Family.

The whole region was in ruin, every matter in the surrounding area was sliced into flawless pieces.

"You are still strong… as I remembered," said a wounded figure, his body all bruised up.

"You came late," said the only standing entity with different types of knives in his hand. He was all bruised up, but nowhere near the condition of the fallen figure.

"Why…? What's the difference?" Inquired the other, intrigued by his opponent's words.

"Let me see…?" Forming a thoughtful expression, he looked up to the sky. "I received a power-up."

"...?"

Not caring about his assailant's surprised expression.

"Anyway… time to sleep!"

Using a butcher knife, he cut off the male's head, taking in deep breaths of air.

Suddenly feeling a sudden pressure, he turned in a certain direction.

The light shone so brightly, making his scalp go numb.

"Avani?!" 

Rushing to the location at full speed, he made sure to cut down all opposition he could find.

It was a long run, but not an indefinite route. 

Arriving at the scene, he saw three figures lying on the cracked earth… on the brink of death.

One was an old male, the other a charming female, and the last was a skinny male who seemed to have not eaten for a long time.

"Raymond?!" He uttered in disbelief as he gazed at the figure. 

Rotating, he met the gaze of an incapacitated female. "Avani?!"

Hearing a loud thud behind, he turned to meet a giant being. "Big Mom?!"

____________

Earlier.

"Ahhhh!" 

Different creatures could be seen running helter-skelter as a giant being ran through their homes, stepping on whatever object hindered its path.

'I'll have to move faster!' thought the giant, moving at a faster pace.

Arriving at a point, she was met with a barricade. "The emperor of the Xadia empire has ordered you to stay put… or die!!!" Yelled a male, standing before the barricade.

"You little pest…! Where is that emperor of yours?" Big Mom growled, eyeing the small man.

Sweating profusely. "I don't…"

Already catching the man's flow, she swatted him like a fly. "I was saving up for this." 

Taking out the board she had kept hidden, she stood on it. "Bye!!!"

Waving at the guards, she sped off, leaving the entire region in devastation.

"Stop her!!!"

As the man yelled, the soldiers took out equipment similar to that of Big Mom's, chasing after her.

But failed to catch up as Big Mom left them in the dust.

_______

"What?!" Yelled a figure, breaking the armrest of the chair he sat on.

He was currently seated in a well-furnished room with several individuals standing at the foot of his throne.

"We don't know the reason? But Big Mom is heading back to the Red Light City," one of them said, his head bowed.

"Ohhh! Now even the ministers don't have any idea?" He said sarcastically, glaring at them. They could feel the killing intent he released, but decided to stay put.

"Haa, how is the other war front?" He asked, sighing.

The attacks on the other pathways into the Xadia empire have been attacked relentlessly by unaffiliated individuals, making it hard for the Xadia empire to do anything impactful. Though they had an idea of the groups behind the attack… the world doesn't accept ideas… It needs facts.

"The attacks keep increasing, our supplies keep dwindling, and…" pausing for a moment, he looked at the other ministers.

"What's the problem?!" Asked the emperor, agitated by their sudden pause.

Nodding, the speaker looked at the emperor. "There is a strong force emanating from the front Big Mom was defending, and… that's not the only issue… there is a more dangerous being in the Red Light District.

"..."

__________

Walking into the city was Big Mom, looking at the level her city had fallen to. Her expression said all that couldn't be uttered.

Everything around was either dead or incapacitated. Still moving forward she arrived at what seemed to be the center of the city… where the Red palace stood.

"Big Mom?!"

Eyeing the person that called her for a brief moment, she headed past him, arriving before three figures.

Picking up an old man, she crushed him into a paste with one squeeze. Heading for the next, she intended to repeat the same motion but was stopped by the third figure.

"N-no!" Said the last figure, placing his arm on Big Mom's arm.

"Don't be a fool, Raymond! She's not worth it!" Said Big Mom as she caressed the male's cheek.

"Hahahahaha," laughing hoarsely, he eyed the figure in Big Mom's hand. "I want to do it… it needs to be me… I'll kill her!"  

Raymond was determined… he felt killing her would wash away that guilt… the guilt of forgetting their dreams… letting a stranger get so close…

"You don't…"

"There is no need…"

After Amrish passed away the spear he had created using the orb faded away, leaving a hole in Raymond's chest.

Rising despite the pain and severity of the injury, he gestured for Big Mom to drop the female.

"So this is how death feels?" The female said in a weak tone. 

"Yes, Alice… at least I'll be the one to end you."

Saying those words, he punched her face repeatedly. Her skull caved in with every punch.

Avani, Cuckoo, and Big Mom could only watch as Raymond pounded Alice's face, tears rolling down his cheeks with every blow he released.

After several minutes, Alice's disfigured face could be seen, her body lying lifeless on the bloodied ground.

"I'm sorry family…" he said, lying on his back. "I failed…"

"You…" Avani, who had gathered the strength to move to his position, tried to say something but was cut short by Raymond.

"No need to console me… just do me a favor… don't tell Liam of my death."

He said in a sober tone, taking his time to scan everyone's expression. "Pass this to him… for me," he said, handing a box over to Big Mom.

"I would prefer you place it in the orb," taking in deep breaths that seemed to exit his body from the gap in the chest, he looked to his right. "You're here Merlin, Kassandra?!"

Standing at a distance were Merlin and Kassandra. Merlin had a stoic expression as he eyed the dying male.

"I'm sorry," Merlin said as he walked to Raymond.

"Why sorry?!" Raymond asked, giggling softly.

"I knew about…"

"It's not your fault… we all knew what we entered… and we did it as a family," Raymond said. "I love you all."

Saying this, his eyes closed off as life exited his physical body.

Picking up the body, Big Mom looked at her family. "Where is Liam?"

"He has been placed in the pod," Kassandra replied stoically.

"It's time to send Liam out," Big Mom said, heading to the ruined palace.

"I'll be going with him," Kassandra said as she placed an arm on her chest. "To protect him."

"No! He goes alone!" Big Mom replied, not bothering to hear Kassandra's pleas.

"I can…"

"Enough!!!" Big Mom yelled, her fist an inch away from Kassandra's face. "Do as I say… get the pod!"

She couldn't utter a single word after Big Mom's order. Though they were a family, Big Mom was similar to the head, being the one to make decisions that can affect them seriously as a family.

Drawing a circle, a pod containing a boy magically appeared in Merlin's arm. As the pod appeared, Merlin turned to look at Big Mom for guidance.

Taking out an orb, she handed it over to Merlin. "Does anyone have something to pass on?"

Coming forward, they all placed things on the orb, including Raymond's present.

Immediately after they were done, Big Mom brought the orb close to the pod which consumed the orb as if it were a living creature.

"Bye Liam, we'll miss you," saying this, she gestured to Merlin who immediately drew complex structures, placing the pod on it.

"For our dreams!!!"

They all said in a chorus as the pod vanished from sight.

"Erect the barrier… it should help out… and clear all the pests in our home…!" She said, taking Raymond's body.

"The time has come!"

Author note: Liam's journey to the top is starting from the next chapter… do comment on your ideas!