What kind of battle set your blood boiling the most?
Was it an invincible fighter's overwhelming domination, destroying an enemy with a single punch?
Was it the exhilarating thrill of the weak defeating the strong, fighting above their level?
Or was it a clash between evenly matched opponents, a contest of strength, combat experience, reflexes, and sheer will?
The satisfaction of fists striking flesh, the brutality of both sides bleeding, and the thrilling rush of facing death every single second!
River slid down the chasm split through the ice and landed heavily at the bottom, a jumble of thoughts rising in his mind.
Aokiji's strength was truly terrifying, too. This frozen sheet of ice seemed to reach all the way to the seabed, over a thousand meters deep.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Suddenly, River burst out laughing.
It was laughter from the heart. Only a battle against a world-class powerhouse like Whitebeard could make him feel this excited.
"What a shame."
"If only you were ten years younger!"
"Then this would be even more spectacular!"
Muttering to himself, River stirred slightly. His Devil Fruit power enveloped him, restoring his condition once more, and he looked up.
On the ice of Marineford's Inner Bay.
A cold wind swept past, and the battlefield fell silent.
"Y-you've got to be kidding, right?"
"Admiral River was knocked into the chasm!"
"Did he lose? Did Admiral River really just lose?"
Countless Marines spoke in trembling voices, swallowing in fear.
As they watched that figure standing tall as a mountain, awe and dread rose uncontrollably in their hearts.
At the edge of the chasm, Whitebeard stared ahead with a grave expression.
"Huff, huff, huff!"
Even his breathing had grown heavy. Fighting River had drained an immense amount of stamina and placed a tremendous burden on his