Charlotte Linlin showed no concern over Sakazuki's threat, grinning coldly.
"To take these islands from me, it all depends on your strength."
Under Charlotte Linlin's control, Prometheus flew down and gripped Napoleon's hilt, igniting the blade, while the storm cloud Zeus merged with the steel.
Sakazuki could clearly sense that a terrifying, elemental attack was brewing within the massive sword.
He set his stance, raised his right arm high, and continuously drew boiling magma from the earth's core with his left hand, expanding his molten arm to a massive size.
Both sides simultaneously locked eyes and then shouted the names of their ultimate attacks.
"Maser Cannon!!!"
"Great Eruption!!!"
The violent collision of expanding magma and concentrated laser energy caused massive, uneven geological subsidence around the island.
Amid the blinding energy of the two attacks, Charlotte Linlin and Sakazuki's figures clashed once again in the center of the explosion.
This time, both sides abandoned their weapons and opted for pure physical combat.
The frenzied opponents even gave up defending their bodies, concentrating all their advanced Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki directly into their fists.
BAM! CRACK! THUD!
Even the two ships that had moved far out into the ocean could clearly hear the thunderous, sickening impact of Haki-coated flesh against flesh.
"Mama will definitely defeat that Marine officer," the young Katakuri said stoically, comforting his nervous younger siblings behind him.
He refused to believe the invincible Charlotte Linlin could ever lose to a mere Marine Vice-Admiral.
Meanwhile, on the warship, Miles clenched his fists tightly.
Having been on Sakazuki's ship for a long time, despite his rapid monstrous progress, he still couldn't participate in such world-shaking battles between true powerhouses.
Even the residual shockwaves of their clash were more than he could comfortably handle.
Miles couldn't help but think of his master, Christian Raleigh.
If he were here, he could surely join forces with Sakazuki and permanently execute Charlotte Linlin today.
Miles solemnly straightened his crisp military uniform, believing that in the near future, he too would be able to participate in such legendary battles.
The fight on the island grew increasingly intense and destructive.
Charlotte Linlin and Sakazuki had completely lost themselves in the bloodlust!
The dark clouds above the island churned violently, with countless thick lightning bolts flickering within them.
Charlotte Linlin grabbed Zeus, hurled the cloud skyward, and then pointed Napoleon's tip directly toward Sakazuki's body.
By now, Sakazuki's suit was in complete tatters.
He tore the remaining, burning clothes from his body.
Thick, bubbling magma rolled across his muscular form, creating a dense, impenetrable protective layer of volcanic rock and heat.
Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes. "Thunderbolt!!!"
Zeus, having merged with large portions of the natural dark clouds, received the soul command.
Without hesitation, the homie released all the lightning stored within its body!
As Charlotte Linlin brought Napoleon down, a dazzling blinding thunderbolt struck directly at Sakazuki's head.
Sakazuki naturally wouldn't await death passively.
He slammed both molten hands onto the ground.
"Magma Pillar!"
Magma from the earth's core was violently drawn forth with all of Sakazuki's might, erupting from his position like a massive volcanic explosion soaring toward the sky.
BOOM!!!
Lightning and magma collided mid-air, illuminating the sea for miles.
After what seemed like an eternity, following one final, tremendous explosion that shook the ocean, all the dark clouds surrounding the island were violently dispersed by the heat.
The rare, clear New World sunlight showered down upon the ravaged island.
No one would recognize this as the vibrant, rocky island it had been just hours before.
The landscape was now a hellish nightmare of vast stretches of land transformed into scorching, pooling magma, while the remaining areas resembled the aftermath of a Buster Call, littered with smoking craters and bottomless, jagged fissures.
At this moment, Sakazuki and Charlotte Linlin stood panting, facing each other across a several-meter-wide chasm, having finally ceased their battle.
"Mamamama! Sakazuki, no wonder people call you the Mad Dog. You really are a desperate rabid beast," Charlotte Linlin taunted, breathing heavily.
Her previously indestructible, iron-balloon body now bore a painful patch of skin severely scorched by magma.
Across from her, Sakazuki had withdrawn his magma armor, revealing a prominent bleeding slash scar across his chest.
This devastating clash had merely been a "test" of each other's strength.
For opponents as evenly matched in lethal power as them, a true, full-scale battle to the death would likely sink the entire island and surrounding archipelago.
Without fighting straight for three to five days, it would be impossible to determine a clear victor.
Since both had tested their might and found no easy resolution, they could only proceed according to their prior, tense agreement.
"Mamamama! I will give the Navy some dignity this time. I will trade those islands with you!" Charlotte Linlin declared with an air of arrogant indifference.
The deal wasn't a loss for her—it would at least complete her defensive perimeter.
From now on, whether the Navy or other Emperor-tier pirates targeted Totto Land, they would have to breach a fully fortified, unbroken defense.
Sakazuki wiped a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth and snorted coldly.
"If you knew this would be the outcome, why foolishly start a fight?"
Charlotte Linlin ignored his insult, turning her massive back to mount the thundercloud Zeus and fly back to her Queen Mama Chanter ship.
After a moment of tense silence, Sakazuki used Geppo to return to his warship.
Miles promptly brought him a fresh, tailored suit and a heavy Marine cloak to wear over his bandages.
"Vice-Admiral Sakazuki, has the deal been finalized?" Miles asked respectfully.
Sakazuki, who had just finished hastily bandaging his chest wound, nodded grimly.
"Charlotte Linlin has agreed to exchange the territory with us. Miles, take a detachment to those islands immediately. Lead our forces to heavily garrison the territory we have acquired."
Miles saluted Sakazuki sharply and turned to arrange for a smaller warship to transport him to the new frontlines.
Sakazuki walked to the railing, let out a long, exhausted sigh, and muttered to himself.
"Raleigh... this layout follows your grand plan perfectly. I hope it will not disappoint us."
...
Aboard the Charlotte Family's flagship, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
Charlotte Linlin's return had clearly put her in a foul mood, and the ministers and her children dared not speak a word.
Only Katakuri stepped forward.
"Mother, what should we do next?" he asked calmly.
Charlotte Linlin closed her eyes in thought for a moment before replying, her voice rumbling.
"I have just struck a binding deal with the Navy. Tomorrow, lead our people in withdrawing from those islands near the New World entrance. But remember, Katakuri... before leaving, ensure everything of value is stripped from those islands. Leave absolutely nothing but dirt for the Navy."
"We have encountered a truly formidable opponent today," Charlotte Linlin added, looking back at the smoking island.
Though her words spoke of caution, her expression showed no fear.
Instead, her tone carried a hint of pirate delight.
Although they couldn't squeeze more immediate benefits from the Navy, the current outcome was still a strategic win-win situation.
When both sides possess comparable, world-ending strength, and a fight to the death proves futile, exchanging interests becomes the optimal choice.