Fletcher's face instantly darkened. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Fisher, now an ice sculpture, and his clenched fists made a sickening, creaking sound.
This pirate captain, usually full of bluster, now had flames of fury burning in his eyes. He slowly drew a massive double-bladed battle axe from his waist. Its sharp blade gleamed with a piercing, cold light under the sun, and the axe head still bore stains of what could only be someone's blood.
"Looks like I have to deal with you myself," Fletcher sneered, baring his white teeth. The scar on his face twisted with his expression, like an ugly centipede squirming. "Kid, let me show you the true power of the 'Rampage Demon Bear'!"
Kuzan adjusted his sunglasses, his lazy smile still in place—as if he weren't facing a great pirate with a 76,000,000 Berry bounty, but an ordinary street thug. "Oh? Then let's see what's so special about a pirate with a 76,000,000 Berry bounty."
Fletcher suddenly let out an ear-splitting roar, a sound so terrifying it was like that of a real beast. The muscles all over his body visibly swelled, tearing his clothes apart. Thick brown fur rapidly sprouted across his skin, his nails turned into sharp claws, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a giant, bipedal brown bear. Brandishing his battle axe, he charged at Kuzan with astonishing speed, his feet stomping deep craters into the ground, sending rubble flying.
"Rampage Charge!"
Faced with this fierce onslaught, Kuzan unhurriedly raised his right hand, piercing cold gathering at his fingertips. "Ice Time Capsule!"
In an instant, thick ice blanketed the entire wharf area centered on Kuzan. Countless tiny ice crystals condensed in the air, shimmering with a rainbow of colors under the sun, like a sudden blizzard.
Fletcher's charge came to an abrupt halt. His massive form was firmly frozen inside a crystal-clear block of ice, locked in his charging pose—a bizarre piece of ice sculpture art.
Crack... crack... crack...!
Faint cracking sounds suddenly came from within the ice sculpture, followed rapidly by web-like fissures spreading across its surface. With a loud BANG!, Fletcher violently shattered the ice trapping him. Shards of ice flew everywhere, sparkling under the sunlight like countless tiny diamonds scattering across the ground.
"Die, damn you!" Enraged, Fletcher swung his battle axe in a wide arc, bringing it down on Kuzan's head with a whistling wind. The blade slicing through the air let out a sharp shriek.
BOOM!
The axe blade smashed heavily into the ground. Kuzan's figure was instantly cleaved into countless shards of ice, scattering across the ground.
Fletcher panted heavily, his brown fur coated in glittering ice dust under the sun.
"Ararara. Not bad strength. Worthy of a Zoan user," Kuzan's voice suddenly came from behind Fletcher, carrying a note of appreciation as if he were critiquing a fine performance.
Fletcher whirled around, his axe cutting a cold arc through the air, splitting the atmosphere itself. "Stop playing games!"
"However, it's time to end this." Kuzan's voice suddenly turned serious, his eyes behind the sunglasses sharpening. "Ice Time!"
His right hand lightly pressed against Fletcher's back, and a bone-chilling cold erupted instantly. The ice sculpture that formed this time was several times larger than before, completely sealing Fletcher within. The ice layer kept thickening, eventually forming a huge iceberg that refracted dazzling light under the sun, like a small crystal palace.
"Run! Run for it!" Seeing their captain frozen, the remaining pirates could no longer contain their terror. They threw down their weapons and fled towards their pirate ship. Their faces were twisted, eyes filled with sheer terror, as if they'd seen the world's most frightening monster.
"Can't let you escape. You'll stay here." Facing the fleeing pirates, Kuzan showed no mercy, directly freezing them all. "Ice Time Capsule!"
As his words fell, the fleeing pirates turned one by one into ice sculptures, frozen in mid-run.
The entire wharf fell silent in an instant, leaving only the drip-drip-drip of ice melting under the sun.
Sunlight shone upon these ice sculptures, refracting brilliant light, turning the entire wharf into a world of ice crystals. On the distant sea, several seagulls circled, letting out clear cries, as if drawing a final note to this battle.
In the distance, the constable who had watched Kuzan easily dispatch the pirates quickly hurried over with his men. They wore neat uniforms, had batons at their waists, and wore expressions of deep respect.
"Mr. Kuzan, thank you for your trouble," the constable said to Kuzan warmly, wiping sweat from his brow. His subordinates behind him had already begun expertly checking the frozen pirates.
"Mmm. Lock these pirates up. Deal with that pirate ship too," Kuzan said to the constable.
"Of course. Don't worry, we have experience with this," the constable quickly assured Kuzan, simultaneously directing his men to begin work. "Move them all to the prison. Be careful not to break the ice!"
"Sir! L-look, another pirate ship," someone said then, pointing at a pirate ship approaching from the distance.
Kuzan raised his head, his gaze shifting to the distant sea. He lightly adjusted his sunglasses and muttered to himself, "Hmm? What's the occasion today? So many pirates." The sea breeze ruffled his fluffy, curly hair, bringing a hint of salty dampness.
"Mr. Kuzan, we'll have to trouble you again," the constable said, wiping his brow, a note of apology in his tone.
"Leave it to me." Kuzan rolled his shoulders, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Perfect chance to try out a newly developed ability." He strolled towards the shore, casually raising his right hand, aiming it at the distant pirate ship.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
As his low voice fell, the surrounding air temperature plunged. Countless cold air currents coalesced around his right arm, transforming in a flash into a gigantic ice bird with a wingspan exceeding two thousand meters. The ice bird beat its wings, soaring high, carrying a bone-piercing chill as it shot straight towards the pirate ship.
Meanwhile, on the deck of the pirate ship.
Kaido stood with his arms crossed, watching the incoming ice bird without moving a muscle. He turned his head slightly, speaking to Enel beside him. "Enel, let me see how well you've mastered your ability."
"Yes, Kaido big bro!" Enel excitedly leaped onto the bow. His golden pupils flashed with electricity. He raised his right hand high, dazzling lightning erupting from his fingertips. "30,000,000 Volt: Thunderbird!"
A giant eagle, condensed from 30,000,000 volts of high-voltage electricity, spread its wings and took flight. Its sharp cry was interwoven with the crackle and pop of electric currents. The two giant birds collided mid-air with a deafening BOOM!
The violent explosion sent towering waves churning. Mist generated by the explosion rapidly spread across the sea surface, enveloping the entire pirate ship. The sea wind whipped up fine droplets of water, refracting a rainbow of colors under the sunlight.
***
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