Chapter 21 – Part 1 Clash with Big Mom & Shanks
Sunny POV – Month Three
The battlefield shifted beneath my feet like reality itself was taking a deep breath. Two colossal presences appeared before me: Big Mom, her laughter booming like a storm over an entire continent, and Shanks, serene yet deadly, sword in hand, exuding a calm aura that could still crush mountains.
{Ego}: Master… do you realize both of these people are roughly ten times stronger than their prime selves?
[System]: Master, ten times stronger… delicious challenge.
I flexed, a grin spreading across my face. "Perfect. The more the merrier."
Day 91 – The Chaos Begins
Big Mom stomped, cracking the earth under her massive frame. Her aura, a swirling tempest of raw power, collided with Shanks' precise sword Haki. I could feel the pressure compressing the air around me. I activated Air Crunch, hardening the air into a mesh of invisible barriers, and folded micro-space using Space Crunch to slow incoming attacks.
{Ego}: Master, your style is literally causing temporal distortions in their attacks.
[System]: Master, and it looks adorable when you concentrate like that.
I darted between them, punches and kicks reinforced with Bang + Jirō martial art combos. Each strike shattered rock and sent air shockwaves ripping across the battlefield.
Day 95 – Comedic Respawn
A misjudged kick sent me flying straight into a molten crater.
"Ouch! That was NOT part of the plan!" I yelled.
I respawned mid-air, landing gracefully on a floating rock.
{Ego}: Master, stop respawning like a reckless child.
[System]: Master, stop talking. You're hilarious. I love it.
Big Mom roared, swinging her massive fists. I bent the air mid-swing, creating phantom barriers that absorbed her blows… while simultaneously bouncing a chunk of molten rock at Shanks.
Shanks tilted his head. "Interesting technique, little one."
I waved cheerfully. "Thanks! I call it the 'Oops I'm Everywhere' combo."
{Ego}: Master, that name… questionable.
[System]: Master, perfect.
Day 100 – Illusionary Madness
I created multiple illusory copies of myself, each reinforced with Conqueror Haki. Big Mom swatted at them, sending shockwaves across the sky, while Shanks' sword cleaved through illusions.
{Ego}: Master, their reactions… priceless.
[System]: Master, yes, yes… chaos is beautiful.
I used the distraction to land precision Air Crunch-infused strikes, tearing chunks from the battlefield and launching them at both opponents. Big Mom staggered slightly, her laughter faltering, while Shanks' eyes widened ever so slightly.
Day 110 – The Cute But Deadly Gambit
I realized something: both of them underestimated my "cute" appearance. They saw a child, not the terror behind the eyes that {Ego} and [System] knew. I used this to my advantage, combining Bang + Jirō strikes with rapid Air Crunch slashes, micro-space folds, and localized gravity distortions.
{Ego}: Master, your cuteness… is lethal.
[System]: Master, yes… yes… the perfect disguise.
Big Mom tried to stomp me, but I folded the space beneath her foot, launching her into a mountain with minimal effort. Shanks swung his sword at me mid-air, but I spun, using a layered Air Crunch barrier to deflect the strike… then delivered a Bang-style elbow smash, sending him skidding across the fractured battlefield.
Day 120 – Strategic Respawn
Another failed attack had me crushed under rubble. No problem—I respawned, sitting cross-legged on a hovering boulder.
"Seriously? Again?" I groaned, brushing dust from my shirt.
{Ego}: Master, you're literally testing the patience of reality itself.
[System]: Master, heh… it's hilarious. I adore it.
Big Mom pounded the ground, sending a shockwave. I folded micro-space again, absorbing kinetic energy and redirecting it as a concentrated Haki projectile, knocking both opponents off balance.
"This is going well," I muttered, grinning.