CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 39: PLANTING A SEED

The Marine Vice Admiral vanished.

Not simply moved—vanished.

With his speed pushed to its peak, Darren disappeared in less than a second, leaving only a streak of white contrail cutting through the burning clouds of the distant sunset.

Katakuri stood bloodied and dazed, staring blankly at the fading line across the sky. His eye twitched involuntarily.

He ran.

After all that bluster... he actually ran?

But beneath the initial wave of disbelief, a deeper feeling settled into Katakuri’s chest—a cold, hollow sense of helplessness.

His heartbeat slowed. His mind cleared.

And with that clarity, his Observation Haki returned.

He shivered.

In Darren’s final burst of movement—his so-called "escape"—Katakuri had felt it: a level of power even greater than during their fight. A level he hadn’t shown before.

Which meant...

He wasn’t even fighting at full strength.

Katakuri lowered his head. His bloodied fingers dug into the cracked earth. His teeth clenched so hard his jaw trembled.

Can I really defeat a man like that?

Can I truly protect my family... avenge my fallen siblings?

"Mama~ma... what a heartless man..."

The sky split open with a peal of laughter, laced with thunder.

From the swirling clouds above, streaked with lightning, a massive figure descended.

Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom—landed with an earth-shaking thud.

She gazed into the horizon, watching Darren vanish from sight. Her lips curled into a crimson smile.

"Even the way he runs is charming," she murmured with delight. "Truly a man worthy of me."

She licked her lips slowly.

Dismounting from Thundercloud Zeus, she strode forward with regal steps. Her towering frame cast a long shadow across Katakuri’s battered body.

"Katakuri," she called sweetly, "do you understand now?"

He didn’t look up.

Still kneeling, still catching his breath, he whispered, "I don’t understand, Mother."

Big Mom chuckled, the sound rich and indulgent.

"Now that you’ve fought him, surely you see why I chose him."

"His strength... his physique... those flawless genes... Mama~! When I bear his child, we’ll create the strongest warrior the sea has ever seen!"

Her eyes gleamed with hunger.

"He’ll be born with unrivaled power, surpassing even the giants. With him, the Charlotte Family will dominate the world."

The words slid into Katakuri’s mind like knives.

And with them, so did Darren’s voice—

"She despises your weakness. She wants a stronger son. One to replace you."

Katakuri’s fists clenched. Veins bulged across his arms. His back trembled as his knuckles turned pale.

His voice, when it came, was low. Unsteady. Dangerous.

"So... to gain his bloodline, you were willing to let our siblings die?"

"To sacrifice your children?"

Big Mom’s eyes didn’t so much as flicker.

"Of course," she said lightly. "The weak have no right to bear my name."

"Only the strong are worthy of carrying my bloodline."

"You, Katakuri—you are the proof of that. That’s why I trust you most."

Katakuri went still.

He couldn’t breathe.

Her words weren’t cruel or angry.

They were worse.

They were sincere.

The last light in his eyes flickered.

Faded.

So it’s true...

That damned Marine was right.

To you, we’re not sons or daughters—we’re weapons.

Tools.

And I... I’m only favored because I’m sharper than the others.

If someone sharper comes along, I’ll be tossed aside.

He couldn’t move.

He couldn’t lift his head.

Big Mom walked closer, still smiling.

"Mama Katakuri, get up already."

"You’re embarrassing yourself. You’re the face of the Big Mom Pirates, aren’t you?"

"Don’t be so heartbroken."

She grinned.

"When I give birth to Darren’s child, you’ll gain a new little brother. A perfect one. Stronger than you."

"You’ll love him. He’ll be adorable. And you’re such a perfect big brother."

"You two will carry my flag together. You’ll lead the family. Rule the seas."

"Mama!"

With that, she stepped back onto Zeus and soared into the sky, laughter echoing across the crumbling town as her monstrous aura faded into the clouds.

Katakuri was left alone.

Silent.

Still.

He didn’t know how much time passed.

Then, slowly, he spoke.

"No..."

He clenched his teeth, voice shaking with fury.

The defeat in his eyes evaporated—replaced by a cold, burning fire.

Blood dripped from his clenched fists.

His gaze rose to the sky—where Big Mom had disappeared.

"Mom... I’ll protect my family..."

His voice cut through the wind.

"But I’ll do it my way."

Then—

BOOM!

A new explosion of power erupted from his body.

It wasn’t rage.

It wasn’t despair.

It was resolve.

A storm of Conqueror’s Haki burst from him, vaster and darker than before. The air split. Trees bent. Dust spiraled into tornados. His hair and cloak whipped violently behind him as the ground beneath cracked under the weight of his will.

Had Darren still been nearby, he would have felt it instantly—

Katakuri’s Conqueror’s Haki had surged past 50.

From the rubble, Katakuri rose slowly, Trident gripped tightly in one hand.

He turned away.

His silhouette—lone and steady—walked forward, straight into the horizon like a wolf cast out by the pack.

But in his eyes...

There was no more doubt.

Only purpose.

High above, Darren sliced through the clouds, the wind howling past him.

Once he’d confirmed the danger had passed, he finally allowed himself to slow, catching his breath.

A slow grin crept across his lips.

Totto Land had gone far better than expected.

Mission: complete.

Personal growth: off the charts.

Katakuri’s unintentional "mentorship" had pushed him past multiple limits.

His blood sang with newfound strength, every cell awake and singing.

But more importantly—

He’d planted a seed.

And someday, that seed would bloom.

To be continued...