Smoker kicked the nearby pirate until he was sent flying, then turned to stare at this glasses-wearing pirate who dared challenge him directly.
At this time, the great pirates from various large ships hadn't actually started moving yet. Even those roaming the Grand Line with bounties of hundreds of millions of belly were still in monitoring positions; those fighting on the ice now were just pirates from the ordinary four seas.
Smoker narrowed his eyes, examining him for a moment, and suddenly recognized him.
"The Man of a Thousand Plans, Kuro!"
He was slightly surprised: "Weren't you executed?"
Smoker had an impression of this person because he himself had once been stationed in the East Blue. This man named Kuro was the captain of the Black Cat Pirates; because of his considerable strength and cunning, he had caused quite a commotion in that region before finally being captured and executed by Morgan.
Morgan himself was promoted to Colonel for successfully capturing this person.
"Executed?" Kuro stroked his slicked hair and sneered: "Do you think, with that idiot Morgan, he could really capture me?"
Back then, because his name was too big, Kuro felt disturbed by Marine pursuits and bounty hunters. He used the Fox Replaces the Prince plan (body double scheme), making the Marines believe he had died.
Smoker nodded seriously: "I was indeed suspicious back then, but that pirate claimed to be Kuro, and Morgan insisted that was you."
Kuro smiled without explaining further. At that time he had one of his crew pretend to be him, then ordered his subordinate, Jango, to hypnotize Morgan into believing that crew member was Kuro. That's how he successfully escaped Marine pursuit. For that, he massacred the entire crew of one Marine warship and left Morgan alone so his capture report would be believed.
Smoker's face became serious: "If Morgan failed to capture you back then, then I'll finish it now."
Kuro moved his ten fingers casually: "The World Government will soon collapse. What's the use of you capturing me now?"
Smoker looked toward the high stage, focusing on Sengoku who appeared calm, then answered flatly: "The Marines and World Government have stood firm for 800 years. Do you think you bastard pirates can bring it down?"
Although he came from a branch, as a Logia user and Zephyr's student, after returning to Headquarters he learned some internal information.
"I don't care about that!" Kuro slowly lowered his body, preparing to attack. Behind his glasses, his eyes flashed coldly: "What I want are the Gold List rewards..."
Smoker was stunned for a moment, then chuckled: "So that's it... well then, try it!"
As soon as that sentence finished, his body suddenly released a large amount of white fog that spread wildly, instantly trapping Kuro within it.
Kuro was slightly surprised. He looked around and found himself in an all-white world with visibility less than two meters.
*SLASH!*
A black Jutte suddenly pierced through the smoke and stabbed toward Kuro's throat.
*CLANG!*
Kuro's reaction was now very different. He immediately raised his cat claws to parry; the weapon collision sparked sparks. The Jutte attack failed and disappeared back into the smoke.
"He's developed his fruit ability to this level..." Kuro furrowed his brow, wary of his surroundings.
The fog around him grew thicker and began seeping into his nose and mouth. That thick smoke slowly made him feel suffocated, his face began to pale.
"The Gold List is indeed a terrifying existence. The rewards it gives made my strength increase drastically. Kuro, you're the first pirate to witness my true power!"
Smoker's voice sounded listless from all directions, impossible to determine his position.
Suddenly, around Kuro appeared dozens of Smoker figures, each holding a Jutte and attacking him simultaneously.
"What?!" Kuro was shocked.
His claws slashed the air, he used Soru to dodge sideways and instantly slashed the waists of two Smoker figures. But upon contact, both figures turned back to smoke and disappeared.
"Fake bodies!" Kuro narrowed his eyes, sensing his own condition.
He knew he couldn't wait any longer. This smoke filled his respiratory passages, entering from every gap, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. If left alone, he would die from lack of oxygen before being defeated.
"Shakushi: Tornado!"
Both his feet stomped the ground at very terrifying speed. Suddenly his body disappeared from its place. Instantly, within that smoke space appeared a storm consisting of thousands of sharp slashes.
Every gust of wind seemed full of terrifying sharpness. The scattered Smoker smoke figures were directly torn apart.
"Found you!" Kuro's voice suddenly sounded.
Accompanied by a blood flash, the smoke faded. Surrounding pirates were astounded seeing Kuro standing upright gracefully. One hand hung at his side, while the ten Cat Claw blades on his other hand were penetrating someone's body.
It was Smoker!
Smoker's chest was pierced, he was stuck on Kuro's claws raised high. Blood dripped soaking the ice. His expression was listless, he nearly fainted.
"Smoker!"
On the high stage, Aokiji's face changed drastically. He immediately stood upright. From the start he had been monitoring battlefield movements, and when Kuro faced Smoker, he had given special attention. He knew Smoker's current strength equaled a Vice Admiral; he thought Smoker wouldn't lose inside his smoke domain. But what happened before his eyes truly shocked him.
This unknown strange pirate successfully seriously injured Smoker in a short time. As Smoker's close friend, his eyes reddened with anger.
"Aokiji!" Sengoku saw bad signs and tried to hold him back. But it was too late.
Aokiji's body had already shot into the air toward the battlefield.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Peck!"
Still in the air, his right arm began gathering a large amount of cold air, then he threw a punch toward Kuro below. Strong cold air gathered forming a giant blue pheasant, releasing a sharp chirp and charging at Kuro.
Kuro looked up, instantly drenched in cold sweat.
An Admiral was taking action!
He didn't expect an Admiral would move now. Based on his observation, high-level combat power on the Marine side was very limited; they shouldn't interfere easily because it would trigger a chain reaction from the Yonko on the pirate side. If Whitebeard or Roger moved, could the Marines hold them back?
But Aokiji no longer cared. He couldn't let his friend, Smoker, be killed before his eyes.