Blackbeard unleashed the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, and a black tide surged forth, blotting out the sky as it engulfed the towering ice walls on all sides.
"!!" Kuzan frowned slightly. His body solidified as he used Rokushiki—Soru beneath his feet, flashing forward at extreme speed. He then used the momentum to leap into the air with Geppo, grasping the air with both hands as two ice blades formed in his palms. "Ice Strike!"
"Whoosh!"
The two ice blades became streaks of icy white light, stabbing down through the air toward Blackbeard, who was still unleashing his Devil Fruit ability.
A figure rushed out from the side, flinging several streams of light from their hands. They formed a protective net of light in front of Blackbeard, and Kuzan's ice blades shattered the instant they struck it.
"Zeh zeh!" Catarina, the tall, somewhat elderly-looking Crescent Moon Hunter pirate woman, rushed out with a strange laugh. She shook several weapons in both hands as she covered Blackbeard and launched an attack on Kuzan. "Even if you're a Marine Admiral, don't take us so lightly!"
The black tide unleashed by Blackbeard's Devil Fruit ability continued swallowing Kuzan's ice walls. The barriers trapping the Blackbeard Pirates were being devoured bit by bit, and Catarina's cover allowed the other senior officers behind Blackbeard to move as well, launching attacks at Kuzan in the sky.
"Hahaha! Men! Take him down!" Blackbeard laughed arrogantly. "Since Aokiji refuses to join us, there's no need for us to hold back!"
"Crack, crack, crack!"
A stream of white frost descended as Kuzan's body turned elemental. He charged fearlessly into Blackbeard's officers. Doc Q was the first to be caught off guard, instantly frozen into an ice sculpture by Kuzan's power.
"Hmph!" Kuzan instantly took solid form and swung a