Tentacle Ma Qiao

Mother Carmel looked much older than Ma Qiao remembered.

She disappeared unexpectedly 57 years ago on Charlotte Linlin's 6th birthday, when she was 80 years old.

In other words, Mother Carmel is now 137 years old.

This is undoubtedly a very old age.

However, this is actually not a very rare occurrence.

According to the settings Oda revealed on SBS, the lifespan of humans in the One Piece world is set at 140 years, which is higher than the generally accepted upper limit of human lifespan on Earth, which is 120 years.

Moreover, 141 years old may not necessarily be the limit of human lifespan.

In the original story, Dr. Kureha, even at the age of 141, showed absolutely no signs of impending death.

Mother Carmel is now only one year older than Dr. Kureha.

So it's perfectly reasonable that she appeared before me, full of life and energy, in spirit form... what a load of rubbish!

Even with his mental preparation, Ma Qiao felt a chill run down his spine looking at the elusive and hideous Carmel.

However, he had nothing to panic about at this moment.

Confirming that Carmel had somehow parasitized the Big Mom's body is a major achievement.

The Big Mom's children are deeply indebted to her.

The concept of gratitude is worthless to people like Blackbeard and Kurozumi Orochi.

But for a true man like Katakuri, that's something far more reliable than profit.

This is perhaps the greatest charm of the One Piece world.

"I don't do things that add flowers to brocade; I specialize in helping those in need. Others save money; I save relationships. I value face, appearances, and personal connections. Money can be spent, but goodwill can never be exhausted."

Ma Qiao thought Mr. Du's words made a lot of sense.

To put it simply, isn't the world of One Piece just a chaotic mix of outlaws, heroes, and all sorts of people living in Shanghai?

Katakuri and Perospero stood on either side of Ma Qiao, staring at the "evil spirit" that had appeared on their mother.

They knew Mother Carmel.

After all, their mother always puts Mother Carmel's picture in the most prominent position at every tea party.

But at this moment, looking at the extremely violent and ugly phantom, Perospero and Katakuri could not believe that she was the Mother Carmel that their mother had always longed for, who was dedicated to spreading love to the whole world and creating a country where all beings were equal.

"What are you?! Get off Mommy!"

"Me? I am God's servant, the shepherd who saves the lambs!"

Even as a spirit, even with a grotesque appearance, and even after nearly half a century, Mother Carmel's charlatan skills remained remarkably proficient.

She opened her arms, and a hint of kindness and Holy shone through her ugly, aged face.

Fortunately, Ma Qiao promptly read another hellish joke aloud:

How does a prophet's manual labor differ from that of an ordinary person?

He can have another position: he can put his hands together, turn them to the side, and use the holes in his palms...

Mother Carmel had barely managed to regain her Holy image, instantly lost her composure again, roaring, "Scarf Kid, you should go to hell! Go to hell right now!"

At the same time, Mother Carmel waved her hand, and a soul-like entity burrowed into the electrocardiogram machine beside her.

The electrocardiograph machine immediately came to life, transforming into a muscular machine that lunged menacingly at Ma Qiao.

Not counting Tahm Kench, Ma Qiao already has two free bodyguards by his side, so he naturally doesn't need to be afraid of such petty tricks.

Katakuri, in particular, is not like those simple-minded giants of Elbaf who would be fooled by Mother Carmel's acting skills.

He will only be deceived by his brother Ma Qiao... no, I mean, he will develop a true, unwavering friendship and trust with his brother Ma Qiao.

After all, Ma Qiao was a real man who cut his own kidney with an axe right in front of him!

Mother Carmel's empty talk has no chance against Ma Qiao's!

Katakuri clapped his hands quickly, instantly creating nine donuts that, like nine iron hoops, bound the muscular machine's limbs, pinning it to the ground.

"You're getting anxious, you're getting anxious..."

Ma Qiao sighed, "Mountain Hag, isn't your favorite food lamb?"

How did you know my pseudonym?

Suddenly having her secret name, which few knew even half a century ago, revealed, Mother Carmel was momentarily flustered. "And how did you know my favorite food?"

"Hmph, they deceive the world with a facade of benevolence, while secretly colluding with World Governments and participating in child trafficking!"

"They established so-called 'Sheep's House' to save children, but in reality, they feed on the children's flesh and blood!"

"Mountain Hag, your time to Judgment has come!"

Ma Qiao waved his hand and shouted, "Brother Pero, get him there!"

Perospero was still unclear about the situation.

However, since Katakuri has already resolutely taken action against this "evil spirit" that resembles Mother Carmel, he can't be left behind.

He swung his candy cane forward, and a golden Candy Maiden hurled itself at Mother Carmel's soul.

Don't let the sweet and gentle name "Candy Maiden" fool you; it's actually one of Perospero's most formidable moves.

The virgin made of candy is powerful enough to smash through an ordinary wall.

However, the soul is naturally immune to such physical attacks.

As expected, the Candy Maiden passed through Mother Carmel's "body" and crashed into the Mochi Wall.

At this point, the direct reason why he, as the eldest son, was always suppressed by the second son immediately became apparent.

When the candy and the rice cake collided, the former shattered instantly, while the latter only left a faint mark.

Perospero, losing face, immediately stuck out his tongue and stepped forward to try and kill Mother Carmel's "evil spirit."

The result was ultimately futile. Carmel may not have been a powerful warrior, but her mastery of the Soul-Soul Fruit's abilities was unparalleled.

Perospero was powerless in front of her, constantly engaging in a battle of wits with thin air.

"Joe, is this really Carmel?"

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Katakuri whispered a question to Ma Qiao.

Ma Qiao nodded. "No doubt about it. I did a lot of research before attending your mother's tea party."

"I learned about Mother Carmel and the old story of the Mountain Hag from friends in the Cipher Pol."

"Originally, I just hoped to find out your mother's hobbies so I could prepare a special gift, but unexpectedly, it became the key to solving the mystery."

"Thanks!"

Katakuri sighed, "Your kindness to the Charlotte Family is only growing..."

He believed Ma Qiao without a doubt what he said.

A true man like him could even move the most hardened Celestial Dragons and loyal dogs; some of the CP agents would be touched by his sincerity.

It's not surprising that the Ma Qiao brothers have romantic partners!

At the same time, Katakuri was also a little embarrassed.

After all, he spent far more time with his mother, and as one of the World's Strongest Observation Haki users, he couldn't even detect the clues with his keen observation skills.

Ma Qiao saw through Katakuri's thoughts and said with a smile, "What allows you to see the true nature of the world isn't Observation Haki. Relying too much on Haki will only blind you to your true self."

Thank you for your guidance!

Katakuri nodded earnestly. "I used to think that Haki was everything in this world, but after meeting you, I realized that noble character and a strong heart are the most precious things."

"Yes, you're right!"

Ma Qiao, feeling guilty, echoed.

Kaido- sensei said Devil Fruits are useless.

He never misses a move that involves the Devil Fruit.

Teacher Ma said that Haki is useless.

I dream of learning to be Haki.

Especially Conqueror's Haki.

So handsome!

Unfortunately...

This can't be rushed!

Ma Qiao plans to enroll Crocodile in a crash course on how to become a Haki leader, and he'll also audit the classes himself.

However, at least one thing Ma Qiao was right: Haki were of no help in subduing Mother Carmel in front of him.

Perospero was panting heavily, his tongue lolling out, but he hadn't harmed Mother Carmel at all.

Of course, she didn't have a single hair left.

Actually, sending Perospero first was Ma Qiao's way of letting him test the waters.

Now that it's proven Carmel was indeed a spirit, things will be much easier.

Ma Qiao raised the Dark Passage in his hand and threw it towards Mother Carmel.

[Damnation]

Chain Warden 'Thresh passive skill.

Thresh can use the Dark Passage to harvest the souls of nearby enemies after they die.

However...

The Dark Passage, a treasure used to subdue the undead, emitted a ghostly green light that truly terrified Mother Carmel.

But she simply moved far away, and the scene that Ma Qiao had predicted—her body being sucked into the light—did not occur.

"This state..."

Ma Qiao looked at Carmel, the image of a white-haired Kozuki Oden flashed through his mind...

When Ma Qiao took Yamato to Amigasa Village, Yamato's soul was in a similar state.

In other words...

These are the souls of the living, not the spirits of the dead!

Mother Carmel is still alive; more precisely, her physical body is still alive!

In this way, the last question in Ma Qiao's mind was also answered.

"It turned out to be a teratoma!"

Since Mother Carmel still has a physical body, it means that her soul could not have gone far.

That makes things easier.

While calling for Dr. Dr. Mundo to prepare backup, Ma Qiao walked toward Carmel with a cold smile.

What do you want to do?!

Carmel was still wary of the Dark Passage and had lost his previous composure.

"Nothing much, just looking for you to practice your skills!"

With each step Ma Qiao took, a thick tentacle grew from the surrounding walls.

"You... you are... the high priest of the evil god?"

Carmel looked at Ma Qiao in astonishment. She seemed to see some kind of unfathomable faith and divinity in this man, something that ordinary bishops could not compare to. It seemed that only the highest high priests or prophets could have such a heart-stirring feeling.

This is a keen sense that only an old charlatan like Carmel, who has studied theology for over a hundred years, possesses.

Perospero and his group simply felt that Ma Qiao's tentacles...

Is it a little bit cute?

Well, these guys have similar tastes to Robin.

Robin always liked these kinds of ugly-cute things.

To prevent her from being attracted to a pervert like Franky in the original story, Ma Qiao specifically learned this tentacle technique for her, hoping that Robin-chan would like it in the future.

[Prophet of an Elder God]

The passive skill of Illaoi, the Sea Beast Priestess.

Illaoi and the shells she creates will generate tentacles on nearby impassable terrain.

The tentacles will reach out to souls, bodies, and the victims of Illaoi's "harsh discipline."

Of course, Ma Qiao didn't just learn Illaoi's passive skills.

"I'm pulling!"

Ma Qiao brandished a spiritual whip, lashing it out at Mother Carmel.

[Soul Trial]: Illaoi pulls a soul from an enemy champion; the soul can be attacked.

If the soul dies or moves too far from the original body, the original body will become a shell. The shell will be slowed down for 1.5 seconds, and tentacles will automatically spawn around the shell. The tentacles will automatically strike the soul and the shell once every few seconds.

This skill is a nightmare for almost every top laner when facing Illaoi.

If being struck by Darius's merciless iron hand meant certain death or serious injury, then being struck by Illaoi's Test of Spirit was even more heinous than being struck by the merciless iron hand.

However...

Like the ruthless iron hand that always ends in a short time, the biggest problem with Illaoi's E skill is...

"Damn! It's empty again!"

Ma Qiao couldn't believe that he had lost to a 130-year-old woman in terms of hand speed.

But he did indeed evade the Test of Spirit.

But that doesn't matter.

Having confirmed that Carmel had a physical body and couldn't escape, Ma Qiao quickly waited for the cooldown to finish and used the same tactic again.

"I'm pulling!"

"I'm pulling!"

"I'll pull again!"

That's the advantage of cooldown reduction gear; Ma Qiao can use [Soul Trial] every eight seconds. Carmel struggled, making many outrageous moves for her age, before finally making a mistake and bumping into Ma Qiao's whip.

"How is that possible!"

Carmel screamed in terror.

Although she instinctively felt she should avoid the attack of this cultist, Carmel still found it hard to believe when she was actually "pulled" over in her spirit form.

"Soul... soul shouldn't have a physical form... how are you able to grab me?"

Ma Qiao had no interest in answering the Human Traffickers question. He kicked Perospero, who had been resting nearby for half the day, and said, "Brother Perospero, the time for revenge has come!"

Ordinary souls are indeed immune to physical harm.

The soul that can be pulled by Illaoi can also be attacked by Illaoi's teammates.

Perospero was initially skeptical, but when he struck the nun on the head with his elbow using his cane, causing her to scream in pain, Perospero immediately became interested.

"Candy Hockey!"

"Candy Big Slap!"

"Candy Roasted Chestnuts!"

A series of muffled thuds, combined with the screams of the old Carmel nun, echoed throughout the entire rice cake house.

Outside the house, the Big Mom's children were all secretly alarmed.

The girl with the middle parting was trembling as she hugged the basketball.

The medical system is truly terrifying!

This is just psychotherapy, not surgery!

You really should never offend an unscrupulous doctor!

She completely swallowed her original plan to ask Ma Qiao for compensation for her Shurima Hospital cosmetic surgery card.

Middle parting...

Actually, it's pretty good!