Blackbeard unleashed the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit. A black tide surged forth, blotting out the sky as it swept toward the towering ice walls surrounding them on all sides.
"!!" Kuzan frowned slightly. His body solidified as he used Shave, flashing at extreme speed before riding Moonwalk into the air. He clenched both hands in empty space, forming two Ice Blades in his grasp. "Ice Strike!"
"Whoosh!"
The two Ice Blades turned into streaks of white, frigid light and pierced down through the air, shooting toward Blackbeard as he unleashed his Devil Fruit ability.
A figure rushed out from the side, flinging several streams of light from their hands. They formed a protective net of light in front of Blackbeard, and Kuzan's Ice Blades shattered instantly upon impact.
"Kehehe!" Catarina, the Crescent Hunter—a tall female pirate with a somewhat aged appearance—rushed out with a strange laugh. She shook several weapons from her hands and attacked Kuzan while covering Blackbeard. "Even if you're a Marine Admiral, don't underestimate us!"
The black tide unleashed by Blackbeard's Devil Fruit ability continuously swallowed Kuzan's ice walls. The barriers trapping the Blackbeard Pirates were being devoured bit by bit, and Catarina's cover allowed Blackbeard's other senior officers to move as well, launching attacks at Kuzan in the sky.
"Ha ha ha! Boys! Take him down!" Blackbeard laughed arrogantly. "Since Aokiji refuses to join us, there's no need for us to hold back!"
"Crack, crack, crack!"
A stream of white frost descended. Kuzan's body turned elemental as he crashed fearlessly into Blackbeard's officers. Doc Q was caught first, unable to defend in time, and was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture by Kuzan's power.
"Hmph!" Kuzan solidified in an instant and swung a kick toward the frozen Doc Q. If that kick landed, Doc Q