Chapter 188

"Walk." Minato lowered his voice, walking side by side with Rasa in tacit understanding.

Voices were noisy on the deck, crew members carrying various wooden boxes back and forth, a rich buttery aroma drifting in the air.

"Halt!" A loud voice suddenly rang out.

Minato and Rasa looked up to see a burly head chef standing at the top of the gangway, hands on hips. He wore a tall chef's hat, his apron covered in flour, glaring at them with a ferocious expression.

"Why are you two only arriving now?" The head chef's loud voice drew sidelong glances from nearby crew members. "The Tea Party preparations are piled up like a mountain!"

"Sorry, we were delayed on the road." Minato deliberately hunched his back in feigned panic, responding in the uniquely thin, sharp voice of a Dwarf.

"Less nonsense!" The head chef waved impatiently. "Hurry to the warehouse and move ingredients! Remember, every single cake base is a recipe personally selected by Big Mom Adult; make the slightest mistake and you're done for!"

"This way." Rasa pointed at the wooden boxes piled like a mountain in the corner.

Just as they were moving the third box of ingredients, a deafening explosion came from afar. The entire ship shook violently, cargo clattering and rolling into a heap.

"What's going on?" Cries of alarm rose and fell on the deck.

Another loud boom! This time closer. The air wave from the shockwave swept past the deck, flipping several crew members who couldn't stand steady onto the ground.

Minato set down the wooden box, flashing to the porthole to look out, only to see a burly man standing outside above the port.

A pair of pure white wings unfurled behind him, a giant pencil gripped in his hand; with every swing, the ground blasted open a large pit.

"Damn it! It's Uruki of the Breaking Monk Pirates!" The captain's roar came. "He actually dares to run wild in Totto Land's territory!"

Boom—!

The third explosion was right before their eyes. The air wave sent gravel crackling against the ship's side; the deck was in chaos.

Candy Buildings not far away collapsed with a rumble, pink frosting fluttering down like snowflakes.

"Boom!"

At this moment, a burly figure descended from the sky, landing heavily in the center of the port. The ground instantly cracked, spider-web fissures spreading in all directions.

"It's the Four Sweet Commanders! Adult Snack has arrived!"

"With Adult Snack here, that bastard is dead for sure!"

Cheers rose and fell from the crowd.

Snack slowly straightened up. His obese body formed a stark contrast with his tiny head.

"Oh?" Uruki sneered in midair. "Big Mom Pirates' Four Sweet Commanders? Just relying on a ridiculous guy like you?"

"Running wild in Totto Land!" Snack looked up at Uruki in midair, voice low. "You picked the wrong place."

He slowly drew the samurai sword from his back, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The two confronted each other for a moment, then suddenly moved simultaneously.

Uruki stomped the ground and instantly charged forward, speed so fast only a Body Flicker remained.

Snack spread his feet slightly, blade pointed upward, gaze tightly locked on his opponent.

Bang! The collision of two forces produced a terrifying shockwave. The air wave expanded in rings in all directions; Candy Buildings collapsed inch by inch wherever it passed.

Crew members on the deck were knocked sprawling by this air wave; even that large ship shook violently.

"Everyone, prepare to set sail!" The captain clung desperately to the ship's side, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Quick! Absolutely cannot let the ingredients be damaged! Big Mom Adult's Tea Party must be held on time!"

"This power." Minato hid in the cabin shadows, expression grave.

Even separated by such distance, he could feel that oppressive feeling. That wasn't chakra, but a completely unfamiliar power.

"Different from a ninja's combat method; pure physical strength alone can reach this degree."

Rasa said in a low voice, gaze fixed on the battling pair. "Just the shockwave from that strike alone is enough to severely injure an ordinary Jonin."

"If we get closed on during a frontal clash..." Minato's gaze was grave.

He didn't finish, but Rasa understood his meaning. Once closed on by this kind of monster, their bodies would likely be instantly torn apart.

The two looked at each other, both seeing gravity in the other's eyes. The Four Sweet Commanders are already like this; just what level of power does Big Mom possess? One misstep, forget completing the mission — they'd likely be executed on the spot.

…………………………

Meanwhile, the other side.

"Left, dodge quick!" Onoki suddenly shouted.

A patrol ship sailed from not far away, its hull like a giant cream cake, deck full of armed guards. The three quickly lowered their bodies, hiding in shadows using the rise and fall of the waves.

"The defenses here are even stricter than imagined." Yagura said in a low voice, gaze alertly scanning the distance. Large and small ships dotted the sea surface, people with telescopes constantly sweeping on them.

"Over there." A pointed at a remote coast, where high Cookie Cliffs on the shore just blocked the patrol ship's line of sight.

Using the spray as cover, the three silently approached the shore. The biscuit-made quay wall made faint cracking sounds under the waves' erosion; a faint sweet scent permeated the air.

"This smell." A leaped up onto the shore. He took a deep breath, then frowned tightly. "Sickly sweet, not like something naturally formed."

Onoki descended from midair, gaze alertly sweeping the surroundings. "Ahead is a forest; passing through should let us see the Castle. However."

He paused, then continued. "This place exudes strangeness everywhere."

"Go in and see." Yagura said, striding into the forest.

The moment the three stepped into the forest, surrounding shadows swallowed them. The ground was covered in thick fallen leaves; footsteps sank in with slight sounds.

"Rustle."

A breeze brushed the treetops, making an eerie sound. Just then, a seemingly ordinary large tree quietly opened its eyes, gaze hiding in the shadows of the leaves.

"Someone. Someone came in." The tree whispered in a voice only companions could hear. "Quick, go notify Adult Brulee."

"Shh! Quiet!" Another tree warned softly. "Don't let them discover us!"

Those eyes quietly closed again, as if never opened, but the message had already spread silently through this strange forest like ripples.

Soon, deep in the woods, a mirror quietly emerged. The mirror reflected a woman with deep purple long hair; she grinned, revealing an eerie smile. "Vivi~ interesting guests~"

"Halt." Onoki suddenly raised a hand to signal, gaze sharply sweeping the surroundings. "Do you feel these trees are very strange?"

"Since entering the forest, there's been a constant feeling of being watched." A said in a deep voice. Fine electric current jumped on his bare upper body, making faint crackling sounds.

Amidst the swaying tree shadows, a figure suddenly flashed past, speed almost impossible to capture. "Ahead!" Yagura's eyes sharpened, the long staff in his hand pointing toward the direction the figure vanished.

But A's reaction was even faster. Only to see his arms tremble, a piercing thunderclap suddenly rang out, countless electric arcs jumping across his bare upper body, his whole person instantly wrapped in lightning.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode! A's figure turned into a streak of lightning and rushed out, powerful airflow surging, fallen leaves on the ground instantly blown away.

"Wait!" Onoki's warning had not yet left his mouth.

"Don't think about escaping!" A's eyes narrowed, his knotted right arm traced a sharp arc. His hand blade chopped down with irresistible force, "Boom!"

Lightning exploded, a thick tree trunk snapped in response, wood chips scattering in all directions. However when the smoke and dust cleared, A's pupils suddenly contracted.

Lying on the ground was actually another "himself". On that face identical to his own was written pain, his body still bearing scorch marks left by the lightning strike just now.

"What?!" A instinctively retreated half a step, his whole body muscles tensing.

"Watch your surroundings!" Yagura suddenly shouted.

Suddenly, the surrounding trees began to twist and deform, countless mirror images of A, Yagura, and Onoki appeared in the forest, intertwining with each other, making it impossible to distinguish real from fake.

Next second, countless figures moved simultaneously, surging toward the three like a tide.

"These guys." Yagura's long staff swept horizontally, shattering several fake bodies rushing up, "They seem like some kind of special construct, weak in power, but astonishing in number."

"Hmph! A trick that wastes time!" Onoki coldly snorted in mid-air.

"They really are persistent!" A roared, lightning around his whole body surging violently. Electric current jumped on his body, emitting crackling crisp sounds.

He stomped his feet fiercely on the ground, his whole person shooting skyward like a shell.

In mid-air, A's body was already completely wrapped in lightning, like a dazzling ball of lightning. His right fist clenched tight, muscles coiled, lightning gathering.

"Lightning Release: Thunderbolt!"

"Boom!"

Fist heavily slammed into the ground, terrifying thunderbolts erupted in all directions with him as the center. The ground instantly cracked, electric light spreading wildly like a spider web. All fake bodies touching the electricity instantly turned into fragments, dissipating in mid-air.

"Ah! It hurts!!"

A miserable scream suddenly rang out, the earth trembling along with it. The three had not yet reacted when they saw the ground nearby begin to bulge, a huge figure slowly emerging.

It was a giant over four meters tall from the waist up, lower half still deeply buried in the earth. His round face carried a hint of simple honesty, seeing the three he actually waved with a smile: "Hello there!"

A's reaction was extremely fast, his figure flashing to retreat to a safe distance, lightning jumping on his arm: "To think such a monster was hiding here."

"Wait! Don't attack!" The giant's face changed drastically, he hurriedly raised both hands, "My name is Pound, I'm Big Mom's husband. I, I can tell you a lot of things!"

"Big Mom's husband?" The three exchanged a glance.

"This is truly an unexpected surprise, didn't expect to meet an informed person so quickly." A at this moment slowly withdrew his arm, but his whole body muscles remained tense, ready to respond to sudden situations at any time.

"Wait." Yagura narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying suspicion: "Why would Big Mom's husband be hiding in a place like this?"

Pound opened his mouth, about to explain: "I was being"

"You idiot! Are you crazy?" A sharp female voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Pound's words.

The three quickly turned, only to see a gorgeous mirror floating in mid-air, a woman with deep purple long hair walking out from the mirror. Her features were somewhat exaggerated, corners of her mouth hooked in a mocking smile.

"What a useless man, daring to tell outsiders this kind of thing." Brulee coldly smiled looking at Pound, "No wonder Mother abandoned you."

"Those clones, your doing?" A stared at Brulee, lightning around his body becoming active again.

"Oh my oh my~" Brulee suddenly switched to a frivolous tone, her gaze wandering over the three, "Mother received intelligence long ago, saying intruders would visit. I've been lying in wait here, just waiting for you to deliver yourselves to my door~"

"Intelligence?" Onoki's brows slightly furrowed, it seemed the other party had confused them with other intruders.

Brulee did not answer directly, but lightly stroked the mirror surface beside her, the mirror reflecting a distorted scene: "Vivi~ Since you've delivered yourselves, don't think about leaving alive!"

"Too much nonsense!" A's eyes shot out sharp light, his whole body muscles instantly tensing, lightning surging on his body surface like a raging torrent.

"Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite!"

A's figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving only a dazzling electric light. His speed reached the extreme, lightning-intertwined arm like a sharp arrow straight for Brulee's vitals.

"Vivi~ Been waiting for you!" Brulee did not retreat but advanced, both hands pressing on the mirror surface, "Mirror-Mirror Fruit: Reflection!"

The mirror surface suddenly burst forth with dazzling silver light, A's attack slammed onto the mirror surface, yet like hitting an invisible barrier. All the lightning was completely absorbed by the mirror surface, disappearing without a trace.

"What?!" A's pupils shrank sharply, but the attack was already launched, his figure already unable to change.

Immediately after, the same four bolts of lightning reflected back at even faster speed! Electric light drew dazzling arcs in the air, straight for A's vitals.

Boom! Lightning blasted onto his body, stirring up rings of air waves.

His figure was pushed backward by the huge impact force, heels plowing two deep grooves on the ground, crushed stones scattering.

But when the smoke and dust cleared, not a single wound was left on A's body: "Nothing more than this!"

"Is that so?" A crafty glint flashed in Brulee's eyes, "Then how about this?"

The mirror surface suddenly rippled, a strangely shaped large sword silently protruding, cold light shooting from its tip straight at A's throat!

A's eyes hardened, muscles tensing, lightning surging on his body surface. The sword tip was only an inch from his throat, yet he revealed a cold smile.

"Lightning Release!"

Electric light exploded, A's whole person turned into a bolt of lightning, vanishing from the spot.

The blade slashed empty air, blasting a deep crack in the ground.

"Dodged it?!" Brulee's pupils shrank.

A streak of lightning flashed from the side, A's figure revealing itself. His right leg wrapped in dazzling electric light, muscles knotted, like a heavenly thunder striking down.

Clang! Amidst the ear-splitting metal collision sound, the blade snapped in response, but A did not stop.

His left hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the hilt of the broken sword remaining outside the mirror surface.

"Get out here!"

A shouted explosively, arm muscles instantly knotting, lightning surging violently. He fiercely pulled outward, actually dragging a figure out from the mirror! It was a tall middle-aged man, sporting a dense long beard, his eyes wide, face written with shock, clearly completely unexpected.

(Chapter End)