VS Katakuri / Round One! Atlas Wins! ...
Gion let her arms drop, her slender fingers brushing gently against Kompira at her waist as she spoke with a playful look in her eyes.
Atlas chuckled without explaining. By now, both her physique and her Haki training qualified her as a formidable fighter. Her Observation Haki had reached the highest level, leaving her not far from Future Sight, and her sensing range was comparable to Enel's.
In both quality and quantity, her Armament Haki was catching up to the sea's greatest fighters, who had honed theirs for years. Internal Destruction, however, remained beyond her.
Her Conqueror's Haki had only recently awakened and was still in its earliest stage. Coating herself with it remained a distant prospect.
As for her talismans, the strength the Ox Talisman granted her was also growing steadily. For example, if Atlas's original strength was one, the Ox Talisman multiplied that base strength. In theory, its power was infinite, but Atlas's current muscles and bones could not deliver a planet-destroying blow.
The same principle applied to the Rabbit Talisman. In the original story, scientific methods had been needed to unlock its ability to travel through time and space, something Atlas would also find difficult to achieve.
It was like Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit: reaching light speed still required a powerful physique and fast neural responses to support it.
The warship continued across the sea, bound for the Marines' G-5 base.
Suddenly, the Marine in the lookout tower shouted urgently, "Pirate ship spotted ahead! Judging by its course, it seems..." He paused briefly, uncertainty creeping into his voice before he continued, "It looks like we're its target!"
"Everyone, get ready! Lookout! Can you identify the enemy?"
Completely unruffled, Gion calmly issued orders to prepare for battle while asking about their opponent. Intelligence always came first in any fight. You never knew what bizarre Devil Fruit abilities your enemy might possess, and a single careless mistake could cost you your life.
"Reporting, Rear Admiral! The enemy ship appears to be flying the Big Mom Pirates' flag..."
"Looks like they've come for Charlotte Oven. The question is who's aboard."
Standing beside her, Atlas looked intrigued. Ideally, it would be Katakuri. Since entering the New World, countless battles, both large and small, had rapidly strengthened her, making her increasingly certain that her original choice had been right.
Soon, the warship met the pirate ship. The man standing at its bow was exactly who Atlas had expected: Charlotte Linlin's second son, Charlotte Katakuri, the man hailed as the Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece.
Atlas looked the grim-faced man up and down. Katakuri was tall, with short crimson hair, powerful muscles, and long legs. A stitched scar marked each cheek, lending him an even fiercer air.
A pink tattoo stretched from his left arm to the left side of his back. A white scarf resembling a flower encircled his neck, hiding everything below his nose.
He wore black gloves and a spiked band around his left arm. His clothes gave him the unmistakable look of a flashy young punk, but his expression was exceptionally cold, his eyes fixed on Atlas.
"Hey, Marine. Where's Oven?"
Perhaps growing impatient with Atlas's scrutiny, Katakuri spoke slowly, his deep, resonant voice emerging from behind his scarf. Beneath his cold exterior lay deep concern for his younger brother.
The Big Mom Pirates were a peculiar pirate crew, built around family ties. Charlotte Linlin trusted only the bonds of family, so the crew rarely accepted outsiders unless they married one of Big Mom's daughters, as Capone Bege and Sanji had in the original story.
Of all her children, however, Katakuri was undoubtedly the most charismatic, earning his younger siblings' love and admiration. He was unlike Oven and the others, who placed the family organization above familial affection.
To Katakuri, protecting his loved ones mattered more than the family organization. Even if one of Big Mom's children betrayed her, he would not kill them mercilessly. He could be called a perfect man.
"You mean that pirate with the flame-shaped yellow hair?"
A smile curled Atlas's lips as she regarded Katakuri teasingly, watching his expression darken further.
"You're asking to die!!!"
Katakuri erupted in fury. His Observation Haki had already shown him what Atlas was about to say. Though he had suspected it beforehand, facing the truth still proved difficult to accept.
The older siblings had supported one another and depended on each other for survival in the Big Mom Pirates' early days, making their bonds far deeper.
"Hm?"
Atlas was surprised. She had not expected Katakuri to have developed his Observation Haki to the point of Future Sight so early. She wondered how far ahead he could see.
As expected of someone who had awakened Haki at three years old. His talent for Observation Haki nearly rivaled those born with it.
"Come on, don't get angry. How about..." Seeing Katakuri's fury, Atlas could not resist offering some comfort. "How about I send you down to keep him company?! Heh, hahahaha!"
Atlas's words of comfort certainly worked. Katakuri immediately calmed down. Heavy shadows veiled his eyes, and the air around him grew colder, like a venomous snake that could slip through any gap.
Against Katakuri
"Hey, Kanos. Want a hand?"
Gion's expression turned somewhat grave. She had heard of Katakuri. His current bounty was 600 million Beli, but his actual strength far exceeded that figure. Aside from Charlotte Linlin herself, he was the strongest member of the Big Mom Pirates!
"No need. Just protect the warship, Rear Admiral Gion. I'm... very interested in this guy!"
As she spoke, Atlas stepped through the air toward Katakuri with Geppo. Armament Haki covered her entire body, and explosions kept booming beneath her feet, their powerful recoil propelling her forward.
"What an arrogant Marine! But hurting my family is unforgivable. Are you prepared to die?"
Katakuri's expression remained cold, making him appear indifferent to Oven's death, but the sorrow and hatred in his eyes were impossible to conceal!
"Aide-de-camp! Tell the helmsman to leave this stretch of sea. Stand by at a distance to pick up Commodore Atlas!"
Gion stopped trying to dissuade her and simply had the warship move away so it would not become a burden to Atlas.
"Yes!"
The aide-de-camp answered loudly.
Katakuri made no attempt to stop them. His Observation Haki told him that only the woman before him deserved his full attention. As for the other Marines—hah! They were mere small fry, apart from that female swordsman.
"Katakuri, don't you think you've misunderstood how strong you are?"
Atlas mocked him without mercy. She might lose a fight, but she would never lose the war of words. Whatever happened, she would not back down verbally!
As soon as she finished speaking, Atlas's expression hardened. A terrifying presence erupted from her body, sending an oppressive force crashing straight toward Katakuri!
Conqueror's Haki!
Not to be outdone, Katakuri unleashed his own powerful Conqueror's Haki to meet hers.
Countless streaks of black-and-red lightning instantly churned between them. Their violent auras stunned the fish in the surrounding waters and even passing Sea Kings, making their eyes roll white. Fierce winds whipped Atlas's Justice coat, sending it snapping in the air.
After several dozen seconds of deadlock, Atlas's Conqueror's Haki actually began gaining the upper hand, eventually forcing Katakuri's back into his body!
The first round went to Atlas!
Katakuri said nothing more, simply pointing the trident in his hand at Atlas.
Suddenly, Katakuri's trident began spinning rapidly for no apparent reason. It extended swiftly toward Atlas, leaving a string of sonic booms in its wake.
Mochi Thrust!
Utterly fearless, Atlas fired intense flames from her hands without a change in expression. A massive Explosive Flame Pillar slammed head-on into the trident!
Razor: Explosion!
Whoosh!
Moving almost as though she had teleported, Atlas flashed through the flames of the explosion and appeared behind Katakuri. Just as she prepared to deliver a righteous backstab—
Katakuri abruptly shifted sideways, moving precisely far enough to dodge Atlas's attack!
Observation Haki! Future Sight!
Atlas felt a headache coming on. Though the future held infinite possibilities, Observation Haki that could foresee it left her with no opening. Unless her own Observation Haki far surpassed Katakuri's, or her physique was strong enough to overwhelm him outright!
Still, excitement shone in Atlas's eyes. Fighting a powerful opponent like this was far more worthwhile!
Shigan: Madara!
Atlas unleashed dozens of finger strikes in an instant, a dense barrage stabbing toward Katakuri!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With terrifying whistles through the air, the Shigans instantly pierced dozens of holes through Katakuri's body, yet drew no blood!
Katakuri possessed the Special Paramecia Mochi-Mochi Fruit, which allowed him to achieve an effect similar to a Logia's elemental transformation. Combined with Observation Haki superior to Atlas's, it let him predict virtually every point where her attacks would land with pinpoint accuracy!
What a pain! Atlas grumbled inwardly. How did Luffy beat this guy in the original story? This is just ridiculous.
"Bird Mochi!"
A whip made of mochi suddenly extended from Katakuri's hand. Coated in dense Armament Haki, it wound toward Atlas. She did not resist, letting him indulge in his bondage play.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted from Atlas's body. The Bird Mochi wrapped around her crumbled into powder and fell away.
"Is this supposed to be a children's toy, Katakuri?"
Atlas mocked him mercilessly, activating her explosive power beneath her feet. Katakuri's pirate ship instantly shattered into debris that filled the sky! Fragments of wreckage drifted forlornly across the sea.
Damn it! Isn't she a Devil Fruit user? Katakuri stood in midair, seething inwardly. By destroying the ship, Atlas had forced them to fight in the air.
As for staying airborne, most powerful fighters knew some similar technique. Skills like Geppo were hardly a secret in the New World; they simply consumed a great deal of stamina.
"Your attacks can't hit me, Marine!"
Katakuri watched Atlas hovering opposite him, trying to break her resolve with words.
"Oh, let's let our strength do the talking, Katakuri!"
"Explosion: Artillery!"
A thick Explosive Flame Pillar instantly surged toward Katakuri, threatening to engulf him!
"Block Mochi!"
Katakuri's hands abruptly transformed into elongated blocks of mochi coated in Armament Haki. They rapidly struck the explosive flames from every direction as he continually retreated.
Boom!
The tremendous blast hurled Katakuri more than ten meters away!
Razor: Divine Speed: Explosion!
Before Katakuri could steady himself, Atlas charged toward him at a terrifying speed.
I can't see her?! Katakuri's heart sank. He could not track Atlas's movements at all. No wonder Oven lost to her!
"Iron Fist: Armament: Explosion!"
"Peerless Mochi Blade Bullets!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Their thunderous clashes nearly whipped up a terrifying storm. The sea instantly churned, enormous waves rolling across its surface.
"You've got to be kidding! Is this what a battle between monsters looks like?"
"He can actually fight Commodore Atlas to this extent?!"
"Of course! He's the Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece!"
"No wonder she dared to declare she'd challenge Whitebeard. Commodore Atlas is as dependable as ever!"
The Marines watching from far away voiced their admiration one after another. Despite the considerable distance, the aftershocks of the battle still left them shaken.
Dressed in a Marine uniform, Kyros wore an especially complicated expression as he sighed. "What kind of monster invited me to join?"
Reaching Fever Pitch
Damn it. Fighting in the air restricts my Devil Fruit ability too much!
Katakuri steadied himself, his gaze exceptionally calm. His temporary disadvantage had not shaken him; he simply kept his Observation Haki locked firmly onto Atlas opposite him.
Suddenly, Katakuri's long legs split into multiple legs without warning. Each hardened with Armament Haki before striking toward Atlas at tremendous speed!
Willow Mochi!
Atlas already had her Observation Haki active. Her body quickly became like a thin sheet of paper, swaying with the currents of air stirred by Katakuri's legs and effortlessly avoiding every attack.
Although my Observation Haki isn't as powerful as Katakuri's, I've at least trained it to an advanced level. As for Armament Haki, there's no major difference in quality between us.
Atlas compared their strength while dodging Katakuri's foot-funk assault.
Though Katakuri was one of the One Piece world's fighters who had trained Observation Haki to its highest level, his Armament Haki was by no means weak.
Seeing Atlas neutralize his Willow Mochi so effortlessly, Katakuri's expression darkened further. His legs rapidly transformed into mochi, became coated in Armament Haki, and compressed sharply. The resulting recoil propelled him straight toward Atlas.
"Grilled Mochi!"
As Katakuri charged, the upper portion of his arm rapidly transformed into compressed mochi. Intense flames suddenly wound around it, and jet-black Armament Haki coated its surface. Like an explosive rocket, its tremendous force threatened to tear the air apart!
Its immense penetrating power instantly punched through Atlas's body, but her entire figure rapidly dissipated like a flower reflected in a mirror or the moon upon the water!
An afterimage!
Katakuri's Observation Haki screamed a warning. Huge quantities of mochi flowed from his body, enveloping him completely before dense Armament Haki swiftly covered it!
Damn it! How can she be so fast?
Katakuri felt helpless. Just as Atlas had no answer to his Observation Haki, he found her speed, explosive power, and strength exceptionally troublesome.
"Bursting Fist: Armament!"