Ortoren's brief clarity didn't last. As the initial shock of pain faded and his body began to adjust, his mind slipped back into madness. The chaos overtook him again, and soon, that feral red glow returned to his eyes.
He pulled himself up from the ground, grabbed his war hamr, and charged straight at Rayleigh and Charlotte Linlin, who were still locked in battle.
There was no reasoning with him—he attacked anyone in sight.
But Charlotte Linlin had no ti to deal with her berserk son. As Ortoren charged, she turned and landed a fierce punch to his head, her fist coated in Conqueror's Haki.
This strike was far more brutal than her earlier, "gentler" ones.
She didn't give him the slightest chance to react. Ortoren was instantly knocked down and fell into unconsciousness.
The truth was, the gap between him and top-tier fighters like these was still too wide. Charlotte Linlin wasn't like Rayleigh and the others, who were still unclear on the situation—she acted decisively, and with precision. Just like that, Ortoren's so-called "Full Moon Trial" was over.
Rayleigh seed to notice sothing. While fending off Linlin's fierce assault, he spoke.
"I don't know who that hotheaded kid is to you, but he seems important."
Charlotte Linlin didn't respond, but the fury in her eyes flared even hotter.
"Then I guess I'll ask you to stay here and spar with . If you try to chase Roger and the others… I'll kill that brat."
"You all think I'm so pushover?!" Charlotte Linlin cursed furiously, and her blows ca down even harder.
...
Not long after, chaos erupted at the castle.
Most of the elite forces of the Big Mom Pirates had already left Whole Cake Island. The only serious fighter left behind was Katakuri.
But the problem was, Katakuri's strength was about on par with Ortoren's—maybe even a little weaker. There was no way he could hold off powerhouses like Roger and Gaban.
Thankfully, Roger and the others weren't looking to make a permanent enemy of Charlotte Linlin. They didn't kill indiscriminately. After defeating Katakuri's forces, they quickly resud their search.
The skirmish didn't last long. Inside Charlotte Linlin's treasure vault, Roger and the others located the crimson Road Poneglyph. They couldn't take it with them, but lingering too long would increase their risk—so they made a quick rubbing and retreated.
It turned out Charlotte Linlin really had no way to stop them. She simply wasn't strong enough to take on Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban all at once.
In the end, all she could do was watch, seething with rage, as Rayleigh helped the others escape.
...
By noon the next day, Ortoren slowly woke from his coma, a frown furrowing his brow. The mont he opened his eyes, he felt pain radiating from every part of his body.
"You're awake?" ca Katakuri's calm voice from beside the bed. He then gave a quiet order for soone nearby to leave.
Ortoren looked up and saw Katakuri with a bandage wrapped around his neck and his arm in a splint. He was clearly injured.
Then Ortoren looked down at himself—his entire body was wrapped in bandages, and faint bloodstains were seeping through. Compared to Katakuri, he looked downright pitiful.
Ortoren replayed the mory in his mind... then couldn't help asking, "What exactly happened? Why are Roger and the others in my mory?"
"Your mories are correct..." Katakuri replied. "Last night, Roger's crew invaded Whole Cake Island. From Mama's vault, they made a rubbing of a Road Poneglyph."
"A Road Poneglyph?" Ortoren pretended to be oblivious.
Katakuri nodded. "Yes—part of Mama's collection. Rumor has it it conceals a massive secret—maybe one of the legendary ancient weapons capable of destroying the world. The World Governnt forbade spreading Poneglyphs long ago. Mama's had it for a while, but she's never cracked it."
He paused, then shifted the topic. "Putting that aside—how do you feel?"
"I feel this world is too violent..." Ortoren quipped at first. Then more earnestly: "Last night for the first ti, during a full moon, I briefly regained clarity!!!"
"Really?" Katakuri's voice held surprise. "That's wonderful—it ans Mama's thod actually works!"
Just then, the maid who had gone to deliver news reopened the door. Charlotte Linlin entered, her face dark.
Unlike the battered Ortoren and Katakuri, she looked energetic and uninjured—but her mood was clearly sour.
"Mama..." Katakuri tried to rise—but Charlotte Linlin firmly pushed him back.
"If you're hurt, stay seated," she said gently. Then she sat on Ortoren's bed and looked at him. "How're you feeling?"
"I..." Ortoren started—but was cut off.
The next mont, Charlotte Linlin began talking over him. "The doctor already examined you. So ribs are broken, your arm's seriously injured, but you inherited my fine bloodline. These are minor—ten to fifteen days and you'll be fine!"
Ortoren nodded. Before he could speak, Charlotte Linlin continued: "There was quite the disaster last night. That damn Roger—I don't know what he took..."
What followed was a torrent of curses: invective that would have made ancestors cringe and a wish for him to suffer horribly.
Whether the ancestors heard it or not, Charlotte Linlin's curses would take effect. After all, that man really doesn't have many years left, and a nasty end suits him.
"I'll get this grudge back from him sooner or later!" she spat, then steered the conversation back: "But last night—you seed to wake from your Sulong state for a bit?"
"Yes—maybe only a few seconds, even less," Ortoren said thoughtfully. "But still—that's the first ti I've co to on a full moon night."
"That's probably linked to Roger's Conqueror's Haki," Charlotte Linlin nodded. "And yes—I planned to test that power on you even without Roger. But his presence helped."
She paused before continuing: "Despite things going sideways, it achieved the intended effect. This 'treatnt thod' is effective. Back when I served on Rocks' ship, I relied on it too... Your clarity was brief tonight, but with more trials, the duration will increase. You'll feel the wild and violent change unfold, and over ti, you'll learn to master it."
Ortoren had suffered in this condition for years. Now he saw hope. As Charlotte Linlin said, this first awakening may not have lasted a minute—but with practice, it would grow longer.
He wouldn't dread losing control forever.
If he stuck with it, eventually he could return to normal—beco a normal man again.
"Ahem..." Ortoren cleared his throat awkwardly, then said, "Anyway... thank you."
It was the first ti he'd ever thanked Charlotte Linlin. Hearing this, her previously sombre face softened into a relieved smile. "No problem... I owe you."
She stood and said, "Your matter is settled, but I have other duties. That Shiki bastard is making bold moves—I must head to the front line. If anything happens, wait for to return."
She looked to Katakuri. "Take care of him..."
Katakuri had been due to accompany her to the front—but the injuries from Roger's raid ant he'd stay behind instead.
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