A towering figure blocked the doorway, dimming even the sunlight in the hall. At the sound of someone speaking, his narrowed eyes slowly opened.
"Hmm."
When he saw River, Aokiji instantly became more alert, shaking off some of his half-awake drowsiness.
"River!"
"So you've come to report to headquarters too?"
"Now that's bad news!"
Aokiji spoke mildly, his gaze lingering on River. He made no move to clear the doorway.
Freya was utterly tense. An Admiral was standing right before her!
As one of the Marines' strongest fighters, Aokiji stood like an unassailable mountain within the current Marine hierarchy, revered by most Marines.
"Move aside, Kuzan."
River spoke flatly, his face expressionless and his eyes fixed on the other man.
"Anyone can pass through headquarters' doors. There's plenty of room on either side for you to get through."
Aokiji's voice was calm, but everyone could hear the challenge in his words.
In an instant, every Marine present grew nervous.
Those who recognized River were even more shaken. They knew perfectly well that this was a clash between an old Admiral and a new one. One wrong move could spell disaster.
"Heh!"
"Picking a fight with me here isn't a good idea, Kuzan."
River laughed, his gaze turning icy.
"Looks like the wounds I gave you last time weren't enough."
Aokiji's gaze darkened as well. "Those little wounds meant nothing to me!"
Their auras began rising at that moment, then collided. Inside the hall of the Marine Headquarters Building, the atmosphere became oppressive and suffocating.
"No way. Are they really going to fight here?"
"Quick, report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"If these two actually fight, headquarters will take serious damage!"
Every Marine there trembled with fear, their expressions shifting.
The atmosphere grew heavier by the moment. Two pairs of eyes