This series of attacks left Charles completely bewildered. It wasn't that he wasn't strong—on the contrary, if he weren't strong, Rosen would have handled him alone long ago. He wouldn't have needed Hathaway and Law to join forces.

Rosen had realized this when they teamed up with Morris to kill the Ghost Spider. Precisely because Charles was so powerful, they had to repeatedly feign attacks, exploiting his lack of high intelligence to gradually outmaneuver him.

Charles did possess a certain level of cunning and caution, but humans were the true masters of deceit. However, having a plan wasn't enough; they also needed formidable strength. Without it, simply getting close to Charles would be suicide—he'd react faster and kill you in an instant.

Hathaway alone could barely withstand Charles's fierce assaults. Trying to plan further while fighting him was unrealistic, which was why they had let Charles roam freely on Lantis Island for so long. In a fair fight, the three of them could hold their own for a long time, but against an enemy, they would resort to any means necessary to secure victory.

Both Rosen and Hathaway were strong, but their power wasn't sustainable. Rosen's peak was fading, and Hathaway was severely injured, only able to unleash her full strength temporarily.

Law's abilities also played a crucial role. Though he wasn't exceptionally powerful, his ability to teleport within a space was incredibly useful, even against top-tier opponents.

While Law's ultimate value lay in his ability to perform the immortality surgery, his other skills were also highly effective. If Charles had detected Law's movements and killed him, Rosen and Hathaway might have been unable to prevent his escape without the teleportation ability.

"Did we succeed?" Law asked, exhausted. He had to extend his Ope Ope no Mi abilities wherever the trio fought, and the constant high-speed repositioning was draining.

Charles let out a pained cry as Rosen's sword struck him, causing his body to shrink rapidly. His abilities were being suppressed by Seastone, which was even more effective against Devil Fruit users than the sea itself. Ordinary users would become powerless upon contact, and even powerful abilities would be nearly nullified.

Charles's tragedy wasn't being defeated in a fair fight but being directly subdued by Seastone. In a direct confrontation, Rosen's sword would have injured him but wouldn't have nullified his abilities. Rosen wasn't one to fight honorably unless he had no other choice—he preferred ambushes and schemes to secure victory.

Charles was weaker than the combined strength of Rosen and Hathaway, and his escape was thwarted by Law's teleportation. He had already been worn down by Hathaway's earlier attacks and distracted by their feints.

Seeing her chance, Hathaway unleashed her final attack, a crimson slash aimed at Charles's head. Her burst of strength would fade after this strike, and while she wouldn't lose all combat ability, her power would significantly diminish.

Rosen, however, didn't want Charles dead. From Blackbeard's repeated thefts of abilities, he knew that Devil Fruit powers could only be stolen if the user was either recently deceased or still alive. If Charles died, his Devil Fruit would simply reappear elsewhere.

"Law!" Rosen called out, and the two teleported away from Hathaway's attack.

Charles roared in frustration as his body shrank further, transforming into a bizarre creature—a two-meter-tall chimera with a monkey's body, a crocodile's tail, a tiger's head, wolf claws, and elephant-like skin.

"What the hell is this thing?" Rosen was stunned.

"Charles, the original test subject," Hathaway explained, her skin returning to its normal pale tone as she approached with a broken blade. She had fought this monster before in the depths of the prison. Charles had escaped during a final experiment by the World Nobles, consumed a Devil Fruit, and wreaked havoc, marking the beginning of Lantis's nightmare.

"He's mine now. Don't interfere," Rosen said, stopping Hathaway from finishing Charles off. Law handed him a pair of Seastone handcuffs, which Rosen promptly locked onto Charles.

Even without his Devil Fruit powers, Charles's strength was formidable, likely surpassing that of some Rear Admirals. However, Rosen had no trouble subduing him. To ensure Charles couldn't escape by severing his limbs, Rosen embedded a Seastone bullet into the creature's tiger head.

With a final punch, Rosen knocked Charles unconscious, bringing an end to the chaos. The surrounding zombies, now leaderless, began attacking indiscriminately.

"I don't know what you plan to do with him, but you know how dangerous he is. Death would be safer," Hathaway said coldly.

"I've told you, he's my prize. He won't see the light of day again," Rosen replied. He had no sympathy for these immortal monsters.

Charles's Devil Fruit was a Mythical Zoan type, granting immense power and immunity to physical attacks. This was why the Marines often captured powerful pirates and Devil Fruit users, imprisoning them in Impel Down to prevent their abilities from falling into the wrong hands.

Hathaway was frustrated but knew it was unwise to push further. Rosen was stronger than ever, and provoking him would be disastrous.

"Many have played with fire and gotten burned. I hope you're not one of them. Let's go," Hathaway said, giving Rosen a meaningful look before leaving with her soldiers.

"Goodbye, Uncle," Natalie said as she followed Hathaway.

Rosen waved them off. The rest was up to the people of Lantis. He had his own troubles to deal with.

"Let's head back to Frans Island," he said.

(End of Chapter)