Charlotte Linlin reached out and grabbed Kaguya's arm, grinning viciously. "You're dead now, you little brat. If you beg for mercy now, it might still be in time."
But just as she finished speaking, Charlotte Linlin froze, sensing that something was wrong.
She couldn't feel a single trace of lifespan.
What was going on?
One of the abilities of her soul embodiment was the power to extract a person's lifespan. No matter who it was, as long as they were caught by her, their lifespan would be taken. If the person's remaining lifespan was insufficient, they might suddenly drop dead without any warning.
This kind of power was terrifying. After all, if one wasn't careful, they could be instantly killed.
Charlotte Linlin had used this power to defeat countless formidable enemies, always emerging victorious. But now, it had suddenly failed.
"What, are you trying to take my life?" Kaguya smirked, a radiant smile spreading across her face. "I forgot to tell you, I'm immortal."
Immortal.
Charlotte Linlin was stunned.
As the name suggests, immortality means eternal life. If one is eternal, the concept of death no longer applies—neither does the concept of lifespan. Naturally, Charlotte Linlin's ability to extract lifespan had no effect on Kaguya.
This was also why Kaguya, even after thousands of years, still showed no signs of aging.
"How long are you planning to keep holding on?" Kaguya squinted her eyes and smiled.
Charlotte Linlin shuddered. Her proud ability had suddenly become useless, leaving her in a panic.
"Although I don't mind women holding my hand, it's limited to beautiful ones. Someone as hideous as you," Kaguya said with a faint smile, "should just get lost."
As soon as she finished speaking, Kaguya spun around and delivered a heavy roundhouse kick to Charlotte Linlin's chest.
Boom!
With a loud, dull thud, Charlotte Linlin was violently kicked away by Kaguya. Like a cannonball, she flew through the air and crashed into the wall with a bang, smashing a large hole in it.
Charlotte Linlin felt a sweetness in her throat, and with a splurt, coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Just then, accompanied by the crisp sound of footsteps, a pair of beautiful legs appeared in front of Charlotte Linlin. She looked up and her pupils shrank—it was Kaguya.
Kaguya stood tall, looking down at the seated Charlotte Linlin with contempt. "So this is the so-called legendary great pirate? What a disappointment. You're not some imposter, are you?"
Charlotte Linlin's face turned red, veins bulging on her forehead. Kaguya's disdainful gaze nearly drove her mad.
To be defeated by a young girl who didn't even look that old—Charlotte Linlin was furious and unwilling to accept it. But now, heavily injured, with multiple fractures, severe internal organ damage, and even large areas of muscle torn, she could no longer fight.
And her most proud ability had proven completely useless against Kaguya.
Kaguya walked over and placed a foot on her face. "Weren't you acting all arrogant just now? Why so quiet now?"
As she spoke, she kicked her a few more times.
Those who had survived by sheer luck crawled out from the ruins, their eyes wide in shock as they stared at the scene before them.
That someone called one of the Four Emperors of the New World, Big Mom, would be in such a wretched state—trampled underfoot—was hard to believe.
Had they seen it wrong?
How was this even possible?
Everyone knew Big Mom possessed incredibly powerful strength, ranking among the top on the Grand Line. It was even said that her power surpassed that of the Navy Admirals. Countless powerful foes had fallen at her hands.
Yet this fearsome great pirate was now humiliated in such a way.
When they turned their gaze to Kaguya, their expressions had already changed.
She truly lived up to the title of the strongest woman.
It was said that many years ago, even the combined efforts of the Navy's three Admirals couldn't defeat her. Legends like Sengoku, Garp, and even Whitebeard from Roger's era were not her match.
Now, after so many years, her strength had become even more terrifying.
To be able to defeat Big Mom effortlessly and without injury—it was simply unbelievable.
It was because they understood Charlotte Linlin's power that they realized just how terrifying Kaguya truly was to beat her so easily.
"Damn it… damn it!"
Charlotte Linlin's eyes were bloodshot as she growled in a low voice. In a fit of extreme rage, a powerful surge of energy erupted from her body, and she struggled to stand.
But just as she was about to rise, Kaguya suddenly appeared with a black rod in her hand and thrust it forcefully into Charlotte Linlin's wrist.
However, to Kaguya's surprise, with a sharp crack, the black rod snapped in two. In her fury, Charlotte Linlin's Armament Haki had risen even further.
Kaguya stepped back quickly, pushing off with her foot.
Charlotte Linlin let out a furious roar, and her already massive body suddenly expanded even more.
"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!"
As she shouted, Charlotte Linlin charged forward like a madwoman. With a clench of her hands, two radiant orbs appeared—her powers, Zeus the thundercloud and Prometheus the sun.
Facing the rampaging Charlotte Linlin, Kaguya raised her eyebrows.
She hadn't expected this woman to be so troublesome—especially with her powerful Armament Haki and regenerative ability. It was truly annoying, like a cockroach—tenaciously hard to kill.
And her Armament Haki was so strong that even the black rod couldn't pierce her.
But since the rod didn't work, there was only one other option.
"Alright, I'm not interested in playing with you anymore. This battle's result was already decided—continuing it is just a waste of time," Kaguya said as she reached out and made a grasping motion. Points of black light suddenly appeared and gradually formed into a spiral-shaped longsword.
The Sage of Six Paths' Creation Divine Sword—Amenonuhoko.
"Stop bluffing. Still, I should thank you, you damn brat—for helping me break through my limits again. But now," Charlotte Linlin sneered, "it's time for you to die."
As she finished speaking, her Zeus and Prometheus clashed heavily with Kaguya's Amenonuhoko.
...
"Can you tell me what exactly gave you the illusion that you could defeat me?"
Kaguya swayed the impaled Charlotte Linlin, who had been skewered right through the chest like a kebab on her Amenonuhoko, and asked with interest.
"Cough, cough—"
Charlotte Linlin coughed violently, and bright red blood immediately flowed from her wound.
"D-Damn it," Charlotte Linlin growled through gritted teeth, unwilling to accept the outcome. "How could I lose to someone like you?"
"Why not lose to me?" Kaguya said playfully. "There aren't many people who can defeat me. You should feel honored just to have fought me."
"Don't get cocky!" Charlotte Linlin snarled with blood at the corners of her mouth, eyes burning with fury. "One day, I'll tear you to pieces, rip you apart limb from limb!"
"Oh really?" Kaguya shrugged. "But it seems like you won't get that chance."
With that, she flicked her arm, sending Charlotte Linlin's plump body flying off the Amenonuhoko. With a heavy thud, she slammed into the ground.
Splurt!
Charlotte Linlin spat out a mouthful of blood.
Before she could get back up, several black spikes suddenly shot through the air and pierced her wrists and ankles, nailing her to the ground.
Without the protection of Armament Haki, Charlotte Linlin's body couldn't resist the sharp black rods.
An intense, piercing pain surged through her, causing her to clench her teeth tightly and stifle a groan. Cold sweat poured from her forehead.
"It seems you still haven't realized your current situation, Big Mom," Kaguya said. "Do you really think you still have a chance to turn the tables?"
Charlotte Linlin's face turned ashen. She spoke in a low voice, "Losing is losing. There's nothing more to say. If you want me to surrender, don't waste your effort."
"What a pity. Such a large pirate crew is about to be wiped out. Not only will you die, but the Big Mom Pirates will be destroyed, and even your so-called family will all be slaughtered," Kaguya shrugged and added, "What a tragic ending."
Charlotte Linlin's eyes widened in rage, veins bulging on her forehead. She roared, "Despicable! Shameless!"
"Despicable and shameless?" Kaguya walked over and stepped on her face, looking down contemptuously at the pinned Charlotte Linlin. "Catching criminals is only natural. And after all the vile things you've done over the years, you're really one to talk."
Charlotte Linlin's face turned beet red as she struggled with all her might, but with the black rods nailing her down, her strength was completely sealed. She couldn't move at all.
"Forget it. Keeping you alive would just be a disaster. Might as well kill you now." Kaguya gripped her crystal-clear blade and pressed it against Charlotte Linlin's neck. With a light stroke, a thin line of blood appeared.
"Wait, wait!"
Just then, a delicate little girl came stumbling over and hugged Kaguya's leg tightly. "Please, don't kill my mom!"
She was the girl Kaguya had saved earlier. Surviving such a fierce battle unscathed was indeed lucky.
"Your mom?" Kaguya looked at her, then at the bloodied and dirty Charlotte Linlin under her foot. She really couldn't see any resemblance.
Could it be a genetic mutation?
"Mm-hmm," the girl tugged on Kaguya's sleeve, eyes brimming with tears. "Please, don't kill her."
"You think just because you beg, I'll let go of someone who wants to tear me apart?" Kaguya glanced at her and said.
The little girl's face dimmed. Even though she was young, she understood—this was impossible. No one would spare an enemy just because someone begged. If that were the case, there wouldn't be war in the world.
"Are you an idiot? Don't beg her!" Charlotte Linlin fumed, roaring in rage. "Big Mom hasn't fallen so low as to grovel like a stray dog!"
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. With a forceful stomp, Charlotte Linlin's face was shoved deep into the dirt, cutting off her next words. "You're just a defeated opponent—how dare you still act so arrogant."
The little girl bit her lip and said softly, "I understand. But before she dies, could I say a few words to my mom?"
"Since you're asking so sincerely, I'm not that heartless," Kaguya smiled slightly, withdrawing her foot. "Go ahead. But this may be her last moment alive—make sure she leaves her final words."
Freed, Charlotte Linlin gasped for breath, her face flushed red. The pressure just now had nearly suffocated her.
The little girl turned around and pitifully said, "Can you help me hold my teddy bear?"
She took out a slightly worn stuffed bear from behind her.
Teddy bear?
Kaguya raised an eyebrow but still reached out.
Just as she was about to take the bear, the girl suddenly pulled out a sharp dagger from her bosom and stabbed toward Kaguya's chest.
But before the dagger could land, her wrist was firmly caught.
The girl looked up in panic—Kaguya was the one holding her wrist.
"So skilled at acting at such a young age. As expected of Charlotte Pudding," Kaguya said with a half-smile.
If she guessed correctly, this girl was definitely Charlotte Pudding. Among Charlotte Linlin's daughters, the only one with a third eye was Pudding.
Charlotte Pudding's face turned pale, eyes rimmed red, on the verge of tears. "Please... please let my mom go."
"Let your mom go?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I run a charity to you?"
"Idiot! Stupid girl! Didn't I tell you not to beg?! Are you deaf?" Charlotte Linlin shouted furiously from the side.
Pudding trembled all over and bit her lip.
Looking at the contrasting pair of mother and daughter, Kaguya suddenly laughed. She released Pudding's wrist and said, "That was a great performance—very interesting. I was planning to kill you both, but now I've changed my mind."
Changed her mind?
Charlotte Linlin was briefly stunned, then snarled, "What are you trying to do?"
"Oh, nothing much," Kaguya walked over with a bright smile. "Let's cooperate."
"Cooperate?" Charlotte Linlin's eyes narrowed.
"That's right," Kaguya said. "I'll spare your lives, but in return, you'll hand over all your money and Devil Fruits. How about it?"
How could someone be so shameless?
"Absolutely not!" Charlotte Linlin roared. "Don't even think about it—we will never—"
Before she could finish, Kaguya stomped her face again.
"Oh? So you don't agree?"
With a faint smile, Kaguya lifted her foot and began stomping bam bam bam—over a dozen brutal stomps, hard enough to make the ground tremble. Only when Charlotte Linlin stopped moving did she finally stop.
Wiping the blood splashed on her face, Kaguya looked up with a smile and said, "Dead or alive, it's all the same anyway."
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