength is on a whole different level. Don't act recklessly."
Katakuri's voice trembled. He didn't want to surrender either, but leading his family into a battle with zero chance of winning? He just couldn't do it.
In the end, the Charlotte Pirates withdrew, and Katakuri stayed behind, moving with Ren and the others.
Ren looked at Katakuri and said, "Your next task is to fight."
"Understood." Katakuri nodded and sat in a corner of the ship, closing his eyes to rest.
Soon, the ship changed course, heading toward Wano Country.
Every pirate they encountered along the way was handled by Katakuri, earning him a spot in the news.
This made Katakuri realize that escaping Ren's label might be impossible.
**********
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