Thud!
From the depths of the crater, Big Mom's massive hand emerged, gripping the edge of the pit.
With a powerful push, her battered form heaved itself back into view.
While Big Mom's children were overjoyed, Doflamingo merely stared with keen interest. In the throes of her craving sickness, she was the single most dangerous being on the field—a rampaging weapon that recognized no family, driven only by the desire for her beloved sweets.
"Cake... Where's my cake!"
Her words were a demonic whisper in her children's ears, sending goosebumps crawling up their skin. A profound sense of crisis washed over them.
"Bring me my cake, now!"
Big Mom swung her massive arm, swatting at the Mochi House where Katakuri and the others were sheltered.
"Get out of here, quick!" Katakuri roared at his siblings.
CRASH!
The Mochi House shattered instantly. The very structure that had withstood Doflamingo's lightning strikes was effortlessly obliterated by Big Mom. This wasn't because Doflamingo was weaker, but simply because the Mochi House, in the end, was still just a mochi house—it had no real defensive power.
"My cake!"
With her eyes bloodshot, Big Mom had no regard for family. She left only destruction in her wake, hunting for her precious cake.
"Mama!"
Her children, standing not far away, were so terrified by the demonic sight of their mother that their legs gave out. They were rooted to the spot, trembling as they called out to her.
Unfortunately, the maddened Yonko paid them no mind, casually swatting at them as she passed.
"Was it you? Did you hide my cake?!"
"Wallpaper Mochi!"
Katakuri made his move. He had to restrain her, or the rampaging Big Mom would end up killing countless people.
"Aah, run! Run for your lives!"
Chaos erupted across Cake Island as people fled in every direction.
Despite the pandemonium, the other battles continued to rage, completely undeterred by the clash between Doflamingo and Big Mom.
Doflamingo himself hovered in mid-air, making no move to rejoin the fight. He had come here for more than just rescuing Trebol; he had another purpose. He would use this lull to observe the battlefield and plan his next move.
Not far from Big Mom's rampage, Smoothie and Diamante were fighting in earnest. To Doflamingo's surprise, Diamante was actually holding his own against the Sweet Commander.
"Hahaha, Smoothie! Big Mom is no match for our Young Master! You'd better surrender now!" Diamante parried a blow, creating distance from Smoothie before launching his verbal assault.
"Bullshit! Mama won't lose! Not even Doflamingo can defeat Mama!" Smoothie retorted, refusing to believe a word of it.
"Big Mom's defeat is already set in stone. She's just putting up a pointless struggle. Only our Young Master is the one true King!" Diamante declared, his face straight. As Doflamingo's number one hype man, he had more faith in Doflamingo than Doflamingo had in himself.
"I will defeat you! And I'll show you the might of the Big Mom Pirates!" Smoothie said stubbornly.
"Ever since I lost my battle with Hawkeye, I swore to myself that I would never lose so easily again," Diamante said, his voice laced with nostalgia as he gripped his sword. "Doffy is destined to become a god. To ensure I don't drag him down, I have to give it my all. For Doffy, and for the Donquixote Family, you will not defeat me today!"
"Is that your resolve? I can feel it. But the one who wins will be me! Water Sword!"
"Have you ever seen the slaughter under a full moon? Lunar Requiem!"
Both fighters carried the hopes of their respective crews. Neither could afford to fail.
Intense sword-light flashed between them, carving deep scars into the grassland. They crossed paths and, without a moment's hesitation, spun and clashed again. For a moment, all that could be seen was a storm of clashing steel, their figures lost in the blur.
"Serpent's Strike!"
Diamante's sword moved like an ethereal serpent, its movements unpredictable. It caught Smoothie off guard, and she was unable to avoid injury.
Smoothie wiped the blood from the wound, her beautiful eyes cold and void of expression.
"Gigantification!"
Smoothie's body expanded. Diamante tensed as he faced the towering Sweet Commander, gripping his sword tighter. This might very well be a battle on par with his fight against Hawkeye.
Despite her new size, Smoothie's speed hadn't diminished at all. Her blade appeared like a phantom before Diamante's face. He barely managed to block it, but the tremendous force behind the blow sent him flying. As he was knocked back, his left hand was briefly grazed by Smoothie.
As expected of one of the Sweet Commanders, Diamante thought, praising her inwardly even as he flew. His focus remained locked on the approaching Smoothie.
"Serpent's Strike: Earth Coil!"
The moment he landed, Diamante plunged his sword into the ground. As if summoned by his will, the earth churned, and thousands of vipers made of soil erupted, lunging at Smoothie.
"Wringing... Slash!"
A blade of sword-light, imbued with Smoothie's Devil Fruit power, shot toward the vipers. Though fierce, the snakes were no match for the attack. In an instant, they were decimated, losing their form and crumbling back into lifeless dirt.
"Armament Haki: Hardening!"
Diamante coated his entire body in Haki. He couldn't afford to be careless. He hadn't been paying attention earlier, and Smoothie had wrung all the moisture from his left hand. It was now completely desiccated and useless.
As expected of that demonic juicer.
Gripping his sword in his one good hand, Diamante charged forward once more, determined to settle the score.
Doflamingo watched their fight for a few moments before turning his gaze toward Law and the others.
Unlike the stalemate between Smoothie and Diamante, the situation there was completely one-sided. Cracker was single-handedly suppressing Monet, Law, Baby 5, and Kyros.
It couldn't be denied: Cracker was overwhelmingly strong. If Luffy hadn't had Nami's help, he likely wouldn't have stood a chance. Cracker could clap his hands and create an endless supply of powerful Biscuit Soldiers. The ability was completely broken.
And now, Monet's group was surrounded by those soldiers, pinned down and struggling to breathe.
"Room... Shambles!" "Great Snowfall!" "I'll blast you to bits!" Klang!
"Hahaha! Arrogant fools! Accept the judgment of my Biscuit Soldiers!" Cracker cackled, overjoyed as he watched them dodge and weave like cornered rats.
"Thunder Rain Erosion!"
Seeing their beleaguered state, Doflamingo couldn't just watch any longer. The four were clearly no match for Cracker, so he decided to lend a hand.
Cracker's joyful expression vanished as Doflamingo's acidic rain of lightning poured down. His Biscuit Soldiers, which had been nigh-invincible, suddenly went soft, reduced to soggy mush.
"Damn it! Doflamingo!" Cracker spun around to glare at the culprit, his heart practically exploding with rage.
"Haha, Cracker! Your biscuit soldiers turned into mush!" Baby 5 taunted, jumping with glee.
"Shut up, you brat!"
His patience shattered, Cracker raised his own sword and charged at Baby 5. If his soldiers were useless, he would just handle this himself.
"Room."
Cracker moved with incredible speed, but Law was faster. In an instant, he swapped Baby 5's position with a nearby rock, saving her from the attack.
"That was close!" Baby 5 patted her chest, looking at the sundered rock with lingering fear.
"Damn kid!"
Feeling like he'd been played, Cracker swung his sword at the group again. Kyros moved to intercept him.
The difference in their power was too vast. Kyros couldn't withstand a single blow. Cracker kicked him flying, sending him tumbling through the air as he coughed up blood.
A silent, formless slash shot out, but Cracker dodged it. Law's attack had missed.
"Kid, your Devil Fruit ability is impressive! I think I'll start with you."
Cracker lunged at Law. Law wasn't about to just sit and die. Their swords clashed, but Law was still young, far from his peak. He was no match for a Sweet Commander.
Yet, every time Cracker was about to land a decisive blow, Law would instantly swap places to safety.
"Blizzard: Snow Burial!" "Missile!"
Monet and Baby 5 weren't idle. With Law drawing his fire, they provided support from the sidelines, constantly harassing Cracker.
"Brat, you really are slippery!" Cracker growled, growing increasingly frustrated. He couldn't land a hit on Law, and the constant interference from Monet and Baby 5 was infuriating.
With Law there, Cracker knew it was impossible to get to Monet or Baby 5. He had to take Law out first.
Law understood his role perfectly. Even with Doflamingo watching, he didn't want his help.
This had become a battle of attrition. The moment Law's stamina ran out, the fight would be over.