Chapter 82: Opening with a Big Move
Out on the sea, Kuzan watched the scene before him, his expression calm as ever.
"Ice Age."
He moved his lips slightly and uttered four words.
Crack… crackle…
The seawater beneath him instantly froze and began to surge toward the Dragon Flame Pirates' ship at incredible speed.
Buzz… buzz…
In an instant, the surface of the sea transformed into a vast frozen island, glittering under the sunlight.
Crack, crack…
Even though the Dragon Flame Pirates' ship had already traveled three thousand meters, the rapidly advancing ice still caught up, freezing all the surrounding seawater solid.
Boom!
The colossal Mosasaurus slammed into the ice, producing a deafening crash as the layer shattered and shards of ice flew everywhere.
The ship fell back onto the sea, but a thick ring of ice still surrounded them. If they didn't break it, they wouldn't be able to leave.
"Raptorex, help the Mosasaurus!"
Jiang Qize said in a deep voice.
He hadn't expected Kuzan to be this strong even at his current age — able to freeze an area of sea stretching three kilometers across.
"Yes, sir!"
Raptorex's gravelly voice rumbled out. His two arms transformed into enormous blades over ten meters long.
"Roar!"
The Mosasaurus bellowed, then lunged underwater, charging forward with explosive power.
With its twentyfold speed boost, it became a gray blur beneath the waves, ramming straight into the ice ahead.
BOOM!
A terrifying impact followed.
A hundred meters of solid ice exploded apart, sending massive chunks flying into the air and raining down as ice shards.
Clang, clang!
Raptorex leapt from the ship, landing on the ice to the right. With each swing of his twin blades, massive slashes tore through the ice sheet.
Chunk after chunk shattered.
In less than five seconds, a wide channel of open sea appeared.
"Let's go!"
Jiang Qize ordered sharply.
"Roar!"
The Mosasaurus returned beneath the ship, gave a thunderous roar, and surged forward, carrying the ship away until it vanished beyond the horizon.
Far off, Kuzan watched their escape, his calm face tightening slightly.
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"Hello, Kuzan." It was Kong's voice.
"Marshal, they got away. The sea beast's speed was incredible," Kuzan said flatly.
"With your power, they still escaped?" Kong frowned. On the ocean, with the Ice-Ice Fruit, who could possibly get away?
"The sea beast seems to have eaten the Swift-Swift Fruit."
"That's impossible. A Devil Fruit user can't even touch seawater."
Kuzan didn't reply.
He had said all there was to say. For someone like him, even this much conversation was a rarity.
"All right, no need to chase them anymore. I've got a new assignment for you. Head to the Sabaody Archipelago and protect a Celestial Dragon."
"Understood."
He gave a faint response and hung up.
Then he got on his bicycle and disappeared across the frozen sea.
——
Out at sea.
Onboard the Dragon Flame Pirates' ship.
"They actually sent Kuzan after me — what a big move. And Kuzan, too… opening with his ultimate attack right from the start. We nearly got wiped out," Jiang Qize murmured as he gazed out at the ocean.
If Kuzan had managed to get close, aside from himself and the Mosasaurus, everyone else's survival would've been left to luck — well, except for young Robin, who could likely escape.
An Admiral-level fighter was leagues above a Vice Admiral. Otherwise, the Marines wouldn't have so many Vice Admirals but only a handful of Admirals.
"It all comes back to money."
Jiang Qize shook his head slightly.
——
The next few days passed without any encounters with the Navy.
A few pirate crews crossed their path, but they were swiftly dealt with.
Everything proceeded uneventfully.
Soon, they finally arrived at Alabasta.
A city built in the midst of a desert came into view.
"So this is Alabasta… damn, it's all sand! How do people even live here?"
Buck shouted in amazement as he stared at the yellow-sand city before them.
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