To be honest, it was completely predictable that I would have to face Aunt Linlin.
After all, Aunt Linlin has never been one to play by the rules.
Or rather, there are hardly any pirates who do.
And standing at the top of the pirate world, Aunt Linlin has the right to be unreasonable.
It's just a pity she picked the wrong opponent to be unreasonable with.
"Since you're a good friend of Kaido-sensei, and we're likely to work together again in the future, Aunt Linlin, I'll go easy on you this time," Ian said calmly, though in his heart he still thought he had to teach her a lesson first.
"Hold back a little," Ian added. "After all, Aunt Linlin is Kaido-sensei's friend. Don't kill her beloved children."
"You little brat," Aunt Linlin smirked. "You seem pretty arrogant, don't you?"
Ian only smiled. "You'll find out soon enough, Aunt Linlin."
"Got it!"
Yamato transformed into a white wolf, howling as he dashed forward like a phantom.
The next moment, the white wolf leapt into the air. "Ice Fang!!"
A surge of white mist erupted, forming a raging tidal wave that headed straight toward the Charlotte family's territory.
"Don't underestimate me too much, Ian," came the voice.
Katakuri raised his trident.
The ground suddenly surged, transforming into a towering white wall of mochi that blocked the howling white mist rushing forward.
In an instant, the mochi wall froze into solid ice, isolating the mist spreading on both sides and freezing everything along its path.
The sudden drop in temperature made the Charlotte family's officers shiver involuntarily.
"That girl—is she like Aokiji?"
Perespero rubbed his hands nervously. "What is this freezing air?!"
The next moment, the frozen wall shattered.
"Icy Eight Trigrams!"
A crystal-clear spiked mace dragged a long trail of white mist, shooting forward like a bolt of white lightning!
A red light flickered in Katakuri's eyes.
The ground turned into large mochi lumps, launching toward Yamato at full force.
But before the mochi could even get close, it was completely frozen!
Turning into raised ice sculptures!
"Is that the power of ice?"
Katakuri's right arm wrapped around the trident's shaft, twisting into a spiral, then suddenly spun the trident violently.
"Sticky Dough Piercer!"
The trident roared forward like a drill!
Boom!!
The collision between the spiked mace and the trident exploded with bolts of black and white lightning.
This leaping lightning marked the start of the battle's signal fire!
"Ke ke ke ke!"
Dorry burst into loud laughter. "Giants! Go and claim victory!"
"Charge with me!"
Golden energy began to surge around Solem as well. Behind him, the beast giants roared fiercely.
As the giants charged forward, the very earth trembled beneath their feet.
Even faster than them were Ian's comrades.
Jack, Black Maria, and Drake had already transformed into enormous beasts, rushing straight toward the enemy.
Law stood on Drake's back, swirling a cyclone in his hands.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the battlefield—
"Let's go!"
With a command from big brother Jinbe, ten pirate captains roared and launched their own charge.
"Hahaha!"
Sasaki, transformed into a gigantic triceratops, laughed wildly. "Our first opponents in battle are the Charlotte family! How delightful!"
The difference in troop strength was glaring.
Katakuri's expression shifted slightly as his body began to retreat.
Moreover—
He glanced toward Yamato, who was pursuing relentlessly.
Such incredible power.
Not only did she inherit Kaido's bloodline, but also the mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
At just sixteen, she already possessed this level of physical strength?
"Hahaha! Take this, take this!"
Yamato laughed wildly, completely ignoring Charlotte Linlin standing right beside her. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes, becoming a blur.
"Divine Step—"
White mist wrapped around her, transforming into a massive, writhing serpent.
"White Snake Drive!"
Her speed was astonishing—at least enough to make Perospero sweat buckets.
If he were the one facing this girl's attack, he probably wouldn't dodge a single strike and would be sent flying with just one blow.
But at this moment, Yamato's opponent was Katakuri.
Katakuri, who could glimpse into the future.
In the eyes of Charlotte's greatest masterpiece, a red glow flickered.
Just as the gleaming iron rod was about to slam onto his body, Katakuri's form exploded and turned into mochi, revealing a large hole that perfectly avoided Yamato's strike.
At the same time, his left arm transformed into a blocky shape, covered in pitch-black Armament Haki.
"Mocha Horn!!"
A punch was unleashed.
Yamato had just swung his rod, so his old strength was gone, and his new power hadn't yet awakened—he was momentarily stiff.
The timing was perfect!
"Hehe!"
But the girl grinned.
Her body twisted simultaneously, bending like a snake, also perfectly avoiding Katakuri's attack.
"Paper Arts?"
Katakuri was not surprised; this was the future he had seen as well.
Even though he had changed his moves to counter that future, Yamato still dodged in the same way.
It wasn't just Paper Arts!
Next came Life Return!
Yamato used sheer willpower to forcibly reverse the iron rod she had just swung.
"Gundari — Wolf Roaring Army!!"
The pure white iron rod transformed into a storm, instantly enveloping Katakuri.
The white frost wrapped around the rod spread outward.
Katakuri knew that if he turned back into mochi now, his body would be frozen solid by the mist.
So, he chose to throw a punch!
Both arms transformed into bar-shaped mochi and were hardened with Armament Haki.
Katakuri's fists also became a storm.
The fierce collision between the two sent black and white Haki sparks flying everywhere.
At the same time, Hancock walked gracefully over to Ian's side.
Looking at Yamato fiercely fighting Katakuri, she sneered, "That guy is really useless."
"Leave it to me, Ian. I can end this fight in an instant."
Ian's lips curled into a smile.
Hancock took a few steps forward.
With a confident swagger, she walked up to the Charlotte family's group and lightly brushed her jet-black, waterfall-like hair.
"To those fools who dare to oppose Ian, submit to my charm."
In an instant, the Charlotte family's officers fell silent.
Then—
"Such a stunning beauty!"
"So beautiful! How can anyone in this world be this gorgeous!!"
"I want to be her dog!!"
The men's eyes sparkled with hearts, while the women's cheeks flushed pink.
The Love-Love Fruit didn't just turn people into stone—it also amplified the user's charm.
When Hancock, the world's most beautiful woman, actively used this ability, very few could resist her allure.
"Fools, turn to stone."
Hancock extended both hands and made a heart shape.
"What?"
Aunt Linlin was still confused.
But Katakuri's expression suddenly darkened.
"Damn it!"
"Love-Love Beam!"
Heart-shaped waves of energy spread instantly and passed through all the Charlotte family's officers the next moment.
In an instant, exquisite statues appeared all around.
"Hm?"
Yet Hancock, the instigator of all this, seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
Because fewer people turned into statues than expected.
And some of the ones who should have turned into stone were now drenched in cold sweat, terrified—but still not petrified.
"What is that?"
Perespero's face turned pale as he glanced around.
Many of the younger siblings had already become statues, standing motionless where they were.
Thankfully!
Thankfully!
He lowered his head.
Wrapped around his right leg was a sticky rice cake, its tip covered in Armament haki, piercing through his calf like a sharp dagger.
Many others were in the same situation—Oven, Daifuku…
And also Cracker.
But that guy fainted immediately from the fear of pain.
**********
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