One million, two hundred thirty-six thousand wounds—what kind of concept was that?

Even someone as huge as Jack the Drought ended up a bloody, unrecognizable mess. There wasn't a single intact patch of flesh left on him; every inch was covered in hideous wounds and soaked in blood, turning him into a genuine "monster"!

Aside from the barely discernible human shape, if no one said anything, no one in the world would guess that this bleeding giant had once been the fearsome Jack the Drought—known across the seas, striking terror into countless pirates, bringing calamity wherever he went!

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 13 IBMs!"

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 14 IBMs!"

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 15 IBMs!"

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 16 IBMs!"

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 17 IBMs!"

"Life energy has reached its limit. Breaking the boundary. Congratulations, you have obtained 1 IBM. You can now summon: 18 IBMs!"

Jack the Drought's death brought Lance unprecedented gains.

In one go, he had taken out two Yonko commanders—one of the Three Calamities and one of the Sweet Commanders. After devouring them, Lance's strength had skyrocketed, and his summon count jumped straight to eighteen IBMs!

Eighteen IBMs… if this had been before his battle with Jack, Lance wouldn't even have needed to fight himself—these eighteen alone could have crushed Jack with ease!

"What terrifying Armament and Observation Haki…"

Lance activated his Armament Haki, raising his hand casually. With a single strike, he could shatter a building from a distance!

The Armament and Observation Haki of Yonko commanders were indeed worthy of their reputation.

By devouring the two of them, Lance had gained more than from all the other Awakened and Devil Fruit users he had eaten before combined!

"Cracker and Jack are both dead. Kaido and Big Mom will definitely go crazy looking for you… they'll stop at nothing to kill you. Where will you go next?"

Monet flew over, asking with concern.

"Didn't you say money could make the whole world give way to me?"

"Then next, of course I'll go somewhere… to take a fortune big enough to make the entire world step aside."

Lance's lips curled into a faint grin.

"Such a place exists?" Monet asked curiously.

"You'll know when the time comes."

He didn't explain, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it, taking a deep drag, and exhaling a perfect smoke ring.

Then his gaze fell on Monet, and before she could react, he scooped her up in his arms and walked away without saying where.

An hour later, Monet followed Lance back to the ship, her face flushed, clothes disheveled, hair messy, and her eyes a little… unnatural.

Seven days after the deaths of Jack the Drought and Cracker…

Kaido and Big Mom each received a beautifully wrapped gift box.

"Boss Kaido, here's a gift from Lord Jack. You'll be overjoyed when you see it."

One of Kaido's men handed it to him.

"A gift from Jack? Since when did he play at gift-giving?"

Kaido frowned, grabbed the box, and tore it open with brute force.

Rip—

The box was shredded, revealing its contents.

Meanwhile, in Totto Land, Big Mom was enjoying desserts with her family.

"Mama! Mama! Your gift is here!"

"It's from Lord Cracker! The wrapping is beautiful!"

A subordinate respectfully presented the box.

"Oh? That boy Cracker finally learned to be thoughtful? Didn't know he was capable of sending Mama gifts!"

Big Mom took the box and began unwrapping it slowly.

"When did Cracker start sending gifts? That's rare," said Charlotte Perospero, eldest son of the family and one of the 34 Ministers—the Minister of Candy—curiously.

"Hehehe… wonder what good thing Cracker sent?" sneered Charlotte Mondor, the 19th son and Minister of Cheese. "Hope it won't disappoint Mama!"

But the moment Big Mom opened the box, the smile froze on her face.

At that same instant, from two distant corners of the world, came the furious roars of two Yonko—

"You damned bastard! Whoever you are, I'll find you and tear you apart!!!"

Those twin roars marked the official fall of two once-feared figures.

Jack the Drought and Charlotte Cracker—these names would forever be erased from the list of great powers of the Pirate Era.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"Fleet Admiral! Good news! Fantastic news!"

A navy major burst into the Fleet Admiral's office, shouting excitedly.

"What is it? Don't rush, speak slowly," Sengoku said, shaking his head helplessly as he sipped his tea.

"I've just received reliable intel—Jack the Drought, one of the Three Calamities of the Beasts Pirates, with a bounty of 1 billion berries… is dead!"

Pfft!

Sengoku spat his tea across the desk.

"What did you say? Say it again!"

"One of the Three Calamities of the Beasts Pirates, bounty 1 billion berries—Jack the Drought—is dead! Really dead! Absolutely confirmed!"

The major emphasized every word, piling on affirmations to make it clear the intel was genuine.

Sengoku took a deep breath, steadying himself… then burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahahaha…"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Good news! Truly good news!"

(End of Chapter)

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