Aokiji Arrives!

"It's over."

Jin stood atop the broken mast, his longsword pointing diagonally at his nail plate.

Vergo leaned on a bamboo stick, barely supporting his body, his breathing becoming increasingly heavy due to the injury to his chest.

Luo Hengdao stood in front of him, his hand gripping the Kikoku trembling slightly.

With constant positional exchanges in the ROOM and the need to cover Vergo's defense, Ronaldo's stamina was running low.

Jin looked at the two of them and slowly raised his long sword.

"With Ron gone, you don't even have the right to hold me back."

The blade is about to fall--

Click!

Suddenly, a cracking sound came from the sea in the distance.

Jin paused.

A white line of ice is rapidly spreading along the sea surface, freezing all the surging waves in its path!

"That is..."

Luo looked up.

Deep in the sea fog, a naval fleet is cutting through the waves.

At the bow of the lead warship stood a tall man wearing a navy overcoat.

He had his hands in his pockets, looking rather lazy.

Marine Headquarters Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan)

"Ara la~"

Aokiji yawned.

"Looks like we arrived just in time."

Before he finished speaking, he raised his right hand.

Ice Age.

Boom--

A bone-chilling cold exploded outwards from him, freezing the sea surface at a visible speed, with the ice layer extending all the way to the bottom of the Animal Kingdoms Fleet.

Several warships were unable to turn around in time, and their hulls were jammed by thick ice, causing their speed to drop sharply.

The Beasts Pirates instantly thrown into chaos.

"The boat won't move!"

"Break the ice quickly!"

Aokiji didn't stop. He turned his head and ordered behind him, "Headquarters fleet, listen up! Capture all the trapped enemy ships!"

"Yes!"

The naval fleet immediately launched an encirclement.

Jin's expression darkened.

If this drags on any longer, the entire fleet will be pinned to the ice.

He spread his wings, and a huge fireball condensed in his palm.

"Flame Emperor!"

The fireball hurtled towards Aokiji.

Aokiji raised his arm, and the chill instantly solidified into an ice wall.

Boom!

The fireball crashed into the ice wall and exploded, instantly sending white mist across the sea.

The moment the fireball left his hand, the flames behind Ember suddenly went out.

His figure, concealed by the white mist, suddenly increased in speed, rushing straight towards Aokiji's face!

"They arrived quite quickly."

Aokiji dodged to the side, his arm surging with cold energy as several ice spears shot out in his face.

With a flap of his wings, Ember passed between the ice spears.

The flames behind him had not yet reignited, but the long sword in his hand was already engulfed in flames as he slashed horizontally!

"Fire Dragon Emperor!"

A fiery dragon roared out from the blade and pounced straight at Aokiji.

Aokiji raised his arm.

"Ice Cube - Ice Block: Pheasant Beak."

The giant ice bird crashed head-on into the fire dragon.

Boom!

As ice and fire collided, heat waves and cold air exploded simultaneously, instantly creating a large cloud of white mist rising from the sea.

Jin burst out of the white mist, his head snapping back, and he was suddenly launched into the air!

"The Dai So Son Ou!"

The terrifying impact slammed straight into Aokiji's face!

Aokiji's body shattered into ice fragments.

He was already beside Jhin when the ice shards fell.

"Ice Time."

Aokiji pressed his palm against Jin's wing, and the biting cold spread rapidly, covering half of the wing in the blink of an eye!

The flames behind Jin suddenly surged, and the ice wrapped around his wings shattered instantly.

After flapping its wings and taking off to create distance, he finally saw Aokiji's intentions.

The enemy had no intention of pursuing him; instead, they remained positioned between him and the Animal Kingdoms Fleet, blocking his route back to reinforce.

If this continues, the entire fleet will be trapped!

"A troublesome fellow."

Jin cursed under his breath and did not rush down again, but instead circled in the sky, looking for an opportunity to break through.

Aokiji glanced at him but did not pursue.

"Take care of these ships first."

After giving instructions to the fleet, he walked along the ice that stretched towards the Deserted Island, and then hurried over the ice.

In the middle of Deserted Island.

Boom!

The Hassaikai crashed heavily to the ground, sending rubble flying into the sky.

Ron burst out of the smoke and dust, Zhenyuan slashed horizontally, the space in front of the blade suddenly distorting.

Kaido swung the Hassaikai at Kaido, its staff coated in Conqueror's Haki.

Clang!

The metal clashed, and black and red Inazuma flashed wildly along the two weapons.

The rock beneath Kaido's feet collapsed with a deafening roar, and Ron was also forced back several steps by the shock, his hands tingling with numbness.

"Oh my god! Even the Marine Admirals have arrived?"

Kaido glanced at the frozen sea in the distance.

"You guys are really willing to spend a lot of money to catch me!"

Ron didn't reply, but with a flick of his wrist, dozens of Spatial Door simultaneously opened around Kaido.

Dimension Slash!

Spatial blades slashed out simultaneously from different directions.

Kaido swung his Hassaikai Brush, his Conqueror's Haki forcefully deflecting several direct slashes.

Yet, a blade still grazed his shoulder and back from the side and rear, tearing open the dragon scales and splattering blood.

"That's interesting!"

Kaido roared and charged forward, when suddenly a cracking sound came from beneath his feet.

The ice spread rapidly along the ground, freezing Kaido's feet in the blink of an eye.

Aokiji stepped onto the Deserted Island and stood on a protruding ice rock.

He glanced at Kaido, then at Ron.

"Oh dear, Kaido of the Beasts... Looks like you're having quite a lively fight."

"Uncle Kuzan."

Ron slightly withdrew his sword.

"You've come at the perfect time."

Kaido looked down at the ice on his legs, and his legs suddenly jerked.

Boom!

The ice layer burst open.

He swung the Hassaikai and smashed it towards the Aokiji.

An ice wall rose abruptly from the ground.

Bang!

The Hassaikai smashed through the ice wall, sending shards of ice flying everywhere.

Several ice spears followed closely behind, shooting out from behind the ice wall and heading straight for Kaido's face!

Kaido his club to sweep away the ice spears, his body enveloped in billowing flames as he soared into the air.

"Bolo Breath!"

A scorching pillar of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth, blasting straight at the location where Aokiji was.

Aokiji pressed his palms against the ground, and the ice rose up, forming a thick, arc-shaped ice barrier.

The Bolo Breath collided with the ice barrier, and white mist quickly spread out.

Taking advantage of the moment when his vision was obstructed, Ron burst out from the side Spatial Door and thrust his sword, Zhenyuan, straight at Kaido's ribs.

Kaido immediately turned around and unleashed the Hassaikai in a sweeping attack!

Clang!

Knives and clubs clashed.

While Kaido's attention was being diverted by Ron, Aokiji had already circled around to his other side.

"Ice Block, Two-Spiked Spear!"

Behind Aokiji, two thick ice spears materialized simultaneously, thrusting straight at Kaido from two directions!

Kaido dodged one of the arrows, but the other still pierced his side.

Puff!

Blood splattered, but the ice spear, its momentum undiminished, pierced directly into the rock wall behind them!

Kaido glanced at the two of them and finally stopped smiling.

"Two against one?"

He gripped the Hassaikai tightly with both hands, and the black and red Conqueror's Haki was wrapped around it.

Come on!

He charged straight at Ron on a cloud of flames, the Hassaikai trailing long arcs of black and red light as they crashed down upon him.

"Thunder Bagua!"

The Spatial Door in front of Ron suddenly opened.

As the Hassaikai smashed through the door, another Spatial Door appeared behind and to the side of Kaido, from which the staff suddenly emerged!

Kaido was prepared; he twisted his body and lashed out with his dragon tail at the spot where Ron was originally supposed to appear.

Ron realized his landing point was blocked, and another Spatial Door opened beneath his feet, allowing him to flash out from Kaido's side.

Zhenyuan thrust straight at the waist and abdomen!

Kaido raised his arm to block, the blade striking the scales and sparks flying.

Aokiji seized the opportunity when Kaido his bat and slammed his palms into the ground.

"Ice Cube Time Capsule!"

The chill spread rapidly along the ground, instantly freezing the rocks beneath Kaido's feet, and thick layers of ice climbed up his legs!

Kaido roared and the Hassaikai slammed heavily into the ground.

Boom!

The ice beneath their feet shattered on the spot.

But the instant he broke the ice, Ron had already leaped into the air.

Dozens of Spatial Door unfolded in front of him, and spatial blades shot out one after another from the gates, overlapping each other along the same trajectory.

Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki simultaneously entangled Zhenyuan.

"Thousand Blades - Shattering Dimensions!"

Ron slashed down with his sword!

All the spatial blades instantly converged into a gigantic slash, tearing through the space in front of them and heading straight for Kaido!

At the same time, Aokiji raised his hands.

The ice on Kaido's left and right sides and behind him rose up simultaneously, forming three thick ice walls that blocked his escape route.

Kaido's eyes darkened, and he gripped the Hassaikai tightly with both hands, channeling all his Conqueror's Haki into the staff.

"Great Vajra Thunder Bagua!!"

Boom--!

A massive slash collided head-on with the Hassaikai!

Black and red Inazuma exploded, and the shockwave swept across the ground.

The spatial blades struck by the slash shattered one after another, and the ice wall that Aokiji had set up was also shaken into pieces.

Ron was sent flying backward, his hand split open, and blood dripped down the hilt of his knife.

Kaido still stood in the center of the rift, blood streaming down his waist, and several cuts on the scales on his chest.

Kaido, glanced between the two men.

"A Marine Admiral, plus a monster like you?"

"This is getting more and more interesting!"

Brub brub bru--

Kaido's Den Den Mushi suddenly rang, and he answered it casually.

"Kaido!"

Queen's urgent voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"Caesar has been rescued!"

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Kaido's eyes.

"Here you go!"

He put away the Den Den Mushi and looked out at the distant sea.

The Animal Kingdoms Fleet has been divided by the ice, and the navy is pressing in from both sides.

If the fighting continues, I'm afraid I won't be able to save a single one of my ships.

Kaido looked back at Ron and Aokiji.

That's all for today!

He roared to the sky, and his enormous body swiftly transformed into a blue dragon.

Flaming clouds lifted the dragon's body, and it spiraled into the sky, its enormous head looking down upon the Deserted Island.

"Ron!"

A thunderous sound came from high above.

You're lucky this time!

Ron his knife, ready to give chase. "You think you can come and go as you please?"

Aokiji raised his hand to stop him.

"Stop chasing."

He looked out at the still-battling sea in the distance.

"The Animal Kingdoms' ships haven't been cleared yet, and the damaged warships also need rescue."

"If the fighting continues, our casualties will also increase."

Ron watched the departing Azure Dragon and snorted coldly.

"You're lucky you ran fast."

High in the sky, King also spotted Kaido's retreat.

He signaled the remaining Animal Kingdoms below to retreat, then flapped his wings and chased after Kaido.

After Jin left, Law and Vergo finally got a chance to catch their breath.

Aokiji turned to look at the sea and raised his hand to order, "All ships, listen up! Blockade the sea! Rescue the damaged warships first, then mop up the remaining Animal Kingdoms!"

After Kaido and King withdrew, the Animal Kingdoms Fleet lost its commander and its formation quickly fell apart.

The navy surrounded the ships from both flanks, relentlessly bombarding the warships trapped in the ice.

Several Animal Kingdoms warships attempted to turn by force, but their hulls were firmly stuck in thick ice, making it impossible for them to move.

The pirates on the deck could only jump onto the ice, only to run headlong into the navy's encirclement.

With Ron and Kuzan taking action, the pirates instantly lost their ability to resist, and the cannon fire on the sea finally ceased.

After the battle, Ron returned to the warship.

Kuzan walked up to him, glanced at the Marines counting their prisoners in the distance, and casually remarked, "You kid, you actually managed to fight Kaido for this long."

Ron shook his numb wrist.

"That guy's really tough."

Kuzan glanced at the bleeding wounds on his body.

You have quite a few injuries as well.

"They're all minor injuries."

"If you keep making minor injuries like this every time, the Ship's Doctor will be very busy."

Ron smiled and didn't refute.

Just as the two were about to arrange the cleanup, a communications soldier rushed over.

"Report!"

"We just received a distress signal from the science team's transport ship! They were attacked by the Beasts Pirates, and communications were subsequently lost!"

Ron's smile vanished.

"Transport ship?"

He gazed at the lingering smoke of battle in the distance.

"That Kaido guy..."