Big Mom's face darkened as a flicker of anxiety flashing in her eyes.
Her gaze swept across the surroundings—the encirclement was airtight.
She glanced toward the entrance of the Underwater Great Prison and thought to herself.
'What are Katakuri and the others doing? The prisoners on the sixth level are all wearing Seastone cuffs—could they really be that hard to capture?'
Yet, her attacks never ceased.
The Napoleon Great Sword swung through the air, stirring up fierce gusts of wind as it pressed toward Akainu and the others!
Her tone was arrogant; even facing the Marines' formidable combat power, she showed no trace of fear and mocked them boldly.
"MAMAMAMA! You think you can stop me with just this? Even if I stand here and let you hit me, you still can't break through my defense!"
The others wore grim expressions, but the reality was exactly as she said.
If it were any ordinary Pirates, they would have been either dead or exhausted by now, but Big Mom was different.
Big Mom's mutated physique, dubbed the "Iron Balloon," was even more monstrous!
Coupled with the formidable recovery and resilience granted by the Fish Fish Fruit: Mythical Zoan: Azure Dragon, Big Mom now possessed the ability to sustain high-intensity combat!
Add to that the enhancements from the Human Human Fruit: Mythical Zoan: Great Buddha and others—this was precisely why she had been able to hold her ground against so many Admiral-level fighters for so long!
But after fighting for this long, even Big Mom began to feel strained.
Her movements slowed, and her breathing grew heavier.
As for the other four, they were even worse off.
The relentless battle had left them gasping for breath, wishing for the fight to end sooner!
Their eyes reflected exhaustion and helplessness, yet they had no choice but to press on.
The battle had reached a stalemate, and the outcome seemed increasingly uncertain.
But now, things were different—the Marine reinforcements had arrived!
...
Inside the Underwater Great Prison.
Katakuri moved swiftly, his trident gleaming coldly in the dim light like the sharpest star in the night sky, exuding an aura that sent chills down one's spine.
"Faster!"
His gaze was as cold as ice, capable of freezing all life, while his scarf fluttered gently behind him like a ghost in the darkness.
The three of them descended rapidly, passing through the fifth and fourth levels until they reached the entrance to the sixth level.
The scenes along the way were horrifying. Trailing behind him was a string of ability users bound by Mochi Tendrils.
Among these ability users, some were still struggling, their eyes flashing with defiance and fear as they tried to break free from their shackles.
Others had already fallen unconscious, their bodies limp and lifeless on the ground.
But without exception, they had all been crushed by Katakuri's overwhelming power, like withered leaves in a storm, utterly defenseless.
For those who held no value, Katakuri showed no mercy.
His eyes held no sympathy, only cold judgment.
Those who stood in his way—kill!
Those he disliked—kill!
The rest were left to fend for themselves.
Wherever he passed, the ground was covered in mochi-fied tendrils, like scars upon the earth, recording the carnage he left in his wake.
The walls were covered with cracks carved by a trident, and the air was thick with the scent of blood, evoking waves of nausea and suffocation.
The moment he stepped into the sixth level, a heavy, bloody odor rushed toward him.
In the dimly lit corridor, corpses lay scattered in disarray, their blood pooling into small streams that flowed slowly across the floor, emitting a chilling sound.
Katakuri's gaze swept over the bodies, his brow slightly furrowed as a trace of gravity appearing on his stern face.
It was clear that a brutal massacre had just taken place here—one so savage that even a powerhouse like Katakuri felt a flicker of surprise.
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from ahead.
A tall figure emerged slowly from the dim corridor, each step seeming to pound in rhythm with one's heartbeat, creating an overwhelming sense of oppression.
He dragged a half-dead man whose body swayed weakly with each movement, as if on the verge of breathing his last.
The man wore a black trench coat and a guard's cap, gripping a blood-stained longsword in his hand.
Fresh blood dripped from the blade, falling to the ground with a crisp sound.
His eyes glowed with a crimson light, like those of a demon, brimming with bloodlust.
It was Shiryu!
A bloodthirsty grin spread across Shiryu's face, traces of blood still smeared at the corner of his mouth, as though he had just savored the finest delicacy.
His eyes fell upon Katakuri with a flicker of excitement flashing within them, as if he had found a worthy opponent.
Licking his lips, he spoke with a cruel delight, "Finally, someone who can put up a fight."
Katakuri's expression remained as cold as ever, his trident rotating slightly in his hand with a faint metallic scraping sound.
He did not speak, but the Mochi Tendrils around his body had already begun to writhe slowly.
A tense atmosphere filled the air, as if even the atmosphere had frozen solid.
Shiryu casually tossed the man in his grasp to the ground.
The body landed heavily with a dull thud.
Perospero's gaze fell upon the man, and he suddenly exclaimed in shock.
"That's… the World Destroyer, Bryndy World!"
World's body was covered in wounds, blood gushing from them and staining the ground crimson.
His breathing was faint, clearly on the brink of death.
Yet, a glint of greed flashed in Perospero's eyes.
World's abilities were extraordinary—if they could seize them, their strength would undoubtedly multiply!
"His powers could fetch a hefty price!" Perospero murmured, his tone tinged with excitement.
Shiryu sneered, his gaze shifting between Katakuri and Perospero and speak with a note of mockery in his voice.
"If you want him, all you have to do is defeat me. Or kill me."
Katakuri's eyes remained cold and unwavering.
Ignoring Shiryu's provocation, he slowly raised his trident, pointing it at Shiryu as he spoke in a low voice.
"Your life is mine."
Shiryu's grin widened into madness as he lifted his longsword, blood still dripping from its edge, and roared with laughter.
"Then let's see you try!"
Before the words had fully faded, Shiryu's figure had already vanished from his original position.
The next moment, he appeared right in front of Katakuri, his long blade thrusting straight toward Katakuri's throat with a fierce attack.
The blade sliced through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound as if it intended to tear everything apart.
Katakuri reacted with incredible speed, swiftly raising his trident to block.
'Clang'
The blade and trident collided, producing a piercing metallic clang.
Sparks flew like lightning in the darkness, illuminating the tense expressions on both their faces.
"The blood of a strong one must be delicious."