BigMom's 42nd wedding was a week ago.
In recent days, Vladimir has consolidated his power and, under the pretext of needing to "rest," has prohibited anyone from visiting Big Mom.
Perospero was also "urged" back to Candy Island...
Because Homies's command was still in Vladimir's hands, although there was some dissatisfaction and doubt, no one had directly questioned him yet.
On the seventh day, the phrase "Rose Bishop" on the mirror in Sig's consciousness began to flash, and at the same time, a message appeared out of nowhere in Sig's mind.
The Rose Bishop, role complete!
Just as when the "Hypnotist" role was completed, guidance for the "ritual" also appeared at this point...
However, the ceremony differs somewhat from the Hypnotist's ascension to "Dreamwalker"—the Rose Bishop's ascension to "Shepherd" involves "creating a controllable body more powerful than oneself"...
It sounds like it's part of the "Dreamwalker" ritual, but Sig immediately realized that the two are fundamentally different!
The ritual of the "Dreamwalker" involves achieving ethereal transformation and entering Dream Infiltration with a target stronger than oneself; essentially, this is a way to activate the "Dreamwalker's" abilities.
The "Shepherd" ritual, however, seems to have nothing to do with "Shepherd" at all; rather, it is a comprehensive application of the "Rose Bishop's" abilities!
Logically speaking, the abilities of the "Shepherd" and the "Rose Bishop" are not closely related. The Rose Bishop represents physical abilities, while the Shepherd represents "Grazing souls."
In the original Mystery series, the "Shepherd" is considered the "strongest Sequence 5" because he possesses the means to Grazing the souls of other extraordinary Pathway and thus use their Pathway.
There are inherently two relationships between Sequence of the same Paths of the Divine. One is the "continuous deepening of similar abilities until they become higher-dimensional authorities," as is the case with the Visionary Path, from Spectator to Telepathist, to Psychiatrist, to Hypnotist... the abilities are passed down from one lineage.
Another type is "seemingly unrelated, but will combine into a higher-dimensional authority at High Sequence". The Hanged Man Path is like this. The Secrets Suppliant and the Listener are somewhat related, but the "Shadow Ascetic" who controls the shadow, the "Rose Bishop" who controls flesh and blood, and the "Shepherd" who can Grazing souls are all very little related to each other.
Based on current observations, Sig also speculates that the logic underlying the Pathway promotion "rituals" is not the same!
The former's "ritual" encourages Sig to explore on his own, to imitate and activate some of the abilities of the next Sequence in advance, while the latter's "ritual" is to give a final answer or a "graduation project" to the Sequence that has been played out.
Whether this pattern holds true for all cases can only be determined after the other three Pathway have all been completed...
However, the "ritual" triggered by the completion of the "Rose Bishop" role is actually "good news" for Sig.
Because that's exactly what Sig is doing!
Having gained sufficient understanding of Kaido's body, especially after analyzing the "Artificial Azure Dragon (Kaido) Fruit," Sig began to modify Oz's body...
Since Sig himself is not Kaido, blindly copying him might cause problems, and it's not necessarily the optimal solution.
In contrast, Oz's body was used less recklessly; the priority was to enhance it as much as possible. Therefore, Sig even "reserved" the Artificial Devil Fruit for Oz.
However, the method of getting the "corpse" to consume Devil Fruit still needs further research.
If successful in this area, Sig believed it could serve as the Rose Bishop's "graduation project."
All things considered Kaido and Big Mom, those two old Captain, are really quite loyal...
During his time in Wano Country, Sig completed his role as a "Hypnotist." Afterwards, Big Mom, like a thesis tutor, guided Sig through the "ritual" of the Dreamwalker and greatly assisted Sig in completing his role as the "Rose Bishop." Later, Kaido, like a thesis tutor, guided Sig through the "ritual" of the Shepherd.
I really hope Shanks can learn a thing or two from his "teachers"!
Meanwhile, BigMom, who had been starving for seven days, was waking up more and more frequently, but each time it could only last for a shorter and shorter time. After "waking up from hunger," it was easily suppressed by "Gungnir Sig."
Clearly, the "Food Craving Disorder" is beginning to take shape—this will cause BigMom to become mentally excited, even to the point of madness, but on a spiritual level, it will only amplify the flaws in her character.
However, Enel ate his dessert that day, his expression grew increasingly strange...
"Why do I feel like... the desserts haven't tasted quite right lately? Could it be because I've been eating too many sweets and my sense of taste has been ruined?" Enel wondered.
Enel only grumbled, but Sig secretly took it to heart and came over to get a piece of cake to try...
Although Sig isn't as sweet-toothed as Big Mom, he can easily access his memories, and comparing them to the wedding cake... well, the taste is definitely off.
"When did you first notice that the taste was off?" Sig asked Enel quickly.
"Hmm? When... maybe two or three days ago? But it wasn't as bad as it is today at first..." Enel wasn't quite sure either.
"Looks like I need to meet that old chef!" Sig muttered.
Given BigMom's personality, if the desserts aren't made well, it's an unforgivable sin, and even a "veteran" like the Streusen wouldn't be forgiven.
Sig guessed that Streusen was starting to suspect something, and although he couldn't see Big Mom, he started deliberately making "mistakes" in the desserts he gave Big Mom every day.
Enel, being not the real Big Mom, didn't notice anything amiss, or rather, even if he did, he didn't take it to heart...
Moreover, the initial "mistake" wasn't serious, but by today, this dessert is simply awful!
"Huh? Let him come see me?" Enel, still in Big Mom form, asked somewhat uncomfortably.
He was still hesitant to impersonate Big Mom and meet with people from Whole Cake Island, especially in recent days when he hadn't needed to meet outsiders, which had allowed him to get used to the peace and quiet.
"No, I'll go see him first..." Sig said, and had Enel call Brulee over.
Enel tapped on the mirror, and soon Brulee's image appeared in it.
"Little Lulu, why are you up so early today? Did you miss me...?"
"Ahem! It's that Vampire who's looking for you!" Enel interrupted her abruptly.
"Oh." Brulee put on a witch's face.
Of course, Sig still found the witch's face more pleasing to the eye; when she tried to act like a lady, it only made Sig feel more awkward.
"The kitchen mirror must be connected to the Mirror World too, right? Take me to see what the Streusen is doing," Sig said directly to Brulee.