As Crocodile and Smoothie cshed, Cudius took this as the signal to ao one had caught o, but he k wouldn't take long for suspis to arise. Especially with Dofmingo—a "Seven Warlords of the Sea" member notorious for stirring trouble—present.

  And Cudius himself? ing along as Dofmingo's so-called "brother"? There was no way they'd escape suspi for long.

  "Split up. Don't linger here," Cudius ordered quietly.

  Dofmingo nodded, his gaze shifting to the approag army of cookie soldiers. A sinister smile curled on his lips. "Toy soldiers, huh? That's just my style. I trol them easily."

  It was clear he inteet Cracker, another of Linlin's Sweet anders. Cudius didn't himself with Dofmingo's pns; his own goal remained fixed.

  This operation wasn't about killing Charlotte Linlin, it was about capturihat objective required careful timing. Cudius's eyes remained locked o figure.

  "Gion, you take the first move. I'll wait for the right moment to strike and see if I take down this stubborn old hag in one blow," Cudius said calmly. As he spoke, his form shimmered, being translut before dispersing pletely with the wind.

  Meanwhile, the battle between Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Charlotte Linlin raged on.

  Despite Linlin's immerength, her supp forces—various powerful Homies—proved iive against the Admirals. Sakazuki and Borsalino easily smashed through these animated objects, which were reduced to little more than sacrifices, blog attacks meant for Linlin.

  At one point, a rge tree Homie mao block Sakazuki's magma fist, giving Linlin an opening. She took a deep breath, brag against Borsalino's ining kick, and unleashed a pierg scream.

  "AAAAHHHHH!!!" Linlin roared, her voice reverberating like a shockwave.

  The sound stunned both Sakazuki and Borsalino momentarily, their movements faltering.

  Seizing the opportunity, Linlin swung the massive Emperor's Sword in her hand.

  "The Spear of Elbaf—Prestige!!!" she bellowed, sshing downward with terrifying force. A shockwave erupted from the bde, tearing through the ground and ing everything in its path.

  Sakazuki was caught in the onsught, his figure battered and engulfed by the sheer force of the attack.

  For the first time itle, Linlin seemed to gain the upper hand. With Sakazuki momentarily taken out of the fight, Borsalino was left exposed.

  A wicked grin spread across Linlin's face. She raised her arm, and lightning crackled ominously in the sky. With a deafening roar, a bolt of lightning struck down, targeting Borsalino with blinding speed.

  Borsalino's eyes widened in arm. Although he doubted Sakazuki was dead from a siack, it would likely take him time to recover. Now, with the thunder bearing down on him, Borsalino prepared to retreat.

  But before the bolt could reach him, areak of lightning struck from the side, intercepting it midair. The two bolts collided and dissipated into nothingness.

  Floating above was her than Enel, now his iic "God of Skypiea" attire. Holding a long golden staff, he grinned arrogantly.

  "My speed isn't too shabby either, is it, Admiral Borsalino?" Enel remarked smugly.

  Borsalino raised a brow, his voice calm but tinged with irritation. "Took you long enough. I've been stalling her fes."

  Despite his annoyance, Borsalino didn't push the issue. He knew better than to offend Enel, especially sihe man was Cudius's subordinate. "Well, better te than never. Your timing is... appreciated," he added rally.

  Charlotte Linlin, oher hand, was momentarily caught off guard. She didn't immediately reize Enel, whose reputation wasn't as widespread as Crocodile's.

  Before she could react, a sharp ssh flew toward her. With quick reflexes, Linlin blocked the strike using the Emperor's Sword. Her gaze shifted to the source of the attack, though the figure remained obscured for a moment.

  But what she didn't anticipate was the sudden force that struck her chest.

  A figure a bunny-themed maid outfit appeared in front of her. With astonishing speed and precision, the figure delivered a powerful kick directly to Linlin's wound.

  "Peach Blossom-Bunny Strike!" the figure shouted.

  The impact bent Linlin's massive body forward, and the sheer force sent her sprawling backward.

  It was Gion.

  Her earlier ssh had been a feint, allowio close the distand strike Linlin with her Zoan-enhanced abilities. Gion's speed was extraordinary, her Devil Fruit prantihe form of the mythical Moon Rabbit. In terms of speed, she was sed only to Borsalino among the Marines.

  As Linlin staggered from the blow, Gion's body began to transform further. Her shoulders tensed, as if a limiter had been released. Her eyes turned crimson, and the rabbit ears atop her head grew longer.

  Wasting no time, Gion unched herself forward with explosive force. The grouh her shattered, rocks and debris flying in all dires. Her speed was incredible, a blur that closed the distaween her and Linlin in an instant.

  Sensing the immi danger, Linlin smmed her hand into the ground, using the force to stabilize herself and hurl a massive rock upward. With the momentum, she mao stop her retreat and regain her footing.

  But as she steadied herself, Gion was already closing in, her red eyes bzing with iy.

  "You're the Marine Admiral didate, Momousagi Gion!" Linlin excimed, a mix of anger and disbelief in her voice.

  One Admiral was already troublesome enough, not to mention Crocodile and Enel. But now, an Admiral didate? Linlin knew Gion's reputation well—despite the "didate" title, her strength was on par with a full-fledged Admiral.

  Gion didn't respond. Her focus was absolute. Her fist, now covered in white fur resembling the Moon Rabbit's, shot forward. Though it looked soft and fluffy, the soni that followed the punch was anything but gentle.

  The strike was devastating, delivering a thunderous impact as it collided with Linlin's massive fist.

  To the shock of onlion's punch forced Linlin to stumble back, her footing briefly unstable. Though Linlin's retaliatory strike had been hasty, her monstrous strength was well-known across the seas. Fion to push her back at all was an astonishi.

  At the same time, both Borsalino and Enel uheir attacks.

  A crag dragon of lightning shot toward Linlin, striking her body and leaving her hair frizzed in an explosive mess. Before she could recover, Borsalino followed up with a ser beam. However, Linlin mao cut the attack out of the air with her Emperor's Sword.

  As the battle intensified, Gion moved in once more. Her kick targeted Linlin's fnk, but this time, Linlin caught the attack with her hand.

  Even so, fending off attacks from three high-speed, high-power batants was taking its toll on Linlin. She had started to show openings, her defenses slipping.

  And then, as if on cue, a familiar voice echoed through the battlefield.

  "Shoot her, Shinsō!!!"