The exchange between them had been swift and brief, yet the danger involved left Aokiji deeply alarmed. Although Uchiha Hiko had never displayed overwhelming strength, Aokiji could not shake the faint sense of unease gnawing at him.
Even now, with Hiko frozen inside an Ice Coffin, Aokiji did not dare let his guard down.
Hiko's eyes rolled within the Ice Coffin, and he blinked at Aokiji outside it. Uchiha Hiko was rather surprised by Aokiji's technique of sealing an enemy away, freezing and numbing their senses to imprison them. After all, he had entered Sage Mode, and his strength had increased considerably, yet he could still feel Aokiji's chill. That proved the Marine Admiral truly had some skill.
"!!" Aokiji had been observing Uchiha Hiko when he suddenly saw him blink. It startled him badly. This was the first time Aokiji had encountered someone who could remain completely unfazed after being frozen inside an Ice Coffin.
"Boom!"
As Aokiji stood there in shock, countless cracks spread across the Ice Coffin. The golden radiance around Uchiha Hiko intensified, and violent power erupted in an instant. The massive Ice Coffin was immediately blown apart from the inside out by Uchiha Hiko's Chakra.
"How!?" Aokiji was utterly stunned. All he saw was a faint golden shadow darting around behind him. His thoughts could not keep up, and he instinctively swung his arm backward. An Ice Wall abruptly rose behind him.
"Boom!"
Hiko's fist smashed into the Ice Wall, and his tremendous strength instantly shattered Aokiji's defense. His next punch struck Aokiji in the back, but with the Ice Wall buying him a moment, Aokiji had already transformed into ice and evaded by the time Uchiha Hiko's attack landed.
"Oh? You're pretty fast." Hiko chuckled softly. "How about something more explosive?"
As he spoke,