The Chosen Pawn

"Stop Katakuri!!!"

Perospero's voice, tinged with disbelief and fury, echoed through the Mirror World from some distance away, jolting the rest of the Charlotte Family into action.

As Smoothie, one of the Charlotte Family's Sweet Commanders alongside Katakuri, made her move, a gigantic purple Flying Slash roared toward Katakuri's back.

"Water-based Sword!"

Yet within Katakuri's Observation Haki, which was powerful enough to "foresee the future," he had already anticipated this scene. A massive mass of Armament Haki-coated mochi formed a shield behind him.

Boom!

The collision between the Water-based Sword and the mochi not only failed to deal Katakuri any effective damage, but also allowed him to use the impact to gain a sudden burst of speed. He narrowly slipped past the two officers blocking his path and landed beside a man-high mirror.

"This is bad! Brother Katakuri's future sight sensed all our reactions ahead of time!"

Smoothie spoke with an ugly expression, while the other members of the Charlotte Family became even more hesitant to act.

Katakuri had now brought Brulee to stand beside the mirror. In other words, Katakuri and Brulee could leave the Mirror World at any moment, trapping everyone else inside.

Charlotte Linlin, whose reaction had been half a beat slower, was now practically radiating tangible black energy. She glared terrifyingly at Katakuri and spoke one word at a time.

"Ka! Ta! Ku! Ri! My good son, do you know what you're doing?"

Feeling Brulee's body trembling in terror within his arms, Katakuri set her down and placed himself in front of her. With a resolute gaze, he faced Charlotte Linlin and his many younger siblings and spoke.

"Of course, Mama. I've never been more clear-headed than I am right now."

Seeing Katakuri, whom they had always loved and revered, suddenly do something like this—and having