Aokiji's pupils shrank drastically. Seeing his friend's ability now appear on the enemy who killed him, the suffocating feeling that made him want to vomit blood made the anger in his heart burn even fiercer.
"Is this the Copy-Copy Fruit's ability?"
Sengoku stared at this scene from afar.
Not only him, the Admirals around him also stood up. They all realized Aokiji's actions could no longer be stopped, which meant the true great war had officially begun.
The pirate side wouldn't sit idle and let Aokiji, the Marines' peak combat force, act as he pleased on the battlefield. An Admiral with Logia ability could conduct mass slaughter of these pirates without exception.
"Save that kid!" Whitebeard shouted firmly while pointing his hand toward Kuro.
That kid had a connection with the mysterious Gold List's First Rank, so he mustn't die now.
The Gold List's position and role no longer needed doubt; anyone who obtained even one reward from there would experience a very drastic strength increase. It could even revive the dead. Real examples were the Senju brothers and Pirate King Roger.
Before this, reviving the dead was just a pipe dream. Even the Edo Tensei technique in the Naruto world was just a pseudo-resurrection, very different essentially from the Gold List's resurrection.
Division commanders under Whitebeard like Marco and Jozu, then the Three Calamities from Kaido's group, Big Mom's Three Sweet Commanders, as well as some of Shanks's crew all shot down from ships toward Kuro's direction.
As for Shiki the Golden Lion and Roger, they were currently leaders without troops; one had just escaped from Impel Down, the other was a dead person who had just risen.
"Block them!" Sengoku narrowed his eyes and shouted loudly.
Kizaru, Akainu, Zephyr, Tsuru, Chaton, as well as the Shichibukai all agreed and charged into the battlefield.
Kuro, who was originally just an insignificant small figure in the pirate world, unexpectedly became the key in this war. He was the one who triggered high-level power clashes earlier than planned.
Kuro now became "contested" by both sides. Getting him meant getting one additional Gold List reward and one new peak combat force for their side. That was certain.
Previously, after obtaining information about First Rank at the Sabaody Archipelago, Sengoku, the Admirals, and Shichibukai had each obtained Gold List rewards, which made their strength increase again.
The Shichibukai currently vaguely already had qualifications to match the highest-level combat forces.
Doflamingo used strings in the clouds to move quickly while laughing wickedly: "Fufufu... I'm curious whether now I can fight directly with those old men? If I can kill them..."
Moria also showed a strange expression while holding giant scissors. Behind him followed a very dense zombie army. Within that army were corpses of both Marines and pirates alternatively resurrected by inserting others' shadows.
"Bartholomew, send me there!" Akainu shouted.
Kuma who was holding a book nodded expressionlessly. He raised his palm, revealing his cat paw pads, and invisible waves enveloped Akainu.
*WHOOSH!*
Akainu instantly disappeared from his place. The next second, he appeared right above Marco and company.
"WHAT?!" Akainu was flabbergasted, his face even turned blue.
His original intention was to ask Kuma to send him near Kuro so he could secure the person who knew First Rank information. Who would have thought this damn Kuma actually sent him right into the enemy's nest?
This was clearly trapping him!
"Sorry, this ability of mine can't be controlled precisely..." Kuma said flatly without the slightest guilt.
"Damn it!" Akainu didn't have time to curse more; he immediately moved quickly to maintain distance from Marco and the others.
Although he was an Admiral and had already obtained two Gold List rewards, his opponents weren't ordinary people. Whitebeard's sixteen Division Commanders, Three Calamities, Three Sweet Commanders, and Red-Haired crew weren't people easy to face. If these people gathered, even a figure like Whitebeard would have to avoid slightly.
"Excellent, Kuma!" Crocodile bit his cigar while laughing loudly seeing Akainu momentarily panic.
This was the first time he saw that arrogant Admiral show such an expression. It felt very satisfying.
Mihawk and Jinbe stared at Kuma full of scrutiny, but both remained silent.
Sengoku raged and shouted: "What are you waiting for! Provide support immediately, bastards!"
If Akainu died ganged up on just because of Kuma's mistake, that would truly be a ridiculous tragedy for the Marines.
"Akainu, you really have great guts..." Marco and the others were momentarily stunned seeing Akainu's presence, but then they laughed loudly.
"In that case, let's make you the first target!"
Marco waved his hand, dividing three people from his side to face Akainu, while the rest continued shooting to seize Kuro.
Kuro was completely unaware he had become the main "prize" for both sides. At this time, his battle with Aokiji had reached its peak.
Aokiji's entire body transformed into blue ice, lowering the temperature to an extreme level. The smoke around couldn't approach and instead froze into small ice crystals that fell. His figure had arrived before Kuro; his very hard ice sword was wrapped in pitch-black Busoshoku Haki, then he slashed toward Kuro's head.
Kuro wasn't afraid in the slightest. He raised his Freddy Gloves to directly parry.
*CLANG—!*
An ear-splitting collision sound rang out. A terrifying shockwave exploded from their collision center, spreading in all directions. The ice layer beneath their feet cracked into pieces with a loud sound.
"COUGH—!"
Kuro vomited blood and was sent flying backward. Although he had the Copy-Copy Fruit, his development level was still low and his power base too weak. Although the mysterious man earlier had given him additional strength, that clearly wasn't enough to truly match an Admiral evenly.
However, that was already surprising enough. Aokiji was also shocked in his heart; the attack he thought would immediately win was actually blocked, and his skin was even scratched by Freddy gloves' claws. A drop of blood seeped out.
Kuro who was sent flying in the air instead showed a very strange smile. He whispered soundlessly: "Dream Enter—"
The next second, Aokiji's pupils enlarged suddenly. His entire body froze in place, as if his soul was wandering far away. Kuro also froze motionless.
People around watching from afar didn't know what happened to the two of them, but no one dared approach carelessly.