Chapter 242: The Pets Acquired, Longbread's Memories
Just as Katakuri was sensing Charlotte Linlin's condition—
Under the sea, Charlotte Linlin separated a portion of her soul and infused it into the water around her.
Instantly, the surrounding seawater writhed like a living being, morphing into a human face. The watery face lit up with joy upon seeing Linlin, and manipulated the ocean current to push her toward the surface.
Thump! Linlin used the boost to leap skyward.
Bang! Zeus appeared below just in time to catch her.
Splash! A giant face formed from seawater emerged, its mouth speaking excitedly, "Mama! Mama! What's my name?"
"Pandora," Linlin muttered without care, then turned a stern gaze toward Luo Han. "Luo Han! You destroyed my entire Cake Island!"
"Oh? Looks like you've calmed down."
Luo Han was a little surprised. Though Linlin still seemed aggressive, she had clearly regained her composure.
He then looked at the seawater creature—Pandora.
This creation was made from Linlin's soul, just like Zeus and Prometheus, and was of the same tier.
"Didn't expect a bonus prize. Not bad, not bad."
Luo Han smiled in satisfaction and said to Linlin, "You still remember that favor you owe me from God Valley, right?"
Linlin wanted to deny it.
But one glance at the ruined fragments of Cake Island and the memory of that terrifying Haki of Luo Han's—on par with Rocks—convinced her otherwise.
She sighed and asked, "What do you want in return?"
"I want that little fireball, your thundercloud, and the seawater spirit down there. Those three pets, and we'll call it even."
"If I refuse…"
"I'll just take them by force," Luo Han said coldly.
"You…" Linlin fumed, but had no choice. She couldn't win. The only option was to begrudgingly give in.
In the end, she said solemnly, "If you can take them, I won't stop you. But don't ask me for anything else."
A shred of pride remained.
Luo Han didn't demand their loyalty.
Instead, he used his heart's spiritual power to invade the pets' minds.
"Hmm… no true spiritual will?" he mused.
Each of the three—Zeus, Prometheus, and Pandora—only had basic consciousness, like an eternal flicker of flame, sustained solely by their tether to Linlin's soul.
Luo Han chuckled as he glanced at Linlin.
He realized that if he simply took them, Linlin would later sever her soul's link, and the creatures would vanish after a few months. The "debt" would be repaid, and Luo Han would be left frustrated.
"Nice try. But too bad for you…"
Had this been before the awakening of his Devil Fruit, Luo Han wouldn't have been able to keep them alive.
But now?
He activated his awakened "Breath Modification" and enveloped the pets' consciousness with his unique "Otherworldly Godforce." He remodeled their very essence.
In just a few seconds, each of them developed a proper soul—fully loyal to Luo Han and no longer reliant on Linlin to exist.
It was as if he'd created life itself.
In that very moment, Linlin's face twisted in pain.
"Argh!!" She clutched her head, screaming. "What did you do?!"
After a long moment, her pain eased, and she glared at Zeus beneath her feet. "Why are they still alive?!"
She could feel it—her soul fragments were gone forever.
A sharp, soul-deep pain had stabbed through her mind when it happened.
"You… What the hell did you do to them?!" she roared.
Luo Han only burst into loud, satisfied laughter.
His goal in Totto Land was complete. No need for explanations.
With a thought, he and the three elemental spirits vanished from sight.
"Luo Han!!!"
Zeus disappeared from beneath her feet. Linlin screamed.
With no Moonwalk ability, she plummeted toward the sea.
Whoosh!
A mochi hand caught her mid-fall—Katakuri, standing on a nearby chunk of debris, had reached her just in time.
He hauled her up onto another piece of land.
"Mama! Are you alright?"
Katakuri was visibly worried. He had witnessed it all.
That man wasn't just strong—his Devil Fruit power was bizarre.
He could control Linlin's own creations and teleport away at will.
Could anyone face that kind of monster and win?
Without replying, Linlin stared at a nearby white cloud, expression dark.
She sighed, then split off another bit of her soul, infusing it into the cloud.
Moments later, a new Zeus was born.
The fresh thundercloud floated to her side.
She hopped aboard, scanned her surroundings, and asked, "Where's Longbread?"
At that moment, the man himself appeared, landing on a nearby floating landmass.
"I'm here, Linlin."
"Good," she said coldly. "You and Katakuri go hold down Fort Nuts. I'm going out."
Before either could respond, she took off into the sky.
Katakuri and Longbread exchanged glances and began organizing the survivors to sail to Nuts Island.
...
During the voyage, Katakuri stood with Longbread on the bow.
"Master Longbread," he asked, "do you know much about the Blue Demon?"
Longbread, one of Totto Land's founders and the only one who could placate Linlin's hunger pangs, was deeply respected.
He smiled. "The Blue Demon, huh…"
He recalled the boy who had once trembled under Rocks, only to rise up and overpower even Linlin.
"He's becoming more and more like Rocks," Longbread muttered.
"You seem very interested in him," he added.
"Of course," Katakuri said grimly. "He defeated Mama. I need to understand everything I can. That kind of power… if he ever turns on us…"
Longbread nodded. "Then let me tell you about him."
"He's from a remote island in the New World—no magnetic field. Outsiders can't find it."
"About eleven years ago, Linlin and I were still on Rocks' ship. During a chase with Roger, we stumbled upon Luo Han's homeland."
"Afraid of Rocks' strength, both he and the Beast joined the crew."
"They immediately clashed with Ochoku (Wang Zhi)and Kyo (Silver Axe) —and fought to a draw."
"At only eighteen years old."
Katakuri's eyes widened. "Wait… Ochoku (Wang Zhi)and Kyo (Silver Axe) —of the Red King Pirates?"
"Yes," Longbread said. "Back then, they were already Admiral-level fighters. For Luo Han to match them so young was frightening."
"He soon joined Whitebeard and Golden Lion in pursuing Roger."
"Battle after battle, he grew stronger by the day—severing limbs, subduing entire crews."
"Within a year, he stood equal to Linlin, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion."
"Then came the God Valley War…"
Longbread's face darkened. "You've never seen power like that."
"Rocks stood alone against seven Admiral-class fighters—and crushed them one by one."
"He even killed three with a single punch."
Katakuri could hardly believe it.
"So how did Luo Han beat someone like that?"
"He broke through Rocks' Haki defenses. Injured him. It was only later, after Rocks had exhausted his power, that Garp and Roger defeated him."
Katakuri sighed deeply.
He began to grasp what kind of monster they were dealing with.
The kind that doesn't run out of stamina.
The kind that creates legends.
Longbread saw Katakuri's uncertainty and kept silent. There was no need to shatter his pride just yet.
But in his heart, he understood:
Luo Han wasn't just strong.
He was terrifying.
(END CHAPTER)
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