Magnus's Conqueror's Haki!

"Rocks, are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine."

After taking a punch that nearly sent him to the afterlife, Rocks, lying on the ground, began to question his existence.

They told him he had talent, didn't they?

In just six months, he went from a complete novice to learning the Six Powers and even touching upon Armament Haki and Observation Haki.

Even in the first half of the Grand Line, Rocks' current strength would allow him to thrive.

But he ran into Charlotte Linlin.

A monster blessed by the heavens, arguably the most talented pirate, who became one of the Four Emperors just by eating, drinking, and lounging around every day.

Who else could compare?

"Rocks, you rest first. I'll handle Linlin!"

It was Ripley, who had rushed over, who spoke to Rocks. The entire village's alarm had been sounded. Three CP0 agents had set a fire before leaving, and half the village was at risk of being consumed by flames.

After discovering the children had been abducted, three stronger Giants had already gone to pursue the CP agents. The remaining villagers were either busy fighting the fire or driving away animals affected by Magnus and Rona's battle.

They simply didn't have enough manpower.

Looking at the completely irrational Charlotte Linlin before her, Ripley's expression was grave.

She actually knew a bit more than Rocks did.

Including the fact that Charlotte Linlin suffered from Gluttony Disorder, could lose her mind if she got too hungry, possessed strength comparable to an adult Giant despite her young age, and had a steel-like defense that could ignore any attack.

Fortunately, young Linlin couldn't fully utilize her advantages yet.

"Rocks, can you still move? Go to the food storage immediately, bring out all the prepared food, and bring some here. Distribute the rest to everyone."

Given the current situation, the Winter Solstice Festival was no longer a priority.

Linlin was rampaging due to hunger, and the Giants couldn't fight at their full strength because they were hungry.

Only by filling their stomachs could they defeat the enemy!

"Alright!"

Although he felt like he was falling apart after Linlin's punch, the benefit of his mastery of the Six Powers became apparent.

At this critical moment, he used the Six Powers' "Kami-e" to evade the direct impact. So, while injured, he wasn't severely wounded.

"And the children from the Orphanage of Lambs..."

"Leave the children to me."

Awakened from her sleep, Sister Carmel led the children to a safe place. After casting a worried glance at Charlotte Linlin, Carmel still chose to prioritize escorting the children to safety.

Seeing Carmel leave, Ripley turned her gaze to Charlotte Linlin.

"Linlin, I'm sorry."

When Magnus asked her to help look after Charlotte Linlin, he had told her.

If anything happened to Linlin.

Then knock her out!

"Armament Haki!"

Ripley got into a stance, an invisible aura swirling around her hands. Even though Magnus had focused on training her Observation Haki for the past six months, she was the one who awakened Armament Haki first.

Perhaps the Giant race was naturally incompatible with Observation Haki.

"Hero's Spear!"

She went all out from the start. If it were another Giant child, Ripley would worry if her punch would shatter them.

But facing Charlotte Linlin...

"Samura Ice Cream..."

A devilish grin spread across Charlotte Linlin's face.

Bang!

Ripley's fist collided with Charlotte Linlin's. A terrifying shockwave erupted from the point of impact. Facing Ripley's attack, amplified by Armament Haki, Charlotte Linlin surprisingly showed no signs of being at a disadvantage.

"What!?"

It was only now that Ripley truly understood why Magnus wanted Charlotte Linlin to join his pirate crew.

At just five years old.

Without any combat techniques.

Relying solely on instinct, Charlotte Linlin could fight an adult Giant like her to a draw.

"This is troublesome."

Facing Charlotte Linlin, Ripley couldn't bring herself to deliver a fatal blow. However, the berserk Charlotte Linlin wouldn't hold back at all.

For a moment, Ripley found herself somewhat restricted.

Just then, a bone-chilling gale erupted in the forest. Even though Ripley was far enough away, the terrifying aura made her breath quicken.

"This is Captain's Conqueror's Haki!"

As a recent addition to the White Wolf Pirates, Ripley had never doubted the strength of her captain's Conqueror's Haki.

It was just that normally, Magnus's Conqueror's Haki was mostly used to scare Charlotte Linlin. Ripley had never actually experienced Magnus unleashing his full Conqueror's Haki.

But now, she saw it.

Red and black lightning storms shot into the sky, spreading outwards in rings from the forest, even causing the leaves of the Adam Tree above to rustle.

And Charlotte Linlin, who had been in a berserk state just moments ago, showed a flicker of clarity in her eyes after sensing this aura.

"Huh? What was I doing?"

Charlotte Linlin bit her finger, looking at Ripley with a bewildered expression.

"Sister Ripley, I think I saw some people run into our house just now. They seemed to be bullying Gulz and Haierdin. Are they bad guys?"

Truly the captain!

Seeing Linlin regain her senses, Ripley couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Upon hearing her words, Ripley nodded, "That's right, they are bad guys. They took Gulz and Haierdin."

As Ripley said this, Charlotte Linlin fully sobered up, exuding an aura no less intense than before.

"Bad guys? I'm going to beat up bad guys! I'm going to rescue Gulz and Haierdin!"

"It's okay, Linlin, others have already gone. Gulz and Haierdin will be fine."

Seeing the aura emanating from Charlotte Linlin, Ripley quickly tried to calm her. She wasn't Magnus; she couldn't make Charlotte Linlin obedient.

Right now, she wasn't asking for Charlotte Linlin's help, just hoping she wouldn't cause any more trouble.

"Ripley, I've brought the food."

From not far away, Rocks ran over carrying a large basket full of desserts. As soon as she saw the food in the basket, Charlotte Linlin forgot about everything else.

But Ripley and Rocks couldn't relax yet.

Because the real battle wasn't over.

The shockwaves generated by Conqueror's Haki couldn't have come from just one person. Besides Magnus, there was another enemy capable of releasing an equal amount of Conqueror's Haki.

In the jungle, large swathes of the ground formed by the giant tree roots collapsed. Many roots were covered in ice and snow, while some were cleanly severed.

In a few areas, one could clearly see the underworld thousands of meters below.

Magnus, in his giant wolf form, stood facing Rona.

But compared to Magnus's current calmness, Rona seemed disbelieving.

"Old man, you have Conqueror's Haki!?"