The ship was on the verge of capsizing.
Charlotte Linlin realized this after comparing the fruit with the illustrations in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
It turned out to be a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit—the Book-Book Fruit (Buku Buku no Mi).
She recalled that this ability was meant to belong to one of her future children, but she hadn't expected it to fall into her possession by mistake.
Upon reflection, it wasn't a big issue. After all, the Big Mom Pirates had only recently been formed, and she had yet to bear as many children as in the future. Calling her "Big Mom" at this point wasn't entirely appropriate—it was still Charlotte Linlin, not the infamous emperor of the sea she would later become. At this time, she was still youthful, beautiful, and powerful, unlike the enormous figure she would grow into.
However, her rapid and continuous childbirth in the future was daunting, and her former husband was no ordinary man.
The Book-Book Fruit was quite extraordinary, its abilities resembling those of a fairy tale. Linlin narrowed her eyes slightly; there was no need to debate who should inherit this Devil Fruit. Mitis was the most suitable candidate.
"Captain! It's bad!"
A crew member burst in, shouting loudly.
"What's wrong? I'm perfectly fine," Linlin said, frowning.
"No... No... The navigator spotted a massive storm approaching!"
Charlotte Linlin's expression turned serious.
There was nothing worse than encountering a violent storm at sea, especially in the unpredictable waters of the New World.
She wasn't like Monkey D. Luffy, who would recklessly laugh and charge headfirst into extreme weather.
"Damn, the ship is going to capsize!"
Standing at the bow, Linlin's face darkened as towering waves surrounded them. The sea turned violent, the sky darkened ominously, and the crew struggled desperately to control the sails.
She hadn't expected such rotten luck—being caught in such an extreme storm at sea.
It was as if fate was playing a cruel joke on her.
She hadn't initially wanted to go to sea but was forced into piracy, just as so many of her choices seemed predestined and out of her control.
The ocean swelled violently, and massive waves battered their ship, the Silverfeller. A moment ago, the waters had been calm, but now they were a nightmare.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the monstrous waves, Linlin knew they had to act fast. If they didn't escape soon, the ship would be swallowed by the sea.
"Quick! Change course and push through!" Linlin barked.
Her words immediately steadied the crew, who scrambled to adjust the ship's direction.
Linlin activated her advanced Observation Haki, sharpening her senses and syncing with the sea's movements to identify a possible escape route.
"Turn left!"
The crew followed her orders without hesitation, steering the ship to navigate the chaotic waves. Their eyes burned with adrenaline and determination.
"Hold steady, men! Charge forward!" Linlin commanded.
At the helm, Beta, their skilled navigator, gritted his teeth and gripped the rudder tightly, steering with precision. Meanwhile, Linlin stood firm at the bow, unshaken by the violent swells, her keen senses fully attuned to the storm.
The roaring waves crashed against the ship, sending white foam soaring into the air. The sheer force of the ocean was overwhelming.
Then, amidst the turmoil, Linlin spotted a more stable area ahead.
"Move! Now!" she shouted.
She couldn't sustain her Observation Haki indefinitely—maintaining such heightened awareness drained her stamina.
Beta trusted her completely. Without hesitation, he pushed the ship toward the opening she had pointed out.
The waves loomed ever higher, towering like mountains. Even Linlin, a woman of monstrous strength, felt a chill at the sight.
There was no other way—forward was the only path to survival. They had to outrun the monstrous waves behind them.
Following Linlin's unwavering command, Beta steered forward at full speed.
After what felt like an eternity, the sea ahead suddenly cleared. The massive waves that had threatened to engulf them vanished behind them. They had escaped the worst of the storm.
Relief swept through the crew. The realization of survival hit them all at once.
"W-Whew! I thought I was dead!"
"That was insane!"
"Boss Linlin is incredible!"
The crew embraced one another, their emotions spilling over. The ordeal had been terrifying.
Even Linlin exhaled deeply. That had been close—too close.
If they had been trapped in the center of that storm instead of its edge, they wouldn't have survived.
The New World was truly an unforgiving sea.
"Damn that Golden Lion Shiki, always bringing bad luck," she muttered.
Linlin made a mental note to reward Beta for his steady hands. He often seemed carefree, but in critical moments like these, he was utterly reliable.
Still, they weren't out of danger yet.
The Silverfeller continued sailing, putting distance between them and the storm. Such extreme weather was rare, even in the New World.
Just as Linlin started to relax, the dark clouds above suddenly swirled violently.
Out of nowhere, something massive came plummeting from the sky—a colossal ship, free-falling from the heavens.
Linlin's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell!? A ship... from the sky!?"
The crew stared, frozen in horror. It was an unforgettable sight.
This storm had been beyond anything they had encountered. It had even pulled a ship into the sky before hurling it down toward them.
Linlin gripped the hilt of her sword, Shigure, and took a deep breath. There was no time to hesitate.
"One-Sword Style: Thunder Flash!"
In an instant, a golden streak of lightning erupted from her blade, surging skyward.
The falling ship was sliced cleanly in half. Splintered wood and debris scattered, crashing into the sea below.
The force of her slash tore through the storm clouds, parting them with a deep, god-like fissure. The sky itself seemed to split open.
The crew stood in stunned silence, their jaws hanging open.
"That... That was god-like!"
Even Linlin herself was momentarily taken aback. The sheer power of nature was frightening—yet the power of Devil Fruits was equally terrifying.
One thing was clear: the Grand Line was merciless. And in this world, only the strong survived.