From the bow of the heavenly tribulation, Charlotte Linlin's Observation Haki swept the battle, every detail mirrored in her mind.
She didn't stow the futuristic sniper rifle in her hands; the muzzle shifted slightly, a death-god's gaze sweeping the battle raging on the enemy deck.
A Kuja warrior was locked in a deadly clinch with an axe-wielding pirate when a second buccaneer raised his blade for a flanking strike—
Bang!
A blood-red beam skimmed the sea, shattered the attacker's sword, and the impact hurled him through the air.
The Kuja fighter felt it, glanced back toward her own ship. She couldn't see the bow clearly, but she knew Lady Linlin was watching over them; warmth and fresh courage flooded her chest.
Elsewhere, two warriors were driven into a corner by the ring of scorching air Yako unleashed; the blistering heat left them gasping—
Bang! Bang!
Two shots followed: one struck the deck at Yako's feet, an eruption of splinters blinding him;
the other snapped a yardarm overhead, sending the heavy spar crashing down to split the battlefield and give the pair the moment they needed to pull back and regroup.
Big Mom hefted the rifle, scanning the fray through her high-powered scope, tracking every danger to her crew, and muttered imperiously:
'You're Charlotte Linlin's people—no way you're dying to these small fry!'
Crew of the Heavenly Calamity Pirates, sensing their Captain's hidden shield, surged with fresh morale and fought still more fiercely.
The focus of the clash narrowed to Gloriosa and Yako.
Heat shimmered round Yako; the searing air twisted, deterring any ordinary fighter, arrows igniting before they touched him.
His arms coated in Armament Haki, he swung wildly, trying to force Gloriosa back.
But her own formidable Armament Haki gave her strength and resistance; she ignored the heat and lashed kick after kick—each wrapped in black—into him like a hurricane.
'Damn it—stop! I'll give you all my treasure—spare me!' Bloodied, ribs broken, Yako was swallowed by terror and screamed for mercy.
A cold glint flashed in Gloriosa's eyes. 'I don't care whether scum like you lives or dies.'
She slipped past a blast of heat, voice turning razor-sharp:
'But Linlin doesn't like vermin who set fires and butcher civilians roaming these seas!'
Before the words faded she spun, heel dense with Armament Haki hammering into his gut.
'Gahh—!'
His eyes bulged; a gout of blood and bile burst from his mouth as he rocketed away like he'd been hit by the full-speed Astral Express, smashing into the sea thirty metres off in a towering splash.
'I… I'm a Supernova… future king… how… lose here…'
He twitched once in the chill water, but grievous wounds and Devil Fruit weakness dragged him toward the dark depths.
With their Captain gone and every officer dead or broken, the surviving Lava Pirates lost all will to fight, dropped to their knees, sobbing for quarter.
Warriors of the Heavenly Punishment Pirates swiftly seized control, stripping weapons, binding prisoners, counting the fallen.
Gloriosa brushed imaginary dust from her qipao like a victorious queen and rode a grappling line back aboard the heavenly tribulation.
Flushed and bright-eyed from the fight, she hurried to Big Mom and lifted her chin, proud as a peacock awaiting praise.
'Linlin, how was that? Did I disappoint you?'
Big Mom looked at the dazzling girl, nodded in satisfaction, and ruffled her orange curls.
'Beautiful work, Gloriosa. Your Haoshoku is beginning to colour your presence. Everyone performed superbly—this live exercise: passed.'
She paused, gaze sweeping her busy crew and the crippled enemy hull, then ordered:
'Finish up quickly—take anything of value and the log pose. Leave the prisoners and the wreck to rot. Our voyage isn't over.'
,
Aye, Captain Linlin!
The women answered in chorus, voices bright with joy—this was their first voyage sailing with the beautiful and mighty Lady Linlin!
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