Chapter 173 Storm of a New Era
Fists and feet clashed, and the giant sword swung through the air.
Zane and Charlotte Linlin engaged in a fierce exchange once again.
During the battle, the Homie Gaia occasionally created massive rock attacks to harass Zane.
But even so.
Zane's rapid strikes forced Charlotte Linlin back, sending her flying several times.
This scene was witnessed by the gathering elites of the Big Mom Pirates, their expressions filled with disbelief.
"Mama is on the losing end?"
"Impossible! This must be an illusion!"
"There's no mistake. The enemy is Three-Eye Zane, but how can he be so strong? He's actually suppressing Mama!"
"So what if he's winning for now? Look, Mama hasn't taken any visible damage. It just means she'll eventually beat him."
"Exactly! Mama's Iron Balloon is invincible! No matter how powerful the enemy is, they can't defeat her!"
...
The Big Mom Pirates' elites closely followed the battle.
Some were horrified by Zane's power, while others maintained absolute confidence in their Mama.
The assault was relentless.
Under his continuous offensive, Zane gave Charlotte Linlin little opportunity to counter.
Yet, the results were negligible.
Just as the Big Mom Pirates' elites believed.
Charlotte Linlin's Iron Balloon defense was indeed unparalleled.
Every strike Zane landed was mostly neutralized by her special constitution.
Instead of being discouraged, Zane was delighted.
'Truly magnificent... such a constitution belongs with me!'
From the moment he opened them, the power of his God's Eye had been flowing, seeing through Charlotte Linlin's body.
Beyond just predicting her attacks, he was using Vision of All Phenomena to discern the very essence of her physical form.
The difference between individuals could sometimes be greater than the difference between humans and beasts.
Charlotte Linlin was the quintessential example.
This woman was a natural-born monster in the truest sense.
Without any training, she had killed a giant bear with a single punch at the age of five.
She once tried to swat a mosquito off a Giant, only to accidentally break several of the warrior's ribs because she couldn't control her strength.
And that was just her childhood.
It only became more incredible as she grew older.
Despite spending long periods pregnant and giving birth, she maintained her position as one of the Four Emperors solely through her monstrous, gifted constitution.
Natural Born Destroyer!
That was how many described Charlotte Linlin.
To Zane, it was the perfect description of her monstrous physique.
Therefore, he had set his sights on this Natural Born Destroyer constitution.
The God's Eye's Vision of All Phenomena could see the essence of all things.
This included a person's physical makeup.
Coincidentally, Zane also possessed the Munch-Munch Fruit.
This Devil Fruit ability allowed him not only to mold and fuse whatever he swallowed at will but also to reshape himself through self-consumption.
He was eager to see what would happen when the God's Eye combined with the Munch-Munch Fruit.
'It's not enough... her constitution is too complex. I need more time to fully grasp every aspect of its essence.'
A strange light flickered in his eyes. Zane attacked again and again without tiring, as if he wouldn't stop until he shattered Charlotte Linlin's Iron Balloon.
Time passed.
During the intense battle, the town on Cacao Island was reduced to rubble by wave after wave of shockwaves.
Even the elites of the Big Mom Pirates were forced to retreat repeatedly, eventually reaching the coast to avoid the fallout of the fight.
"Big news! A massive battle has broken out in Totto Land!"
"What? Someone actually dares to challenge that monster, Charlotte Linlin?"
"It's more than a challenge—it's a fight to the death! You know that Three-Eye Zane with the ten-billion-Berry bounty? He suddenly appeared in Totto Land and is fighting Charlotte Linlin right now!"
...
No secret stays hidden forever.
Especially not a storm of this magnitude.
The moment Zane appeared in Totto Land and began his battle with Charlotte Linlin, the situation was quickly detected by various interested parties.
Spies.
Information brokers.
Through various means, the battle in Totto Land could not be hidden.
On one side was the unprecedented ten-billion-Berry bounty holder.
On the other was one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World.
Whether it was Zane or Charlotte Linlin.
A battle involving the two of them instantly ignited the attention of everyone who received the news.
Aboard the Moby Dick.
"Gurarara! He's certainly impatient, picking a fight with that woman Linlin as soon as he enters the New World."
Sitting regally on his throne on the deck.
Whitebeard, who still had IV drips attached to his arm, was surprised by Marco's report but didn't show much shock.
Regardless of status.
As long as one has ambition.
A powerhouse entering a new territory will never lack for combat.
"Pops, who do you think will win?" Marco asked, rubbing his chin.
He only had a vague grasp of Zane's true strength.
After all, the previous clash between Zane and his father had been a simple test, revealing very little.
However, the fact that his father had stopped after that test was proof enough that Zane's strength had earned his respect.
In other words, the man's power had definitely reached the level of a Four Emperor.
Then there was Charlotte Linlin.
Just thinking of that woman made Marco scratch his head.
She was a genuine monster.
Forget about him.
Even Pops complained about how troublesome she was every time they fought.
That troublesome nature was mainly due to her Iron Balloon defense.
It was a staggering defense that even Pops' Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities couldn't easily damage.
Hearing Marco's question, the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates who were eavesdropping gathered around.
They wanted to hear their Pops' assessment.
"Who knows!"
Looking at his curious sons, Whitebeard laughed heartily before turning his gaze toward the surrounding sea.
'Ace, why won't you just listen and come back?'
'That bastard Teach... he's even more detestable than his old man, Rocks.'
Zane. Linlin.
The outcome of this battle would likely serve as the prelude to the storm of a new era.
Various thoughts flooded his mind, causing Whitebeard to drift off into his reflections.
"How terrifying... to challenge a monster like a Four Emperor as soon as he enters the New World. But why did I have to be the one assigned to this trip!"
In the New World, a Marine fleet departing from the G1 Branch was heading toward Totto Land.
On the deck of the flagship, Borsalino—known as Admiral Kizaru—sat casually on the floor, resting his chin on his right hand with a face full of complaints.
To be fair, he had been very angry when he learned of Gion and Garp's deaths.
But anger was one thing.
If conditions allowed, he wouldn't mind taking revenge for the two of them, but current conditions were far from ideal.
They said his speed was the fastest, and even if he couldn't win, he could retreat safely.
But the problem was, what if he couldn't get away?
Mr. Garp definitely wasn't as fast as him, but for an enemy who didn't even give Mr. Garp a chance to escape...
He didn't believe for a second that he could retreat with absolute safety just by relying on a bit of speed.
"Seriously, a dangerous mission like this should have been given to Sakazuki. I just want to glide peacefully into retirement!" Borsalino muttered to himself.
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