Magma-Magma Fruit vs. Magma-Magma Fruit

"Why? Why go this far? What conviction has kept you going? Do you have your own Justice in your heart, boy?"

Akainu looked at Jiang Lin. Magma had burned him so badly that he was barely recognizable as human. For the first time, Akainu's eyes showed a flicker of emotion.

Jiang Lin was clearly no ordinary pirate without convictions. Something powerful within him drove his actions, sustained his will, and held everything about him together.

Marines followed the Justice in their hearts. What they believed to be right guided their actions.

Pirates, on the other hand, were generally thought to have no such inner conviction. They were evil, without limits, and did whatever they pleased.

Jiang Lin was clearly not that kind of pirate. His every action reflected his principles and convictions.

"Heh... my Justice?"

"Because... because I'm certain... I believe... deep in my heart... I want... to see... the One Piece!"

"The One Piece exists! And I... am going to be the Pirate King!"

Jiang Lin stubbornly rose to his feet. An endless fire seemed to burn in his eyes. That fire was not real, but it embodied his will—the true reason he had endured this long.

His unyielding will kept giving him strength, sustaining his every move.

Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

Ice-Ice Fruit loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

Dazzling blue flames surged from Jiang Lin's body and covered him in an instant. Wherever they passed, his pain faded and his injuries healed!

"Akainu, I admit you're strong. But I'm... no weakling either!"

With a roar, Jiang Lin thrust up his right hand. A giant ice bird burst from his palm and charged straight at Akainu, carrying his indomitable will with it.

"Is that so? I admit your will is strong. But your strength cannot match your ambition, boy. You have no future."

"Great Eruption!"

As the giant ice bird attacked, Akainu's right hand swelled and roiled. He lunged for the bird—and Jiang Lin behind it—with unstoppable force.

"Enough! It's enough!"

Faced with Akainu's world-ending attack, Jiang Lin showed no panic. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the system interface, and a grin spread across his face.

Boom!

A violent explosion erupted where Jiang Lin and Akainu stood. The shock wave instantly blotted out everyone's view.

"Hm?"

On the Execution Platform, Sengoku turned toward the churning smoke below. A trace of concern appeared on his face.

"D!"

Below the Execution Platform, Garp watched Jiang Lin with concern in his eyes as well.

"D!"

At the center of the battlefield, Whitebeard looked toward Jiang Lin, and concern slowly crossed his face too.

The battle between Jiang Lin and Akainu held everyone's attention. They were all worried, though for entirely different reasons.

One minute elapsed. Magma-Magma Fruit copied.

Amid the smoke, beyond anyone's sight, a fierce desire to fight blazed in Jiang Lin's eyes.

"Come on, Akainu! Let's fight!"

Magma-Magma Fruit (enhanced by Tremor-Tremor Fruit and Dark-Dark Fruit) loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

Jiang Lin removed the Ice-Ice Fruit and loaded the enhanced Magma-Magma Fruit without hesitation. With three overwhelmingly powerful Devil Fruits gathered in one body, the pressure hit him at once. His limbs felt as heavy as if he were sinking into a swamp.

"So this is power? The power everyone seeks? The power that makes this whole world tremble? Akainu, I hope what I can do... satisfies you! Hahaha..."

Jiang Lin staggered out of the smoke-filled battlefield, stubborn fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. His battle with Akainu had truly begun.

"Boy! Your power is terrifying. I'm amazed you can wield something that makes people tremble just by looking at it. But it's not enough! Still not enough! Your control is too crude. You can't regulate your power precisely. Keep this up, and your own power will Devour you!"

Akainu's body began to seethe. Though his words dismissed Jiang Lin, his actions showed that he now regarded him as an opponent.

"Dark Flame Kingdom!"

Jiang Lin glanced at Akainu, clenched his fist, and slammed it into the ground. Fine cracks rippled across the ground and the structures they touched, and dense black mist poured wildly from the fissures.

Hidden within the mist was scorching magma. It burned every enemy it touched, and the searing air sent everyone nearby fleeing in terror from the spreading darkness.

This was Dark Flame Kingdom, a technique Jiang Lin had created using three extraordinarily powerful Devil Fruits.

"Aah! These flames... are they hellfire? Why won't they go out?"

"Oh god! They're coming this way! Run!"

The Marine Soldiers watched the dark flames spread toward them and scattered in terror.

"Haki!"

"Haki!"

"..."

Every Marine Vice Admiral, both Marine Admirals, and even Sengoku and Garp acted to halt the spreading black mist.

If those seemingly hellish flames were allowed to spread, the damage to Marineford would be beyond reckoning.

"So this is D's strength? He may have truly reached the level of a Marine Admiral. Quick! Get the news out!"

On the Sabaody Archipelago, the reporters watched the live broadcast, then excitedly began writing their stories. The moment they were finished, they sent them beyond the archipelago and out to the entire world.

"Don't get cocky, brat! Meteor Volcano!"

Akainu's sleeves billowed in the wind. With a roar, he drove his fists toward Jiang Lin. Enormous magma fists fell like meteors, pounding the heart of the darkness—where Jiang Lin stood.

"Screech!"

A piercing birdcall rang across the battlefield. Facing a scene like a natural disaster, Jiang Lin transformed into a blue Phoenix and charged straight up through the endless barrage of volcanic rock.

"A phoenix? What a troublesome ability!"

Akainu watched Jiang Lin climb higher, irritation creeping into his eyes.

Boom!

Crimson and sky-blue flames collided in midair. A violent explosion lit the entire sky over Marineford.

Above, light and fire clashed. Below, darkness and fire churned. Caught between them, all of Marineford seemed on the verge of collapse.

The apocalyptic scene, the devastating attacks, and the seawater constantly boiling away drew the eyes of the world back to Marineford—to the center of the battlefield.

Everyone watched for the outcome. Everyone waited for that figure to appear. Everyone hoped to hear the Phoenix's cry ring across Marineford.