Watching Roger's Execution from the Start

"Katakuri."

Katakuri steadied his ragged breathing and straightened up. "Save your breath. I'll never surrender!"

His expression was resolute, his gaze unwavering.

He meant every word.

"Heh!"

"Fine. Today..."

"You'll die right here!"

Conflict Is Brewing

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Fire flashed and fists flew. Countless masses of mochi shattered as black Haki clashed again and again.

The surroundings had become a world of mochi. Drenched in blood, Katakuri was driven back step by step beneath a storm of fists.

Mochi surged from every direction, trying to stop the onslaught.

"Brother Katakuri!"

"Lord Katakuri!"

Aboard the Queen Mama Chanter nearby, everyone could see Katakuri's predicament. Cries of worry broke out across the ship.

They had never

seen Katakuri in such a sorry state!

Smoothie was especially shaken.

As one of the Charlotte Family's most gifted members, she aspired to become a pillar of the family, just like Katakuri.

That alone showed

how much Smoothie admired him.

But Smoothie had no intention of joining the fight, though she had nearly given in to the urge more than once.

She knew Katakuri too well. Without his permission, no one could interfere in his battle!

Not even his own sister.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm the man whose back will never..."

"Touch the ground!"

Another towering wall of mochi rose, successfully blocking Atlas's latest assault.

Katakuri leaned on the Mogura gripped in his hand, his chest heaving. The toll on his stamina was plain to see.

Devil Fruit Awakening was powerful, but its drain on his stamina was just as obvious.

On top of that,

he had been expending enormous amounts of Haki, even though he had spent most of the fight defending himself.

Atlas's punches were simply too powerful, and he was using the advanced Armament Haki technique of Internal Destruction.

Without