One Piece: Waves of Destiny

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Big Mom paused for a moment before speaking, her tone filled with unsettling seriousness:

"If you fancy any of them, just tell me. Whoever it is, with a single word from me, she can become your wife. And with that, you'll also officially join our Charlotte Family as one of us!"

Despite her overwhelming presence, Big Mom seemed to show a rare sense of respect toward Roja. It was clear she wasn't eager to antagonize someone with such terrifying strength and commanding aura.

Hearing her proposition, Roja's lips curled into a smirk. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, his voice echoing through the tea party venue.

"Hahahaha! BIG MOM, are you serious about what you just said?"

"Of course I'm serious!" Big Mom replied, her tone unwavering. "Choose whoever you like."

But Roja's laughter vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by a sharp, steely seriousness.

"Isn't it a little heartless to treat your own children like this?"

His words caused the women standing before him to freeze in shock.

No one had ever spoken for them, much less questioned Big Mom's treatment of her daughters. Some of them were visibly moved, particularly Charlotte Brûlée, the eighth daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened to Roja's words.

However, Big Mom's expression darkened, her smile fading away.

"They're all my daughters, which makes them my tools. If a tool can't serve its purpose, what's the point of keeping it around?"

Her words were blunt and emotionless, spoken without regard for how anyone felt.

Roja's smirk deepened as he retorted, "So, if I casually pick one of these 'tools,' it wouldn't bother you, right?"

"Of course not!" Big Mom replied, her voice firm.

"In that case," Roja said, his finger pointing to one of the women in the crowd, "I'll choose her."

Gasps erupted around the room as all eyes turned toward the woman Roja had chosen. She wasn't just any member of the Charlotte Family—she was Charlotte Smoothie, the Minister of Juice and one of the Sweet Commanders.

Smoothie's eyes widened in shock.

"He chose Smoothie!"

"This man must be insane!"

"That's a direct provocation against Big Mom herself!"

The murmurs spread like wildfire, but Big Mom's reaction was immediate. Her brows furrowed deeply, and a suffocating wave of Haki rolled through the room.

"Are you looking for trouble, Roja?" Big Mom roared. "Smoothie is one of my Sweet Commanders, and yet you still dare to choose her?!"

Roja's response came with a mocking chuckle.

"Didn't you say they were all tools? I thought you treated them equally. Or are there ranks among your tools? The strong are prized, while the weak are expendable. Is that it?"

His words sent shockwaves through the room. Beneath his cloak, Roja's expression remained concealed, but his words carried a venomous undertone.

The entire venue fell into a tense silence. No one dared to speak, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

Stussy, seated near Roja, picked up a glass of red wine and smirked as she whispered to Morgans, "Looks like I'm winning this bet after all."

Before Morgans could respond, the air suddenly grew hotter. Flames erupted in the distance, growing brighter and brighter as they drew closer.

"BIG MOM!" a bold, fiery voice shouted. "I've come to challenge you! Let's see how strong one of the Four Emperors truly is!"

The flames coalesced, revealing a man with black hair, freckles, and a tattoo on his left arm that read "ASCE," where the "S" was crossed out. He wore an orange cowboy hat adorned with the words "Smile" and "Sad" and strode confidently into the venue.

Stussy raised an eyebrow.

"Well, well," she mused, "it seems like the show just got more interesting."

Katakuri immediately stood from his seat and moved to intercept the newcomer.

"Who are you? How did you get in here? And what's your purpose?"

The man grinned, his confidence unshaken.

"I'm Portgas D. Ace, also known as Fire Fist Ace, from the East Blue. As for what I want—" his grin widened. "I'm here to challenge the Big Mom!"

Roja, watching from his seat, furrowed his brow in confusion. Shouldn't this guy be looking for Whitebeard? What's he doing here, provoking Big Mom?

Katakuri's glare deepened as Ace continued.

"I've heard about the Four Emperors and the so-called mysterious individuals of the New World. Since Big Mom was hosting this tea party, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to see her strength for myself!"

Katakuri's jaw clenched.

"If you want to challenge Mom, you'll have to go through me first!"

Ace smirked. "You? I could take you down in one second."

Roja observed the interaction, shaking his head slightly. This guy's been out at sea for too long. With just the powers of the Flame-Flame Fruit, he thinks he can take on anyone?

Ace raised his arm, flames roaring to life.

"Fire Fist!"

A massive fireball shot toward Katakuri, blazing with intense heat. The attack was impressive, but before Katakuri could even counter, an even larger flame appeared.

The air turned suffocatingly hot as Prometheus, Big Mom's living flame homie, engulfed Ace's attack effortlessly.

"Fire of the Heavens!" Big Mom bellowed, her laughter echoing ominously.

Prometheus roared to life, dwarfing Ace's flames in size and intensity. The fiery homie lunged forward, swallowing Ace's fire—and Ace himself—in a blazing inferno.

Ace's screams of pain echoed as the flames overwhelmed him.

"This is MY tea party," Big Mom declared, her voice booming across the venue. "No insignificant insect can disrupt it!"

She glanced toward Roja, her eyes narrowing.

"Using fire against me is nothing but asking for trouble."

Roja's voice cut through the tension like a knife, calm and cold.

"BIG MOM, I'm from the East Blue too, and I use fire. Your words have just offended me."

Stussy's sly smile widened as she leaned toward Morgans.

"Remember to deliver my Devil Fruit to Happy Street," she murmured, her tone brimming with confidence.

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