Mahapadma?!

"Hateful!"

Esdeath, who was freefalling high in the sky, didn't even glance at the Vyburn Wyvern that had been her loyal mount for four or five years.

With a grim expression, she stretched out her right palm and aimed it at the air beneath her, activating the Teigu ability called 'Demon Extract: Demon Extract'.

"I will not lose, for I am the conqueror of all, no matter who!"

Just as Esdeath uttered those words...

Layers of ice crystals began to condense out of thin air below, forming a giant ice tower hundreds of meters high in the blink of an eye, which firmly supported her on the top surface of the tower.

"Wow—that's spectacular, quite impressive!"

Not far away, Kuzan watched Esdeath instantly create an ice tower two or three meters higher than the cliff beneath his feet, and he didn't hold back his praise.

Kuzan can certainly do the same thing.

It's just that he has a rather low-key personality, and he wouldn't normally create such a big scene.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy watching such a magnificent ice-making performance.

How beautiful!

"Snort!"

Esdeath, atop the ice tower, saw Kuzan put his hands back in his pockets.

She felt that the other party had not respected her fight, which made her expression turn cold.

But to be fair, she's still very beautiful.

As Esdeath raised the long, pointed Flower Sword in her right hand, one after another, icy spears radiating a chilling aura began to appear in the air around her.

They are generated incredibly quickly, filling the entire sky in almost two seconds.

"Feel the pain from this world, powerful being from Otherworld!"

The next moment.

Accompanied by a series of sharp whistles, the icy spears shot out repeatedly towards Kuzan's location.

"I'm getting a bit bored. Let's talk over at our place."

Kuzan remained calm, completely unconcealed by Esdeath's undisguised fighting spirit and killing intent.

He suddenly leaped into the air, letting the ice spears continue to pierce the spot where he had just stood.

"Ice Ball!"

At the same time, he suddenly stretched out his right palm, which was already emitting cold air, and five thick, long ice pillars shot out from his palm.

"Ice Barrier!"

Esdeath raised her right foot, clad in a high heel, and stomped hard on the surface of the ice tower.

In an instant.

Five thick ice walls were stacked in front of her, but they didn't even last a second before shattering completely under the impact of the five ice pillars.

"What?!"

Esdeath was shocked; she hadn't expected such a large difference in the quality of the ice blocks.

Just as she was about to be Coating five ice pillars and then frozen inside a large Ice Ball, she made a decisive move and unleashed the power of her Teigu, which she had been storing for three days.

[Boom!!!]

An indescribably fierce blizzard erupted from Esdeath like an avalanche.

The five icicles in front of him shattered like Hari, becoming part of the avalanche.

"Ah la la la".

Before Kuzan could even utter a word, he was completely buried by a massive avalanche.

Next, even this isolated island in the East Blue, known as the Imperial Navy Headquarters, was completely covered by countless snowflakes.

Even more outrageous is...

This super Blizzard is still spreading outwards at an incredible speed.

Wherever it passed, whether it was the sea or the birds in the sky, everything was instantly frozen.

Ultimately, its scope covered the entire southeastern region of the empire.

This region includes all the towns and cities, large and small, including the bustling Water Cloud City, as well as the extremely famous Sun-Moon Swamp.

All of this was due to the devastating impact of this sudden Blizzard.

Countless passersby, ordinary animals, and Danger Beasts have frozen to death on the ground.

If the Empire possessed Satellite -like capabilities, they might be able to clearly see that a portion of this planet was shrouded in a thick layer of snow and ice.

As for the Imperial Capital, what was originally the sweltering heat of June has now turned into a snowy winter!

"Call----"

At the epicenter of this massive Blizzard, Esdeath remained completely oblivious to the world she had transformed into a frozen wasteland.

She first donned a five-meter-tall 'Ice Exoskeleton Armor' for herself, then used her Observation Haki to quickly locate the position where Kuzan was buried.

She originally intended to use this tactic when facing the World Government's massive army.

But unexpectedly, plans can't keep up with changes, and this happened to just one person.

Although the other party was also a Navy Admiral, she still felt it was a bit extravagant.

However, if I can really defeat the opponent in one fell swoop, I can just spend three more days preparing.

"Pleasure me with your death!"

"Navy Admiral of the World Government!"

Esdeath, encased in her 'Ice Exoskeleton Armor,' raised her 'ice Claymore's and aimed it at the snowdrift where Kuzan stood, stabbing it down without mercy.

Upon closer inspection, a Formless layer of Armament Haki Coating the blade of the sword!

Because she knew very well that without the support of Haki, her attacks could not kill Logia Devil Fruit User with the ability to transform into an element!

This common knowledge, originally belonging to the Sea Star world, has begun to be known by the people of this 'Teigu World'.

[Duang!]

Suddenly, the next second after the 'Frost Claymore' sank into the snowdrift.

First came a loud, metallic clanging sound.

Immediately afterwards, a powerful burst of energy appeared, forcefully pushing the accumulated snow and blizzard away.

Kuzan was revealed, gripping the 'ice sword' with a dark hand.

"How is that possible!"

Esdeath was completely dumbfounded, feeling trapped where the sword could neither advance nor retreat, unable to comprehend how her opponent could be so strong.

Besides, didn't I use my Haki myself?

"Oh, how strange, how do you know how to use Haki?"

Kuzan curiously examined the 'ice Claymore's before him.

Judging from the aura of Armament Haki, he is probably at the level of a lieutenant colonel to a colonel in the headquarters.

He's not exactly strong, but he's not exactly weak either; of course, compared to him, he's pitifully weak.

However, he astutely noticed that this was very important intelligence.

The Empire is gaining control of the power of Haki.

"It seems we need to bring you back as soon as possible."

Kuzan's expression immediately turned serious.

First, he crushed the 'Frost Claymore' with his right palm, then slammed it onto the surface of the 'Ice Exoskeleton Armor'.

[Bang!]

Under Esdeath's trembling, shocked gaze, the massive ice armor shattered instantly, turning into countless ice crystal fragments that scattered in all directions.

The next second.

Esdeath bit her tongue hard to calm herself down.

At the same time, he pushed off with his feet and turned into a blur as he dodged backward.

"The game is over, Ms. Esdeath."

But at that very moment, Kuzan's voice rang out from behind her.

The 'Kuzan' in front is rapidly fading, turning into a lifelike ice sculpture.

At the same time, she could feel a cold hand approaching her back.

As a powerful ice-type user, she was naturally familiar with this technique, as she often used her palms to freeze enemies.

Subconsciously, it was warning Esdeath: she must not be touched, or she would be completely finished!

"Freeze before my eyes, Mahapadma!"

[Buzz--------]

In an instant, an intense white light burst forth from between Esdeath's hands, rapidly expanding into a circular aura encompassing a radius of nearly two kilometers.

In Setsuna, everything here fell into absolute stillness and frozen.

Except for herself!

"I am the eternal pinnacle, I will always be the ultimate victor, no matter what stands in my way!"

Esdeath slowly turned around and slightly raised her chin.

He swept his elegant yet haughty gaze over the large hand that was less than three centimeters in front of him, and looked at Kuzan behind him.

Huh?

Why has this person's skin turned completely black?

However, the duration of Mahapadma was very short, leaving her little time to think about these things.

Just as she was about to pierce the latter's forehead with her Flower Sword, Coating in Armament Haki, she was horrified to see Kuzan wink at her.

Then he first pinched the sharp tip of the sword with his left hand, and then naturally patted her shoulder with his right hand!

"How is that possible?"

When the effects of 'Mahapadma' wore off and the Blizzard began to blow again, Esdeath was completely frozen, her face filled with astonishment.

"Oh, how do you explain this?"

Kuzan looked at Esdeath, who was motionless in the Ice Ball, scratched the back of his head, and a somewhat embarrassed smile appeared on his face.

It's likely that he had already read all the information about Esdeath before he arrived.

This also includes her abilities and her techniques.

Furthermore, he has mastered the advanced ability of Observation Haki: 'Future Sight'.

Therefore, even without this intelligence, it would have been impossible to fall victim to the attack.

Now that we have the intelligence, it's only to 'see' when she will use 'Mahapadma'.

Finally, there's the difference in Armament Haki.

His Armament Haki was enough to isolate 'Mahapadma's' special abilities from his body.

Therefore, one can still move freely in that completely 'frozen' space.

Similarly, even if Esdeath's Flower Sword pierced his body, it would be easily blocked by Armament Haki.

So.

It was indeed quite a troublesome task for Kuzan to explain all of this to Esdeath.

A moment later.

Kuzan was with Esdeath and Rival, along with the 'Wind Blade' of the Flame General.

They slowly left the island, which was now completely shrouded in snow and wind...