"I will not die here, Kuzan."
Ace roared as flames burst violently around his body. If he were facing Sakazuki, he would have been far more cautious, but against Kuzan, Ace still held confidence. Fire naturally countered ice. No matter how strong Kuzan was, Ace believed he could never be completely frozen.
"Fire Fist…"
"It seems I have no choice but to act seriously," Kuzan said as his gaze turned cold. The chill in his hand surged outward, instantly forming a thick wall of ice that slammed into the incoming flames and blocked the attack.
At the same time, Kizaru's body transformed into a streak of golden light and shot toward Ace. The Ama no Murakumo sword formed in his hand and slashed straight down toward Ace's head.
With a sharp metallic ring, Vista intercepted the glowing blade with his twin swords. His expression was firm as he declared, "Even if it costs me my life, I will not let you touch Ace."
"Oh my, Flower Sword Vista, do not get in the way," Kizaru said lazily. He lightly stepped back and murmured, "Flash Clone…"
In an instant, ten identical Kizarus appeared in front of Vista.
"Clones?" Vista's eyes narrowed. Faced with ten identical figures, he could not tell which one was real and which were illusions.
"Ten Kizarus?"
The Whitebeard Pirates cried out in shock. One Kizaru alone was already terrifying. Ten felt overwhelming.
Crocodile stared at the scene, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his temple. "Idiot. There is no way there are ten real bodies. They are just clones."
"Then which one is the real one?" a pirate shouted anxiously.
Crocodile shot him an irritated glance. There was no way for him to know that either.
At the same time, all ten Kizarus spoke in perfect unison.
"Do not interfere with my work, Flower Sword Vista."
In the next instant, the ten figures exploded into streaks of golden light and rushed toward Vista from all directions.
"Be careful, Vista."
Fossa shouted as the other division captains moved at once. Unable to tell which Kizaru was the real one, they could only respond with everything they had.
With Flash Clone in play, Kizaru tied down the majority of the Whitebeard Pirates' captains. Kuzan seized the opening. Cold air spread rapidly from his body as he raised his hand.
"Ice Age, Ice Ball…"
"Fire Fist…"
Fire and ice collided once more, erupting into blinding steam that swallowed the battlefield. Ace watched the clash and let out a confident smile.
"It is useless, Kuzan. Fire naturally has the advantage over ice."
"It seems you are underestimating me," Kuzan replied calmly, his gaze sharpening. "Fire can counter ice, but ice can also counter fire. Let me show you."
He clenched his fist, instantly forming a dense ice glove around it, then hardened it further with Armament Haki.
Ace's expression remained confident, but his guard rose. Even with the elemental advantage, he knew better than to underestimate an Admiral.
"My life was saved by Pops and everyone at the cost of their own. I will not fall here."
A faint trace of irritation appeared in Kuzan's eyes. Ace's confidence felt like disdain, as though Kuzan could do nothing to him because of the elemental matchup. That displeased him deeply.
Ace had already been overwhelmed by Sakazuki before. If Kuzan failed to defeat him now, the title of the weakest Admiral would forever cling to him.
"Do not speak so boldly, kid," Kuzan said coldly.
He kicked off the ground, long trails of ice spikes forming under his feet as he surged forward. Ace gathered flames once again, roaring as he attacked.
"Fire Fist…"
"Ice Blade…"
A blade of pure ice formed in Kuzan's hand and swung downward with ruthless precision. The freezing sword energy sliced the Fire Fist straight down the middle. The flames split apart and scattered. The ice blade continued onward without slowing, cutting toward Ace himself.
"What?"
Ace's eyes widened in shock. Every previous clash had ended with the ice melting away. This time, his flames had been severed instead.
He twisted his body to the side at the last moment, barely avoiding the worst of the attack.
But Kuzan was already in front of him.
Using Soru, he appeared at point blank range and drove his fist forward.
"Ice Fist…"
"Fire Fist…"
Their fists collided at zero distance.
A dull, devastating impact shook the air. At the point of contact, Ace's flames vanished instantly, snuffed out by overwhelming cold. Ice raced across his arm in a heartbeat.
With a sharp cracking sound, the frozen limb shattered.
Ace's entire right arm, half of his right shoulder, and part of his chest were obliterated in an instant. What remained of his shoulder and chest was sealed in thick ice, the freezing power still spreading relentlessly.
"Ahhhhh!"
Ace collapsed to his knees with a scream that tore through the battlefield.
He stared at the ruin of his body in disbelief, his pupils trembling. When he raised his left hand to touch what little remained of his shoulder, icy cold burned against his palm. Frost had already spread across his neck, face, and abdomen, leaving deep signs of freezing.
"Ace…"
Silence fell over the battlefield.
An arm had vanished. Half of his shoulder was gone. The wound was catastrophic. Only the spreading ice had prevented him from bleeding out instantly.
Ace clutched what remained of his shoulder, staring at the horrific injury. It looked as though an enormous beast had bitten a massive chunk out of his body.
Kuzan looked down at him without emotion.
"Do you understand now? Fire can counter ice, and ice can counter fire. If your Armament Haki were stronger, you might have blocked that strike. Unfortunately, it is not."
Ace met his gaze, fear finally surfacing in his eyes. At that moment, he truly understood the immeasurable gap between himself and an Admiral. Whether it was Sakazuki or Kuzan, he was utterly powerless before them.
Pride that had followed him for years crumbled in an instant.
As he tried to force himself to stand, he realized his legs were already frozen to the ground. Ice climbed upward, rapidly spreading across his lower body. Ace unleashed flames in desperation, trying to melt it, but an even more intense wave of cold rolled off Kuzan's body and suppressed his power completely.
Kuzan raised his frost covered fist once more, the killing intent clear in his eyes.
"Now," he said coldly, "just die quietly like a man."