'Boom... Boom...'
'Huff... Huff...'
Deafening explosions roared through the battlefield, and the blinding light was so intense that no one could look directly at it. Powerful shockwaves rolled across the land, sweeping away everything in their path. The golden Buddha, towering and majestic, exuded an aura of solemnity as it stared down at the tall, youthful figure standing fiercely before him.
"This guy…"
"He actually blocked Linlin's 'Mighty Nation'!"
"Impressive... The Mythical Zoan, 'Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha', right?"
Rock, Nef, Little Oars, and the Fish-Man Jien looked in surprise at the glowing golden Buddha. Even though Linlin hadn't used her full Devil Fruit power and remained in her human form, this was the first time—other than El—that they had seen anyone block the 'Elbaf Spear', one of Charlotte Linlin's most devastating attacks.
One of the brightest stars of the new generation of Marines had proven to be as powerful as the rumors claimed.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma, interesting…"
Linlin's eyes gleamed with excitement, her battle spirit ignited as she focused on Sengoku's transformed, Buddha-like form.
"Damn it—!"
Sengoku glanced around the battlefield, his face darkening as he saw the mangled bodies of fallen Marines, their expressions frozen in terror. The sight of the carnage, combined with the towering figure of the laughing Linlin, filled him with rage.
"You scum!" Sengoku roared, his voice thick with fury as he glared at the group before him—figures he had never seen before, now attacking with devastating force. "Do you have any idea of the severity of your crimes?!" he demanded, fists clenched and teeth grinding as his glare fixed on Linlin.
Linlin grinned wickedly, pointing her massive sword at Sengoku. "Most of those guys were killed by me... What? You want revenge for them?"
Sengoku, scanning the battlefield, failed to spot any sign of the Celestial Dragons. His suspicions deepened as he turned his gaze toward the well-guarded auction house behind them.
Facing the towering, seven-meter-tall Linlin, Sengoku asked coldly, "Who are you, and what's your purpose in attacking the Celestial Dragons?"
"I'm Charlotte Linlin... Make sure you remember that name, Marine!" Linlin stared directly into Sengoku's eyes with a mischievous glint, her words filled with amusement—whether from a long-laid plan or perhaps just whimsy.
"You...!" Sengoku's expression darkened as he glanced at the rest of Linlin's crew—Rock, Fish-Man Jian, and the others. "No matter your goal, attacking and killing the world's nobles is an unforgivable crime! Your journey ends here!"
"Let's see if you can stop me," Linlin replied, her eyes narrowing with a playful smile as she readied herself for the fight.
'Swish! Swish!'
In the next instant, they both charged at each other.
'Screech!'
Linlin's bright sword, coated in Haki, clashed violently with Sengoku's golden fists.
'Clang!'
Sparks flew as metal met flesh, and the sound of the impact rang out through the battlefield. The tremendous force of their battle unleashed a whirlwind, sending rocks and debris flying in all directions.
'Crackle... Boom...'
Both warriors' 'Conqueror's Haki' erupted, fiercely clashing. Black and red lightning crackled in the air as their auras intertwined and expanded, creating an intense pressure that swept across the battlefield.
"Conqueror's Haki?!"
"That woman has it too?"
"Even the World Government's lackey has that power?"
Rock, Nef, and Jian were all forced to retreat from the overwhelming shockwaves. They stared in disbelief at Sengoku, who was matching Linlin's terrifying strength blow for blow.
Sengoku, along with the recently arrived Garp and Tsuru, could hardly believe their eyes. They stared at Linlin in shock.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma, you're a worthy opponent after all…" Linlin said, her eyes blazing as her sword clashed with Sengoku's golden palm. "Oh, by the way, that fat pig of a Celestial Dragon, Hanic... I crushed him to death just for fun."
"What!?"
Sengoku's face twisted in shock, and even Garp and Tsuru's eyes widened at her bold admission.
"You...!" Sengoku's eyes blazed with murderous intent as his golden Buddha palm began to radiate an intense light. But before he could unleash his shockwave, Linlin swiftly retreated, laughing gleefully.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma~! Getting angry?"
'Swish...' In the next moment, Linlin's body transformed rapidly. She took on a fearsome hybrid form—half-human, half-beast—with sharp fangs, long claws, thick black fur, and massive wings sprouting from her back.
"She's a Zoan user?!"
Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru all tensed at the sight of Linlin's new form. The ominous aura she radiated sent a chill down their spines, indicating this was no ordinary Zoan transformation.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma, you're not the only one with a special Devil Fruit ability!" Linlin, now in a terrifying demon-like form, grinned wickedly as she raised her sword, Napoleon, and slashed it toward Sengoku.
'Slash!' A massive, crescent-shaped blade of energy tore through the air, heading straight for Sengoku.
"Buddha's Impact Wave!"
The golden Buddha palm glowed brightly as it released a powerful shockwave to intercept Linlin's attack.
'Boom!!!'
The resulting explosion sent shockwaves ripping through the battlefield as the massive crescent slash was deflected by the golden shockwave.
Sengoku's voice echoed across the battlefield, resolute and full of authority. "Garp, don't let these criminals escape!"
"Tsuru, check the auction house! The Celestial Dragons must be inside!"
In a matter of seconds, Sengoku had assigned his allies their tasks. Without looking back, he charged toward Linlin, his golden Buddha form clashing once again with her relentless strikes.
'Boom... Boom…'
~~~
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