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  "Charge—"

  "Kill all these Marines—"

  "Let those Wover bastards feel the power of the giants!"

  "The giants are ing! All forces, prepare for battle!"

  "Damn giants, fight them with everything we've got!"

  "For justice, everyone!"

  Bang! Bang!

  Boom! Boom!

  Ahhh!

  Before long, the charging giants stormed the shore, ons raised, cutting through the panig Marines with ease. Although these elite, well-trained soldiers quickly regrouped uhe and of their officers, mounting a desperate defehey were no match for the massive, powerful giant warriors.

  Had they faced only a few giants, the Marines might have stood a ce by fog their attacks on the giants' legs to knock them off bance, bined with heavy artillery fire to wear them down. But now, over a hu, battle-hardened giants bore down on them, and their defenses were quickly crumbling.

  Boom! Boom!

  Huge figures strode forward, shrugging off the rain of bullets. Some giants endured on fire directly, while others nimbly dodged. Their momentum was unstoppable as they breached the fortress, wielding massive swords, axes, hammers, and maces. Like ravenous wolves tearing through a flock of sheep, they overwhelmed the Marines, who screamed as they were cut down by the giants’ devastating attacks.

  "Hehehe, let’s get in oion, Linlin, Hajrudin!"

  Gerd, wielding a massive battle axe, leaped onto the back of Zeus, followed closely by the fiery Prometheus, her eyes burning with battle lust. Eager to join the fray, she added a warning: "Don’t kill them all just yet—I o steal their souls!"

  "Got it!"

  Linlin grinned, gripping her bde as she jumped onto Hera’s back.

  "I’ll do my best..." Hajrudin, also ready for battle, mounted Zeus. The trio, riding their cloud panions, split into two groups and charged toward the fortress from the Great Eirik.

  "What are those things?"

  "Are those giant children?"

  "Doesn’t matter if they’re kids—they're enemies!"

  "This is a battlefield! Open fire!"

  "Shoot them down!"

  Bang! Bang!

  The Marines, seeing the "clouds" approag with young giants riding on them, were fused and startled by the strange sight. But uheir officers' orders, they quickly regrouped and opened fire on Linlin, Gerd, and Hajrudin. However, Zeus and Hera nimbly dodged the bullets, easily evading the Marines' attacks.

  g! g!

  Once above the fortress, Hajrudin, filled with battle fervor, leaped off Zeus and charged toward the Marines below. His hands transformed into bdes, and his entire body became as hard as steel, impervious to the barrage of bullets.

  Ssh! Ssh!

  Thanks to his newfound powers from the Dice-Dice Fruit, Hajrudin rampaged through the enemy ranks, sshi and right with his bded hands. Though still a teenager in appearance, Hajrudin was a fully trained giant warrior at eighteen, and his strength was formidable. One Marier another fell before him, sliced apart by his powerful strikes.

  "Ahhh..."

  "Damn it, you’re not leaving any alive for me!"

  Seeing Hajrudin’s rampage, Gerd, eager to fight as well, leaped down from Zeus' back, wielding her giant battle axe. At the same time, she anded Zeus and Prometheus: "Zeus, Prometheus... attack with me!"

  "Yes, Gerd!"

  In an instant, uhe horrified gazes of the Marines, Zeus and Prometheus transformed into terrifying bat forms, appearing as demonic beings wreathed in thunder and fmes.

  "Fire Pilr!"

  Prometheus charged ahead, spewing a massive n of fire toward the approag Marines.

  "Thunderbolt!"

  Zeus wasn’t far behind, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning that tore through several Marines, leaving their bodies charred and smoking.

  "Ahhh!"

  "Is she... a demon?"

  The Marines were terrified, watg the devastation unfold.

  "LIFE OR DEATH?"

  At that moment, Gerd’s eyes gleamed with fearsome power, her voice radiating an oppressive aura that struck terror into the hearts of the Marines. Using her Soul-Soul Fruit ability, she unleashed the 'Soul Pocus' teique, causing the souls of the nearby Mario tremble and rise from their bodies.

  "What’s happening?"

  "What’s that ing out of us?"

  "Gulp! It feels like my soul is being pulled away!"

  "This giant girl... she’s a monster..."

  Before they could react, Gerd smiled brightly and decred, "Oops! Time’s up!" She reached out with her left hand, grasping the floating souls, and yahem free.

  "Ahhh!"

  The Marines colpsed with agonizing screams, their souls torn from their bodies, leaving them frozen in terror.

  "Hehehe, everyone’s doing so well. I guess it’s my turn now!"

  Linlin jumped down from Hera and nded in the midst of the Marines, fshing a "sweet" smile. Perhaps due to her Mythical Zoan, Vampire form, the st of blood otlefield didn’t disturb her at all. In fact, it seemed to excite her.

  Bang! Bang!

  A hail of bullets met her head-on, but thanks to her nearly iructible "iron balloon" defense, Linlin effortlessly deflected them. The bullets either bounced off her body or fell harmlessly to the ground.

  "What the...?"

  "Is she invincible?"

  "Everyone, don’t give up! Take her down!"

  The Marines, shocked, gritted their teeth and charged at Linlin with swords raised.

  "Doesn’t matter how many there are... just keep swinging your sword!" Recalling El’s advice from their training, Linlin, who had learned some basics of bat over the past few days, didn’t hesitate. She swung her massive bde with tremendous force at the oning Marines.

  g!

  Ahhh!

  There was no test. Guns, ons, and swords were all shattered or severed in half. The Marines, uo withstand Linlin’s overwhelming strength, were cleaved apart. Their bodies were torn to pieces, blood spttering everywhere, and severed limbs flew in all dires, creating a horrifying se.

  "Huh?" Linlin scratched her head, holding her bloodied bde, looking puzzled as blood dripped from it. To the Marines, her i, childlike smile looked more like the grin of a demon. "You’re all so weak... I wasn’t even trying."

  "Hiss—"

  "She’s a demon!"

  "That little girl... she’s a monster!!"

  The remaining Marines, now terrified, screamed in panic.

  In an instant, Linlin’s body transformed into a swarm of bloodthirsty bats, which desded upon the Mariheir red eyes glowing with hunger and fangs gleaming.

  Bang! Bang!

  g! g!

  "Bats? She’s a Devil Fruit user too?"

  "Damn it, these bats are as tough as steel! We ’t cut through them!"

  "Help! Help!!!"

  "Ahhh!”