Overwhelming Kuzan

"Susanoo was actually this powerful!"

"Even Akainu couldn't hold it off!"

Kuzan, who was fighting Esdeath, was also deeply shaken when he saw Akainu sent flying.

Akainu could be considered the strongest attacker among the Three Admirals, yet even his strength had failed to break through Susanoo's defenses, leaving only a few cracks.

"If it were Kizaru or me, we'd have an even harder time overcoming this technique! The Jujutsu Pirates really are monsters!"

Kuzan's thoughts raced as he fought, analyzing Sasuke's Susanoo.

His abilities and Kizaru's would be even less effective against Uchiha Sasuke's Susanoo. He could only hope that Akainu would win.

Blood flowed from Sasuke's eyes as he said coldly:

"Is that all? A Marine Admiral amounts to nothing more than this!"

"You damned bastard!"

Rising from the ground, Akainu unleashed the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit. Scalding magma steadily melted the ice, sending up steam, and his eyes reddened with rage.

A Marine Admiral like him had actually been slapped away with a single palm strike. Feeling humiliated, he roared:

"Die!"

Looking at the enormous, demonlike figure of Sasuke's Susanoo, Akainu unleashed the full power of the Magma-Magma Fruit without hesitation. Finally, a giant composed entirely of magma rose from the ground.

"Kill!"

Feeling the terrifying power of the magma giant, Akainu seemed to regain his confidence. With a roar, he launched an attack on Sasuke!

A long blade of magma formed in the magma giant's hand and slashed toward the purple Susanoo!

"Hmph!"

Sasuke snorted coldly, paying no heed whatsoever to Akainu's attack!

Sasuke's Susanoo was not so flimsy that it could be cut open easily!

Of course, even if Sasuke could not break through his own defenses, he would not actually let that blade land.

Boom!

A long blade formed from Sasuke's chakra blocked the magma blade's path!

The instant the chakra blade collided with the magma blade, a tremendous crash rang out, and the resulting shock wave spread in every direction.

The dozen or so warships frozen on the sea rocked under the impact as well.

"It looks like there's no need to worry too much about the battle over there!"

Watching Akainu's magma giant fight Sasuke's Susanoo, Kuzan felt somewhat reassured.

"You should be worrying about your own life! Daring to get distracted while fighting me-you really are underestimating me!"

Esdeath swept her hand, unleashing a terrifying burst of cold.

"Ice Storm Admiral General!"

As soon as she spoke, a host of ice knights with powerful auras appeared on the previously empty ice. Like warriors emerging from hell, they radiated a terrifying presence.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ice knights charged toward Kuzan the next instant.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"

Kuzan immediately raised his right hand, gathering cold air into it. An ice bird over ten meters long took shape and swept toward the ice knights with tremendous force.

Ice Storm Admiral General was an area attack for clearing out lesser enemies, so its offensive power was at something of a disadvantage against a technique like the ice bird, which dealt heavy damage to a single target.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ice knights were continually destroyed by the ice bird's charge. Yet powerful as the ice bird was, the constant collisions with the ranks of ice knights slowed it down, and its momentum steadily weakened.

Crack!

Eventually, a crack appeared on the ice bird's surface. After colliding with several more knights, it finally gave way and shattered.

This is bad!

Kuzan was startled. Quite a few knights formed from ice still remained before him, charging straight at him with tremendous force.

"Geppo!"

Without further hesitation, Kuzan used Geppo to leap into the air, avoiding the ice knights' charge.

"Ice pillar!"

Esdeath gave Kuzan no time to rest. An ice pillar shot up from the ground, hurtling straight toward him.

Step!

Using Geppo, Kuzan darted aside and narrowly dodged it.

But it was not over yet. Esdeath drew her rapier, coating the entire blade in Armament Haki. With several leaps along the ice pillar, she rushed above Kuzan and slashed down.

"Ice saber!"

Seeing Esdeath slash toward him with her sword, Kuzan exhaled a breath of cold air and formed an ice saber, coating it in Armament Haki as well.

Clang!

Kuzan's ice saber collided with Esdeath's rapier.

Boom!

Esdeath blasted Kuzan down onto the ice, where he smashed out a large crater.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Esdeath followed close behind, launching another slash the instant Kuzan landed and giving him no chance to pause.

In that brief span, Esdeath and Kuzan had already exchanged dozens of blows.

Esdeath's attacks grew fiercer and faster.

Kuzan went from holding his own at first to barely defending himself. The longer he fought, the more alarmed he became. He was already using all his strength, yet he could only just fend off Esdeath's attacks.

"Is this all a Marine Admiral's swordsmanship amounts to?"

The corners of Esdeath's lips lifted slightly. She fixed Kuzan with a sharp gaze and continued:

"Too weak!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Esdeath swung her sword with all her strength.

Bang!

The slash sent Kuzan flying. Even after plunging his ice saber into the ice, he still slid dozens of meters before coming to a halt.

Crack!

After he stopped, cracks appeared in the ice saber. With a snap, it broke in two.

Kuzan's ice saber was as hard as steel, and it was coated in Armament Haki besides.

Yet even so, it had broken under Esdeath's slash, showing just how powerful that strike had been.

"My, my. What terrifying strength!"

Although he appeared calm, towering waves were already surging in his heart.

After their exchange, Kuzan knew that Esdeath possessed not only superb swordsmanship but also astonishing strength. He was no match for her!

"A Marine Admiral amounts to nothing more than this. It's about time to end this fight!"

As her words fell, Esdeath launched another attack, shouting:

"Ice pillar!"

An ice pillar appeared beneath Esdeath's feet, carrying her hundreds of meters into the air.

"Ice Creation: Ice Ball!"

Esdeath leaped off the pillar. A terrifying surge of cold erupted behind her, instantly forming a massive ice ball dozens of meters in diameter.

With a flip, Esdeath moved above the enormous ice ball and stamped down hard. Armament Haki spread from her foot across the entire ice ball, finally enveloping it.

With a kick from Esdeath, the enormous black ice ball hurtled toward Kuzan like a meteor.

"My, my! What incredible power!"

Kuzan marveled at Esdeath's strength, but his hands did not slow.

Pressing both hands against the frozen ground, he instantly unleashed the Ice-Ice Fruit's ability. Using all his strength, he released a terrifying chill that immediately condensed into enormous ice pillars around him, enclosing him within them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The instant the black ice ball met the dozen or so ice pillars, a series of violent crashes rang out.

The pillars kept shattering beneath the pressure. Countless fragments of ice shot outward like arrows, carried by the shock wave.

The frozen sea began to fracture and collapse. The dozen or so ice pillars surrounding Kuzan could no longer withstand the pressure and snapped.

The ice ball struck the ground, sending a violent shock wave radiating outward. Even hundreds of meters away, Onigumo and the other Vice Admirals still felt the tremendous impact.

"Admiral Kuzan!"

If it was like this even here, what would happen to Admiral Kuzan at the center of the attack? Frantic as they were, they could not act rashly.