Just as Gion was about to step in to support Cudius and press the advantage against Linlin, a massive figure loomed behind her. In an instant, the enormous weight of Queen came crashing down toward her.

  However, Gion wasn't fazed in the slightest. While the Three Camities of Kaido's crew were undoubtedly strong, she knew she was stronger.

  Spinning on her heel, Gion raised her long leg in a powerful ard delivered a devastating kick to Queen's head, her voice low but resolute.

  "Peach Blossom-Kick!"

  The impact of her kick sent Queen staggering, the massive beast wobbling on his fs. Pain shot through his skull as he reeled from the blow.

  Meanwhile, Gion stood firmly ihough her supp foot sank into the ground from the sheer force of the strike.

  Though Queehe strength to overpion ht, he was more than capable of stalling her. Gion grit her teeth, realizing she couldn't break away to assist Cudius. For now, Linlin was entirely in his hands.

  At this moment, Cudius's state was unusual. He felt as though something deep within him had surged forth, a tent strength that had been dormant until now. The sensation was overwhelming, as though all the power he'd accumuted was demanding release.

  For years, Cudius had rarely fought oppos of Charlotte Linlin's caliber head-on. Battles against legends like the Golden Lion Shiki or the Red t Redfield had often involved calcuted strategies or clever tactics. This, however, was a raw, brutal fight against one of the Four Emperors, a true test of his strength.

  And now, with this rush of energy c through him, Cudius felt unstoppable.

  Liquid nitrogen encased Linlin's arm, freezing it solid. Cudius followed up with a crushing punch that shattered the frozen skin, revealing raw, mangled flesh beh.

  The strike sent Linlin staggering, and the sheer pain made her howl.

  As Linlihrough the air from the force of his punch, Cudius felt the surge of power within him screaming for release. Throwing his head back, he let out a primal roar, the sound eg across the battlefield and shaking the very foundations of Cake Isnd.

  The powerful heartbeat of the King Engine roared louder, its rhythmic pounding resonating within three to five meters of Cudius. The vibrations were so intehat even the dust in the air began to move in sync with his pulse.

  With a mighty push of his legs, Cudius shattered the grouh him and unched himself after Linlin. Catg up to her midair, he delivered a thunderous punch to her bloated stomach.

  Linlin's body folded uhe impact, and blood spewed from her mouth as she was sent hurtling back down to the ground, crashing into the earth with a deafening boom that left a massive crater in her wake.

  Still, Cudius wasn't finished. His body burned with energy that demao be spent. Another roar tore from his throat as queror's Haki erupted around him, surging outward in untrolble waves.

  His golden hair whipped wildly in the wind, and his onoble aura had been repced with a raw, feral iy.

  "Die!!!" Cudius roared, his voice shaking the air as he desded from the sky, his fist aimed directly at Linlin's head.

  Linlin, dazed and battered, felt a flicker of fear in her heart. For the first time, her monstrous strength wasn't enough to stop someohis man's power only seemed to grow stronger with every blow, as if there was no limit to what he could unleash.

  Her instincts screamed at her to protect herself. Uo rise, Linlin crossed her injured arms in front of her face, desperate to block the ining strike.

  Cudius's fist smashed into her arms with devastating force. The muscles in her arm pressed, and the sound of bones snapping filled the air. Linlin's infamous iron-like body, said to be nearly iructible, had been broken.

  Frost quickly spread across her skin, eng the injured arm in a yer of ice. The force of Cudius's blow shattered the frozen skin into icy shards, exposing bloodied flesh and bone underh.

  Linlin cried out in agony as the impact pushed her injured arm against her own face, aggravating her already broken nose.

  Before she could retaliate, Cudius was already on top of her. His foot stomped down on her massive frame, pinning her in pce. With his waist bent low and his fists raised high, Cudius unleashed a relentless barrage of punches.

  The sound of fists smming into flesh echoed across the battlefield, the sheer ferocity of his attack leaving Linlin with no ce to fight back.

  Blood spttered from Cudius's fists as he struck with such force that even his Armament Haki couldn't fully protect him. The skin and flesh of his knuckles were torn away, revealing raw boh.

  But Cudius didn't stop. His bloodshot eyes gred down at Linlin, his mind ed by the o release the overwhelming energy within him.

  His entire body had turned a deep crimson, blood seeping from his pores as his blood vessels strained under immense pressure. His skin glistened with sweat and blood, and faint wisps of steam rose from his overheated body.

  Linlin, uo fight back, could only shield her head as best she could while Cudius's fists tio hammer her abdomen. She could feel her ribs breaking, her internal ans tearing, and blood pooling in her mouth. Bits of her ruptured ans spilled from her lips as she struggled to breathe.

  Finally, after what felt like ay, Cudius's sudden burst of pan to wahe King Engine's deafening rhythm slowed, and his queror's Haki began to dissipate.

  Around the battlefield, those who withe se were left speechless. Cudius, in his berserk state, had singlehandedly overwhelmed Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors.

  Linlin, barely ging to sciousness, tried to retaliate o time. With a surge of effort, she smmed her arms outward and delivered a headbutt to Cudius, sending him flying backward.

  Even as Linlin attempted to rise, her injuries proved too severe. Her arms hung limp, one of them clearly broken, and her body trembled from exhaustion and pain.

  Cudius, meanwhile, staggered to his feet. He didn't charge forward this time, his breathing bored and his arms trembling from overuse. His fists were torn to shreds, blood dripping freely from his exposed bones.

  Despite his injuries, Cudius's spirit remained unbroken. His queror's Haki still radiated from his body, and a savage grin spread across his bloodied face.

  Taking a shaky step forward, he locked eyes with Linlin.

  A cold sweat ran down her back as an unfamiliar feeling gripped her—a feeling she hadn't experienced in decades. Fear.

  "Are you scared?" Cudius asked, his voice low and taunting.

  He took aep forward, his body still trembling but his resolve unshaken. "Hahaha… Are you scared of me, Linlin? Is the great Big Mom finally afraid?"