Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Most Dominant Man of the Sea
"What an incredible aura."
Katakuri stared in shock at Kuke.
This was also their first time meeting.
"Is this Conqueror's Haki?" Daifuku swallowed nervously, his eyes wide as he watched Kuke. Everywhere Kuke walked, all the flowers, grass, and trees with souls seemed to bow down, prostrating themselves as if welcoming the arrival of an emperor.
"No, it's not," Oven shook his head.
Conqueror's Haki, when unleashed, had a distinct and unmistakable quality.
No one doubted whether Kuke, being an emperor, possessed Conqueror's Haki. It was more that he simply hadn't used it now.
"This is pure presence," Katakuri said solemnly.
"Presence?" Oven and Daifuku both started in shock.
Could sheer presence alone achieve a level comparable to Conqueror's Haki?
"In terms of sheer presence, no one on the seas can compare to Kuke—not even Whitebeard," Katakuri stated flatly.
"No way," Daifuku and Oven protested, not entirely agreeing with Katakuri.
After all, there were also rumors across the seas that Red-Haired Shanks was the man with the greatest presence.
At least on that front, they couldn't agree that Kuke was the strongest.
"Presence and confidence come from power and action. Is there any doubt about Kuke's strength? And as for what Kuke has done—who on this sea could compare to him? Throughout history, who could compare to him?" Katakuri countered.
"Invading the Holy Land, massacring the Celestial Dragons, being surrounded by four Admirals yet surviving, killing the Fleet Admiral in front of everyone, completely crushing the Beasts Pirates—all of these feats... which other pirate on the seas has accomplished anything remotely like them? Kuke has the most overwhelming presence on the seas. It's only natural."
Katakuri spoke with deep respect for Kuke.
Hearing this explanation, Daifuku and Oven exchanged looks and ultimately nodded in agreement.
"This is the aura of someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with Mama as an emperor of the sea," Cracker said, feeling his heart beat faster.
Indeed, he was a true monster.
"What a powerful man," many of Big Mom's daughters murmured, their eyes filled with fascination.
But when they glanced over at Smoothie and the others, they felt a pang of inadequacy, lowering their heads in self-doubt.
They knew they had no chance.
Smoothie and Galette, their eyes wide and glistening, had only Kuke in their vision.
The presence Kuke exuded now was unlike anything they had experienced before.
A faint blush spread across their fair, delicate faces.
"I don't know if attending today's tea party is a good thing or a bad thing," some of the other guests muttered in fear.
They already knew better than to underestimate the Sun and Moon Pirates.
But what they witnessed today was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
If such a force were to clash, the impact would be colossal, and they, as powerful as they were, had no confidence in being able to protect themselves if they got caught in the crossfire.
"Haha, relax, there's no way the fighting will spill over to where we are," News King Morgans said, clearly more excited than afraid.
"Why do you say that?" The other Underworld Emperors looked at News King Morgans in confusion.
A battle between the Four Emperors?
How could anyone guarantee it wouldn't spill over and affect them?
"Mister Kuke wouldn't give the Big Mom Pirates that kind of time," Morgans said confidently.
A few hours—that was all it had taken for Kuke to utterly crush the Beasts Pirates.
The Beasts Pirates didn't even have the opportunity to counterattack.
Morgans didn't think the Big Mom Pirates would fare any better than the Beasts Pirates.
"Morgans, you're the only one who's witnessed an Emperor's battle firsthand. Are the Sun and Moon Pirates really that much stronger than the other pirate crews? What really happened during the battle in Wano?" The other Underworld Emperors pressed for more information.
"Everything I wrote in the newspaper is true. Don't you believe it?" Morgans asked.
They all shook their heads.
The contents of the newspaper had been too unbelievable.
"My reports are always true, without exaggeration," Morgans said helplessly.
In the past, when he wrote deliberately exaggerated reports, people believed him.
But this time, he was reporting the truth.
And yet, people refused to believe it.
They insisted on thinking the Sun and Moon Pirates had used some kind of trick.
But that simply wasn't the case.
Kuke had arrived.
The Sun and Moon Pirates formally met with the Big Mom Pirates.
The atmosphere instantly grew stifling.
The pressure in the air was so thick it was hard to breathe.
At the same time...
The eyes of the world turned toward Whole Cake Island.
They couldn't witness what was happening there.
But they all knew.
Today was the day of the Big Mom Pirates' tea party, and the Sun and Moon Pirates were set to attend as well.
What would happen?
Would there be yet another clash between Emperors of the sea?
No one could say for certain.
"I think we're in for another big battle. It's only been a little over a month since the Sun and Moon Pirates fought the Beasts Pirates, and now we might be seeing another big fight."
"In the past decade, it was rare to see a top-level battle even once. Now, they're happening continuously. This era is too crazy."
"It's not the era that's crazy—it's Kuke. Everything happening is because of Kuke."
"I wonder if Kuke and the Sun and Moon Pirates can win again this time."
"Most likely, yes."
Most pirates and people believed that Kuke would win again.
After all, he had already beaten the Beasts Pirates.
Naturally, more people believed Kuke to be stronger than Big Mom.
"Do you think this time Kuke might defeat Big Mom in just a few hours again? Could the Sun and Moon Pirates once more crush the Big Mom Pirates without a scratch?"
Many were curious.
How long would it take to win?
How much ground would the Sun and Moon Pirates gain, and how much would the Big Mom Pirates lose?
"This time, it's impossible. Last time, the Sun and Moon Pirates were prepared in Wano, and they had the samurai helping them. But this time, Big Mom hasn't left Totto Land. There's no other force here to aid the Sun and Moon Pirates."
"This time, it should be a real top-level battle, one that lasts ten days or more."
Last time, it had ended too abruptly.
It had ended so quickly that people didn't even think it resembled a true top-tier battle.
"That's probably how it will go. Even if the Sun and Moon Pirates win this time, they probably won't gain much. At the very least, Big Mom won't end up like the pitiful Kaido, who lost even his wife and daughter and his home."
"Hahaha, these days, whenever I feel down, I just look at the newspapers. Seeing Emperor Kaido in such a miserable state cheers me up."
"Hahaha!"
Kaido's name was brought up and ridiculed once again.
The Beasts Pirates had already found a new base.
But in the yet-to-be-restored Onigashima, Kaido was dreaming day and night of this moment.
The moment his reputation would be redeemed.
But that redemption wouldn't come from him getting even with Kuke, but rather from another Emperor suffering a fate as miserable as his.
"Kuke, don't hold back—take all the good stuff that old hag has. Take all of her daughters too!" Kaido said, with an anticipation greater than even the members of the Sun and Moon Pirates themselves.
Take everything.
Leave nothing.
"If even the old hag herself gets taken, no one on the seas will ever mock me again," Kaido said, dreaming his absurd fantasy.
But deep down, he knew the likelihood of that happening was almost zero.
"What a truly dominant man," Big Mom muttered, her eyes alight with excitement as she watched Kuke get closer and closer. Saliva gathered in her mouth, and her desire grew.
The more she looked, the less she could contain herself.
Why did he have to appear only now in this era?
If only he had appeared sooner.
"Take a seat."
Big Mom gestured towards the guest seats—the most distinguished place reserved for honored guests.
"Room."
Belo Betty raised her right hand slightly.
A throne materialized out of thin air, landing behind Kuke.
Facing directly opposite Big Mom.
Kuke flicked his coat and sat on the throne with dominating swagger.
He didn't sit in the seat Big Mom had prepared, but instead, sat facing her directly.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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