Chapter 35: The Calm Before the Storm

The Battle for Control

The Wano skies seemed to be held together by a fragile thread as the battle raged on. Thorfinn, his eyes locked onto his younger brother Luffy, stood in the eye of a storm, his heart racing. This wasn't just a battle against enemies—it was a battle for Luffy's very soul.

Luffy's body twisted and stretched unnaturally as he unleashed his Gear Fifth, his once-innocent face now contorted with raw, untamed energy. The chaotic, rubbery form he had taken seemed to be a visual representation of his inner turmoil. Every time Thorfinn made an attempt to reach him, Luffy's form seemed to distort, as if his powers were out of control, uncontrollable.

Thorfinn stepped forward, his twin blades, Emma and Ame no Habakiri, shimmering in the dim light as his Conqueror's Haki flared. His eyes narrowed in determination, trying to find the Luffy he knew beneath the madness. He had seen this before—his younger brother was always unpredictable, always a force of nature. But this… this was different.

"Luffy!" Thorfinn shouted, his voice rising above the chaos. "This power—this chaos—this isn't you! You need to calm down! Please!"

Luffy's gaze flickered for a split second, a flash of recognition behind the madness. His body quivered, but before he could regain control, his form began to contort again. His arms stretched and twisted like rubber, his fists moving in erratic, uncontrolled motions. Every punch he threw seemed to distort reality itself.

Thorfinn knew this wasn't just about beating Luffy down. This was about saving him from himself. Thorfinn had always been the protector, the one who kept his brothers safe from harm. Now, he had to protect Luffy from the chaos of his own power.

Thorfinn's wings spread wide, lifting him into the air as he launched himself toward his brother. His swords slashed through the air, aiming not to strike Luffy, but to restrain him. With each strike, his Conqueror's Haki pulsed, attempting to knock the wild energy out of Luffy's body.

"Snap out of it, Luffy!" Thorfinn cried.

But Luffy's body surged forward, his eyes wild. "No! I'm going to end this now!" His rubbery fists collided with the ground, sending shockwaves through the island. His body shifted and elongated in every direction, creating chaotic, disorienting movements.

Big Mom's Wrath Unleashed

From the chaos, a new threat loomed. Big Mom, watching the battle unfold with an unsettling smile, raised her hand and unleashed an enormous burst of energy. Her Soru Soru no Mi powers rippled through the air as she summoned giant, ethereal hands to grab hold of Luffy and Thorfinn.

"You think you can just disrupt my plans?!" Big Mom's voice was a booming growl, her eyes filled with rage. "I've waited too long for this moment, and now you'll face the consequences!"

She charged forward, summoning the full fury of her Soul Pocus. The battlefield was torn apart as massive energy blasts rained down on the fighters below. The ground quaked as each blast detonated, sending shockwaves that ripped through the land and obliterated the remnants of Kaido's army.

But Thorfinn, with his wings, dodged the initial barrage of attacks. He flew toward Big Mom with a flash of fury in his eyes. "I'm not done yet!"

His twin swords clashed with her enormous ethereal hands, his Conqueror's Haki crackling like a storm as he fought against the Yonko's immense power. The island was shaking as their battle tore through the landscape, sending tremors throughout Wano.

But Big Mom was far from finished. She raised her hand again, preparing to unleash another devastating blow. Luffy, still lost in his uncontrollable state, smashed his fist into the ground with all his might, creating an explosion that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.

"Luffy!" Ace shouted, his flames flickering wildly as he rushed toward his brother. "You've got to pull it together!"

But Luffy didn't seem to hear him. His eyes were wild, unfocused, and his chaotic energy only grew stronger. His body stretched beyond normal limits, his fists raining down upon everything in sight.

"Enough!" Thorfinn roared.

A Brother's Resolve

Thorfinn knew that time was running out. If he couldn't stop Luffy's out-of-control power soon, there would be no turning back. He soared through the air, his eyes never leaving Luffy. This battle wasn't just about defeating an enemy—it was about saving his brother from himself.

"Luffy!" Thorfinn shouted again. This time, his voice carried the weight of years of brotherhood, of the bond they shared. "Listen to me! You don't need to fight this!"

For a moment, there was a flicker in Luffy's eyes. His chaotic energy slowed, his form trembling as if fighting against Thorfinn's words. But then, in a flash, his wild energy erupted once more, and Luffy swung his fist down with all his might.

Thorfinn's heart raced as he saw the punch coming. His wings unfurled, and he dashed forward, using his Conqueror's Haki to gather every ounce of power he had. His swords glowed as he readied himself to intercept the blow.

The impact was immense. The force of Luffy's punch clashed with Thorfinn's twin swords, sending shockwaves through the island. For a moment, it seemed like everything would collapse. The ground shook violently as the battle between brothers continued.

Thorfinn gritted his teeth, pushing back against the raw force of Luffy's Gear Fifth. "I won't let you destroy everything, Luffy. I'll save you!"

And then, as if by miracle, the wild, untamed energy in Luffy's body hesitated once more. The madness in his eyes began to fade as the bond between the two brothers finally reached its breaking point. The Conqueror's Haki around Thorfinn flared brightly, reaching into the depths of Luffy's heart.

The Calm Before the Storm

The entire island seemed to hold its breath as the battle came to a brief, shocking halt. Luffy's body stopped its erratic movements. His breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling as his form flickered between his rubbery state and his normal, human form.

For the first time, Luffy's eyes met Thorfinn's—and in them, Thorfinn saw his younger brother's true self.

"I… I don't know what happened," Luffy whispered, his voice shaky and broken. "I lost control… I couldn't stop it…"

Thorfinn landed before him, sheathing his swords as he placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "It's okay, Luffy. You're not alone in this. I've got you."

The chaos, for a moment, was over.

But they all knew it wouldn't last. Big Mom, who had watched this moment unfold with frustration, prepared to strike once more. Ace and the others were already moving, ready to defend their captain.

"Luffy… Thorfinn," Big Mom sneered. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."