The streets were covered in a smooth sheet of ice, while ice houses stood connected all around. The blue world of ice and snow was dreamlike, glittering with dazzling crystalline light beneath the sun.
A humanoid ice sculpture stood in the street, one leg raised in a kicking pose, its face still frozen in an expression of shock.
"Sanji!!"
Bang!
Luffy cried out in panic. He hurriedly crouched, kicked off with both feet, and shot toward the figure beside the ice sculpture like an arrow.
Aokiji withdrew his frost-radiating hand, his indifferent gaze seemingly mocking his opponent's helplessness. He raised a hand and released freezing air upward, causing the massive glacier floating in the sky to slowly gather into shape.
"Bastard! What did you do to Sanji?!"
Rage erupted from Luffy's eyes as Haki flowed and gathered around his wrist. Before he even arrived, his fist had already blasted forward, viciously tearing through the air like a cobra pouncing on its prey!
"Gomu Gomu King Cobra!!"
"Ice Gauntlet!!"
Aokiji stepped forward, crouching halfway into an attacking stance. Ice formed into a gauntlet around his fist, which was also coated in Haki.
Bang!!
The two fists collided, sparking explosive black lightning that burst densely across the surrounding ice and melting ice houses. The powerful impact sent Aokiji flying backward.
"Young people really can't be underestimated. Your growth rate has far exceeded my expectations."
Aokiji's expression turned solemn. Once his feet touched the ground, he extended his index finger and pressed downward.
Rumble!!
The enormous glacier suspended overhead shook violently, and fragments of shattered ice fell like hail from the sky.
A massive shadow gradually enveloped the earth as that colossal floating iceberg began to fall!
"Don't say I didn't warn you. If you don't save him, he'll be smashed to pieces