"That look of yours..."
"It certainly suits your codename, Sakazuki!"
River's voice was icy. The terrifying battle aura behind him shook the air, drawing every eye on the battlefield.
They had witnessed such terrifying power only a short while ago.
"You're bluffing."
"I don't believe you could still be at your peak after a battle like that!"
Akainu roared, his own aura surging.
Gurgle, gurgle!
"Great Eruption!"
A vast mass of magma splashed toward River, engulfing him. The searing heat rapidly melted the ice beneath their feet into liquid, which then vaporized in an instant.
At such close range, an attack like this was almost impossible to dodge.
River did not dodge. Flames instantly engulfed his body, scorching his flesh, only for it to regenerate rapidly a second later.
His opponent's sudden eruption forced him to release his right hand, but he quickly clenched it into a fist.
"I have indeed used up some stamina. There isn't much left."
His calm voice rang out as a gale swept through, dispersing the steaming white mist ahead. His figure abruptly vanished.
"He's gone!"
Akainu's pupils contracted as he searched for River.
"But it's still more than enough to deal with you!"
Those cold, chilling words suddenly came from behind him, making his entire body stiffen.
A large hand had already pressed down on his head.
Then a force terrifying even to Akainu came crushing down, like a mountain falling onto his skull. His body tilted, losing its balance.
Boom!
The heavy impact violently rattled his head. Stars burst before his eyes, and even his consciousness slipped away for a moment.
Then his eyes caught sight of the blue ice, right before his face slammed into it.
"You have no right to act so arrogantly in front of me!"
"You're nothing but a