The world was still reeling from recent shocking news. Hawkeye's defeat spread throughout the Seas.
Marineford.
Sengoku was having a headache, first it was Aokiji's crushing defeat then came Crocodile's confession and now the defeat of world's first Swordsman Hawkeye, and all these trouble revolved around that man.
A knock came from outside his office.
Sengoku " Come in."
A marine came in with some papers in his hands, Sengoku directly asked " Where is he now? "
" Sir, he is still sailing without a definite destination."
Sengoku nodded " What about the other one Smoker reported, have you found him? "
" Yes sir! Recently a man has been going around killing pirates everywhere, we believe it to be him."
Sengoku " Good. Keep watch on him. Dismissed."
The marine saluted and left.
Sengoku ' Titans... atleast there is only two of them. We already know that guy named Ryu's battle strength, now how strong is the other one? '
He ordered a marine to fetch Kizaru. Few minutes later a tall man wearing yellow clothes with striped shirt and an overcoat of an Admiral stepped inside Sengoku's office.
This man was one of the three Admirals, Kizaru.
Sengoku got straight to point " Kizaru, I want you to meet this man, don't clash with him just talk if you can recruit him then that's best."
Kizaru took the stack of papers Sengoku places Infront of him, with a lazy tone " Ooooh, he killed a lot of Pirates~ "
Sengoku nodded " That's why I want you to talk to him, if his view of Pirates align with ours then it's possible for him to join us."
Kizaru nodded and left, among three Admirals Kizaru is the only one who can reach such distance in short time, moreover with his Glint Glint fruits ability noone can tie him down.
Meanwhile, Ryu was looking through a map, according to a rough estimate he memorized the territories of Four Emperors. His first target was Big mom, he picked her not because she was the weakest among the Emperors instead because of her fruit's ability.
Soul soul fruit piqued Ryu's interest, he intended to find out the extent of its powers. His figure floated and pierced through the air, Marines trailing him could only watch as Ryu's figure disappeared. They quickly reported it to headquarters.
Sengoku had just took care of some problems when he received this info, he quickly ordered " Inform everyone!! I must know where he is going!! "
Cake Island.
Instead of buildings this entire island was made of pastries. Most fruit ability Big mom's crew possessed were related to food. Today was one of Big mom's occasional tea party, guests from various underworld organisations came bearing gifts.
Cakes, pastries and drinks were being served to everyone. Big mom was the main focus for these parties, she was laughing heartily while others flattered her. Katakuri and Cracker stood beside her, as her commanders they would always protect her. A beautiful woman was also beside her.
This was Charlotte Pudding, she was beautiful but beneath that beauty lay a devil. Her upbringing had changed her character a lot. She was laughing merrily with others but her eyes flashed with disdain from time to time.
Pudding was having a ' Good time ' talking with their guests when her eyes caught someone. This person didn't seem anything special but she felt his face was familiar. She thought for a bit but couldn't place him.
Katakuri noticed something different about Pudding " What is it Pudding? "
Pudding pointed " That man... I can't remember him."
Katakuri looked towards where pudding pointed, his eyes shrank when he saw who it was.
' What is he doing here!?? How did he get in!!?? '
Katakuri walked upto that man, his face was Ice cold " Why are you here? "
Ryu was chomping on the food served when he heard someone speak, he turned around and saw Katakuri staring at him.
" Yo! "
Veins popped on Katakuri's forehead, his face contorted in anger " What! are! you! doing! here!? "
Ryu calmly replied " To fight her of course."
Katakuri didn't hesitate, the moment he heard Ryu's reply he punched Ryu's head. Those around them quickly retreated, rest of Big mom crew also reacted and surrounded Ryu.
Seeing Katakuri's attack Ryu who was seated tapped his foot, his chair slid back. Katakuri didn't relent he punched again, this time the floor morphed as they formed several fists, each fist was coated with Haki as they attacked Ryu.
Ryu dodged every punch, Katakuri's face paled for no reason. He quickly retreated but still his body was pummeled to the ground. He coughed out blood.
Ryu " Not bad, your Observation Haki can see few seconds into future but that's no good if you can't dodge fast enough."
" Big brother!!! "
Several figures landed near Katakuri and held him up. Cracker and Smoothie were ready to attack when a huge figure landed Infront of them.
" Mom!! "
Big mom stood before Ryu, her eyes flashed with cruel light " Boy, just because you beat that kid Aokiji did you think you could take me on!!?? Huh!!?? "
Ryu cracked his neck " What? Did that seat of an emperor make you conceited. Everyone says your body is quite sturdy, let's see if it bleeds."
Energy churned around him, Ryu's body flashed as he got Infront of Big mom, he clenched his fist, terrifying amount of energy coated his hand as he threw a punch. Loud bangs echoed as his fist moved.
Charlotte Linlin (Big mom's name) got serious, her hand was covered in a black gloss with reddish glow over it, her Haki was several times stronger than Aokiji's.
BOOOOMMMM
Their fists collided, shockwave spread around bringing destruction and chaos. Cracker and other retreated, this battle was way above them. But what made them shocked was seeing Linlin step back. Her feet slid through the ground, only after crashing through few buildings did she stabilise.
Big mom was infuriated, her Overlord Haki erupted. Cracker and others felt pressure when faced with Linlin's Haki.
Ryu " Overlord Haki. I have that too."
An even stronger will erupted from Ryu, it collided with Linlin's Haki. World's colour changed, the collision brought flashes of lightning, few of Linlin's subordinates have already fainted. Linlin herself was shocked when she felt Ryu's Haki
' His Haki is stronger than mine!!? It may be even stronger than that Red hair!! '
She didn't hesitate, Linlin took off her hat which morphed into a sword, two clouds drifted above her. One of it produced sparks of lightning from time to time.
" Zeus! "
Linlin yelled, one cloud merged with her hair turning them into raging flames. Ryu didn't mind, he clenched his fist. Lightning surrounded his fist, spectators could feel terrifying sharpness from Ryu's fist.
Linlin's sword turned into a huge one, lightning flashed around it. Moreover the other cloud changed in size, Linlin jumped on it. She now hovered above Ryu, her eyes were deadly.
She slammed her sword onto Ryu, seeing the attack Ryu punched out. Sword and fist connected creating ripples in air, lightning around Ryu's fist destroyed those around Linlin's sword. It wailed in pain, Linlin drew back her sword. She raised her other hand, her Overlord Haki spread around her as she punched Ryu.
His body turned in mid air, Ryu spread open his palm. His hands were now like a blade as he chopped Linlin's cloud into two. Linlin fell down, she used one of those cut half as footing and jumped up. Fire and lightning coated her sword along with Haki, Ryu could feel disastrous amount of energy in that sword but he didn't back down.
Ryu's fist was now covered with a white glow, sounds of blades slicing could be faintly heard. Linlin's attack was almost upon him, by a hair's breath Ryu dodged it, he punched hard to her gut. Where his fist connected one could see flesh twist, Linlin's face contorted in agony. She could feel thousands of blade cutting her body, she tried to dodge but was too late.
pufffff
Her gut was pierced through, for the first time in her life someone was able for pierce her body and make her bleed. Ryu steadied his body and gave a hard kick to her face. Like a shot cannon Linlin was blasted away, her body crashed through the entire stretch of island, blood splattered where she crashed through.
Katakuri and the others were scared when they saw Big mom like that, they have never seen anyone dominate Big mom like that, suddenly Katakuri's face changed, he yelled
" Get back!!!! "
BOOOOMMMM
Rubbles were sent everywhere, Linlin's body gave off steam as she stood up, her flaming hair stood erect, a malevolent aura surrounded her.
Katakuri ' Damn!! Mom has lost control!! '
Linlin howled as she crashed towards Ryu, her hands glowed as she punched him. Ryu felt peculiar seeing this attack, he tried to dodge but surprisingly something was holding onto his body or rather his soul. He saw a rope came to existence as it tried to pull something out of him.
" I GONNA MAKE YOU A SLAVE!!! THEN I WILL TORTURE YOU!! I WILL BURN YOU!!! SKIN YOU ALIVE!! BUT I WON'T KILL YOU!! HAHAHA !!! "
Ryu touched that rope, he could feel faint fluctuations from this rope " Soul energy.... I see, quite a troublesome ability but without it all you have is that sturdy body and that I have confidence to break."
Ryu didn't retreat instead he clenched his fist, world paused for a split second. Ryu's hand seemed to contain a miniature sun as they glowed brightly. The space around his fist was fluctuating, it seemed like it would break any moment.
Katakuri's face paled " All of you, get back!! Retreat as far as possible!!! Now!! "
Cracker didn't question him, for Katakuri to react like that could only mean he saw something terrible happen.
Linlin was still laughing hysterically, Ryu's body disappeared and appeared infront of her face, he drew his hand back and lightly punched. The punch seemed extremely slow but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't dodge. She watched with horror as Ryu's fist connected with her face.
Puffffff