Chapter 696: Don't Court Death
Since he was observing from the edge of the sky island, Trafalgar Law had actually seen Big Mom and Ian when they first started flying over. But once Ian and Big Mom descended below the cloud layer of the sky island, Law completely lost sight of them.
To be honest, when he realized that the Sky-Based Thunder Stone Cannon had little effect on Big Mom and instead drew her attention to the sky island, causing her to fly up, Law was terrified in that moment.
He knew that it was his idea that had made the sky island a target of Big Mom's hostility. If Big Mom reached the sky island and caused unacceptable destruction, the responsibility would absolutely be his!
He didn't want to be a useless teammate, but he really hadn't expected Big Mom to be so powerful. One shot from the Sky-Based Thunder Stone Cannon had taken out Perospero, who had a bounty of 700 million, yet Big Mom came out completely unscathed. This was truly beyond Law's understanding.
"Monster!"
This term was commonly used by the world to describe the Four Emperors. Whitebeard had been called that, Kaido had been called that, and Big Mom had been called that too. Law had certainly heard of it before, but back then, as one of the Supernovas in his prime, he hadn't taken it seriously.
However, when Big Mom suddenly leaped up from below the clouds and stood before him, he truly realized how accurate that description was!
Normally, Big Mom's presence was already terrifying enough, but now, suffering from her hunger pangs and in a berserk state, she was even more frightening. The frustration of not getting the food she wanted brought a violent, oppressive aura. Law felt as if he were being stared down by a terrifying giant Sea King, and in an instant, cold sweat poured down his back!
"Cake... where is it!!" Big Mom walked step by step toward Law, her shrill voice demanding an answer. She didn't recognize who Law was; she only knew to grab anyone and ask this question.
But Law was already so intimidated by Big Mom's terrifying presence that he couldn't even speak. How could he possibly answer?
This only made Big Mom angrier. She reached out her hand and grabbed for Law.
At that moment, if Big Mom's hand caught Law, his lifespan would likely be taken directly, because he had already felt fear and dread toward her.
But just then, Law suddenly saw a figure rushing toward him at high speed from behind Big Mom.
Was that... the captain!?
For some reason, in that instant, Law's fear vanished! Courage returned to him, and the wispy, veil-like soul that had begun to drift out of his body due to fear suddenly snapped back!
Big Mom's grab failed to catch Law's soul, as if it had slipped away just as she reached for it.
Just as Law narrowly escaped disaster, Ian's figure came flying in from a distance, his right foot wrapped in black Armament Haki, and he kicked Big Mom hard in the face!
With a thunderous crash, Law saw Big Mom's plump cheek cave in from the impact. Then her massive body flew backward, crashing into an ancient building in the distance. A loud noise echoed as the structure, which had stood for who knows how many years, collapsed under the force!
Ian landed in front of Law, glanced at him with some surprise, and asked, "You okay?"
He had seen Big Mom reaching for Law as he charged over, but he hadn't expected that Big Mom would fail to take Law's soul!
"I'm fine!" Law shook his head. Only he understood that in that moment, when he saw Ian appear, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief—a feeling that even if the sky fell, as long as the captain was there, everything would be fine. It was this feeling that made him forget his fear of Big Mom.
Law himself was the captain of the Heart Pirates, but at this moment, he suddenly understood how his loyal crew members had once seen him. Now, the roles were just reversed; he was looking at Ian as the captain from the perspective of a crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates...
A captain is the backbone of a pirate crew. This wasn't just empty talk. Ian had already built a strong sense of trust in the hearts of all his crew members through his strength.
"Stay back. You might not be able to get involved in this fight!" Ian said to Law.
In the past, Law might have felt rebellious at Ian's words. After all, he was one of the eleven Supernovas, proud at his core, and couldn't accept being underestimated. But now, after hearing Ian's words, he accepted them without a second thought. Nodding, he said, "Got it, Captain. Be careful!"
"Oh, and go to the kitchen. See if there are any leftover pastries Matthew made. If there are, bring them to me!" Ian said.
Though Law didn't understand why Ian wanted pastries, he wisely didn't ask too many questions. He turned and ran toward the island.
Big Mom had already gotten up, but aside from being covered in dust, she was completely unharmed. Ian hadn't expected that kick to hurt her anyway, because he knew that Big Mom was a natural-born destroyer!
There were many strong people in the world, and their strength came in various forms. Some relied on Devil Fruit abilities, some on their Haki, and others on physical combat or swordsmanship. But in Ian's view, Big Mom's strength likely stemmed from her innate talent!
Yes, Big Mom's power as one of the Four Emperors couldn't be attributed solely to her Soul-Soul Fruit. She was a natural-born monster. Even as a child, she possessed immense strength. Without Haki or physical combat skills, a single slap from her could kill a bear. When she fell into her hunger pangs as a child, she even killed an elder of the Giant Tribe. What other child could do that?
With such terrifying physical strength as a child, now that she was an adult with Haki, a Devil Fruit, and other enhancements, it was easy to understand why Big Mom was so fearsome...
After being kicked flying by Ian, Big Mom naturally turned her attention to him. Though her mind was in chaos, she wasn't so confused that she couldn't tell who her enemy was.
"You... you! Was it you who stole the cake!?" Big Mom grabbed the Napoleon hat from her head and held it in her hand, her face twisted in rage as she roared at Ian. Then she swung a sword strike at him from a distance.
Another devastating Elbaf Spear!
"Nice one!"
Holding the Black Wing Demon in his left hand and Thousand Cherry Blossoms in his right, Ian crossed the two blades above his head and swung them down fiercely. A cross-shaped sword slash shot out!
The Elbaf Spear collided with Ian's slash in an instant. With a boom, the point of impact erupted in a powerful shockwave, and the two attacks completely canceled each other out!
Keep in mind that Ian was only in his Super Saiyan state. He hadn't released Thousand Cherry Blossoms yet, nor had he performed a Final Release on the Black Wing Demon. Yet, relying solely on his sword slashes, he had matched Big Mom's Elbaf Spear!
This was all thanks to Arest. After defeating him, Ian had leveled up and advanced to Grandmaster-level Swordsmanship!
[Grandmaster-level Swordsmanship]: Sword speed +100%, destructive power +100%, all sword slash damage doubled!
This Grandmaster-level Swordsmanship manifested in Ian as a mystical sensation, as if the blade in his hand had become one with his body. Every slash he made cut through the air at the most precise angle, delivering maximum power with the correct technique.
With the Elbaf Spear blocked, Big Mom charged at Ian. By then, Prometheus and Zeus had returned, floating above Big Mom's head. When she reached Ian, she suddenly raised her hand, grabbed Prometheus, and slammed it down hard at Ian.
The moment Big Mom grabbed Prometheus, its volume expanded to its maximum. The face within the flames twisted into a grimace, and with a blazing wave of heat, it crashed down toward Ian.
Facing Big Mom's Sky Fire attack, Ian raised his left hand, blocking her fist with the blade of the Black Wing Demon, while thrusting Thousand Cherry Blossoms with his right hand. A Black Dragon Wave spiraled along the blade and shot toward Big Mom!
With a clang, Big Mom's strength was immense. Ian couldn't fully block the force with just his left hand, and her punch drove him into the ground's cloud layer. Prometheus's flames had no effect on him, but the Black Dragon Wave from Ian's right hand sank its teeth into Big Mom!
"So hot! So hot!" Big Mom screamed in pain. The temperature of Ian's Black Dragon Wave was no joke. Though Prometheus was passively absorbing Ian's flames, the immense heat of a single Black Dragon Wave wasn't so easily absorbed. The remaining high temperature still injured Big Mom!
Her iron-like body was naturally impervious to blades and bullets, but high heat was an exception. Ian's Black Dragon Wave had been fired at close range, leaving no time to dodge. Though it didn't instantly reduce Big Mom to ash, when Ian flew back up from below the clouds, he saw that Big Mom was covered in blisters!
At that moment, Big Mom was utterly hideous. Her body was dotted with massive burn blisters, making her skin look like a toad's.
But Ian's first reaction upon seeing Big Mom wasn't to gag—it was to wish he could gouge out his own eyes!
Because Big Mom's clothes had been completely burned off by the Black Dragon Wave, leaving Ian staring at a completely naked, obese old woman covered in blisters...
"Damn it! This is what happens when you court death!"
Ian regretted it deeply. He felt that after this battle, he'd have to get his eyes checked for needle-like growths!
MMP, where was that legendary indestructible underwear!?