Charlotte Oven, the fourth son of the Charlotte family, and a triplet alongside Katakuri, possessed the Paramecia-type Heat-Heat Fruit. His power was undeniable.
Claudius had always thought that Oven's strength was sufficient to earn him the position of Sweet Commander. He might even surpass Cracker, though Smoothie's ranking was harder to gauge. As for Snack, the last Sweet Commander? While competent, he wasn't on Oven's level.
Perhaps Oven's lack of promotion was out of respect for his brother Katakuri. Regardless, his Heat-Heat Fruit was immensely dangerous—a Devil Fruit of the "rule" type.
If developed deeply enough, there was theoretically no upper limit to the heat he could generate. In the future, Oven would even gain the ability to instantly boil the sea, a testament to the frightening potential of his power.
Now, Oven stood before Claudius, catching his frost-infused slash head-on. The chilling effects of Claudius's liquid nitrogen-based attack seemed to have no effect on him.
Oven's sudden arrival gave Linlin the reprieve she desperately needed.
It wasn't just Oven. Many of Linlin's other children were beginning to join the fray. Though some were visibly hesitant in the face of the powerful foes before them, their unique Devil Fruit abilities and combined numbers turned the battlefield into utter chaos.
While their combat prowess couldn't match Claudius or the others individually, they could still create enough interference to stall and disrupt.
The scene grew chaotic as the Charlotte family rallied together.
Charlotte Daifuku, the third son of the family, summoned his Genie Homie with a wave of his hand. The massive, otherworldly figure moved in perfect coordination with Daifuku, their attacks well-practiced and seamless.
Oven, Daifuku, and the other siblings launched a counterattack against Claudius's forces.
Oven specifically targeted Sakazuki, whose earlier ferocity in the battle had left him heavily injured. Having acted as the proverbial shield—or MT—throughout the fight, Sakazuki was in no condition to fight at full strength. Oven, armed with his Heat-Heat Fruit, seemed to hold the upper hand, his abilities even managing to suppress some of Sakazuki's magma-based attacks.
The two clashed repeatedly, volcanic eruptions wreaking havoc across the battlefield and leaving much of Cake Island in ruins.
Elsewhere, Enel's lightning raged in the skies, toppling tall buildings as he fought Daifuku and his Genie Homie. Though Enel's Thunder-Thunder Fruit was clearly superior in raw destructive potential, Daifuku's hard-hitting tactics, combined with the Genie's flawless support, managed to hold Enel at bay for the time being.
Mihawk, meanwhile, was regaining his composure after his earlier all-out attack. He brandished his black blade Yoru, engaging in a fierce battle with Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte family.
While Perospero's abilities and strength were no match for Mihawk's swordsmanship, he was supported by several of his siblings. Together, they managed to keep Mihawk tied up, though just barely.
Amidst the chaos, Charlotte Linlin found herself once again facing a three-on-one situation. Only Claudius, Gion, and Borsalino remained unoccupied by Linlin's children.
Claudius scanned the battlefield, evaluating the situation. Borsalino, true to form, was content to remain at a distance, firing precision attacks like a proper long-range specialist. Close combat wasn't exactly his forte, and Linlin's brute strength wasn't something that played to his advantage.
As for Gion, while her Zoan-type Mythical Moon Rabbit Fruit gave her exceptional physical resilience and strength perhaps even awakening her full potential, Claudius wasn't about to let her lead the charge.
After all, Claudius had a personal connection with Gion. He couldn't treat her like Sakazuki, whom he had no problem watching endure the brunt of the enemy's wrath. Gion, on the other hand, was practically family. Though their relationship hadn't reached its final stages, they had lived, dined, and even slept under the same roof.
How could he let her take unnecessary risks?
That left Claudius himself.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "So, it's come to this after all."
Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin, holding her broken Emperor's Sword and standing atop Zeus, seemed to take command of the counteroffensive. From the skies, she descended with ferocious momentum, signaling the charge of her Big Mom Pirates.
"I'll hold her off. You two, strike back when you can!" Claudius yelled.
As his voice echoed, the demon sword Shinsō in his hand slashed out, colliding with Linlin's broken blade midair.
The sheer force of Linlin's strike sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, causing it to crack beneath Claudius's feet. His legs sank slightly into the earth, a testament to her overwhelming power.
His arms trembled under the strain, but Claudius gritted his teeth, his muscles swelling as he stabilized himself. He wasn't going to back down.
"Alright, Linlin," he growled, a grin spreading across his face. "If you're going all out, then I guess it's time for me to get serious too!"
As Linlin began to press her advantage, the sound of a deep, rhythmic heartbeat suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
The sound grew louder, each beat resonating with power.
Claudius's momentum surged as the King Engine—the unmistakable mark of his full combat state—roared to life. His trembling arm steadied, and he began to push back against Linlin's overwhelming strength.
Borsalino, watching from a distance, raised an eyebrow in surprise. But he didn't hesitate, flashing forward in a burst of golden light. Appearing above Linlin, he lashed out with a glowing kick aimed squarely at her head.
But Linlin was unrelenting.
Armament Haki instantly coated her head as she surged forward, meeting Borsalino's attack head-on with a brutal headbutt. The impact sent Borsalino flying, a faint trail of blood trickling from Linlin's scalp.
Before Linlin could recover, Gion appeared in front of her with blinding speed.
"Moon Rabbit: Pound the Medicine!" Gion cried, delivering a thunderous punch to Linlin's chest.
Zeus reacted immediately, unleashing a massive burst of lightning that struck Gion mid-attack. Even so, Gion's fist landed squarely, forcing Linlin to stagger backward.
The moment Linlin's focus wavered, Claudius seized the opportunity.
With his King Engine in full throttle, he deflected Linlin's broken sword and landed a direct hit with Shinsō. The impact left a dark purple bruise on Linlin's body, eliciting a pained scream as she was sent crashing to the ground.
Wasting no time, Claudius used a combination of Shave and an airburst from his feet to propel himself toward Linlin's fallen form.
As she struggled to react, Claudius's fist slammed into her face with devastating force. Jets of compressed air from his elbows and shoulders amplified the blow, driving Linlin's head into the ground.
The satisfying crunch of her nose breaking reverberated through his arm, but before Claudius could press the advantage, Linlin's massive hand swiped at him instinctively.
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