New World, Tackis Island.
At this moment, big/
Hale Norck took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart.
Strength, strength, strength!!!!
One by one... Damn it all!!!!
However, this cannot continue, he must be able to match their words.
Thinking of this, he mobilized his ability.
The formed steam giant suddenly stopped charging at Charlotte Linlin.
Instead, it exploded upwards.
White steam eroded upwards layer by layer.
Before long.
Several island-sized white steam clusters formed in the sky.
From within the steam clusters, lightning, fire, or giant sword energy was occasionally unleashed.
The confrontation continued.
-----------------
Below the island.
Sakazuki, standing in the shadows, narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.
The rampant Conqueror's Haki above had disrupted Observation Haki.
He could perceive nothing.
"Old fox."
Hale Norck's strength, to be honest, was quite strong.
Although his Devil Fruit ability and physique were completely countered by Sakazuki and Charlotte Linlin.
But if he were to face Golden Lion, Rayleigh, and others, he might not have lost so miserably.
Wegao Zengsha was hundreds of times stronger than the explosive tags of reciprocal multiplication.
Without an ability that countered his physique, the impact force of the explosion alone would be difficult to withstand.
Unfortunately, he met Sakazuki.
From abilities, to Haki, from strength to physique.
He was completely countered.
Sakazuki quietly waited for an opportunity.
The lava spear in his hand condensed.
Lava poured into it incessantly.
This was the move from the Battle of Seagulls Sea.
And now he was going to test Charlotte Linlin's defense...
Time slowly passed.
After an unknown amount of time.
A super loud noise came from the white steam clusters in the sky.
The violent air current directly dispersed the giant gas mass.
The immense impact force, carrying Charlotte Linlin, rushed towards the ground.
Hale Norck's somewhat weak voice came from the sky:
"Sakazuki!!!"
Sakazuki gripped his spear with both hands, and a roar erupted.
He himself turned into a fiery red meteor, piercing towards the falling Charlotte Linlin.
In just an instant, he reached her.
The moment he pierced Charlotte Linlin's body.
Charlotte Linlin suddenly turned around.
She unleashed a great killing intent and said in a cold voice:
"It was you after all!!!"
Sakazuki sneered, unconcerned.
It was within expectations, there was no device to control people's hearts.
It was natural for Hale Norck to betray them.
His hands did not hesitate.
The spear, imbued with both Armament and Observation Haki, pierced towards Charlotte Linlin's heart.
Sss—
Lightning flashed at the point where the Haki collided.
The spear deeply embedded itself into Charlotte Linlin's body.
But Sakazuki knew that it was only superficially embedded.
It had not penetrated her skin's defense at all.
Instantly, he increased the output of his lava spear's ability and Haki.
Charlotte Linlin's face showed a hint of discomfort.
But it did not affect her actions.
Her left hand flashed like a afterimage, directly grabbing Sakazuki's shoulder.
Her right hand, Napoleon, imbued with Haki, fiercely slashed towards Sakazuki's neck.
Clang—
Sparks flew.
Sakazuki, imbued with a massive amount of Haki, blocked the sword.
However, his skin was cut a few inches deep.
A trickle of blood flowed.
The two were locked in a stalemate, falling from the sky.
A cruel smile flickered across Charlotte Linlin's lips:
"Hale Norck!!!!"
The two, rolling on the ground, crashed through countless boulders.
Before they could stop, a fatal sense of crisis came from behind Sakazuki.
Sakazuki's pupils contracted sharply, sensing Hale Norck suddenly appearing behind him.
And the source of that fatal crisis was the short dagger in his hand.
Seastone, since when...
There was no time to think. The moment Hale Norck stabbed, he self-destructed.
Boom—
The exploding lava impacted the two of them.
Hale Norck and Charlotte Linlin erupted with Haki, forcefully charging forward.
They killed towards Sakazuki, who was reforming his body.
His right arm, held by Charlotte Linlin, received a violent impact.
Blood flowed, but his movements did not stop.
A lava longsword condensed, imbued with Haki, and directly clashed with Charlotte Linlin's Napoleon.
A massive shockwave erupted from the center of the two.
The ground cracked, and countless gravel shot out.
Hale Norck held the short dagger.
His entire arm was imbued with Haki, and sharp sword energy shot out.
It pierced towards Sakazuki.
Sakazuki, who was grappling with Charlotte Linlin with his longsword, let go.
He turned into an afterimage and flashed past, kicking directly at Hale Norck.
Hale Norck, who had been brutally beaten by the two in a short period, was already exhausted.
He was directly kicked flying.
When he struggled to get up, the three were in a triangular standoff.
Sakazuki's lips curved slightly.
Staring at Charlotte Linlin.
However, the words he spoke were to Hale Norck:
"Your best option now is to join me and eliminate Charlotte Linlin."
Hale Norck let out a cold laugh:
"I think eliminating you would be good too."
With that, his ability surged.
Charlotte Linlin also smiled cruelly:
"I'm afraid you'll die here today."
"Lava brat."
Sakazuki chuckled lightly.
The lava longsword in his hand condensed and pointed at Charlotte Linlin:
"Oh?"
"Is that so."
"Then if..."
"The Golden Lion isn't dead."
"Hale Norck."
Without regard for Hale Norck's suddenly contracted pupils, he charged at Charlotte Linlin.
Boom—
Powerful Conqueror's Haki and abilities intertwined.
Their battle was world-destroying.
Hundreds of meters of sword energy scattered.
Lightning and lava cleansed everything around them.
Hale Norck, in the distance, suppressed his panic and thought of a countermeasure.
As Sakazuki had said.
If the Golden Lion was not dead.
Then killing Charlotte Linlin was the best choice.
He had already completely offended the Golden Lion. If Charlotte Linlin also survived.
Hale Norck, caught between the two, would be in a terrible situation.
But if he acted to kill Charlotte Linlin.
It would be difficult to escape.
This Marine's heart was truly black...
Suddenly, Hale Norck realized.
What if the news of the Golden Lion's death was spread by Sakazuki himself...
***
Damn it.
Hale Norck gritted his teeth.
He turned the Seastone dagger in his hand and aimed it at Charlotte Linlin.
The Marines in the New World couldn't enter now, and the two he had completely offended were right next to each other.
As long as he killed the difficult-to-deal-with Charlotte Linlin.
He was confident about the Golden Lion.
After all, the Golden Lion's defense was not as monstrous as Charlotte Linlin's.
Although this Seastone dagger was inconspicuous, as long as it stabbed.
It would significantly reduce the opponent's physical strength.
This was also why Sakazuki had to dodge when he self-destructed earlier.
If he fell into a weakened state.
He would truly die.
He took a deep breath:
"Lock Charlotte Linlin!!!"
Charlotte Linlin roared in fury:
"Idiot!!!"
Before she could erupt further.
Sakazuki, on the other side, chuckled.
A thick lava spear shot out from underground.
Imbued with Haki, it bound Charlotte Linlin's body in various places.
It was only for a moment.
But it was enough.
A steam fist holding a dagger shot towards Charlotte Linlin.
The cautious Hale Norck dared not take the risk.
He directly activated his ability and sent out the dagger.
He himself hid far away.
The moment it stabbed, Sakazuki could perfectly seize the opportunity.
Then attack Charlotte Linlin.
And he could take the opportunity to escape.
However...
He had underestimated Sakazuki's cunning.
In Charlotte Linlin's rapidly contracting pupils.
The dagger was about to pierce her skin...
Sakazuki on the opposite side bent his knees slightly.
Hale Norck in the distance erupted with steam, ready to escape the area.
Charlotte Linlin's right arm forcibly moved upwards, trying to swat the dagger away.
But it was too late.
Ding—
The dagger pierced her skin.
A wave of weakness washed over her.
Her strength was continuously draining away.
Before either of them could react!
Sakazuki's lips curled, he stomped his foot.
Boom!
He instantly disappeared!
Yes.
He vanished instantly...
He shot up into the sky, flying towards the distance and disappearing...
The dagger fell to the ground, and control over her body returned.
Charlotte Linlin looked at Hale Norck.
The scene fell into silence...
"Tenma Dazaizai Tenshin!!!!!!"
Endless hatred, carrying thunder, bombarded the fleeing Hale Norck...
But this had nothing to do with Sakazuki anymore...