The sudden sound startled both Katakuri and Luffy.
The two of them just stared at each other, neither of them saying a word.
For a moment, the air fell into a quiet atmosphere.
After a long pause, Luffy tilted his head and asked curiously:
"Aren't you going to answer?"
Katakuri:...
After a moment of silence, Katakuri took a Den Den Mushi out of his pocket.
The sound was emitted by Den Den Mushi).
Without hesitation, Katakuri answered the phone immediately; only a select few people could get through to him on this number.
Furthermore, they all know that he is currently fighting the Straw Hat Boy, so they shouldn't be calling him unless it's something extremely important.
As soon as the call connected, a woman's voice came through.
" Katakuri- san!"
The moment Katakuri heard the woman's voice, he knew who was calling him and asked:
" Brûlée! What happened? Call me now!"
"Brother! Mama said we don't need to deal with Straw Hat Boy anymore, let's just come back!"
"Stop chasing the Straw Hat Pirates!"
Brûlée's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, causing Katakuri to frown.
"Why?"
"They stole our Road Poneglyph!"
"I don't know either! I only know that Mama announced this decision after she returned from chasing the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"And they even told us not to stop the Straw Hat Pirates from setting sail, and they'll give them the Poneglyph rubbings!"
Upon hearing Katakuri's brows furrowed even deeper.
Based on his understanding of his Mama, she shouldn't be the kind of person who would do such a thing!
He didn't believe his proud and arrogant Mama would let the other party off the hook after getting so close to her!
There must be something that she's very afraid of that would make her do this.
Thinking of this, Katakuri seemed to realize something, and his expression immediately became extremely serious.
"Could it be Xia Chen?"
He had witnessed Xia Chen's skills aboard the Gran Tesoro.
At that time, the other party easily killed a powerful person whom he considered to be no less strong than his Mama!
He was extremely wary of Xia Chen!
However, Xia Chen disappeared more than a month ago, but Katakuri did not believe that Xia Chen was killed or anything like that.
To be honest, he didn't believe there was anyone in the world who could defeat Xia Chen!
The only reason the Big Mom is now willing to compromise is likely due to Xia Chen's appearance.
"I don't know either! Mama didn't say why, but I feel it's probably because of him!"
"Okay! I understand!"
"Come here and take Straw Hat Boy out!"
Katakuri said something casually, then hung up the phone and looked at Luffy.
You overheard our conversation!
" Xia Chen from your ship has arrived! Mama has also given the order to stop attacking you. We have no reason to continue fighting!"
"Really? Xia Chen is here?"
Luffy's face lit up with surprise.
To be honest, he's been a little unaccustomed to being adventuring at sea without Xia Chen for the past month!
Luffy is probably the happiest person now that he knows Xia Chen is back.
"In that case, I don't need to worry about the safety of others!"
Luffy loosened his fist, then stared intently at Katakuri.
"I think we still have reasons to continue fighting!"
I want to... challenge you!
"Surpass you!"
With that, Luffy suddenly unleashed a Conqueror's Haki, crushing towards Katakuri.
"Um?!"
Katakuri narrowed his eyes, staring intently into Luffy's eyes.
He saw a burning fighting spirit and a desire to defeat him in Luffy's eyes.
Seeing this, Katakuri even felt his blood boil.
After a long silence, Katakuri said calmly:
"Can!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Katakuri Conqueror's Haki appeared, clashing with Luffy 'Conqueror's Haki.
The clash of Conqueror's Haki, intertwined with black and red Inazuma, caused the surrounding ground to crack inch by inch.
At one point, both of them simultaneously withdrew their Conqueror's Haki.
Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they simultaneously shot out, rushing towards each other...
--
Above the sky in a sea somewhere in the New World.
A handsome young man stood on a cloud, looking at his surroundings, and murmured to himself.
What did you bring me here for?
"It doesn't just disappear and reappear in the same place?"
This person was Xia Chen.
After defeating Imu, he went to have a drink with Whitebeard and Kaido, then destroyed the time power within him and was teleported back.
Xia Chen took out a Vivre Card Vivre Card the System Space, and nodded as he sensed the direction it pointed in.
"Hmm! It seems he really is back!"
This is Luffy's Vivre Card Vivre Card, but it had no Vivre Card at the point in time he traveled through.
That's normal!
After all, Luffy in that era wasn't even a cell yet, so it would be a miracle if the Vivre Card was even useful!
After glancing at the direction of the Vivre Card, Xia Chen prepared to head over to meet up with Luffy and the others.
However, at that moment, he caught a glimpse of a certain place below out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
"What a coincidence? I've ended up here?"
What appeared before Xia Chen was a giant skull with two huge horns.
Xia Chen only knew this image from one place!
Kaido's stronghold— Onigashima!
"Since we're already here, let's put finding Luffy and the others aside for now and go see some old acquaintances first!"
As if he had thought of something, a smile appeared on Xia Chen's lips, but then he looked a little regretful.
Unfortunately, the world he went to was just a parallel universe, and what happened there would most likely not affect this world.
Otherwise, meeting Kaido would be much more interesting!
But it doesn't matter, I'll just treat it as a visit to my 'former' little brother!
The moment he finished speaking, Xia Chen's figure vanished from the spot.
In the blink of an eye, they appeared atop the giant skull.
Xia Chen unleashed his Observation Haki, instantly enveloping the entire island.
Although his Haki has broken through to the level of God-Level Haki, he can still use any one of the Three Types of Haki on his own.
The three elements can be combined to form God-Level Haki when needed.
The strength of using these Three Types of Haki alone is even stronger than that of Peak King Level; describing it as a Quasi-God Level wouldn't be a problem.
And this is the highest level that the Three Types of Haki can reach!
Before long, Xia Chen sensed that familiar aura.
It seems to be just right; Kaido didn't go outside to do anything reckless at this time!
Since that's the case...
Xia Chen narrowed his eyes, and then an incredibly powerful Conqueror's Haki poured out towards the island...