One Piece: Awaken The Replication System

BOOM!

The skies above Cake Island thundered ominously as dark clouds twisted and swirled, spreading a stifling tension. Moments ago, the sun had been shining; now, the island was swallowed in shadows and rain.

"What's happening?"

"What's going on?"

In the distance, residents looked up in bewilderment, but those closer, with weaker wills, were already collapsing, eyes rolled back, overwhelmed by the powerful clash of Conqueror's Haki.

...

Inside the Tea Party Hall

Leno and Charlotte Linlin faced each other, their eyes locked, crackling with electricity and fury. The sudden tension between them caught many off guard, things had seemed peaceful only moments ago.

Yet Charlotte Linlin—one of the Four Emperors and among the most formidable and tyrannical—had her principles:

"No mercy for those who come, and no escape for those who leave."

Those living in Totto Land knew the cost of her protection: every six months, residents surrendered a month of their life to her collector of souls, or faced death. Her rule was absolute.

And now, after Leno's rejection of the marriage she proposed, her ironclad resolve turned to fury.

As the reigning ruler of Totto Land, in her own domain, Linlin's pride as an Emperor was unshakeable. Her rage surged, shaking the island, her Conqueror's Haki boiling the clouds above into a violent Uzumaki vortex.

In that tense storm, only a handful could stand. The likes of Katakuri, Smoothie, Cracker, and Robin all stood at attention, every muscle tense.

Leno, unbothered by the storm, rose calmly. "What's this, Charlotte? Is the whole Charlotte family declaring war on me?"

A chill crept through the hall as his words hung in the air. The next instant—

CRACK!

A powerful golden aura flared in Leno's eyes, a dominating force. His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, an unstoppable wave of sheer presence sweeping over the room.

Click!

The dining table shattered, glasses splintered, and Cake Island itself trembled, as if yielding to the power. Overhead, the sky split, and the distant sea churned.

Chi-chi-chi...

Charlotte Linlin's eyes narrowed, and despite herself, she took a step back under Leno's immense willpower. Since his triumphs over Whitebeard and Kaido, Leno's Haki had reached a new pinnacle.

Against the mighty Big Mom Pirates, he felt no fear.

Among the three types of Haki, Conqueror's Haki—the rarest—represented a king's innate supremacy, only strengthening as one's courage and ambition grew.

Seeing her step back, Leno's golden Conqueror's Haki surged to an unmatched level, overpowering Linlin's spirit.

BOOM!

The force of his Conqueror's Haki was so fierce it struck Charlotte Linlin like a physical blow, her confidence cracking under its intensity.

"What?"

A flash of shock passed over Charlotte Linlin's face as the thunder roared around them. She stumbled back, crashing into two pillars and leaving a hole in the wall behind her.

"Ah! Mom!"

Perospero's long tongue shot out, his face paling with horror. "Mother!"

In an instant, Prometheus, Zeus, Napoleon, and the other Homies flew to her aid, while Smoothie stood frozen with surprise.

For the ever-dominant Big Mom to be thrown back like this? None of them could believe it.

As she watched, Smoothie's gaze lingered on Leno, a curious glint in her eye as she licked her lips.

"Damn that man! How dare he hurt Mom!"

Cracker seethed, his eyes narrowing as he gripped his sword.

Katakuri's face darkened as he drew his trident. Clang! The blade flashed, heavy with deadly intent, and the gravity of the moment settled over the Charlotte siblings.

Ka-Ka-Ka!

The floor cracked under their feet as tension thickened. Then, a quiet voice broke the silence.

"Stand down," a calm figure interjected, resting his hand on his sword hilt. A stranger in the room, yet utterly at ease.

The members of Big Mom's crew looked at the blind, middle-aged man in astonishment.

"Who is this guy?" they whispered.

Robin, who'd endured Leno's rigorous training, watched from the sidelines, ready to bolt if the fight escalated.

"Ma-Ma-Ma!"

Charlotte Linlin's unmistakable laughter echoed as she rose from the debris, rage smoldering in her eyes.

Cracks spread across the floor from where she stood, and her gaze fixed upon Leno, fierce and unyielding.

"Leno, you wretch!"

Her Conqueror's Haki blazed again, wild with fury. Her clenched fists and roaring cries shook the hall, sonic waves and Haki tearing apart tables and walls alike.

"Mother!" Smoothie covered her ears, calling to Cracker, "Get everyone out of here!"

"Now! Mom's losing it!" Perospero, Katakuri, and the others didn't hesitate, grabbing their unconscious siblings as they fled.

Once Charlotte Linlin fell into her madness, she became a force of pure destruction, an unstoppable rampage that recognized no one—not even her own children.

"You two, get out of here!" Leno said calmly to the blind swordsman and Robin.

"Ok!"

In a flash, Robin had already left.

"You're not escaping that easily!"

Charlotte Linlin roared, grabbing Zeus in her hand as thunder began crackling and gathering in her palm.

"Thunder!"

Rumble!

In an instant, bolts of purple lightning shot forth, a thick beam crashing down as she swung her fist.

Leno stepped forward, Conqueror's Haki wrapping around him, countering Charlotte Linlin's power.

Crackling sparks surged.

Their Haki clashed fiercely, tearing through the air. Leno unsheathed the Dragon Sparrow and, with a sweep, sent a crescent-shaped Slash Wave hurtling toward Charlotte Linlin.

Boom!

The clash between the slash and thunder erupted into a violent explosion, shaking all of Cake City. Chaos erupted in the castle as people grabbed the unconscious and fled.

"Big brother, what's happening?"

"Mom's lost it… she's fighting Leno."

The towering castle shook under the fierce clash.

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosive sounds echoed continuously from within as if two mighty beasts were colliding. The power of their Conqueror's Haki reverberated, sending bystanders tumbling.

"Help!"

At the exit, a young girl stumbled and fell, her eyes widening as a massive boulder plummeted toward her.

"Pudding!"

Katakuri's eyes widened, but he was too far to intervene in time.

Leno, escaping with Robin, heard the scream.

The sudden battle had trapped everyone, causing panic. Leno paused and raised his blade.

"Gravity!"

With the Gravity Fruit Awakening, he controlled the surrounding gravity entirely, suspending all falling objects—including broken walls, tables, chairs, and debris—in mid-air.

Pudding closed her eyes, bracing for impact, but the rock stopped mere inches from her face, revealing her third eye as she opened them.

Smash!

Katakuri's trident shattered the boulder, reaching out to lift Pudding to her feet.

More mochi-like arms sprouted from his body, reaching out to pull in others who had fallen or were unconscious.

After saving his siblings, Katakuri glanced gratefully at Leno.

Boom!

A violent tremor shook the castle as Charlotte Linlin's enormous form was flung outside.

Leno, blade in hand, descended through the air, his Haki roaring like flames around him.

Charlotte Linlin, on Zeus, was enveloped in thunder, her sword Napoleon ablaze with flames courtesy of Prometheus.

Each homie—Zeus, Prometheus, and Napoleon—was part of her soul, amplifying her power.

Her sword devoured energy, expanding rapidly as fangs emerged along its edge.

She swung her flaming greatsword at Leno.

Leno's body shimmered with golden Conqueror's and dark purple Armament Haki, perfectly fused. After intense training, his mastery over this technique was near perfection.

The Conqueror's Haki augmented his Armament Haki to an SSS level, almost outmatching Kaido's strength. In turn, his Armament Haki amplified the physical impact of his Conqueror's Haki.

As Charlotte Linlin's flaming blade closed in, Leno darted forward, slicing through the air toward her.

Boom!

Their Haki collided again, sending shockwaves outward. The sky grew dark, clouds swirling ominously.

But Leno's blade, impossibly sharp, sliced through Charlotte Linlin's Haki defense in no time.

Charlotte Linlin's eyes widened—this was a force even Kaido feared. Somehow, her Observation Haki was suppressed by Leno's Conqueror's!

For someone like her, Haki was essential, as natural as breathing. Now, it was like having both arms bound, and she felt completely exposed.

With blinding speed, Charlotte Linlin instinctively attacked. Thunder surged from Zeus, sending countless electric blasts toward Leno.

Boom, boom, boom...

Lightning surged around him, but Leno's blade cleaved Napoleon from Charlotte Linlin's grasp.

Slash!

The tip of his blade left a deep, horizontal cut across her cheek, drawing blood.

"Ah! Mom!"

"What? Mom is hurt?!"

"Mother!"

Around, the Charlotte family members looked on, stunned. Charlotte Linlin was virtually indestructible.

Even as a child, her durability shattered weapons used against her, and bullets barely left a mark. Yet here she was, bleeding.

Leno emerged from the storm of lightning, Haki flaring like fire. Thanks to his [Hero Body], he absorbed half the damage, limiting the effect of the lightning.

"Protect Mom! Fire!"

Prometheus burst into flames, lunging at Leno, while Zeus unleashed more lightning.

"Foolish!"

Leno's figure blurred, his blade Dragon Sparrow shrouded in purple-gold flames, slicing through the fire and clouds with unmatched precision.

Though elemental and nearly indestructible, Leno's slash inflicted serious pain on both Prometheus and Zeus.

Unable to reform, the homies separated, unable to merge again.

Blood?!

Charlotte Linlin staggered backward, touching the wound on her cheek. Her eyes filled with a rare emotion: fear.

Thud!

She landed hard, leaving no crater in her wake.

Suddenly, Leno descended with an ear-piercing battle cry.

"D…"

Smoke swirled as Charlotte Linlin sat in the crater, clutching her face, beginning to cry like a child.

Leno hesitated. Crying? Now?

But he steadied himself, raising his blade to strike.

"Mother!"

Katakuri, Cracker, Smoothie, and others rushed forward in terror.

"Gravity Slash!"

Leno slashed, and the violent gravitational force swept up debris, directing it toward the advancing siblings.

Boom, boom, boom!

Katakuri and the others fought to deflect the falling debris and gravity but couldn't break through.

Then, a faint laughter echoed.

"Worororo…"

Kaido's towering figure emerged from the smoke, limp but unyielding.

"Leno, for old times' sake, let's call it a day."

Kaido paced, leaning on his massive club, his grin undeterred.

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg