Chapter 213: Your Highness Has a Big Tone!?

At the same time, Borsalino made his move. Folding his hands across his chest, his index fingers and thumbs formed a rectangle. Golden light began to gather within the frame, and Borsalino spoke softly:

"Light Prism – Prismatic Strike."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a rectangular beam of light shot out, blazing toward Linlin with incredible speed.

But Linlin had already escaped the aftermath of Sakazuki's Great Eruption. Tumbling midair, she landed steadily atop Zeus, her thundercloud Homie.

The prism of light roared toward her, but just before it could strike, Linlin raised her left arm. A burst of soul energy flared out, forming a translucent protective barrier in front of her.

The light prism collided with the shield, but Linlin's sheer brute force stopped it in its tracks, preventing it from breaking through.

Then, as if to retaliate, a sphere of fire resembling a miniature sun formed beside her. Linlin grabbed the blazing orb with her hand, molding it into a fiery fist.

Now armed with flames in one hand and Napoleon in the other, with Zeus hovering beneath her feet, Charlotte Linlin exuded a terrifying aura. Her soul energy surged wildly, radiating a palpable pressure as if she were entering a fully unleashed state.

Without hesitation, Linlin counterattacked. Wielding Napoleon with both immense strength and soul energy, she unleashed a powerful strike.

"The Spear of Elbaf – Hakoku!!!" she roared, her voice shaking the battlefield. She channeled the flames from her left hand into the slash, creating a fiery tornado that raged toward Sakazuki, Claudius, and the others.

Claudius instinctively raised his hand, ready to unleash his own power. But before he could act, a dark green slash tore through the sky, intercepting Linlin's fiery tornado midair.

The collision erupted in a burst of flames and energy, scattering into nothingness. Both attacks had been neutralized.

Everyone turned to see the source of the unexpected slash.

Walking toward the battlefield, calmly wielding the black blade Yoru, was none other than Dracule Mihawk. Dressed in his signature noble attire, his eagle-like eyes gleamed with excitement as he approached.

"Looks like the battle at East Blue helped him take another step forward in his swordsmanship," Claudius thought, a flicker of admiration crossing his face.

Mihawk's gaze locked onto Charlotte Linlin, his intent clear.

The reason for Mihawk's appearance wasn't complicated. Having been recently persuaded—perhaps tricked—by Claudius to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Mihawk felt it necessary to respond to this summons. Ignoring such a call would be disgraceful.

But beyond formalities, Mihawk had his own reasons. Linlin was a top-tier pirate of the New World, known for her unparalleled physical resilience. For Mihawk, cutting her down was an irresistible challenge. It was a test of his blade—his ultimate pursuit.

Mihawk had always been obsessed with "cutting." Others sought to cut steel or diamonds, but Mihawk's ambitions went beyond. He dreamed of cutting even indestructible objects, from historical texts to mythical legends. Linlin, with her monstrous durability, was simply the next step in his relentless quest.

"You…" Linlin muttered, narrowing her remaining eye as recognition dawned. Mihawk's reputation as the world's greatest swordsman preceded him. His name alone struck a chord, as tales of his undefeated streak against countless swordsmen were legendary.

However, Mihawk didn't respond to her words. Instead, his every step seemed to build momentum, his aura intensifying. As Linlin's voice broke the silence, Mihawk reached his peak. The energy and strength he had been gathering erupted in one decisive strike.

With a flick of his wrist, the massive black blade Yoru slashed forward.

"Black Blade Flash," Mihawk whispered.

The slash tore through the air, its sharp edge carrying an almost tangible force. Even though Mihawk's focus was solely on Linlin, Claudius and the others could feel the suffocating pressure of the strike from where they stood.

The blade's aura seemed to pierce the heavens, leaving no doubt as to its lethality.

Linlin recognized the danger immediately. Wielding the Emperor's Sword, she unleashed a powerful counter-slash. The two attacks collided midair.

But her retaliation barely slowed Mihawk's attack. His slash crushed her defense, reaching her sword with unrelenting force.

Zeus trembled beneath her feet as Linlin struggled to remain standing. The Emperor's Sword, Napoleon, let out an anguished cry.

"Mamaaaa!!!" Napoleon wailed in distress.

The black blade's aura overwhelmed Napoleon, slicing cleanly through it. The once-mighty weapon was severed in two with a single strike.

Though the slash had weakened after cutting Napoleon, its remaining power surged toward Linlin. Covering her arm with Armament Haki, she crossed it in front of her chest, bracing for impact.

The slash struck her, forcing her backward. She punched forward with her flaming left hand, targeting Mihawk directly.

However, Mihawk's energy seemed drained. His single slash had been his peak strike, and his stamina waned. He couldn't evade Linlin's fiery attack in time.

Claudius, observing the scene, couldn't help but groan inwardly.

You've got to be kidding me, Mihawk! After that incredible display, you're out of energy already?

Moments ago, when Mihawk severed Napoleon, Claudius had thought him invincible. But now, it seemed Mihawk had put everything into one move without considering what would come next.

Still, Claudius couldn't afford to let Linlin's fiery punch burn Mihawk to ash. Though Mihawk's durability was far above that of ordinary humans, he was no match for Linlin's monstrous strength and Devil Fruit powers.

Taking a deep breath, Claudius expanded his chest before exhaling sharply.

"Breath of the Mountain!" Claudius shouted, releasing an invisible stream of nitrogen that spiraled toward the incoming flame.

The wind-like current wasn't ordinary air; it was nitrogen, a non-flammable gas. The cold stream engulfed Linlin's flame, extinguishing it instantly.

For a moment, the battlefield fell silent as everyone—including Linlin—stared in shock.

Linlin's powerful flame, unleashed in a fit of rage, had been snuffed out in a single breath.

"What the…?" Linlin muttered in disbelief.

Claudius stood calmly, though inwardly he cursed Mihawk's recklessness. "Was that really your plan, Mihawk? A five-second display of brilliance, and then nothing? How irresponsible can you be in a fight like this?"

Still, he wouldn't let Linlin's wrath destroy one of his carefully recruited Warlords.

At this moment, Linlin's bloodied arm caught everyone's attention. A deep wound marred her skin, evidence of Mihawk's earlier slash. Blood dripped freely from the injury, staining Zeus beneath her feet.

But before Claudius could strike again, a figure suddenly rushed in, blocking his next frost-infused attack. The wave of ice power hit the newcomer, but it seemed to dissipate almost immediately, as though neutralized by some natural resistance.

"Oven!" Linlin called out in surprise as her son, Charlotte Oven, stood before her.