On the enormous sailing ship.
Ever since Kong Tai appeared, the atmosphere on the ship instantly became heavy.
The combat personnel of the Charlotte family slowly surrounded him, their weapons gripped tightly, staring intently at the moon-white figure standing on the railing.
Kong Tai paid them little mind, casually standing on the railing, his gaze fixed mockingly on Katakuri, demanding an explanation.
"How can this guy be so shameless?"
Even with Katakuri's composure, his lips twitched at Kong Tai's question.
These were the accumulated treasures of their family over decades, and the Poneglyphs were their mother's most precious possessions. When had they become the property of this brat standing before him?
"Silver-haired."
Katakuri opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself at a loss for words.
He knew that from the moment Kong Tai appeared, they would never be able to leave.
Facing Kong Tai, whose strength completely overwhelmed them, any further words would be meaningless. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to hand over his mother's inheritance.
This was the foundation for their family's potential resurgence. However, when weighed against his siblings and the lives of the entire Charlotte family, giving it up was not entirely out of the question.
But...
Would handing it over guarantee their survival?
He didn't know.
And therefore, he didn't know how to answer.
"What?"
"You stole my things and still won't give me an explanation?"
Crack—!
Thunderclap from nothingness.
As Katakuri was still contemplating how to respond, Kong Tai's expression suddenly darkened. An incredibly powerful Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire port.
"Don't push it too far, Silver-haired."
Katakuri frowned, unleashing his own Conqueror's Haki in response.
With a bang, it collided with Kong Tai's.
"If you want an explanation, you're just trying to rob our Charlotte family's wealth, to steal Mother's Poneglyphs. Why bother with so many excuses?"
Katakuri, who usually spoke little, found himself saying a great deal under Kong Tai's pressure.
"Oh..."
Kong Tai tilted his head, looking at Katakuri with a mocking expression. "Not convinced?"
As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened.
"Not good."
Katakuri's eyes flashed with red light. He saw something, and his usually calm expression changed drastically.
At that moment, the void rippled like water, and the surrounding sky seemed to collapse.蜈蚣-like purple-black lightning instantly pervaded the entire sky.
Boom—!
An overwhelmingly powerful Conqueror's Haki, several times stronger than before, erupted from Kong Tai, instantly crushing Katakuri's Haki.
Crackle crackle!!
An immense pressure, as if tangible, swept across the entire sailing ship.
The deck by the ship's side cracked under its force.
Bang bang bang!!
Behind Katakuri, the weaker members of the Charlotte family collapsed in droves. The younger ones, their eyes rolling back, fainted on the spot.
After the peak clash, and with Kong Tai's spirit already surpassing the pinnacle of this world, his Conqueror's Haki was far beyond what Katakuri could match at this moment.
While he didn't know how strong the Conqueror's Haki of the world's strongest user, Shanks the Red-Haired, was, he couldn't possibly be stronger than him!
The ship fell into absolute silence.
Everyone stared at Kong Tai with solemn expressions, unable to speak.
Facing the pressure, Katakuri raised his head, his eyes fixed on Kong Tai.
He understood from Kong Tai's attitude that there would be no peaceful resolution today.
He had been patient earlier, hoping Kong Tai might spare them.
But now, it seemed impossible.
So, he straightened his body, remained silent, and reached for the scarf around his neck, tugging it left and right.
Then, with his right hand, a massive trident weapon slowly emerged from his wrist.
Seeing Katakuri draw his weapon.
The Charlotte family members still standing behind him, as if receiving a signal, all drew their weapons, glaring fiercely at Kong Tai.
Who were they?
They were the Charlotte family, the crew of one of the Four Emperors, ruling the New World, the Big Mom Pirates! Even if this brat had killed their mother and Kaido, possessing power beyond their comprehension,
now, at a time of family survival, and given the brat's attitude, it was clear he wouldn't let them go.
So, why hesitate?
"Kill!"
As if telepathically connected, all of them moved at once.
Flames, slashes, cannon fire, water droplets...
All surged towards Kong Tai.
Gazing at the countless attacks, which appeared fast to outsiders but slow in his eyes, Kong Tai lowered his eyelids. A killing intent flashed in his azure pupils.
He had indeed never intended to let the Charlotte family off the hook.
Zing—!
A cold blade light, accompanied by purple-black lightning, shaped like an inverted full moon, grew from small to large and instantly sliced through the myriad of attacks.
With a "swish," it passed through the entire ship without obstruction, disappearing into the sea.
"So strong."
Behind Katakuri.
Charlotte Daifuku and Charlotte Oven, the two brothers, looked up at Kong Tai with faces filled with shock, their eyes brimming with unwillingness and fear of death.
Then, the light in their eyes rapidly faded. With a "swish," their bodies split in half from the chest down.
Bang—!
They fell onto the deck with a dull thud.
Crack—!
At that moment, the massive mast nearby also snapped, falling onto the ship with a crash.
Suddenly, the enormous sailing ship lurched violently, as if it had been swallowed by the sea.
However, no matter how violently the ship shook, the people standing on it paid it no mind at this moment.
Katakuri raised his trident, a flicker of sadness in his eyes.
The moment Kong Tai drew his sword, he had foreseen what would happen next.
But facing Kong Tai's overwhelmingly powerful sword strike, he could only try his best to protect himself, completely unable to save his siblings behind him.
"Silver-haired."
He quickly suppressed the sadness in his eyes. The wound on Katakuri's chest, without a drop of blood, instantly closed, leaving him completely unharmed.
His eyes turned crimson, and he looked at Kong Tai, letting out an enraged roar. He lowered his stance and, with a bang, shattered the deck as he charged towards Kong Tai.
Behind him, among the shattered cookie soldiers, Cracker's true form was revealed.
Knowing escape was impossible, Cracker, the moment he appeared, quickly raised his sword and charged towards Kong Tai.
And the last of the three sweet commanders, Charlotte Smoothie, was not so fortunate. She knelt on one knee, her right hand gripping her sword, which was planted in the deck, supporting her body to prevent her from falling.
But beneath her, blood had already stained the entire deck.
She tried to look up, to stand, but her severed body wouldn't allow it.
Cough cough cough!!
Opening her mouth, blood flowed from the corners of her lips like a fountain, continuously spewing outward.
Staring at the ground, her blood-red eyes were filled with unwillingness.
"How can he be so strong?"
Even though she knew beforehand that the silver-haired man who killed their mother couldn't be an ordinary pirate, she never imagined that so many of them couldn't withstand a single strike from him.
Using the last of her strength, she tilted her head to glance at the many brothers and sisters lying in pools of blood. A bitter smile played on her lips, and then the light in her eyes rapidly dimmed. Her head slumped forward.
Her body quickly slid down, following the path of the many brothers and sisters beside her.