138. Energy Weapon Electromagnetic Gun

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"Alex!"

Charlotte Linlin's roar tore through the chaos. No longer able to contain herself, she made her move.

Stepping onto her massive thundercloud, she gripped Napoleon with both hands. Dark Armament Haki surged across the blade, coating it entirely. With a single, powerful motion, she unleashed a slash, locking her aim on Alex and the fleet behind him.

"Buzz!"

A wave of purple sword energy rippled outward, a strike born from the sacrifice of her own life force.

But Alex was prepared. This was no moment for half-measures against the Sea Empress's all-out assault.

Drawing his blade, Akizakura, Alex met the incoming sword wave with calm precision. His blade, infused with immense sword force and Armament Haki, cut a wide arc that intercepted the attack mid-air, dispersing its energy in an instant.

Then, without hesitation, Alex vanished. In a blink, he reappeared in front of Charlotte Linlin. His next strike, brimming with Conqueror's Haki-infused power, slammed into her directly, forcing her downward with tremendous force.

The resulting shockwave scattered the formations of both fleets.

As Alex and Charlotte Linlin engaged in their battle, their respective fleets sprang into action.

The Big Mom Pirates accelerated their sails, charging forward with intent. With no land to engage on, their strategy shifted toward boarding battles, where their numbers could shine.

— Boom! Boom!

A hailstorm of cannon fire erupted from their fleet, like countless arrows filling the sky, aimed at the flying fleet of Wanokuni.

But not all those shots would land.

Standing at the forefront, Mihawk, Yoru in hand, stepped forward. With the precision of a true swordsman, his blade surged with power. One swift slash was all it took to cut through the barrage of cannon fire, igniting dazzling fireworks in the air.

Without pause, Mihawk leaped from the sky. His next slash, cleaved a thousand-man ship in two. The vessel shattered with a roar, sending countless pirates plunging into the sea. The Homies dissolved back into fragments of spirit energy.

On the rear-most, most secure flying battleship, Zoro stood, his eagerness palpable as he prepared to leap into the fray. Hand on his sword, he made to jump, intending to follow Mihawk's example. But just as he moved, a hand yanked him back—Nami's.

"Zoro, you big idiot! You said you came along to watch the war, not to throw yourself into it!"

"What?!" Zoro's face twisted in indignation. "Maria and Yamato were fighting at my age—why can't I?!"

Boom!

Before he could finish, a smaller figure, but one just as fiery, knocked him flat with a punch.

"The levels of these wars are different, you moron!"

With Alex occupied, Nami saw no need to keep up her usual cheery demeanor and let loose her frustrations freely.

Kuina, standing nearby with Wado Ichimonji in hand, nodded as she watched the battle unfold. "Nami's right. A war of this scale isn't for someone who hasn't fully mastered Haki or advanced swordsmanship. Right now, the best thing you can do is learn."

Though Zoro gritted his teeth, Kuina's words stung in a way he couldn't dismiss. His rival's reasoning left him no room to argue. Reluctantly, he stepped back and redirected his focus toward the battle below, his determination growing even stronger. 

As his gaze scanned the battlefield, his eyes caught on a familiar figure. His frustration boiled over once again.

"Wait a second—what's that guy doing down there already?!" he roared, pointing.

"What?!" Nami and Lami turned to that direction.

——ROOM!

A figure clad in a winter coat and fur hat moved through the chaos below. Trafalgar Law, with his Op-Op Fruit's powers, manipulated space effortlessly. A massive sphere of influence covered three Big Mom pirate ships.

With the innate ability to cut anything, Law unleashed a normal slash. His slashes cleaved through the soldiers surging forward as cannon fodder, splitting them into fragments that dissipated into the air.

"Is that guy seriously using his abilities recklessly again?!" Nami groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I swore to Robin I'd keep you all in check!"

"That's big brother for you!" Lami cheered, clearly in awe of Law's skill.

Nami shot her a glare but didn't argue further.

"Let him go, the Homies are basic cannon fodder, incapable of even using Haki. If anything, they're the easiest to handle."

Using her Flower-Flower Fruit powers, Nico Robin coordinated with the various airships to oversee the battlefield from the planning platform of the main ship.

"Master Robin, the enemy has entered the shooting range!"

The message echoed across the communications network, reported from various airships. The lower fleets prepared to engage directly, while the upper fleets focused on sniper and tactical support.

Acknowledging the report, Robin responded calmly, her voice steady. "Proceed according to the plan."

In an instant, dozens of cannon muzzles around the airship fleet locked onto the vessels of Totto Land. The weapons, advanced and menacing, glinted ominously in the sunlight as they aimed.

On the opposing side, Perospero's sharp eyes caught the movement. Keeping his gaze fixed on the massive barrels, he raised his voice to warn his comrades. "Everyone be careful! The enemy's preparing a long-range attack!"

Despite his caution, Perospero's expression remained composed. To him, cannon fire was among the simplest forms of attack to counter. However, his confidence was short-lived.

"No! This isn't a cannonball! Get out of the way!"

Katakuri's warning rang out sharply as his Observation Haki projected a glimpse of the future. His arms morphed into glutinous mochi, rapidly forming a defensive net in the air. Even so, his reaction was a fraction too late.

The true nature of the attack became evident.

"Zizizizi!"

The sound of compressed energy surged from the muzzles. Instead of cannonballs, a brilliant blue energy began to condense, gathering with terrifying intensity.

—Whoosh!!!

A dazzling beam of light erupted from the barrels, cutting through the air with incredible speed. These were not ordinary weapons—they were electromagnetic railguns, newly developed by Wanokuni's technological division, incorporating memory alloy into their designs.

The electromagnetic beams moved with a velocity rivaling the lasers fired by Kizaru. Their destructive power was immediately evident as they streaked toward the Big Mom fleet.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three ships at the front of the Totto Land fleet were struck in rapid succession. The violent explosions shattered their hulls, sending debris flying and triggering waves of smoke and chaos. Screams echoed as soldiers and pirates were either vaporized, thrown into the air, or plunged into the sea amidst the wreckage.

"What kind of weapon is this?!"

"It's like Kizaru's laser cannon!"

Onboard the planning platform, Robin observed the devastation and continued the onslaught.

The energy supply for the fleet had been meticulously prepared, ensuring the weapons could fire repeatedly throughout the battle. The airship muzzles glowed once more as beams began to charge for the next volley.

On the opposing fleet, the Charlotte family's grim faces showed their understanding of the imminent threat. Abilities were activated in quick succession to defend against the incoming barrage.

—Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Electromagnetic beams rained down, piercing through even the overlapping defenses of Cracker's biscuit soldiers. Despite their Armament Haki reinforcement, the shields crumbled under the relentless assault.

Among the defenders, Charlotte Cadenza, the seventh son of the Charlotte family and a master of Armament Haki and physical combat, stepped forward. His right fist, hardened with Haki, met an incoming beam.

"Boom!"

The resulting explosion sent him hurtling backward, blood pouring from his arm as the Haki was completely shattered.

Onboard one of the airships, Baby 5 stood at her post. With a lollipop in her mouth and a targeting scope fixed over one eye, she aimed her right arm, which had transformed into a powerful cannon.