However, Charlotte Linlin didn't know. Upon hearing these words, her body couldn't help but tremble.
If he wasn't lying, it meant this monster before her could become more than five times stronger!?
"Of course, that's not important," Vladimir said playfully, observing her expression. "The true function of Zangetsu's Shikai is to unleash its inherent abilities. Next, please watch carefully."
As his voice fell, the blue light of Zangetsu's blade flickered, accompanied by the sound of sword hums.
Charlotte Linlin watched this scene in astonishment, her eyes fixed on everything.
However, the moment she saw the blue light of the blade, her five senses fell under the control of Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
She herself was completely unaware.
"Hehehehe…"
Vladimir suddenly let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "You're a user of the Soul-Soul Fruit. I even deliberately spoke a lot of nonsense to distract you, just in case you might sense something… Turns out, I was overthinking it."
"What did you do?"
Charlotte Linlin's expression turned grim. From her perspective, nothing had happened.
Vladimir pointed his sword and took a step forward.
"You are already dead."
Pfft!
Charlotte Linlin's face turned horrified. She looked down in disbelief. A sword blade had pierced through her chest from behind.
"No… impossible… you!" She looked up again, and her pupils contracted. "You disappeared?!"
In her field of vision, Vladimir, a hundred meters away, seemed like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water. With a ripple, he slowly dissipated.
Then, a voice echoed, seemingly from all directions.
"The sword's name is Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Its ability is… complete hypnosis!"
...
"The sword's name is Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Its ability is… complete hypnosis!"
Vladimir's voice came from all directions, ethereal and unfathomable.
Charlotte Linlin's gaze was unfocused. Her chest was pierced by a sword. She struggled to turn her head back, but she couldn't see anyone.
"Come out!" she roared, then spat out a mouthful of blood.
As the blood sprayed out, Charlotte Linlin's face turned even paler.
"I've been here all along, you just can't see me."
Vladimir's voice sounded again, but Charlotte Linlin still couldn't find him.
Her top-tier Observation Haki, which could cover the entire Dream Realm in an instant, couldn't detect his presence.
This meant that his concealment ability surpassed her Observation Haki.
Of course, this was just her guess. In reality, it wasn't quite like that.
Observation Haki was the power of "listening," while Mirror Flower, Water Moon was complete hypnosis, which naturally included hearing. It was easy for Vladimir to avoid detection by Observation Haki.
"Cough…" Charlotte Linlin coughed, her consciousness beginning to fade. With a bang, she knelt on one knee. "You win. Kill me!"
Her opponent's ability was too bizarre. Without understanding it, she had already suffered such severe injuries. She was completely outmatched.
"Hehehehe…"
A light laugh sounded, and Vladimir's voice came. "Since you concede, then we can talk properly."
He paused here before continuing. "The grievances between us at Phantom and you began with your lack of trustworthiness."
The initial conflict with BIG·MOM stemmed from Phantom capturing one of Charlotte Linlin's sons and extorting a sum of money.
Of course, due to subsequent developments, Phantom and the BIG·MOM Pirates had a brief period of cooperation.
The BIG·MOM Pirates paid 10 billion Berries to hire 'Ocean Master' Sea Dragon to repel the Marine's large fleet, preventing them from interfering in their war with the Whitebeard Pirates.
As a result, Sea Dragon actually completed the task, catching Charlotte Linlin off guard.
Constrained by the ongoing war, Charlotte Linlin reluctantly paid the 10 billion.
However, her untrustworthy attitude and attempt to renege on the debt were exposed. Thus, Sea Dragon directly took action and taught the BIG·MOM Pirates a lesson. Afterward, the BIG·MOM Pirates fled.
Later, Sea Dragon infiltrated Whole Cake Island, stole five Devil Fruits, advanced to five-star, and, together with Emperor Vladimir, annihilated them.
Forced into a corner, the remnants of the BIG·MOM Pirates hid in the Dream Realm.
They remained hidden for three to four months until today.
"Speaking of which, this wasn't a necessary life-or-death feud. You brought this upon yourselves. We at Phantom do not tolerate being offended."
Vladimir said calmly. "However, Emperor Vladimir did pierce your heart. Since you managed to survive, that's your capability."
"You mean the grievances end here?" Charlotte Linlin sneered. She didn't believe such nonsense.
But as soon as she finished speaking, she spat out another mouthful of blood, her condition worsening.
"Of course, it doesn't end here," Vladimir said. "I came to find you this time. You should be fortunate. If Emperor Vladimir had come, you would have died long ago."
"What do you want?"
"If you wish to live, we can give you an opportunity."
Vladimir stopped haggling and spoke directly. "To deal with you, we at Phantom put in considerable effort. As the defeated party, you will compensate for these losses."
"Money? Devil Fruits?" Charlotte Linlin felt indignant but had no choice but to suppress it.
No matter how unwilling she was, she had to bow her head now, unless she wanted to die.
"Money? We don't need it. Prepare 50 Devil Fruits as compensation, and this matter will be settled."
Vladimir made an exorbitant demand, his tone serious, giving her no room for negotiation.
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