Chapter 43: Elus Vs Big·mom
Becoming BIG·MOM’s son-in-law?
This was a path Elus had never imagined before.
However,
Thinking carefully, it was indeed not a bad choice. Setting aside BIG·MOM’s habit of losing all reason and massacring indiscriminately when her food craving disorder flares up, in the New World, gaining Protection from one of the Four Emperors is something many people beg for but can’t get.
Of course, among the four Pirate Emperors, BIG·MOM is not the best choice. Her irregular food craving disorder is a potential threat to 99% of the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew members. Only a few like Katakuri can fearlessly face her rampage.
In short, this matter has both pros and cons, varying by person. Some would flock to it, others avoid it like the plague—both very normal.
As for Elus’s choice—
It was destined from the start.
“I reject.”
Elus said word by word.
His resolute tone left no room for ambiguity.
Although BIG·MOM has many beautiful daughters with outstanding looks, honestly, giving up such beauties delivered right to the door is quite heartbreaking. But there’s no way around it. As a World Government Affiliated Nation, the Eckmond Kingdom secretly colluding with Pirates is no problem, and even being forced to borrow the Whitebeard Pirates’ Flag for Protection is within acceptable bounds.
But,
If openly and wholeheartedly following a Pirate Emperor, the World Government’s tolerance has its limits.
Marrying into the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew is equivalent to surrendering to the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew. In the original story, the Jermma Kingdom was eventually stripped of its Affiliated Nation status by the World Government due to its marriage alliance with the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew as the trigger, under the combined effects of a series of events.
Compared to mixing with this Pirate Emperor BIG·MOM, it’s currently more beneficial to stand with the World Government.
Moreover, even if truly turning against the World Government, it’s better to hook up with Dragon than submit to this mad Emperor BIG·MOM!
And also,
The most important point,
With the Hogyoku, why does he need to find a master for himself?
“Prometheus, burn this insolent brat for me!!!”
Being rejected, BIG·MOM naturally flew into a rage. That extremely brutal Anger was as terrifying as an erupting Volcano. The twitching flesh on her face from Anger was filled with intense killing intent. She let out a massive roar, startling like thunder suddenly exploding under a clear sky.
In that soul-shattering roar,
A bright, hot fireball with a huge malicious grin rose from behind BIG·MOM. Yes, this was a laughing fireball, and its smile was so full of malice. Its blood-red Eyes stared at Elus like a hungry coyote eyeing a restless little lamb that sneaked out of the flock.
Sun Prometheus.
This is a name as famous as thunder. In the New World, who among the local powerhouses doesn’t know that BIG·MOM is the Queen who can manipulate the weather? Her left hand has “Thundercloud Zeus,” her right hand has “Sun Prometheus.” These two Weapons symbolize BIG·MOM’s unmatched Violence.
Over the years, BIG·MOM has used these two Weapons countless times to destroy her enemies. Repeated Victories have gradually given these two Weapons a fearsome reputation.
This blazing fireball with a malicious smile opened its mouth, and a thick flame shot down toward Elus like lightning.
But,
This invariably victorious Attack did not achieve the ideal result this time.
Facing Sun Prometheus’s Attack, Elus did not Dodge.
He tilted his head up, gazing fearlessly at the falling blazing flame. His raised right hand precisely met the trajectory of the descending fire stream. Just as the flame reached in front of him, a flash of emerald green light shone at the tip of his right index finger.
“Cero!”
High-density Spiritual Pressure gathered at the fingertip, then shot out in the form of emerald green Flash.
This is—
Cero.
The emerald green light pierced through the orange blazing flame, splitting it in half from the center like a hot dinner knife slicing through solidified butter. In an instant, it appeared in front of Prometheus. An unprecedented sense of crisis made Prometheus Dodge in a way it had never done before.
To know, Prometheus’s existence is extremely strange—no one knows how to Damage BIG·MOM’s terrifying Weapon. It has the Elementalization trait like a Logia Ability User, but cannot be grasped by Armament Haki—because it has no physical Body at all.
So,
Sun Prometheus and Thundercloud Zeus always advance without retreating when fighting alongside BIG·MOM. Dodging an enemy’s Attack like this was a first in their lives.
But soon, Prometheus felt fortunate for its Dodge.
That emerald green light grazed the edge of Prometheus’s Body. Having never felt pain before, Prometheus tasted pain for the first time and immediately let out an earth-shattering cry: “Mom, Mom, it hurts! It hurts so much!”
It shouted while fearfully shrinking back toward BIG·MOM.
“Prometheus!”
BIG·MOM encountered this situation for the first time too—Prometheus was actually injured by someone. This was unprecedented.
“Green-eyed brat, what did you do?”
Grabbing the injured Prometheus to check its condition, BIG·MOM glared at Elus with even greater Anger. An overwhelmingly domineering aura burst from her mountain-like Body like a typhoon.
Conqueror’s Haki.
Enraged to the extreme, BIG·MOM instinctively released this Power, proof of kingly qualification.
“Damn! Too late.”
Standing on the Deck of the Queen Mama Chanter, Katakuri clenched his Fist.
Even for the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew, not every Member can withstand the rush of Conqueror’s Haki. Most low-level Fighters simply collapsed under this sudden Conqueror’s Haki Shockwave, especially on the Egg Tart Ships where Fighters fell like wheat during harvest.
The impact wasn’t limited to the BIG·MOM Pirate Crew itself,
On this Island, Saiboi Island, residents who didn’t escape far enough were truly down on their luck for eight lifetimes. Under BIG·MOM’s Conqueror’s Haki Shockwave, they fell one after another, many even perishing outright from this wave.
However, at that moment,
“Boom——!!!”
A massive rumbling sound swept through the void.
Ink-green Spiritual Pressure poured out from under Elus’s feet like a tide, spreading like mist under fierce winds to all directions, rising into the Sky, forming visible ink-green clouds floating in the air, blocking the bright sunlight.
“What is that?”
BIG·MOM held the injured Prometheus, using the Soul-Soul Fruit’s Power to repair its Damage. Before she could punish Elus, this strange thing emerged that could rival her Conqueror’s Haki.
“Drip!”
Ink-green raindrops fell from the Sky.
In just an instant, the sound of pouring rain filled the entire Dock. This space was completely dyed in ink-green glow.
“This is······ the Power of Souls?”
An ink-green raindrop fell into BIG·MOM’s open palm. This strange rain didn’t pool into a green puddle but evaporated and vanished at extreme speed. But in that brief contact, it was enough for BIG·MOM to recognize what it was.
After all,
She, who ate the Soul-Soul Fruit, is the world’s foremost expert in manipulating Souls.
The ink-green downpour didn’t last long.
Soon, the rain stopped.
The ink-green clouds in the Sky also dissipated completely. Only Elus, spreading a pair of huge black Wings, flew into the air, looking down condescendingly at BIG·MOM on the ground. Sea winds blew, tousling the hair at his temples, but unable to shake the pair of pale curved horns on his head.
Unlike the previous incomplete form with just Wings extended, this time Elus revealed the complete form of the Devil Fruit enhanced by the Hogyoku that he ate. This time’s enemy was different from those previous small fry—being careless could lead to suffering.
“Bala.”
Elus extended his hand.
Striking first as a greeting.
Crimson Bala shot toward BIG·MOM at near-lightning Speed, but before hitting her ferocious face, it was smacked away hard by her raised palm.
“Green-eyed brat, your Ability is interesting. A Zoan Devil Fruit, probably Mythical Zoan? And related to Souls, but······ anyone who dares defy my will must die!”
BIG·MOM let out a massive roar. She grabbed her Hat—the red Pirate Hat with yellow trim on her head transformed into a Great Sword at her will, held in her hand. Then she shouted loudly: “Zeus, come here!”
A white cloud responded, happily calling “Mom” and coming to BIG·MOM’s feet, lifting the hill-sized BIG·MOM into the Sky.
Then,
Vast Sword Qi crisscrossed between heaven and earth.
Every swing of BIG·MOM’s Great Sword tore the Atmosphere with peerlessly sharp Sword Qi chasing after the flapping Elus. She constantly restricted his Flying Speed and space with Sword Qi, while Thundercloud Zeus under her feet closed in at top Speed.
Air combat, BIG·MOM is also an expert.
From childhood to now, her over fifty years of battles contain no exaggeration. As long as her food craving disorder doesn’t flare up, her combat IQ is not low at all. Her Pirate Emperor status was killed out in the New World slaughterhouse.
Innate monstrous Strength to kill Giants, innate “Steel Balloon”-like Body toughness, Great Swordsman-level Swordsmanship, Devil Fruit Ability developed to the extreme.
BIG·MOM’s Strength is all-around without blind spots.
Especially that innate robust Body, simply the finest treasure heaven bestowed on BIG·MOM, keeping her in perfect Combat Power even at over sixty. In comparison, Whitebeard, declining due to injuries, is utterly tragic.
“Rip——!”
Another sword slashed from afar. Vast Sword Qi grazed Elus’s Wings, forcing him to halt and flap in another direction, continuing to skirmish with BIG·MOM.
But,
Clearly, such skirmishing couldn’t last long under BIG·MOM’s relentless pressure.
Moreover, to test his current level, he ultimately needed to clash head-on to gauge his own weight.
“Moonlight Sword.”
Extremely high-density Spiritual Pressure condensed in Elus’s right palm, forming a nearly two-meter-long bluish-white light sword gripped tightly. No hilt or guard visible, even the blade edge was hard to discern.
Indeed, the blade position was indistinguishable, as this was a light sword formed from high-density Spiritual Pressure—every part except where Elus gripped was the blade.
“Warm-up about ends here.”
Mid-flight, Elus rolled his shoulders. He’d never fully unleashed in this form before, so he skirmished with BIG·MOM briefly to familiarize himself, using her cloud-shattering terrifying Sword Qi to warm up.
And now,
Warm-up over.
Black Wings flapped fiercely. Elus no longer dodged but swung his Moonlight Sword, meeting the incoming terrifying Sword Qi head-on.
Moonlight Sword clashed with the vast Sword Qi, shaking Elus’s whole Body. Black Wings flapped repeatedly to barely withstand the Sword Qi Shockwave that made the Atmosphere wail.
Next moment,
No time for Elus to Rest,
BIG·MOM on Thundercloud Zeus finally caught up, closing the distance. She raised her Great Sword “Napoleon” high. Nearby, recovered Sun Prometheus flared brightly, igniting fierce flames on the Great Sword.
“Emperor Sword·Rending Blade!”
This was BIG·MOM’s all-out strike, the Pirate Emperor’s wrathful blow.
The flame-wrapped Great Sword was enormous, filling most of Elus’s view. The battered Atmosphere was torn again by absolute Violence, sending visible shockwaves to both sides. In the center, bright sword light slashed down.
“Flicker Slash!”
Synchronized with BIG·MOM, Elus struck too, gripping Moonlight Sword in an iai draw stance, rocketing upward at terrifying Speed to clash mid-air with the crushing Great Sword.
The so-called Flicker Slash,
Is a Swordsmanship technique similar to battoujutsu.
It was a Swordsmanship Elus developed by synthesizing various schools’ strengths, tailored to Moonlight Sword’s traits. In the draw instant, it recompresses high-density Spiritual Pressure in that ultra-short time into an extremely sharp blade existing only for a moment, seeking to unleash a world-shattering edge that severs all.
The clashing sword hum echoed through the heavens.
Sound waves stirred air waves, becoming a Shockwave mixed with sharp Sword Qi spreading everywhere. Scattered firelight fluttered with the turbulence.
Great Sword ‘Napoleon’ let out an excited screech. Moonlight Sword’s edge didn’t sever this soul-infused Great Sword by BIG·MOM; instead, the long-unseen sharpness excited it. Swinging BIG·MOM seemed surprised too—she didn’t expect this brat to have such fierce Swordsmanship.
But,
His frame was a bit frail, clearly a Zoan Devil Fruit Ability User.
Elus was sent flying.
He didn’t lose the Swordsmanship clash to BIG·MOM, but her terrifying monstrous Strength overwhelmed this Zoan Devil Fruit Ability User. The horrific Power from her Great Sword blasted him away like a baseball hit for a home run, hurtling toward the distance at extreme speed.
