87. The Strength Of The Straw Hat Group

When I saw Zoro and Sanji arguing, it seemed like the BIGMOM Pirates' crew was acting foolish.

But when the intense force of the two strong Conqueror's Haki clashed, nobody could stay calm.

This Conqueror's Haki is like the ruler of the world.

When their Conqueror's Haki combined and hit, even the crew felt a bit shaken.

Boom.

A similarly strong Conqueror's Haki burst out, blocking the wave of Haki.

Boom.

The three strands of Haki twisted in the air made a slight sound, and then vanished completely.

It was as if everything that just happened was a dream.

"You're really strong," Zoro grinned, his powerful Armament Haki surrounding his swords.

"Alright, let's play a game," Sanji said, removing his cigarette and exhaling lightly. "The winner gets to pick their opponent. How about that?"

"Sure," Zoro agreed. "Let's do rock-paper-scissors."

They stood in front of the BIGMOM Pirates' crew, deciding their opponents with a simple finger game.

Katakuri watched them, veins popping on his forehead.

"Don't underestimate us," he shouted, transforming his wrist into a trident made of rice.

With the trident in hand, Katakuri lunged at Zoro and Sanji.

Boom.

A red light flashed in his eyes as he dodged a black flame attack.

"Conqueror's Haki combined with high-speed fiery kicks," Katakuri analyzed calmly, turning his body into a rice cake to evade Sanji's attack.

"I won, so I'll take you on," Sanji said confidently, flames flickering around his foot.

Meanwhile, Zoro sighed, realizing his opponent.

"Be careful," he warned, "I can handle it, Sanji, but the rest is up to you."

Katakuri felt a growing sense of dread, but he had to face Sanji's incredible power.

"Rice cake corner," Katakuri hardened his hand with Armament Haki and struck.

Boom.

A fierce clash erupted, lightning crackling, flames dancing, and the temperature rising.

Boom.

The collision sent shockwaves and debris flying.

A hurricane swept through.

Katakuri was sent crashing into a pile of rubble.

"Big brother Katakuri," the BIGMOM crew watched in disbelief as their seemingly invincible leader was defeated.

A hand emerged from the smoke and dust, dispersing it with a strong wave like a hurricane.

"There's no Conqueror's clash, just Armament Haki. Still, I'm a bit behind in direct collisions," Katakuri said, kneeling on one knee, his trident embedded in the ground. Despite his position, he looked composed, devoid of frustration.

In their first exchange, he was gauging the other's strength. Sanji, known as Blackfoot, could contend with Admirals without faltering. He matched Katakuri in strength and speed, even Armament Haki, but lacked Conqueror's clash mastery. This meant a significant difference in collision power at their level.

"But it won't matter much. You won't land a hit on me next," Katakuri stated calmly, his eyes unwavering.

"As expected of Katakuri, I knew it," members of the Charlotte family admired him. He never fell on his back, a symbol of Charlotte's perfection.

Sanji listened intently, intrigued. The brief skirmish revealed Katakuri's prowess in Observation Haki, akin to Luffy's, foreseeing the future—a realm Sanji aimed to reach. While his Armament and Observation Haki were advanced, they hadn't reached Luffy's predictive level. Sanji sensed that understanding Observation Haki from Katakuri could propel him further.

"Let's see the power of Observation Haki, the one who predicts the future," Sanji's gaze turned serious. He believed learning from Katakuri in this battle might lead to a breakthrough, stepping into the realm of foresight.

Katakuri and Sanji locked eyes and then vanished.

Boom.

A collision shook the air, but it wasn't Katakuri's fist meeting Sanji's kick. A giant rice cake fist, imbued with Armament Haki, emerged from the air, matching Katakuri's own strength.

"I've anticipated all your moves," Katakuri declared as they clashed. But before his strike could connect, Sanji utilized Sky Walk, vanishing instantly.

"So fast," Katakuri murmured, impressed by Sanji's speed, matching that of a fighter who could challenge Kizaru.

"Yet, I've already seen your every move," Katakuri's eyes gleamed red. In the next moment, Sanji appeared behind him.

"Santen Découpage, Three-Spot Decoupage," Sanji's feet, wreathed in distorted flames, moved like precision blades, striking three critical areas: throat, chest, and stomach.

However, all of Sanji's kicks at this moment seemed futile.

"It's like it's not even real," Sanji muttered as his figure vanished.

In the blink of an eye, countless rice cake arms, imbued with Armament Haki, struck where Sanji had been.

"So that's how it works. That tricky ability, combined with the foresight of Observation Haki, shifts the attack location beforehand," Sanji observed, eyeing Katakuri nearby.

He realized the difficulty of mastering Observation Haki, capable of foreseeing the future. Despite his superior destructive power and physical prowess, he couldn't land a hit on his opponent. It was a frustrating realization; his skills and strength were rendered useless.

Yet, the stronger the opponent's Observation Haki became, the fiercer Sanji's determination grew.

"Let's go again," Sanji said, a newfound eagerness to fight evident in his voice.

Katakuri readily agreed.

Sanji sought to learn Observation Haki from Katakuri, while Katakuri desired mastery of Conqueror's clash. It was a mutual exchange of abilities and skills.

Katakuri, despite his exceptional abilities, faced a limitation in his attack power. His Devil Fruit, while practical, lacked destructive force against Admirals or Yonko-level foes. Like Marco, he could hold his own but couldn't inflict significant damage.

Conqueror's clash was the missing piece in his arsenal.

"The Mochi Ball Sings," Katakuri declared as countless rice cakes materialized, each armed with powerful Armament Haki, targeting Sanji accurately.

Sanji evaded, his dodges showcasing his peak Observation Haki. He countered, shattering the rice cake fists with his kicks. Throughout, he honed his senses, inching closer to predicting the future.

Meanwhile, Chopper observed the battle from afar, noting Sanji's struggle against the formidable Katakuri.

"Sanji seems to be at a disadvantage. That tall guy is really strong," Chopper remarked, recognizing Katakuri's prowess.

Zoro, observing from a distance, understood Sanji's predicament. Despite his strength, Sanji faced difficulties due to his unique fighting style.

"If Sanji really goes all out, Katakuri wouldn't stand a chance, even with his Observation Haki," Zoro commented, yawning as he walked away.

Chopper, intrigued by Zoro's behaviour, asked, "What's up, Zoro?"

"The rest of these folks are too weak and boring. You guys handle them; I'm gonna catch some sleep," Zoro yawned, waving his hand with a bored expression.

With that, he strolled behind everyone, found a spot, and settled down comfortably.

"Don't worry about me. Leave the fighting to you guys," Zoro remarked, lying down.

"If you need a break, take it. I've got this," Chopper assured Zoro with a pat on the chest.

"Count on us. I'm itching to try out a new move," Brook chimed in, readying his staff and sword with a grin.

"Don't underestimate the Straw Hat Crew," a member of the BIGMOM Pirates grumbled, still irked by the outcome of the earlier finger-guessing game, which had determined Katakuri's opponent.

Now, seeing Zoro lounging about as if they weren't a threat only fueled their anger further.

Several pirates charged toward Zoro, each boasting a bounty exceeding 100 million berries and mastering Grandmaster Armament Haki. However, they were up against the formidable Straw Hat Pirates.

"Rumble Ball, Monster point!" Chopper ingested three Rambo Balls, unleashing a deafening roar. A towering figure emerged, intimidating the attackers.

"Out of Zoro's way!" Chopper commanded his monstrous form to dispatch the attackers with ease.

Meanwhile, Perospero conjured candy arrows with his Candy Bow, raining them down on Chopper. But Chopper remained unfazed, focused solely on the pirates.

"Fire Bird Star!" Usopp launched a projectile that transformed into a blazing firebird, intercepting the incoming candy arrows.

"Don't underestimate the world's greatest sniper," Usopp grinned, ready to aid his friend.

Chopper smiled back, knowing his crewmates had his back.

"It's time to end this charade," Smoothie declared, her aura intensifying as she grew in stature.

The cadres of the BIGMOM Pirates watched in anticipation as Smoothie, armoured in biscuit, stood alongside two formidable companions: a bearded man and a silent samurai carrying a massive sword.

With their arrival, hope surged among the BIGMOM Pirates ranks.

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