Ye Chen's power could send a massive block of ice flying into the sky with ease. He was about to hurl the Ice Ball, weighing tens of thousands of pounds, at the Marines when his Observation Haki suddenly picked up something amiss.
Crocodile, who had come with him, suddenly launched himself from the Death God. Ye Chen had thought Crocodile would help him, but the man was heading straight for Whitebeard.
Ye Chen's face darkened with anger. He hurriedly changed the Ice Ball's course and sent it hurtling toward Crocodile instead.
Crocodile was just about to reach Whitebeard when a huge shadow appeared overhead. Startled, he darted aside.
A cloud of yellow sand swept past. Boom! The Ice Ball slammed into the frozen sea like a collapsing mountain, its deafening impact punching a huge hole through the ice. Spray burst upward and scattered across the surface like shattered jade.
Crocodile did not change course. He kept flying straight for Whitebeard. Ace saw it happen, and his eyes widened with alarm.
Ace had no idea what grudge Crocodile held against Pops.
Ye Chen was about to intervene as Crocodile closed in, but then he saw Whitebeard tighten his grip on his great blade. Ye Chen shook his head and laughed at himself. He's Whitebeard, the strongest man alive. Of course he can handle this!
Crocodile drew close and swept his left-hand Golden Hook at Whitebeard's neck without mercy. He seemed to have already pictured Whitebeard's head falling from his shoulders.
But the great blade, as imposing as its master, flashed with a blinding light. Whitebeard stepped aside and brought it down hard on the Golden Hook.
Clang! The outcome was never in doubt. Crocodile flew backward, and before he even hit the ground, the violent shock churned his insides and sent