Chapter 72: Chapter 72 : The Pierced Heart
The piercing screams of Big Mom, accompanied by her unconscious release of Conqueror's Haki, overwhelmed the entire banquet hall in an instant!
Tables were upended, and countless soul-infused delicacies trembled in fear, scattering on the ground after Big Mom lost control. But at that moment, no one paid attention to the fallen food.
Big Mom's horrifying scream caused countless weaker guests and even the Homie foods to collapse and faint. The weaker attendees crumpled to the floor, while powerful figures like high-ranking crew members and rulers of the dark underworld covered their ears to shield themselves from the dreadful noise.
Yet, the battle did not halt because of Big Mom's scream—it had only just begun!
Amid Katakuri's furious and panicked shouts, the scimitar in Gangplank's hand plunged straight into Big Mom's heart!
"No, Mom!"
The piercing of her heart caused Big Mom's scream to stop abruptly. Her children and subordinates, as well as the leaders of the underworld, snapped out of their shock and stared in utter disbelief at what was happening.
"Big news! This is world-shaking news!"
Morgans, the newsbird, eagerly snapped photos while other underworld leaders wore twisted smiles, eyeing the Big Mom Pirates' crew with a mix of curiosity and malice.
If Big Mom were truly slain by Gangplank, it would throw Whole Cake Island—and even the entire Totto Land—into chaos, presenting a grand opportunity for those vying for power.
"How could this be? Mom is supposed to be invincible…"
While dark world rulers quietly formulated their plans, those who lived in perpetual fear of Big Mom found themselves torn between disbelief and hope.
For her children, who had always seen her as unbeatable, witnessing Gangplank's scimitar lodged in her heart shattered their confidence and left many paralyzed by despair.
But one person who could never falter was Katakuri. His resolve, forged to protect his family, was like iron.
"Everyone, get up! Kill the intruders and avenge our mother!"
With a roar, Katakuri narrowly dodged attacks from Gragas and Pike, and fury burned in his eyes. Although he had always harbored doubts about Gangplank, he was powerless to change what had already happened.
Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son, also snapped out of his daze at Katakuri's rallying cry. He gripped his candy staff tightly and glared at Gangplank and his crew.
"Kill them! Wipe out every one of the Gangplank Pirates!"
The battle resumed, with Big Mom's children and allies rushing headlong into combat against Gangplank's forces. Sadness and rage burned in their hearts.
But then, something unexpected happened—Katakuri's eyes flickered with a hint of hope.
"Mother?"
In a sudden twist, Big Mom regained consciousness due to the overwhelming pain. Her eyes turned white, and she clenched her fist, striking at Gangplank with crushing force.
Gangplank, sensing the danger, pulled out the scimitar from her chest and retreated swiftly, blood spraying from the wound he had left. Even as he moved back, Gangplank fired a deadly shot from his pistol, aiming for the gaping wound on Big Mom's chest.
The strange flames on Planck's scimitar continued burning, scorching all of Big Mom's internal organs. Her pierced heart, charred and damaged, had stopped beating entirely.
Her chest was filled with blood, and dark streaks of it seeped from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. But even so, Big Mom was far from dead.
A true powerhouse among pirates and a monstrous being in her own right, Big Mom's durability was unmatched. For ordinary people, such a wound would be fatal, but for an Emperor of the Sea, it was merely a grave setback.
During the Summit War, Whitebeard endured countless bullet wounds, sword strikes, artillery barrages, and even a lava-filled attack from Akainu that burned a massive hole through his chest and took half his face. Even then, he fought fiercely until his final breath. Likewise, Big Mom's superhuman resilience allowed her to continue despite the odds.
Even with her heart pierced, she could still cling to life for a few crucial minutes. And for those minutes, the world would understand what it truly meant to be one of the Four Emperors.
Big Mom, bearing the pain, tore a large portion of her soul from her own body and devoured it, glaring at Planck with furious determination.
"You won't defeat me so easily!" she spat, her rage burning. "You filthy scum, I'll rip you apart!"
Her soul was the essence of her life force. By consuming it, Big Mom could not only recover rapidly but also amplify her strength.
Five years later, during the final battle on Onigashima, she increased her power significantly by sacrificing just one year of her lifespan, overpowering Kid and Law. This time, however, she sacrificed five years to heal herself.
Her rise to the top of the Four Emperors was thanks not only to her monstrous physique but also to the power of her Devil Fruit—the Soul-Soul Fruit—one of the most fearsome abilities in the pirate world.
As the life essence flowed through her, Big Mom's wounds began to heal at an alarming pace. Damaged tissue regenerated, and muscle fibers twisted and reformed. The bullet Planck fired was forced out of her chest by the rapid regrowth of muscle.
The horrifying wound in her chest closed slowly, and even her damaged heart regained its color and resumed its steady, powerful beating.
Seeing this miraculous recovery, Big Mom's children and loyal followers went from despair to elation. Their cries filled the air.
"Mom is unbeatable!"
"No one can defeat her!"
Just as Whitebeard's crew saw him as an invincible force, Big Mom's children and subordinates believed wholeheartedly in their mother's supremacy. Even after being struck through the heart and shot, they were convinced she could never truly fall.
They glared at Planck and his allies, eyes burning with vengeance. Meanwhile, the dark underworld figures who had momentarily dared to hope for Big Mom's death quickly masked their ambitions, once again bowing with respect and fear.
But while Big Mom's children cheered, Katakuri's face turned serious once more. His ability to glimpse the future was often more of a burden than a blessing.