Chapter 26: The Power of Homies

Bang! Bang!

Boom! Boom!

Ahhh!

Amid the smoke and chaos, the fortress was in utter disarray. Gunfire, explosions, and the clash of steel echoed as the battle raged. Giant warriors rampaged through the fortress, smashing everything in their path and mercilessly slaughtering the Marines, showing no intention of holding back.

"Help!"

"That monster..."

"What is this thing?!"

"Damn it, let me go! Ahhh!"

Thud! Thud!

In one corner on the western side, a swarm of bloodthirsty bats descended, swooping upon the Marines at terrifying speed.

Bang! Bang!

No matter how much the Marines fired or slashed with their swords, they couldn't fend off the bats. Even those who managed to strike them saw their blades crack from the impact.

Thud! Thud!

Amid the chilling screams, many Marines collapsed, their bodies drained of all blood, leaving behind dried corpses.

"Hiss—"

"Gulp! Those bats..."

"Did Linlin turn them into that?"

"What a terrifying creature!"

It wasn't just the surviving Marines who were terrified. Even the giant warriors felt a chill run down their spines as they watched the horrific scene unfold. They hadn't expected that the human girl El had taken in would be so terrifying—like a demon straight from hell.

Gerd and Hajrudin's fierce performance also shocked the giant warriors. Who would have thought these two young giants, empowered by their Devil Fruits, had become so formidable? They had surpassed most of the adult giants.

"Looks like Linlin's gotten a little too excited!"

High above, the massive Feathered Serpent circled the battlefield. El, observing everything from above, sighed in resignation.

"Linlin, stop getting carried away!" Gerd called out, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "I still need to collect their souls!"

Seeing the drained corpses, even Gerd couldn't help but gulp. If it weren't for her close friendship with Linlin, she might have been frightened by her companion's gruesome actions.

Whirring...

The swarm of bats gathered together, reforming into Linlin's human shape. Covered in blood, Linlin appeared before Gerd, wiping her mouth sheepishly. "Sorry, Gerd... I got a little carried away!"

"No worries, I've already collected quite a few souls myself, hehe..." Gerd smiled as she swung her bloodstained axe. "But this axe is starting to feel a bit off—I think I need to switch to a scythe."

With the power of her Soul-Soul Fruit, Gerd figured a scythe would be more efficient for harvesting souls.

"Really?" Linlin tilted her head, resting her blood-soaked blade on her shoulder. "Hehe, I still like my sword. It's just a little too light!"

"Damn you, giant brat! Die!"

At that moment, a figure charged toward Linlin, exuding a dangerous aura. His hands came together, fingers outstretched like claws and coated in Armament Haki. He lunged at Linlin with lightning speed, shouting, "Ten-Finger Gun!"

Bang!

The attack hit Linlin squarely, sinking into her body but failing to pierce her iron-like defense.

"Linlin!"

Gerd, caught off guard, gasped in shock.

"What!?" The Marine Vice Admiral, Modi, widened his eyes in disbelief. His prized 'Ten-Finger Gun', honed to perfection and empowered with Haki, was powerful enough to pierce steel plates, yet it couldn't even scratch Linlin. And she hadn't even braced for the attack, nor had she used Haki or any other technique to defend herself. What kind of monster was this?

"Hey, that hurt a bit, old man..." Linlin frowned, staring at the burly, vicious-looking officer in a suit. Her expression turned cold. "But you're all bad guys, aren't you?"

"El said his family and people were all killed by you Marines and the World Government!"

As she spoke, a dangerous glint appeared in her eyes, and she raised her sword, ready to strike.

"You bastard—"

Before she could act, Gerd swung her axe, forcing Modi to retreat.

"Soru!" Modi stomped the ground and instantly withdrew, leaving only an afterimage as the axe narrowly missed him. Gerd, still young and unsteady, stumbled slightly from the force of her swing.

"Tempest Kick—Sever!"

Seizing the moment, Vice Admiral Modi unleashed a powerful slash with his leg, sending a massive crescent-shaped attack toward Gerd and Linlin.

"Watch out, Linlin!"

"Gerd!"

From a distance, Kashii, Raideen, and Oimo shouted in alarm, but it was too late for them to intervene.

"Don't you dare hurt Gerd!"

In the blink of an eye, Hajrudin leaped forward, his bladed hands crossed in defense.

Clang! Clang!

He managed to block the attack, but the force pushed him back several steps, revealing the gap in strength between him and the vice admiral.

"Attack! Zeus, Hera, Prometheus, take him down!"

Filled with fury, Gerd commanded her three Homies into action.

"Yes, Master!"

All three Homies responded in unison, including Hera, who had been floating in the sky. They launched their assault simultaneously.

"Bastard! How dare you attack Master!" Prometheus roared, transforming into a massive, fiery form. He surged forward, radiating intense heat that distorted the air as he crashed down upon Modi.

The Marine Vice Admiral's face paled as he barely dodged the attack.

Boom! Boom!

A building behind him was instantly incinerated, flames roaring into the sky. The overwhelming heat and destruction were terrifying to behold.

Before Modi could catch his breath, Zeus and Hera unleashed their strikes.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Two blinding bolts of lightning, faster than the eye could follow, streaked toward him from both sides. Though Modi managed to dodge the first bolt using the 'Paper Arts' technique, the second hit him squarely, electrocuting him.

"Ahhh!"

The vice admiral screamed as his body convulsed, charred and smoking from the lightning's impact.

Just then, a blazing sun appeared in the sky, illuminating the battlefield with its intense light.

"What is that?"

"Gulp... Is that the sun?"

"Vice Admiral Modi, watch out!"

The Marines were gripped by fear as the immense heat wave rolled over them. Even the giant warriors, including Kashii and Oimo, were left speechless by the sheer power.

"Turn to ash!"

Prometheus, now massive and burning hotter than ever, plummeted from the sky like a real sun, crashing down toward the paralyzed Vice Admiral Modi.

Boom! Boom!

Ahhh!