Chapter 202: Bound by Terror

With a loud bang, the terrifying sword energy shattered Whole Cake Island into a crack several kilometers wide, stretching into the distant sea. Yet, beneath the mighty sword Napoleon, Shin stood firm, crossing his arms cloaked in haki to block the powerful slash from above.

"How is that possible?" Charlotte Linlin's eyes widened, shocked at Shin's power. "Your strength and mastery of Haki are unbelievable!"

"This isn't just Haki; it also incorporates the Truth-Seeking Orbs properties," Shin explained casually, regardless of whether she understood or not. With a swift maneuver, he deflected the long sword, Napoleon, causing the massive blade to be thrown upwards by the force of his block.

Then, Shin's fists clenched, his Chakra roaring to life as he opened one gate after another.

"Eight Gates: Sixth Gate, Open!"

"Morning Peacock!"

What would typically explode outward like a meteor was, this time, condensed into a focused blast, and Shin aimed directly at Charlotte Linlin's chest.

"Argh!" Linlin gasped, blood gushing from her mouth as the powerful punch reverberated through her body, even momentarily stopping her heartbeat. Her vision went dark, and she lost consciousness.

"No! Mother!"

Katakuri was speechless, astonished that his formidable mother seemed unable to withstand Shin's strikes in such a short span. But just as he prepared to charge forward, he froze, his body tense as beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.

Through his future sight, he glimpsed endless scenes of himself being overpowered by Shin in one swift move. No matter what approach he imagined—attacking, retreating, or using his devil fruit powers—his visions all led to him being instantly defeated by this overwhelming force.

"The gap is... insurmountable, even greater than with Mother herself!"

For someone of Katakuri's strength, to be pressured to such an extent by any foe, even an Emperor of the Sea or an Admiral, was unimaginable. Yet, in Shin, he saw an opponent who had somehow reached a level beyond any power he'd known.

Though Charlotte Linlin's heart had briefly stopped from Shin's punch, it resumed beating within seconds. But by then, Shin had enveloped her in a black mist and swiftly absorbed her into the dark void.

Only a moment passed before Shin pulled her out again, a faint smile appearing as he retrieved another devil fruit from his dark dimension.

Next, Shin's eyes landed on her Homies, only to notice that Prometheus and Zeus were hovering protectively around her, showing no signs of distress or disruption.

"Interesting," Shin mused, surprised. "Even with the Soul-Soul fruit gone, these Homies persist as long as the host is alive."

"Shameless thief!" Charlotte Linlin, who had been sprawled out, managed to stagger to her feet, only to realize that the power of her Soul-Soul fruit had vanished. She let out a fierce roar, "You... you stole my devil fruit!"

Shin smirked. "Didn't I make it clear from the start? Your fruit was my target all along. Is your hearing going bad in your old age?"

"Heartless demon! Taste my wrath—Maser Cannon!"

Not interested in Shin's words, Charlotte Linlin unleashed her full power. But in this form, Shin was already leagues above her, effortlessly blocking her attack.

The impact of her strike blasted the ground with enough force to create a crater, scattering debris and shocking her children and the guests nearby. But when the dust settled, Shin remained unscathed, standing as if nothing had happened.

"In terms of sheer durability, not even Kaido might compare to you." Shin gave her an appraising look. "Your physical resilience is beyond human; perhaps a true-born superhuman?"

"You haven't even realized half of your body's potential! Perhaps you'd have stood a real chance against me if you had."

As Shin finished speaking, he disappeared in a blur. Before Charlotte Linlin could react, he reappeared above her, Bringing his full strength down on her with a powerful punch to the head.

With her vision going dark, Charlotte Linlin collapsed. Shin wasted no time, employing the same relentless assault he'd used on Kaido.

"Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!"

Each strike shook the island to its core, the impact reverberating all the way to the grand castle, which trembled under the force, cracking and buckling. Under the pressure of Shin's fists, the ground itself became as hard as a diamond, forming a massive crater several meters deep.

As he dragged the unconscious Charlotte Linlin from the pit, the remaining members of the Charlotte family looked at Shin with unfiltered terror. Even Katakuri, who was known for his composure, stood trembling.

Unlike Kaido, whose brutal yet charismatic personality earned him begrudging respect, Charlotte Linlin was widely feared. Her rule was upheld through intimidation and a lack of genuine warmth. Her own children, mostly fearful of her volatile temper, felt no compelling drive to avenge her but rather shrank back, wary that they might become Shin's next targets.

Katakuri took a deep breath and stepped forward, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Plunderer... you've won. If it's treasure or Devil Fruits you want, the Charlotte family will surrender all of it. Just... please, spare the others."

Shin rolled his eyes. "Relax, I don't have much use for your devil fruits."

To Shin, ordinary devil fruits held little appeal; his standards were high. Though intriguing, most of the Big Mom Pirates fruits were not powerful or unique enough to be of interest. After all, he had already handed over numerous Zoan-type and ancient Zoan Fruits from the Beasts Pirates to Whitebeard's crew.

For Shin, only fruits with unparalleled abilities or exceptional power could entice him, while the rest... were simply not worth his time.

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