Chapter 137: The Great Battle Against Aokiji"Move back a little."Aokiji reached his hand into the sea!"Ice Age."The sounds of the world were instantly stripped away.The roar of the waves, the whistling of the wind, the crackling of the campfire... all sounds ceased abruptly....Rather than activating an ability, it felt more like flipping a switch concerning the rules of the world.'Crack—'A sound of ice cracking, extremely faint yet clearly transmitted into everyone's heart, rang out from the point of contact between his fingertips and the sea surface.Immediately following, an extreme chill originating from the level of natural laws, with that cracking sound as a prelude, roared silently and swept outwards...The seawater did not freeze slowly; it was conceptually "solidified" directly—The surging giant waves were held in the moment of roaring, and that massive sea beast was frozen in its pouncing posture,along with the reflection on its fangs and the ferocity in its eyes, all turned into a perfectly detailed ice sculpture radiating an ancient chill.At a glance, the raging sea had turned into an endless, pure white ice field, reflecting the cold, blinding sunlight.Dead silence was the only language of the moment.Usopp and Chopper's mouths hung open in an "O" shape, their eyeballs bulging; extreme fear froze their vocal cords, and they could only emit meaningless "gurgling" sounds.Zoro and Sanji's feelings were even more profound.Cold sweat didn't just flow out; it was forced out from every pore on their bodies, immediately condensing into fine ice crystals in the cold air.The veins on Zoro's hand resting on his sword bulged; he clearly felt that desperate gap in strength.The cigarette butt between Sanji's lips had long since gone out, and he stared fixedly at that instantly created ice field,truly realizing for the first time the absolute power represented by the six words "World's Top Combat Power," capable of crushing any will to resist.The clima-tact in Nami's hand hung down powerlessly.The meteorological knowledge she was proficient in and the power of thunder she was proud of were as insignificant as dust in the face of this world-altering might.She understood; this was the true "natural disaster," this was the goal that Logia users pursued.Luffy retracted his rubber arm, his habitual smile completely vanished from his face, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.He didn't look at the ice field, but instead stared tightly at Aokiji's lazy yet mountain-like back.At this moment, "Admiral" was no longer an empty term, but a real barrier he had to overcome on the way to the Pirate King's throne.Robin's face was bloodless, her body trembling uncontrollably.The cold memory of that day of destruction in Oharaoverlapped perfectly with the reality before her; the nightmare of her childhood turned into tangible cold air, almost completely devouring her sanity.Mark was perhaps the only one who could still maintain a calm exterior, but his tightly pressed lips and slightly constricted pupils betrayed the turbulent waves within his heart.He did not fear battle, but this power to reshape nature with a mere gesture still brought a shock to his very soul."Is this... the power of an Admiral?"Robin's voice trembled uncontrollably, as if she were confirming a truth she least wanted to face.Aokiji slowly exhaled a breath of cold air mixed with ice shards, as if he had just completed a simple stretching exercise.He stood up and walked toward the Straw Hat with his still-lazy pace.Everyone was still immersed in that miraculous scene, unable to snap out of it.He stopped beside the group of dumbfounded refugees and pointed to the vast ice field:"This should last about a week. Walk along this direction, and in about three days, you'll reach an island with people."Having said that, he continued forward, as if he had just remembered something, and added in a conversational tone:"Ah, right, the temperature is a bit low, so keep warm.""Are, are we dreaming?""The sea... has become a road..."The refugees looked at each other, unable to believe it.After a brief moment of shock, there was the wild joy of surviving a desperate situation."Great! We're saved! Thank you, Marine!"The refugees shouted excitedly toward Aokiji's back, waving their arms.Aokiji did not look back, just waved his hand lazily behind him as a response.With the help of the Straw Hat, the refugees quickly made a few simple sleds using materials provided by Mark."We really thank you so much! I didn't expect there to be good people like you among pirates... providing treatment, food..."The refugee leader's voice choked up, not knowing how to express their gratitude."Hehe, don't mention it!"Luffy hugged his still-shivering arms and grinned."Everyone from the Straw Hat Pirates, we will always remember your kindness!"Watching the refugees' figures disappear at the end of the ice field, Luffy showed a happy smile, but immediately jumped up:"So cold! I'm freezing to death!"In stark contrast to Luffy and the others who were curled up from the cold,Chopper from the winter island of Drum Kingdomand the specially-bodied Merry were happily sliding on the smooth ice, having a great time."That's nice, not being afraid of the cold...""As expected of creatures from a winter island..."Usopp and Luffy looked at them, their faces full of envy.The two also tried running a few steps on the ice, but the biting cold immediately forced them to dash back to the shore.Just then, they noticed that Aokiji had not left.He was sitting on the grass, his head resting on his palms, elbows on his knees, head tilted,his eyes hidden under his curly hair quietly scrutinizing the Straw Hat members with a complex, indiscernible emotion."Hey, why haven't you left yet?"Luffy rubbed his arms, walked up to him, and asked directly.Aokiji scratched his unique afro, sat up straight, and his gaze swept over Luffy and Mark standing to the side:"You two... your style of doing things is truly inherited from your old man.""Should I call it unrestrained and free, or completely impossible to figure out?""Grand... Grandpa?!!!"Luffy and Mark exclaimed in unison, the cold sweat instantly breaking out on their foreheads was more than when they saw "Ice Age" just now, and their faces turned pale."Hm? Luffy, Mark, what's wrong? You're sweating so much!"Usopp asked with concern."N-Nothing! Don't mention that old man!"Luffy hurriedly waved his hands, shaking his head like a rattle-drum, looking as if it was a memory he couldn't bear to recall.Aokiji looked down at his palms, as if recalling something:"Back in the day, I received plenty of 'care' from that old man..."He raised his head, his gaze turning to Robin, who was still pale,"My primary purpose in coming here this time is to see her—Nico Robin.""After Alabasta, you disappeared; as I thought, you joined them."His tone turned suddenly cold, his gaze sweeping over the Straw Hat Crew members who instantly became alert:"Secondly, it's to see you two."He paused, the air seemed to freeze along with it, and then he uttered that cold verdict:"As I thought, to avoid huge trouble in the future, it's better if you die here."A chilling murderous intent spread like a tidal wave, and the campfire was extinguished by the cold air."You people have gathered too many dangerous factors.""Although there are few of you now, if left unchecked, you will surely become a huge threat that shakes the order."Aokiji's eyes were as sharp as ice, "Those who can deal with me are all lawless pirates, so I can foresee your terrifying future."His gaze locked onto Robin again, his words piercing her like ice picks:"Especially you, Nico Robin.""With a bounty of 79 million Berries at the age of eight, your very existence is a huge threat to the authority of the World Government.""After surviving Ohara, you bounced between countless dark organizations, relying on your intelligence,""through exploitation, betrayal, and deception... you have stubbornly lived until today.""Now, do you intend to hide yourself among this group of naive newcomers?""Your target really is Robin!"Luffy suddenly pulled his Straw Hat down, invisible Haki erupted, causing the surrounding grass leaves to fly."Spare us the sowing of discord,"Mark stepped forward, standing side-by-side with Luffy, energy hidden but ready around him,"Robin is a crewmate we invited onto the ship ourselves, she is our indispensable family.""You bastard, if you dare to slander Miss Robinagain, I'll kick you into the sea to feed the fish!"Sanji's toes sank deep into the grass."What kind of grudge do you have with Robin?!"Arcs of electricity flickered around Nami; as a Logiauser herself, she could feel the pressure brought by that power."Personal grudge? Not really."Aokiji's tone remained flat,"It's just that she once escaped from my hands.""And, it won't be long before you realize that the trouble she brings goes far beyond this.""The most powerful evidence is—all organizations that get involved with her ultimately cannot escape the fate of destruction.""Whatever happened in the past doesn't matter! What's important is now!"Although his voice trembled, Usopp still bravely shouted out."That's right! Robin is an important crewmate of ours now! You are not allowed to speak ill of her again!"Chopper also gathered his courage and shouted loudly.Little Merry clenched her fists tightly, and Markgently pressed down on her hood, signaling her to remain calm."Heh..."Aokiji slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow, the sense of oppression doubling,"It seems the bond between you is deeper than I imagined.""If you want to catch me... do it now!"Robin suddenly raised her head, a look of determination flashing in her eyes, her hands crossed in front of her chest—"Cien Fleur!"In an instant, dozens of arms wrapped and formed around Aokiji's neck and limb joints!"Ara ara... after saying so much, you still chose the most unwise course of action."Aokiji's voice carried a hint of regret, "I originally thought you would be a smarter woman.""Clutch!"Robin exerted force with both arms and twisted hard!As soon as she finished speaking, the "Aokiji" wrapped by the arms instantly shattered, turning into scattered ice cubes on the ground!"S-Shattered?! Did you take him down?!" Chopperscreamed.However, those ice fragments quickly squirmed, gathered, and fused as if they had a life of their own!Aokiji's figure re-formed, unscathed, a few steps away."You still strike without mercy... Nico Robin."Aokiji casually grabbed a handful of grass from beside him, put it to his lips, and blew gently—Cold air surged, and a crystal-clear, sharp-edged ice sword instantly took shape."Ice Saber."His tone was indifferent, announcing an escalation of action: "Although taking your life is not my wish, but..."Before the words fell, the ice blade had turned into a cold light, slashing straight toward Robin, who seemed to be in a brief daze because her ability was ineffective!"Clang—!"The crisp sound of metal clashing exploded!It was Zoro!The wado ichimonji in his hand precisely blocked the downward-slashing ice blade!Almost at the same instant, Sanji's figure was like the wind, a vicious "Mutton Shot" swept over,kicking precisely on the side of the ice blade, knocking it out of Aokiji's hand!"Hmph! Meddling!" Zoro glanced at Sanji."Who are you calling a meddler, you natural antique!""Gomu Gomu no... Black Spear!"Luffy's pitch-black fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, like a black spear tearing through the air, slammed solidly into Aokiji's abdomen!The powerful impact sent Aokiji's body sliding back several meters, and ice fragments splattered from the point of impact.Aokiji looked down and lightly brushed the ice crystals off his abdomen with his fingers; a layer of even harder ice covered that area, resisting most of the impact.He raised his eyes, the last trace of laziness on his face completely vanished, replaced by the coldness and seriousness belonging to the Marine's highest combat power:"It seems... to deal with you, I have to stretch my muscles a little."The cold declaration fell; the great battle was imminent.
Chapter 138: Full-Scale OutbreakFacing Aokiji, perhaps Usopp's trembling shout this time— "Run!"—was the most rational choice at this moment.This was by no means shameful, because the man standing opposite them represented the peak combat power of the Marine, a "monster" in the truest sense.However, Mark caught a hint of incongruity from the opponent's deep, restrained aura—there was no killing intent.If, with the opponent's all-encompassing, flawless strength (top-tier Devil Fruit ability development, top-tier Armament Haki, and tempered martial arts), he had truly intended to kill, they wouldn't have lasted even a single round.He instantly realized: this was more like a rigorous assessment led by this "Senior Brother" with a special status, concerning qualifications, conviction, and the future.One was to examine and warn them whether they possessed the ability and determination to protect the spark of history; secondly, it likely also meant to give the two troublesome "little brothers" a beating on behalf of the old man.Regardless, the battle was already unavoidable."Then brothers, bring out your best skills! Don't let the Admiral look down on our Straw Hat Pirates!"Mark's voice dispersed some of the oppression brought about by the absolute gap in strength.He knew better than anyone that only by going all out, by showing the will and bonds capable of shaking a strong enemy, could he win back that absolute confidence in her companions for Robin, and tear open a tiny crack of survival in this desperate situation."Roar—!" The curtain of battle was fiercely drawn open amidst Ink Meteor's heaven-shaking roar.The black lion's massive body contained the ferocity of a Glutton; as its giant claws swung down, the evil wind tore through the air, as if it wanted to shatter the space itself.Aokiji's eyes beneath his curly hair moved slightly: "Oh? Zoan? No, this feeling..."But his hand movements were far faster than his thoughts; he raised his palm casually and pressed it lightly against the empty air in front of him: "Ice Time.""Crackle... sizzle..." These were the subtle sounds of material structure being forcibly altered.The absolute zero cold air arrived first despite being launched later, completely freezing Ink Meteor's majestic pouncing posture along with the space around it!The giant beast that had been fierce a moment ago had now turned into a majestic ice sculpture radiating ancient cold.That overbearing chill even completely suppressed and froze the devouring aura that came with the Glutton.However, the attack was far from over!Almost at the same moment Ink Meteor was frozen, taking advantage of the brief visual obstruction created by that massive body, Mark's figure blurred and vanished like a ghost. When he reappeared, he had precisely cut into Aokiji's visual blind spot on the flank!There was no shouting, no building up of momentum, only an explosion of all his strength concentrated at a single point!The short, straight punch of Baji Quan, capable of collapsing mountains and splitting rocks, wrapped in solid Armament Haki, struck Aokiji's ribs as fast as lightning!"Bang!" A dull, heart-palpitating sound of impact rang out.Aokiji didn't even look down, as if he had anticipated it.The instant the fist reached his body, the skin on his ribs beneath his dark suit was instantly covered with a layer of top-tier Armament Haki as black as an abyss!The explosive force was like a clay ox hitting an unshakeable barrier, easily neutralized.Even more terrifyingly, a pure freezing energy instead surged back along the fist bones and arm meridians, invading like countless ice needles!Alarm bells rang in Mark's heart, and he leaped back without hesitation. While in mid-air, he saw that his fist was already covered in a layer of crystalline thin ice, and the bone-chilling cold was frantically trying to drill into his marrow."Tch, the Haki is as hard as the old man's 'Fist of Love,' and it even comes with 'Frost Thorns'... How is one supposed to play melee like this?"Given their current Haki cultivation, any close-quarters attack attempting to go head-to-head with the opponent was tantamount to seeking death.And in this fleeting moment as his thoughts raced and he withdrew, the main attacking trio had already launched a perfectly coordinated joint attack!"Jet Pistol!"Driven by the steam of Gear Second, Luffy's figure turned into a red afterimage, flashing to Aokiji's front at a speed that exceeded the limits of visual tracking. His black, Haki-wrapped fist, like a cannonball leaving the barrel, aimed straight for the opponent's face.But this swift strike was merely a feint to attract attention!The real killing blow came from behind! Zoro silently dashed to the extreme distance. The moment he drew all three swords, his aura suddenly exploded: "Three Sword Style: Flame Slash · Nether Wind!"The yodo himawari erupted with scorching hellfire, while the shura released soul-freezing nether cold. Two diametrically opposed yet equally destructive powers violently intertwined and rotated, turning into a red-and-white destructive tornado that tore through the earth, roaring as it swept toward Aokiji's back!At the same time, the fatal strike from the side was also in position! Sanji's figure skimmed low over the ground, "Diable Jambe: Drawing Dragon, Dotting the Eye!"The tip of his tyrant iron shoe heated up to a glowing red lava state. All his strength was concentrated at one point, and the angle was extremely tricky and vicious, kicking straight at the ligament of Aokiji's knee joint, which served as his support point!If this kick landed, even iron joints would shatter instantly!Frontal feint, rear killing blow, side defense-breaking! This nearly perfect three-sided pincer attack sealed off almost all space for evasion, enough to instantly severely injure or even defeat most so-called powerhouses in the first half of the Grand Line.Facing this joint attack that would make any opponent turn pale, Aokiji finally... got a little serious.He didn't even fully turn around to look at Zorobehind him, but simply swung his right hand, covered in top-tier Armament Haki, backward casually—fingers spread, pressing with pinpoint accuracy onto the very core of the slash storm that could tear through steel and freeze souls!"Hum—!" The moment the red-and-white destructive tornado touched that hand wrapped in deep black Haki, its violent energy structure instantly collapsed and dissipated!The scorching flames were forcibly extinguished by a more absolute cold, and the eerie nether aura, as if encountering its nemesis, was completely devoured and annihilated by the more fundamental freezing power! Only some uncontrolled, escaping energy remained, cutting the surrounding ground into crisscrossing gullies.Zoro's pupils contracted sharply. He clearly "felt" that the slash he had poured his will and strength into had been forcibly "crushed" by the opponent using a higher-order form of power he could not understand, right at the root of its energy composition!"Not bad sword aura, fierce killing intent... but, the power is still too scattered." Aokiji commented blandly, and the right hand that had crushed the storm pressed downward with effortless ease! "Ice Impact."A ring of freezing energy, condensed to the point of substance, suddenly expanded outward with his palm as the origin! The ground beneath his feet instantly bulged and deformed in layers; hard frozen soil and rocks turned into a roaring giant wave of ice crystals, rushing toward Zoro, whose movements were delayed due to his technique being broken, with a momentum to crush everything!The shock in Zoro's pupils hadn't faded, but his combat instinct already drove his body to react. He forced a breath, relying on his powerful core strength in his waist and abdomen, and performed an extreme series of backflips. He narrowly avoided the fate of being directly swallowed and frozen.But Aokiji's offensive was despairingly fluid! The instant the ice wave missed and Zoro retreated, his seemingly lazy, long right leg seemed to break the limits of time and space, completing two precise, terrifyingly powerful kicks in an instant!"Bang! Bang!" His heel, like a heavy iron whip, slammed solidly into Luffy's side! The sole of his foot, like a heavy hammer, kicked fiercely into Sanji's crossed arms!The two felt a terrifying, incomprehensible, and unresistible force surge through them. That power not only contained a physical impact but was also mixed with a bone-piercing chill that instantly invaded their entire bodies!Their defenses were torn apart like paper, their bodies completely out of control. Like two cannonballs thrown with full force, covered in ice shards, they smashed fiercely toward Zoro, who had just finished evading and had barely touched the ground with his feet!"Hey! You two idiots—!" Zoro had just caught his breath when he saw two familiar "human cannonballs" whistling toward him. His eye twitched, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath, but his movements didn't hesitate in the slightest. He sucked in a deep breath, "nailed" his feet into the ground like piles, sank his waist and hips, and stood in a horse stance as stable as a rock. His arm muscles bulged, and he assumed the toughest defensive posture, preparing to take this terrifying impact head-on!"Boom—!!" Luffy and Sanji's bodies, carrying the residual force of the Admiral's kick, slammed heavily against the steel barrier Zoro had set up! The terrifying impact force was not completely neutralized but pushed Zoro's rock-solid body; his feet, like iron plows tilling the land, forcibly plowed two gullies several meters long into the ground!"Cien Fleur: Giant Net!"At the moment the three of them stopped, countless fair arms appeared out of thin air behind the three people in front.They quickly wove into a wide, elastic giant web of hands, gently pressing against Zoro's back, completely neutralizing that last remnant of impact force.However, would Admiral Aokiji's relentless offensive be interrupted by this brief obstruction?"Pheasant Beak!"Just as the three fell into the net, their bodies injured and their breathing chaotic!An ice crystal falcon, massive in size with lifelike wing details and radiating an absolute zero chill capable of freezing time and space, had already taken shape as Aokiji raised his hand!It flapped its wings, transforming into a white bolt of death, and swooped down ferociously toward the three!The timing of this strike could be called a perfect combination of cruelty and precision, giving the prey absolutely no chance to catch their breath!"Oh no!!"Nami, positioned slightly behind the battlefield, saw this scene clearly, and her expression changed instantly.There was no time now to allow her to prepare more complex or powerful techniques to counter it.Driven almost by instinct, she poured the surging power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit within her, without reservation and regardless of the consequences, frantically gathering it between her palms!The dazzling, crackling lightning shone violently, almost completely engulfing her, her golden hair dancing from the static electricity, like a thunder god descended to earth!"Thunder Dragon!"She lifted her head and let out a determined cry, her palms, gathered with the full force of her lightning, thrusting forward suddenly!The surging, roaring power of thunder broke free from its restraints and roared into the low sky.In an instant, it coalesced into a giant thunder dragon with distinct scales, eyes burning like azure gemstones, and a size not inferior in the slightest to the ice bird!The thunder dragon let out a deafening roar, countless destructive, incandescent electric snakes leaping around its body, claws and fangs bared, charging with an unstoppable momentum to meet that ice crystal falcon radiating death!A head-on confrontation between top-tier Logiaabilities was now unfolding with a boom!"Rumble—!!!"Extreme cold and extreme fury, two energies representing the great power of nature, collided head-on in mid-air without any frills!There was no stalemate, no probing, only the most direct and intense energy annihilation and explosion!The blinding white-blue light instantly swallowed everything in that airspace, as if a small white sun had exploded before their eyes!The roar of the explosion mixed with the shockwave, spreading frantically in a perfect ring in all directions.It lifted and shredded the thick ice layer and hard frozen earth on the ground layer by layer, as if they were paper!Dense steam, pervasive ice shards, and charred soil mixed together to form a destructive storm of dust and smoke, sweeping outwards as if a small-scale apocalyptic disaster had erupted on the island!This extreme light, heat, and chaotic energy turbulence temporarily distorted everyone's vision and perception, obscuring the view of the center of the battlefield.And right under the cover of this chaos and light, the killing blow of Sogeking rang out again in the silence!"Special Move: tyrant iron Assassin Star!"Usopp suppressed his fear of that destructive energy, seizing that fleeting opportunity!The custom-made tyrant iron projectile tore through the air, passing through the surging steam and turbulent energy.At an extremely tricky angle, it shot with pinpoint accuracy toward Aokiji's temple, which seemed slightly relaxed due to releasing his ultimate move!"Bang!"A crisp sound of ice crystals shattering.Aokiji's entire head shattered in response into countless crystalline ice shards, scattering in all directions!"Did... did it work?! No... that's not right! It's still elementalization!"The wild joy that had just surged into Usopp's heart vanished upon seeing the headless body still standing steadily.Aokiji's shattered head, as if time were rewinding, instantly reassembled and reshaped from the scattered ice shards, returning to normal, as if that headshot just now were merely everyone's hallucination.Aokiji looked at the panting Nami, "You've shocked me, little girl, you're actually a Logia user, the files didn't mention that!""Pity..."His next action, however, made everyone's heart sink to the bottom.He pressed both palms simultaneously onto the ground beneath his feet, which had already been devastated."Ice Age: Thorn Forest!"A more terrifying, wider-ranging, and deeper chill erupted with a roar!With him as the center, the entire battlefield, as far as the eye could see, instantly turned into a true hell of ice thorns!Countless sharp, thick ice spikes, flickering with a deadly cold light, seemed to possess a violent life of their own.Not only did they pierce wildly from the ground, they also condensed and grew directly from the air, like an impenetrable forest of death.From all directions, indiscriminately and comprehensively, they pierced wildly toward every member of the Straw Hat Crew! The range was so vast and the density so high that there was nowhere to dodge and nowhere to escape!"Glutton: Full Power!"In Mark's eyes, the data streams granted by the system flashed and calculated at an unprecedented speed!He pushed the ability of Glutton to the limit he could withstand!A rainbow-colored spatial vortex expanded rapidly before him, like a primordial beast with its giant mouth open.A powerful suction force domineeringly swallowed more than two-thirds of the terrifying ice thorns and annihilating cold air attacking the direction where Nami, Usopp, and Robin were!"Ugh ah... double... return!!"He roared, veins bulging on his forehead, a thread of bright red blood spilling from the corner of his mouth due to the immense pressure far exceeding his load.The terrifying cold current and countless ice thorns that had been swallowed, enough to freeze a small town, were frantically accelerated and transformed inside the Rainbow Space, and finally, through the reversed vortex, blasted back toward Aokiji himself with several times the speed and power!This time, for the first time, an unconcealable and obvious look of surprise appeared on Aokiji's face.He had to raise his hands, focusing intensely to instantly condense several layers of giant ice shields, thick as city walls, in front of him, preparing to defend."Boom—!!!!"The frost torrent and the multiple ice shields collided with unprecedented violence!The huge sound was like an iceberg collapsing, countless shards of ice flying in all directions like shrapnel from cannonballs, and a dense, impenetrable ice mist spread out again, completely swallowing the figures of the two.Taking advantage of this precious, brief gap created with all their might, Zoro and Luffy roared and unleashed their last bit of strength, breaking free from the ice layer binding them;Sanji also stood up shakily, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth;Chopper watched from a distance, terrified, having already prepared various emergency medicines and bandages at his side, ready to rush over for first aid at any moment.And Merry, relying on the astonishing speed granted by her lunarian race, turned into a blurry, hard-to-capture shadow, weaving through the dense forest of ice thorns, swinging her small wooden hammer narrowly and precisely to interrupt and smash several sharp ice spears about to pierce Luffy's back and Zoro's ribs.At this moment, the entire Straw Hat Crew was panting, their clothes soaked with sweat, blood, and ice water, almost everyone was injured, and their appearance was disheveled.However, their eyes still burned with an unyielding flame, tenacious as a candle in the wind, showing no signs of extinguishing.With perfect tactical coordination, personal performances that transcended limits, and unreserved trust in each other, they truly made this top Marine combat power feel "troublesome," and forced him to use more of his strength to defend.Aokiji waved his hand, stirring up a cold wind that dispersed the pervasive ice mist.His gaze slowly swept over everyone, who, although disheveled to the extreme, were still huddled closely together, maintaining a high fighting spirit, and finally landed on Mark, who was pale from overexertion and barely supporting himself to stay standing.And on Luffy, who was covered in injuries but still had eyes burning with scorching flames, like an indomitable beast."Yare yare..."He sighed softly!"Garp, you really have... cultivated two good'seedlings' for us Marines!"The cold air around him began to undergo a qualitative change.It was no longer spreading and expanding recklessly as before, but instead, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it rapidly converged, compressed, and condensed toward the inside of his body.The test seemed to be coming to an end.And he, Admiral "Aokiji" Kuzan, was also prepared to show a little bit of what a real "Admiral" looks like, to put a period of absolute power, one that no one could question, to this accidental encounter.
Chapter 139: The Battle ConcludesThe cold air restrained to the extreme around Aokijimade the very air groan under the unbearable burden.He said no more, his figure shifting slightly as he crossed the constraints of space.Aokiji had appeared before Zoro like a ghost, his index finger covered in pitch-black Armament Haki, lightly flicking the side of the wado ichimonji as it slashed toward him."Clang—!"An unimaginable force and cold air traveled along the blade; the webbing between Zoro's thumb and forefinger split, and he was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into a distant tree trunk, his body instantly covered in frost.Almost at the same time, Sanji's Diable Jambestruck at the back of Aokiji's head, the crimson kick carrying a scorching high temperature.However, as if Aokiji had eyes in the back of his head, he tilted slightly, and his palm, covered in hard ice armor, grabbed Sanji's scorching ankle with absolute precision!"What?!"Sanji's pupils constricted as he felt an irresistible force and bone-chilling cold emanating from his ankle.Aokiji was expressionless, grabbing Sanji's ankle and slamming him into the ground as if swinging a sledgehammer!"Boom!!"A shallow crater was smashed into the ground, with ice chips and dust flying everywhere.Sanji let out a muffled groan, feeling as if his internal organs had been displaced and every bone in his body was falling apart.The flames on his tyrant iron shoes were also completely scattered and extinguished by this heavy blow, making them difficult to reignite in the short term."Lightning Spear!"Seizing this split-second opportunity, Namiunleashed a highly compressed beam of lightning from her fingertips, firing it at the speed of true light toward Aokiji's back!However, this characteristic of concentrating on a single point and attacking in a straight line became its greatest weakness.Aokiji didn't even turn around; his top-tier Observation Haki had already perceived the trajectory of the attack.He simply took a casual step to the side, and the deadly Lightning Spear grazed his clothing by a hair's breadth, blasting a giant rock in the distance into dust."The power is decent, but it's meaningless if it doesn't hit."Aokiji simultaneously raised his hand and waved it toward where Nami was—"Ice Bird."A smaller but extremely fast ice crystal bird instantly formed, emitting a piercing screech as it shot toward Nami like an ice arrow released from a bowstring!Nami had just finished firing the Lightning Spearand had no time to dodge completely!"Crack!"The Ice Bird hit Nami's side precisely, the extreme cold spreading instantly and freezing her left arm, shoulder, and part of her torso in thick, solid ice!"Argh!"Nami cried out in pain, losing her balance.But the next moment, her frozen side suddenly erupted with intense electric light!"Zzzzt—!"Blinding lightning flashed, and the frozen parts instantly elementalized, turning into pure lightning to break free from the ice's restraint!Nami's figure re-formed amidst the lightning a few steps away, her face pale as she clutched her arm, which had just thawed but still retained a bone-chilling cold, panting slightly.Although she had avoided being completely frozen thanks to her Logia ability, the instantaneous cold invasion and stamina consumption still left her feeling weak.Overwhelming! All-around suppression and precise strikes!Aokiji's gaze had been locked onto Robin from start to finish."It's over, Nico Robin."His voice was not loud, but it sounded like the declaration of the Grim Reaper.The next instant, he turned into ice crystals, and the next second, he appeared before the shocked Robin, placing a hand gently on her shoulder."Time Capsule."A state of near-absolute "stasis" spread rapidly.Robin maintained her expression of shock as the cold air completely froze everything about her—life, consciousness, expression—in a flawless, crystal-clear ice coffin."Robin!!!"Luffy, Mark, and the others were furious, their eyes splitting with rage.Aokiji looked at the beautiful ice sculpture and explained in a flat tone, yet he spoke the cruelest words:" 'Time Capsule'... In theory, she can still live if thawed in time. However..."He slowly raised his fist, wrapped in top-tier Armament Haki, and made a gesture to strike the ice coffin,"A frozen body becomes as brittle as glass. If it receives even the slightest impact, it will..."That raised fist seemed to strike everyone's heart.Extreme anger and the feeling of powerlessness at being unable to protect their comrade erupted like a volcano in the chests of Luffy and Mark!"Don't you dare!!! Hurt my friend!!!" Luffy roared, his eyes bloodshot with rage."Stop it right now!!!" Mark let out a beast-like roar as well."Boom——!!!"Two immense, unrivaled surges of Conqueror's Haki, containing the will of kings, erupted uncontrollably from their bodies like waking dragons!Dark red lightning-like energy exploded crazily with them as the center, the atmosphere hummed, and the solid ice field under their feet instantly cracked into countless spiderweb-like fissures!This pure burst of aura was not aimed at the spirit but formed a physical shockwave, causing Aokiji's fist, which was about to fall, to stop dead in mid-air!The eternal laziness on his face was finally broken, and for the first time, he revealed a look of unbelievable shock:"Hey, hey, hey... You've got to be kidding me? Two of them... at once?!"This was the once-in-a-lifetime moment!"Whoosh—!"A petite figure pushed her speed to the limit, sliding along the ground!It was Merry!Relying on her terrifying speed, in the split second Aokiji was stunned by the Haki, she narrowly snatched Robin's ice coffin from under Aokiji's hand and retreated rapidly, holding the cold sculpture!"Chopper! Usopp!" Mark shouted hoarsely,"Take Robin and Merry back to the ship! Hurry! Leave this to us!"With tears in his eyes, Chopper, along with Usopp, took the cold Robin and ran toward the going merrywithout looking back.They understood that this retreat was for survival and hope.In the center of the battlefield, only Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Mark remained, the five of them surrounding Aokiji in a fan shape."Third Gear! Bone Balloon!"Luffy bit his thumb, and his giant arm appeared with a boom."Three Sword Style Ogi: Three Thousand Worlds!"Zoro gave his all, unleashing the strongest slash of his life."Diable Jambe: Highest Level Mutton Shot!"Sanji's legs turned into a crimson storm."Thunderbolt Tempo!"Nami summoned a waterfall of lightning across the sky."Bagua Staff: Dragon Prison!"Mark brandished Ink Meteor, the staff shadows appearing like mountains.The five of them held nothing back, launching their final offensive!However, the chasm of strength could not be bridged by willpower alone.Aokiji's figure moved through their frantic attacks as if taking a stroll, elementalization and top-tier Armament Haki used with ease.He easily froze Luffy's giant arm, crushed Zoro's slashing storm with his bare hands, blocked Nami's lightning with an ice wall, and smashed Sanji into the ground with a heavy ice fist."The game should end now."Aokiji's voice remained flat. He raised his hand toward Luffy, who had left himself wide open to protect Nami,"Ice Age."A bone-chilling cold current swept past, and Luffy, still in his charging stance, was instantly frozen, turning into an ice sculpture with a determined posture."Luffy!!!"Everyone was devastated."Go!"Mark's eyes were bloodshot. Using his last bit of strength, he constructed a huge Rainbow Passagebehind him and, without any argument, pushed Nami, Zoro, and Sanji, along with Luffy's ice sculpture, into it,"Go back to the ship! I still have a 'final resort'... it will hurt innocent people!"The Rainbow Passage closed instantly.On the battlefield, only the panting Mark, collapsed on the ground, and the still-composed Aokijiremained."A final resort? Let me see it." Aokiji looked at him with interest.Mark closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking deep within:"Shier, full possession mode!"When he opened his eyes again, "Mark's" temperament was completely different.His eyes had turned magenta, and his aura was as cold as a machine."Oh?" Aokiji raised an eyebrow.The next instant, "Mark" moved!The speed was extreme, his movements had no redundancy, and the ferocity of Baji Quan and the subtlety of the Bagua Staff were brought to an unprecedented height, every strike aimed directly at the smallest gaps in Aokiji's defense!For a moment, he was actually trading blows with Aokiji!Facing Aokiji's freezing, parts of "Mark's" body suddenly softened and deformed, turning into a viscous, shimmering slime-like substance, instantly "devouring" and "decomposing" the incoming cold air and ice!"Incredible adaptability..."Aokiji praised, but then his eyes narrowed,"But, this is the end."In the face of absolute strength, any technique is futile.Aokiji became completely serious, his offensive like a storm, and he soon caught a tiny flaw in the possession mode, blasting "Mark" away with a heavy blow!Aokiji raised his hand, and extreme cold energy began to gather; the "Ice Age," capable of freezing everything, was about to descend again.Just at this life-or-death moment, Mark's consciousness forcibly squeezed back a sliver of control, and using his last bit of strength, he shouted the long-prepared, seemingly childish yet "wise" words at Aokiji:"Wait! Kuzan! My grandfather is Garp!""If you freeze me, believe it or not, I'll go complain to him later!""I'll say you bullied his grandson! See if he doesn't use his 'Fist of Love' to hammer you into the foundation of Marineford!"Aokiji's hand, gathering cold air, instantly froze in mid-air.A series of "unbearable" memories flashed rapidly through his mind:Being chased all over the training ground by Garp, head covered in fresh, steaming bumps, writing a self-reflection letter dejectedly in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office...A drop of cold sweat slid down his temple."Yare yare..."He dispersed the terrifying cold current in his hand, holding his afro with a helpless and headache-ridden expression,"Really... I'm beaten by you troublesome brats."He waved his hand, his tone full of powerlessness:"Alright, I'll give the old man some face this time... Get lost quickly."The crisis was resolved, the possession mode automatically deactivated, and the intense side effects swept in like a tsunami.Mark felt his body completely hollowed out, without the strength to move even a finger, and he collapsed directly to the ground.He looked at Aokiji, who was about to turn and leave, and using his last bit of thick skin, shouted with extreme embarrassment:"Wait... wait! Kuzan... put, put me... into that Rainbow Passage... I have no strength left..."Aokiji stopped, turned back to look at Mark, who was sprawled out like a pile of mud, his face filled with the absurdity of "What kind of sin did I commit?"He sighed helplessly, walked back, and like picking up an exhausted kitten, grabbed Mark by the back of his collar, lifted him up, and accurately threw him into the Rainbow Passage that was about to dissipate."Plop!"On the deck of the going merry, Mark fell out of the Rainbow Passage like a salted fish, covered in dust, pale-faced, and collapsed directly."Mark!"Chopper and Usopp, who were desperately trying to wipe the ice sculptures of Luffy and Robin with blankets and warm water, exclaimed.Seeing Mark in such an unprecedentedly miserable state, and then seeing the two cold ice sculptures of Luffy and Robin on the deck, recalling the humiliation and despair of being completely crushed just now, an uncontrollable rage instantly overwhelmed her reason.She stood up abruptly, tears and determined lightning flashing in her eyes:"That bastard Admiral... hurting everyone like this, and making Mark look so miserable... it can't just end like this!""We have to leave him a 'profound' lesson! Let him know that the Straw Hat Pirates are not to be messed with!"Sanji lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, his voice icy:"I fully agree with Miss Nami's opinion."Zoro held his sword, and although weak, his eyes were like a hawk's:"Agreed."Mark, collapsed on the ground, forced a difficult smile and said weakly but firmly:"...Agreed... Shier, bring out... the 'proverb'!" Markcommunicated with the system!The next moment, a huge shadow shrouded the going merry.The divine weapon of Sky Island—the Ark of the proverb, like a floating mountain, appeared out of thin air in the sky!Under Nami's all-out control, the Ark's energy core was activated, creating a vast, churning thundercloud that covered the entire sky!She used the energy of her own Rumble-Rumble Fruit as a guide, stimulating every electron in the thundercloud through precise and violent discharges!The thundercloud was dyed black and compressed at a visible speed, finally condensing into a huge, black spherical thundercloud filled with destructive air currents and billions of volts of electricity—Raigo!"Fall!"With a shout filled with endless rage from Nami, this black sphere, symbolizing divine punishment, descended with the power to annihilate everything toward the deserted island that was already in ruins, toward the Admiral who had just let them go!"Rumble rumble rumble——————!!!"The moment Raigo touched the ground, extreme white light swallowed everyone's vision, and the deafening thunder seemed to tear the sky apart!Destructive lightning and shockwaves spread spherically, and the outline of the island distorted, disintegrated, and vaporized in the light...When the light dissipated, only a huge, bottomless vortex and lingering water vapor remained on the sea.That deserted island had been completely erased from this sea, as if it had never existed.On the distant horizon, a news bird happened to pass by, and its image transponder snail faithfully recorded this apocalyptic scene.And beside that now empty sea area, Aokiji stood on a piece of floating ice, looking at the empty sea in front of him, and then at his precious bicycle, which had been scorched black, tires burst, and rims twisted by the shockwave of "Raigo."He helplessly scratched the back of his head and sighed deeply, very deeply:"Yare yare... This is a big problem now."A few days later, on the distant sea, a black mushroom head was bobbing up and down rhythmically.The camera zoomed in, and it was indeed AdmiralAokiji Kuzan, looking utterly lifeless, riding his clanking, dilapidated bicycle on the Grand Line, conducting an incredibly difficult "ride" on the sea.
Chapter 140: Sanji's Potato PieThe going merry drifted quietly in that nameless sea for four days after the fierce battle with Aokiji.Only when Luffy, Mark, and Robin had mostly recovered their strength did they set sail again.On the morning of the third day of sailing, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle.The warm sun hung in the sky, casting golden radiance, carrying a hint of early summer heat."Mm—!"Nami stretched lazily on the deck and closed the navigation log in her hand."Finally finished updating the recent records!""Miss Nami~!"Sanji appeared in a flash.He knelt on one knee, holding an exquisite silver tray up to Nami, his eyes filled with hearts."Presenting this morning's special—Potato Pie, please taste it, Princess!"Nami smiled and gently used a silver fork to pick up a piece.The crust was golden and crispy, and when she put it to her lips, it made a crisp "crunch" sound.The next moment, her eyes widened in surprise:"Super delicious!""Wow! To be praised by Miss Nami, my life is complete!"Sanji spun around in excitement and rushed to the ship's rail, shouting at the sea with arms raised."Bang!"Zoro slammed a fist onto the deck, his sleepiness gone, leaving only bulging veins on his forehead."Which bastard is howling early in the morning? Can't a guy get any sleep?"Sanji calmly blew a smoke ring and glanced down at Zoro with a condescending look:"Ah? So that green thing on the deck was you sleeping? I thought some seaweed had become sentient and was snoring.""Who the hell are you calling seaweed?!"Zoro stood up with a "whoosh," his hand already on his sword hilt, his gaze fierce enough to eat someone."What's the matter, Marimo," Sanji sneered, bringing his face close, almost nose-to-nose,"Are your ears stuffed with seaweed too, can't you understand human speech?"Zoro didn't back down; instead, he bared his teeth and leaned his forehead back hard, growling word by word: "Swirly… brow… stinky… cook!""Want to fight, you idiot swordsman?""Just what I wanted, Swirly Brow bastard!"Electric sparks seemed to crackle in the air between them, and it looked like their "daily routine" on the deck was about to escalate."Oh my, you two really get along well."Mark carried another plate of Potato Pie, lay back leisurely in his beach chair, and left a lighthearted remark as he passed by."Which eye of yours sees us getting along?!" the two roared in unison, turning their heads."You really do get along well!"Mark forked a piece of pie into his mouth, and the crunching sound rang out again:"Hmm… is this fried with lard? So fragrant!"At this moment, Chopper and Usopp were facing the lounge door, clapping and stomping, chanting in unison:"Luffy is the coolest! Luffy is invincible! Luffy can never be defeated!...""Creak—"The door opened, and Luffy walked out grinning, clutching a bulging small cloth bag."We've waited too long!""Luffy is so cool!"Amidst the screams and whistles of Chopper and Usopp imitating fans.Luffy rushed in front of them with an exaggerated gait and slammed the bag against his chest!With a "poof," the white powder in the bag exploded, dyeing him snow-white from head to toe."This is—what I looked like when I was frozen!"He maintained a comical one-legged stance, mouth wide open, a veritable ice sculpture of performance art.Immediately, he bounced a few times like a wind-up toy, and finally"Duang"He crashed into the door panel and fell straight to the ground."Hahahaha!" Usopp and Chopper instantly collapsed in laughter, pounding the deck."Are you an idiot! You almost died and you're still playing around like this!"Nami, on the second floor, took a deep sip of iced orange juice, speechless."Sigh, when will you three ever be as mature and steady as me?"Mark sat with crossed legs, wearing sunglasses, sipping juice leisurely, not forgetting to remind Merry beside him,"Merry, don't look at those three, it's contagious—the idiot disease."Merry blinked her glass-like big eyes, nodded understandingly, though her gaze remained firmly fixed on Luffy's goofy performance."Mark! You see, isn't it just like it!" Luffy stretched his rubber neck to get close to Mark, asking eagerly.Before Mark could answer, Usopp and Chopperwere already laughing so hard they couldn't catch their breath:"Like it! So much like it! Hahaha!""Exactly, hahaha!"Luffy's nose suddenly twitched, his gaze locked onto the golden pie on Mark's plate."Mark! What are you eating?" He instantly cast the "ice sculpture" to the back of his mind.Mark lowered his sunglasses and said lazily: "Potato Pie, no meat.""Looks so delicious! Where's Sanji? I want some too!"Luffy began searching for the cook.Suddenly, he felt a chilling aura behind him.Turning around slowly, he saw Sanji with a face as gloomy as the sea before a storm, black aura permeating around him:"You brat… what did you do to my prized special yeast powder?""Dong, dong, bang!"After three dull thuds, Luffy, sporting a fresh pig-head lump, persisted:"Sowwy… but I still wanna eat Potato Pie!""Fine, fine, I get it!" Sanji turned and headed to the kitchen in a huff.Before long, the "goofy trio" were sitting in a row on the ship's rail, enjoying the delicious pie, making a synchronized "crunch" sound."Too delicious! This Potato Pie!" Luffy swallowed half of one in a single bite."Pie… what is that?" Chopper asked curiously, nibbling on his.Usopp, staring at the fishing float in the sea, spouted nonsense:"Pie, well… it's a legendary deep-sea monster. Just the meat on its tail is a hundred meters long! It's one that I, Captain Usopp, killed with my own hands!""Wow! Usopp is so amazing!" Chopper's eyes shone."That's right, it was none other than this great me…" Usopp hadn't finished bragging—"Creak."The second-floor door was gently pushed open again."Robin!" Everyone greeted her."Robin, don't learn from that rubber monster Luffyand push yourself; you need to rest more!" Namisaid with concern."Yeah!" Luffy made a victory sign at Nami."I wasn't praising you!" Nami shot an eye-dagger at him."Miss Robin! Do you need some warm food? Do you have an appetite?" Sanji immediately entered service mode.Robin smiled gently: "Then please trouble yourself to make me a cup of coffee first.""Aye! At your service!" Sanji rushed back to the kitchen like a whirlwind."Robin, just drinking coffee isn't enough; the Potato Pie Sanji made is really great." Mark sat up straight to recommend it."That's right, that's right," Merry nodded vigorously, "It goes super—duper well with coffee!""Is that so,"Robin went along with it, "Then I'll listen to little Merry and have one too."A passionate response came immediately from the kitchen:"Received! I guarantee to present Miss Robin with a special mini Potato Pie that pairs perfectly with coffee!"Just then, Zoro, who had been leaning above the control room observing the sea, suddenly spat out the pie he was eating."Hey! Luffy!" he shouted downwards, "There's… there's a frog in the sea doing the freestyle!""A frog?" Luffy was puzzled."It's circling right in front! Look!" Zoro's voice carried disbelief."Really?" Luffy craned his neck to look."Frog? Freestyle? Is it that one called Yokozuna?" Chopper asked three questions in a row."Can you believe that lazy Admiral? Besides, how can a frog do the freestyle…"Usopp muttered while following Luffy's gaze, then let out a strange cry,"There really is a frog doing the freestyle!"This exclamation attracted Mark and Merry to the rail as well."Brothers!" Luffy immediately entered Captainmode, raising his arms,"Chase it for me!""Oh—!""Forget the sails, grab the oars! Quickly!""Even though I don't know why, I feel like we have to chase it!"Zoro jumped down to the deck and took the oar handed to him by Mark."Mark, Zoro, row on the right!" "Fire it up! Let's do it, brothers!""Two o'clock direction, full speed ahead!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper rowed on the left.Merry was too short… she couldn't reach, so she was responsible for cheering.Meanwhile, in the second-floor studio."Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Robin."Sanji elegantly set down a steaming cup of coffee and a small plate of exquisite mini pies, "This is a special…"Before he could finish, the going merry lurched violently! Sanji stumbled, but was fortunately steadied by arms Robin sprouted in time."What's going on?" Sanji steadied himself, looking confused."What happened?" Nami also stood up in a panic.Robin sipped her coffee and said calmly: "It seems… the course has changed suddenly.""Bang!"Nami pushed open the studio door, braced her hands on the railing, and roared down:"You guys! What the hell are you doing?!""Listen to me, Nami!" Luffy shouted back while rowing hard,"We found an injured frog doing the freestyle!""What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!" Nami held her forehead."We have to catch it; we're having roast frog tonight!" Luffy said with a serious face."So it was for food after all!" The rowing crew paused in unison."That's really…"Nami raised her binoculars to observe for a moment, then looked puzzled,"But… why is there a lighthouse in a place like this?""What's wrong, Nami? Did you find a new island?" Luffy asked."No… it seems to be just a lonely lighthouse." Namianswered, looking down."What about the frog? Tell me the frog's location! Nami!" Luffy had no interest in the lighthouse."I won't tell you!""It went in the direction of the lighthouse." Robin's voice drifted over."Eh?!" Nami looked at Robin, confused."A frog… needs to be washed of its slime with white wine, then coated in thin flour and deep-fried; that's the most delicious way…" Sanji had already started planning the recipe."Skin it! Chop it into pieces… ingredients include ginger… pickled peppers!..."Mark wiped the corner of his mouth with his free hand. Then he shouted to the front:"Don't run, Ginger Frog!""I'm telling you, Sanji…" Nami felt desperate about the carefree attitude of this group."Since the Captain has decided to go, then let's go." Robin smiled and sipped her coffee."Even… even Robin too…"Nami's hands dropped powerlessly, and she slowly slumped onto the deck."Alright! Brothers, full speed ahead!""Oh—!"The Straw Hat Crew was in hot pursuit, while the frog swam hard in front.Suddenly, the giant frog's hind legs exerted force, and its massive body vaulted into the air with surprising agility,tracing a clumsy yet precise arc, landing heavily on a patch of sea that appeared empty ahead."Don't let it run! Block it from the front!" Luffyshouted."Duang!"The ship shook violently, as if it had hit something, tilting sharply, and everyone on board was thrown into disarray."What's going on?""Is anyone hurt? Miss Nami! Miss Robin!" Sanji got up immediately and asked with concern."Ding ding ding! Ding ding ding!"A rapid and clear ringing sound suddenly entered everyone's ears.Everyone looked at each other, holding their breath.Nami's gaze swept across the sea and suddenly locked onto a flashing signal light nearby.Her pupils contracted sharply."Wh-why… would something like this appear on the open sea?!" Her voice trembled with shock."Huh? What?" Luffy straightened his Straw Hat, confused."Woo—!!"A long and resounding whistle, accompanied by the faintly audible roar of metal grinding on tracks, came from afar and near, piercing through the sea breeze!Nami's face turned paper-white instantly."Retreat! Quickly! 180-degree turn!"She shouted with all her might:"We're stopped on the sea train tracks—!!"
Chapter 141: Luffy, Five Meters, Shipwright, DreamThe sea train, like a steel beast, wrapped in steam and roaring, charged straight at the going merry!The Straw Hat crew was so shocked their hair stood on end."No matter what, turn around quickly!" Namiexclaimed in a shrill voice.At the critical moment, Mark's mind raced.The black lion Ink Meteor let out a low growl, its massive body bracing against the side of the going merry like a shield, and pushed with all its might—"Creak—" The hull groaned with a tooth-aching sound, narrowly escaping the path of the tracks.Almost simultaneously, Mark raised his hand and gestured.Ink Meteor instantly turned into a stream of light, reverting to its staff form and flying back into his hand.The sea train roared past the hull of the going merry.The spray it kicked up splashed all over everyone."That was close..." Usopp collapsed onto the deck, clutching his pounding heart.Just then, Luffy suddenly pointed to the front of the tracks and exclaimed: "Danger, frog!"The giant frog was still standing on the tracks, neither dodging nor retreating in the face of the speeding steel beast.It braced its webbed feet firmly against its chest, striking a pushing pose, its eyes terrifyingly focused."What is it doing?!" Chopper covered his eyes.The collision between flesh and blood and a steel creation had no suspenseful outcome."Bang!" The dull sound of impact was drowned out by the roar of the train.The frog could not even make a sound, getting knocked flying like a ragdoll.It traced an arc in the air, then fell into the distant sea with a "splash," kicking up a massive spray."Ah... it got knocked away!" Chopper, Usopp, and Luffy exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.The train quickly disappeared at the end of the horizon, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded pirates."That... smoking ship..." Chopper was still staring in the direction the train had vanished, his deer eyes full of wonder, "I've never seen a ship like that!""Tap, tap, tap—" Light footsteps came from the station under the lighthouse.A little girl with yellow hair in pigtails, holding a blue rabbit, timidly poked her head out.Her gaze was immediately drawn to the pirate flag fluttering in the wind."Granny, Granny!" She turned her head and shouted into the house in a panic, "Pirates are here!""What? Really? Chimney! Bring the transponder snail quickly!" A slightly hoarse female voice came from inside the house, accompanied by hurried footsteps.As the voice approached, a figure appeared in the doorway, swaying unsteadily.She had a plump figure and was wearing an orange cape. Her fluffy green hair was tied into two large braids.She wore a peculiar police cap crookedly on her head, and the tips of her shoes were curled high.Just as she stepped out of the wooden door, she fell onto the deck with a "thud." However, she held the wine bottle in her hand steadily, not spilling a single drop."Here you go, Granny!" The little girl named Chimney quickly handed over the transponder snail."Hello? Can you hear me?... Uh, what was I going to say?" The old woman picked up the transponder snail, shaking her head with drunken, hazy eyes. Apparently, she had completely forgotten what had just happened."So she's drunk!" Usopp couldn't help but remark."Hey! You aren't train robbers, are you?" Kokorosquinted her eyes and shouted at Luffy, who had just stepped off the ship."I'm Luffy!" The boy crossed his arms, puffed out his chest, and said in a loud voice, "I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!""Become what king?" Kokoro picked her ear, looking blank."Pirate King!" Luffy was so angry his nostrils puffed out air."Then Sea Kings, where are you going?" The old woman clearly hadn't heard him clearly."Is something wrong with your ears!" Luffy was so angry he jumped up and down, rolling up his sleeves to go forward and argue."Forget it, forget it!" Usopp quickly grabbed him from behind."What an interesting man, hahaha!" Kokoro laughed, looking up, and took another swig of wine."My name is Kokoro, this is Chimney, and the one in her arms is Gonbe.""Chimney," Nami leaned over and asked, "Why is there that kind of steel... monster on the sea?""Hehe, never seen it before, right!" The little girl lifted her chin proudly."We're the only place in the world that has it! It's called the sea train 'Puffing Tom,' and it runs on the sea using tracks and steam to power paddle wheels!""Tracks? There really are..." Sanji leaned over the side of the ship to look down, "Just a little below the sea surface, no wonder we nearly ran aground just now.""There are clearly indicator lights and buoys, yet you dared to break in; you have a lot of nerve!" Chimneypointed to two clear lines of buoys on the sea surface."Let's not talk about that," Luffy pointed at the sea righteously, "That frog clearly doesn't know how to read indicator lights, it was too much of you to knock it away!""Oh, you mean Yokozuna." Chimney suddenly realized."Yes, yes, yes, that's the freestyle swimming frog!""It's a big problem for our Shift Station!" The little girl put her hands on her hips."It loves to compete in strength, always thinking that one day it will be able to beat the sea train!""So it was a strength competition..." Luffy's expression suddenly turned serious.He solemnly declared: "I've decided, I won't eat a frog with perseverance!""You planned to eat it from the start?!" Nami couldn't help but punch him on the head."By the way, where are you going?" Kokoro asked curiously."If you take the sea train, you can go to the City of Spring Queen St. Poplar, the City of Gourmet Pucci, and the City of Carnival St. Falte!""Then let's go to the City of Gourmet!" Luffy's eyes lit up immediately."Idiot! We sail by the log pose!" Nami punched him again.Then she looked down at her wrist: "The needle is pointing southeast.""Southeast, huh..." Kokoro took a sip of wine."Then the place you're going is Water 7. It's a city famous worldwide for its water and shipbuilding.""Shipbuilding?" Luffy's eyes lit up, "Are there any amazing shipwrights there?""Of course!" The old woman puffed out her chest proudly, "The best shipwrights in the whole world are gathered in Water 7!""That's great! Mark, let's find a shipwright there to be our crewmate!" Luffy shouted excitedly to Markon the ship."Sure," Mark nodded with a smile, "It's the perfect time to give the going merry a complete upgrade.""Is that so... wait a moment." Kokoro dragged her drunken body and wobbled back into the small house.Before long, she tumbled out with a "thud" again, holding two pieces of paper in her hand."Here, take these!" She handed the papers to Nami, "One is a sketch of Water 7, and the other is a letter of introduction.""Thank you so much!" Usopp said with emotion, "You're such a good person, Granny!""Water 7 is very big; it takes a week to fill the log pose." Kokoro stood on the pier, looking at Luffy on the bow."You can take your time exploring, just be careful not to get lost.""We'll be heading back to Water 7 later too!" Chimney added."Thank you, Granny!" Luffy waved vigorously, "Hope to see you again!""If we meet again, I'll treat you to a drink!" Kokorolaughed heartily."All right! Brothers, let's set sail!" Luffy shouted, raising his arms."Oh!" The sails were raised, and the going merryslowly sailed away from the station.Luffy was dancing excitedly on the bow: "Set sail! City of Meat!""What on earth did you actually hear!" Usopp held his forehead and sighed helplessly.Sanji sat elegantly on the railing of the second floor of the going merry, his long legs crossed. He looked down at Luffy on the deck and blew a perfect smoke ring: "Listen, Luffy, leave the crucial task of finding a new shipwright to me."Heart shapes flashed in his eyes. "I guarantee, I will recruit a super beautiful woman for our crew!""Are you an idiot?" Luffy stretched his arm like rubber, forming an exaggerated big circle in the air."Of course, we need to find a shipwright who is as strong as a mountain! At least five meters tall!"Usopp stroked his chin, analyzing rationally: "But with that size, I don't know if our ship can fit him. Are we supposed to let him hang off the side of the ship the whole time?""As long as the skills are good, it doesn't matter if they are male, female, or even human." Zoro leaned against the mast, holding his swords, looking calm."The important thing is, will anyone actually join a pirate ship?""Awesome! We're getting a new crewmate!" Merryand Chopper happily rode on Ink Meteor, who had turned back into its lion form, running in circles on the deck."Come to think of it, we were so lucky to encounter that station just now!" Nami took out the nautical chart Kokoro had given her from her pocket and unfolded it with anticipation."She even drew a map for us specially..." The next second, the navigator's smile froze on her face.She blinked her eyes and rubbed them hard. Finally, a surge of anger rushed to her head."Who the hell could understand this!" Namifuriously crumpled the paper into a ball and slammed it hard onto the deck.The paper ball rolled right to Mark's feet. He curiously picked it up and unfolded it, then couldn't help but burst into earth-shattering laughter: "Hahahaha! This rivals Luffy's drawing skills!"On the so-called nautical chart, the crooked lines looked like drunken earthworms crawling out. The islands were drawn all askew, and the crucial shipping routes were actually fragmented and unconnected.The best part was that a place suspected to be Water 7 was drawn with a funny smiley face.Just then, Luffy ran over excitedly, holding the masterpiece he had just finished."Let me show you our future shipwright that I drew!" He proudly unfolded the drawing paper—On it was a twisted giant with severely disproportionate limbs. It was wearing black sunglasses, and the most terrifying part was the bloody mouth with red fangs drawn inside."Look! This is our shipwright, five meters tall!" Luffypointed at the drawing and explained enthusiastically.Sanji only took one look and stood up abruptly: "If the shipwright looks like this, I'm running away right now!""Wait! Take me with you!" Usopp scrambled to follow. "I suddenly feel that our current crew configuration is perfect!""Hey! You guys have no appreciation at all!" Luffyjumped in anger.He turned to look for a kindred spirit: "Mark, come take a look! What a handsome shipwright!"Mark turned his face away in disgust: "Take it away! It hurts my eyes! Others are Impressionists, you are just a pure pervert.""The hands are drawn bigger than the feet, and overall it looks like a flattened Ultraman!""Who is Ultraman?" "A man who can shoot lasers!" "What? Shoot lasers!"Luffy used his pen to scribble a few more lines on his masterpiece. He drew a circle on the chest and added a few dots. That was the so-called "laser.""Robin—" Luffy approached the archaeologist who was reading a book, looking pitiful.Robin looked up from the pages of her book and smiled, examining the drawing: "It's quite nice, it has a lot of... visual impact.""Really? I knew it!" Luffy instantly revived, running around the ship holding the drawing. "Robin even said my shipwright is the best!"Just as things were chaotic, Zoro's voice came from the crow's nest: "Hey—I see an island!"Everyone instantly quieted down and looked towards the distance in unison.On the horizon, a dreamy water city was slowly unveiling its mysterious veil.Only Luffy was still persistently holding his drawing, shouting at the approaching island: "Water 7! I'm coming to find my five-meter-tall shipwright—"At this moment, far away in Water 7, Frankysneezed loudly: "Super—Strange, I suddenly feel a chill down my back!"
Chapter 142: Overture of Water and the Headline of DestructionAs the going merry slowly sailed closer, the outline of Water 7 gradually became clear on the horizon.The Straw Hat Crew stood on the deck, their expressions shifting from initial anticipation to undisguised shock."It's so beautiful...""It's simply unbelievable..."Even the usually calm Zoro had a faint smile playing on the corners of his lips.Where the sea met the sky, that legendary city on the water stood silently.But what was breathtaking was not just its magnificent scale, but its unique form—the entire city was like a giant, four-tiered living fountain!Several waterfalls, like flowing blue ribbons, elegantly divided the circular base into sections, with clear water rushing into the sea along meticulously designed channels.Buildings with white walls and red roofs were arranged in orderly fashion, extending upwards along the mountain, layer upon layer, like carefully stacked building blocks.Even from a distance, the roar of the rushing waterfalls could be faintly heard, as if the entire city were breathing deeply."Is this... Water 7?" Nami whispered, mesmerized. The last time she had been this shocked was when she first saw Sky Island."Wow! It's a su—per huge fountain!" Luffy jumped excitedly on the deck, his rubber body bouncing with every move.Sanji forgot to light the cigarette between his lips, completely intoxicated by this dreamlike scene."To be able to live in such a city... They must all be ladies as elegant as water nymphs..."Zoro folded his arms and cast a look of disgust at Sanji."Tch. We aren't here to accompany you on a date, you shitty cook.""Want to say that again?"The two immediately squared off, swords drawn.Mark took a deep breath, feeling the moist water vapor in the air, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth."I don't know why... but today feels especially super!""That's not your speaking style at all!" Usoppslapped Mark on the back, teasing him."Hahaha, I couldn't help it!" Mark scratched his head, embarrassed."Hey, hey! How about we have a water-sliding race from that waterway?" Luffy pointed to the turbulent currents on the outskirts of the city, looking at Chopper excitedly."A, a race?" Chopper looked at the surging water, terrified, and immediately covered his teary eyes with his hat."I'd rather die!""What kind of water-sliding race are two hammer-heads going to have? Are you idiots?" Zoro sighed, clutching his forehead."Oh, right!" Luffy reacted slowly."What do those numbers mean?" Zoro asked, pointing to the huge numerical markers on the base."No idea." Usopp shook his head honestly."Is that a wall or a door?" Sanji joined the discussion."That's obviously—a special gate for my five-meter-tall shipwright to enter and exit for repairs!" Luffysat cross-legged on the sheep head of the going merry, triumphantly waving his outrageous shipwright blueprint."How is that possible..." Usopp retorted."The front should be the Sea Train station. There's a 'Blue Station' sign hanging above it," Robin analyzed calmly."Where's the dock?" Nami and Usopp looked around."It should be on the other side of the city, right?" Usopp speculated."Hey! Are you the Straw Hat Crew?" A man fishing on a small boat waved enthusiastically at them."Huh? You know us?" Nami walked to the ship's rail, looking over curiously."Of course! You guys are celebrities now! Haven't you seen the latest newspaper?" The man turned and rummaged through his luggage."Catch!" He tossed a newspaper over."Thank you, sir!""By the way, as big pirates like you, it's best not to enter the city from the front. I suggest you go around to the back street; there's a place specifically for docking ships." The man kindly pointed out a direction."Understood, thank you very much!" Nami waved goodbye and steered the going merry."Let me see how they're writing about us this time!" Sanji thoughtfully brought a comfortable lounge chair for Nami.Nami adjusted her glasses, crossed her legs elegantly, and sat down. The partners immediately gathered around curiously.Headline: "Shock! Marine's Highest Combat Power Suffers a Setback? Nameless Island Completely Vanishes from the Map!"Subheading: Straw Hat Crew and Admiral AokijiErupt in Epic Conflict, Leaving Only Scorched Earth and Ice Plains After the Battle![Special Report] Recently, in an unnamed sea area of the Grand Line, a fierce battle erupted that was enough to change the pattern of the world. The two sides were none other than the notorious Straw Hat Crew and the Marine's highest combat power, Admiral Aokiji!According to footage provided by eyewitnesses, the island suffered devastating blows during the battle. The scene presented a doomsday landscape of intertwined ice and thunder—one half was an eternal ice plain emitting absolute cold, while the other half was scorched earth completely vitrified by extreme heat.The entire island structure collapsed completely, sank into the seabed, and was thoroughly erased from the map. Although Marineford claimed that Admiral Aokiji was executing a routine mission, the traces left at the scene have sparked much speculation.Some analysts pointed out that the Straw Hat Crewdisplayed terrifying strength far exceeding their bounty in this battle. What is particularly shocking is that the lightning strike traces left at the scene are extremely similar to the legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and there are no such ability users in the publicly available intelligence on the Straw Hat Crew. Is this a new power, or is there another hidden story?This newspaper sought verification from Marinefordon this matter, and the only response received was "No comment." Admiral Aokiji himself also remained silent on the matter.The result of this battle has caused a sensation in the New World. Many forces have begun to reassess the danger level of the Straw Hat Crew. According to reliable sources, the World Government is considering significantly increasing the bounty of the Straw Hat Crew.Columnist Morgans comments: "The Rhapsody of Ice and Thunder has sounded the prologue to a new era! Is this the 'victory' of the Marine, or the 'declaration' of the villains? When an island disappears due to a battle, the rules of this sea are being rewritten by a group of the craziest young people! Look forward to it, world!"(News Photo): A blurry, long-distance photo. In the foreground is the back of the going merry, and in the background is the disintegrating nameless island, with the "proverb" in the air releasing terrifying lightning.Trivia Report: According to another insider, AdmiralAokiji also suffered "significant personal property damage" during this operation—his special bicycle used for transportation was severely damaged in the aftermath of the battle and is currently undergoing emergency repairs. The Admiral himself expressed that he is "quite troubled" by this."This title... is too exaggerated." Luffy broke the silence first."You actually made the whole island disappear? Nami, did you do this?""That's right! Who told you two to get frozen into ice sculptures? I couldn't hold back for a moment..." Nami looked at Luffy's angry expression, feeling a bit guilty."You actually... actually... didn't call me along..." Luffyimmediately slumped and squatted on the deck drawing circles, his voice full of grievance."Why wasn't it me who got frozen... I'm so envious...""So you were envious of that the whole time! Don't put on an expression like I did something bad, you idiot!" Nami was so angry she hit Luffy on the head with the rolled-up newspaper.Usopp picked up the newspaper and read it carefully, his face turning paler and paler."Wait... it says here that we 'displayed strength far exceeding our bounty'? And called it a 'Rhapsody of Ice and Thunder'? It's over... Now the whole world is going to think we're monsters capable of contending with an Admiral! We're going to be targeted by even more terrifying opponents!" He held his head, already imagining the terrifying scene of being hunted by the Four Emperors.Nami sighed, clutching her forehead. "Impulsive... I really made too big of a mess..."Zoro held his sword and chuckled. "Hmph, the news agency loves to exaggerate. If it weren't for Markcovering our retreat, we would have been wiped out long ago. However, the title 'Island Destroyer' sounds pretty good. I wonder how much the bounty will increase this time."Sanji lit a cigarette and suddenly turned to Markexcitedly. "The point is—it's time for me to get a new wanted poster, right? Mark, can you take a photo of me and send it to the Marine now? Should I change into a suit? What pose should I strike to show my elegant temperament?""Oh? Doesn't the current wanted poster fit your essence perfectly?" Zoro took out Sanji's wanted poster from somewhere and accurately stuck it on his face."Ah... This is definitely not me! Something must be wrong..." Sanji immediately wilted and lay on the ground, drawing circles with Luffy.Chopper tugged gently on the hem of Usopp's pants, his big eyes shining with anticipation. "Um... Will I have a wanted poster too? Even though I didn't help much... but I want one too..."Usopp immediately puffed out his chest and struck a proud pose. "Chopper! Getting a wanted poster isn't that easy! Back in the day, I sank ten warships and wiped out five Marine bases, and I only got a bounty of a mere 200 million Berries... And this time, I blew up the Admiral's head with one shot..."At this point, Usopp suddenly realized that he had indeed blown up Aokiji's head, and his legs began to tremble involuntarily. "In, in any case... you have to keep working hard, Chopper!" He hurriedly found an excuse and slipped away to the restroom."So it's not easy for everyone to get a wanted poster..." Chopper lowered his head in disappointment.Robin sipped her coffee and smiled elegantly. "Cleverly mixing facts with speculation to guide public opinion... President Morgans' writing style is still as exquisite as ever. In this way, our 'presence' on this sea will probably never be ignored again." Her gaze was deep and inscrutable.Mark looked at the speculation of "New Power?" in the newspaper and shook his head helplessly. "Great, now we've become a 'mysterious dangerous group.' But it still sounds better than being written as 'pathetic pirates chased by an Admiral.'"Merry sat beside Mark, swinging her legs happily. "So we're that amazing!"At this moment, everyone's eyes turned simultaneously to the trivia in the corner of the newspaper—"The Admiral's Trouble: Vehicle Damaged, Who Will Pay the Bill?".After a brief silence, "Pfft—Hahahaha!" A sky-shaking laughter erupted on the going merry. Even the usually calm Robin covered her mouth and chuckled, and the corners of Zoro's mouth went up frantically. Luffy laughed until he was rolling on the deck."Bi, bicycle! Hahaha! His bicycle is broken!"The tense atmosphere brought by the news report was dispersed without a trace by this unexpected funny tidbit.This shocking report ended with a funny episode about a bicycle for the Straw Hat Crew. They didn't know that this newspaper was spreading to every corner of the world, quietly changing their fate.Meanwhile, in the back street of Water 7. In a dim warehouse, ship blueprints and parts were scattered everywhere. A pair of mechanical hands were clutching the latest newspaper.On the headline photo, besides the back of the going merry, the most eye-catching thing was the golden ark floating in mid-air—the proverb!The thumbs of those hands subconsciously rubbed against the outline of the flying ark, with enough force to almost tear the newspaper.In the dim light, one could only vaguely see a burly outline equipped with metal arms."Boss!" A subordinate ran in hurriedly, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse. "The brothers at the port reported that the sheep-headed boat you specifically ordered to watch out for, along with the group of guys who caused the big news, have already arrived at Water 7!""..." The figure holding the newspaper didn't respond immediately, his gaze still locked firmly on the picture in the newspaper.After a moment of silence, a low voice sounded in the darkness: "It's really super baffling... They clearly have a 'God's Vehicle' that can fly, yet they insist on sailing with that old'Sheep'..."With a "slap," the newspaper was heavily slapped onto the workbench, causing the parts on the table to jump."Let's go!" He stood up abruptly, his massive shadow almost covering the entire work area."Let's go meet this group of... interesting bastards who don't know what they're thinking!"