Watching the rapidly charging Phoenix Marco, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, standing on the execution platform, had initially planned to take action himself.
However, in an instant, he noticed Wood suddenly stepping into the fray, using Geppo to dash toward the scene. Sengoku immediately understood Wood's intention to target Marco and decisively chose to hold back, opting to observe instead.
Although Phoenix Marco, the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, possessed strength nearly on par with the Navy Admirals, Sengoku didn't believe Wood would lose. After all, the events at the tea party hosted by Big Mom not long ago had shocked even Sengoku.
He could scarcely believe that Wood's power had grown so rapidly. He was now capable of maneuvering against Big Mom and Kaido—two of the Four Emperors. This level of combat strength was on par with Akainu and Aokiji.
Just as Sengoku was beginning to think that Wood, who had been passive for so long, was finally stepping up, an unexpected twist occurred.
Only a select few within Marineford knew of Wood's undercover status. To outsiders, his charge toward the execution platform seemed more like an attempt to attack Ace rather than Marco.
At the very moment Wood and Marco neared the execution platform, two streaks of light—one yellow and one white—suddenly appeared between them.
One of these figures, a disheveled man wearing sunglasses, launched a Light-Speed Kick that sent Phoenix Marco flying several kilometers away.
As for Wood, he was confronted by a tall Admiral with an indifferent expression. The man's hands swiftly transformed into ice, forming two sharp ice spears that shot toward Wood's chest.
However, Wood was no longer a small fry from years ago. Such an attack wasn't enough to defeat or even push him back.
In a flash, Wood drew the sword at his waist—Astsuyu—and parried Aokiji's ice spears with its blade.
The collision of ice spears and the sword created a shockwave that rippled outward, forcing both Wood and Aokiji to retreat several steps due to the impact.
"Ancient Weapon, Wood," Aokiji said, his voice calm but wary. "What are you doing here? According to our intelligence, your Wood Weapons Company doesn't have a relationship with the Whitebeard Pirates strong enough for you to risk saving Fire Fist Ace."
By now, Wood was a major figure on the seas. Naturally, Aokiji recognized him. Staring at his former comrade—perhaps even junior in the strictest sense—Aokiji's expression was one of caution.
Meanwhile, Sengoku, watching the interaction from the execution platform, felt his face twitch with frustration.
At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to transform into his "Great Buddha Form" and smack Aokiji. Usually so lazy and devoted to his so-called "Lazy Justice," Aokiji suddenly decided to step up at the worst possible time.
The two most notorious slackers among the Admirals had both decided to create chaos simultaneously. If left alone, Wood and Marco would have been at each other's throats. But now, Kizaru had gone after Marco, and Aokiji had intercepted Wood, effectively tying up two of the Navy's top fighters for no good reason.
If not for his confidence in Kizaru and Aokiji's loyalty to the Navy, Sengoku might have suspected the two were outright sabotaging Marineford.
The situation with Kizaru wasn't too bad. The disheveled Admiral, while lazy against rookies, was fully competent when fighting a major pirate like Marco. Though the Phoenix's Mythical Zoan fruit rendered him immune to most damage, Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit abilities and his command of Seastone shackles gave him the upper hand.
After a fierce exchange, Kizaru used his incredible speed to secure a Seastone chain around Marco, severely injuring the pirate's shoulder in the process.
The battle between Aokiji and Wood, however, was less optimistic.
Wood was now one of the most powerful individuals on the seas. With mastery over Armament, Observation, and even Conqueror's Haki, he was a formidable force. Combined with his swordsmanship and unique magical abilities, Wood could rival even the Navy Admirals.
The irony was clear: if Akainu or Kizaru were the ones facing Wood, the fight would likely remain evenly matched. But against Aokiji, the tide of the battle was skewed due to a critical disadvantage.
Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit was a poor match for Wood's Imperial Guardian: Shikoutazer—Astsuyu.
As Wood donned his blue-and-white armor, the Admiral froze momentarily. Though Aokiji wasn't overly surprised by the advanced technology Wood wielded, he dismissed it as another of the high-tech weapons the Wood Weapons Company was known for.
In Aokiji's mind, no true powerhouse relied on such external tools. Thus, he underestimated the capabilities of Astsuyu.
"Ice Time!"
Catching what seemed to be an opening, Aokiji reached out and froze Wood in an instant. He poured immense power into the attack, accelerating the spread of the freezing energy to counter Wood's potential Haki defenses.
In mere moments, Wood and the surrounding area were encased in a massive ice field.
Believing the battle won, Aokiji turned to leave. Yet, a sudden cracking noise froze him in his tracks. As he spun around, he saw the ice shatter explosively, revealing a defiant Wood.
A devastating slash cut through the air toward Aokiji. Though the Admiral swiftly formed an ice blade covered in Armament Haki, his hastily crafted weapon was no match for Wood's overwhelming power.
With a loud crack, the ice blade shattered. Blood sprayed as a deep gash appeared on Aokiji's chest. His pristine white uniform was stained red, and the force of the blow sent him flying nearly a hundred meters.
Of the three Admirals, Kizaru was the least pressured, while Akainu faced the greatest difficulty. Originally meant to be a three-against-one or two-against-one battle, the unexpected interventions had left the Navy scrambling to regain control of the situation.
As the battle raged on, Akainu found himself in an increasingly dire situation. His two allies, who had been fighting alongside him, suddenly slipped away, leaving him alone to face a powerful enemy. Time and again, he was overwhelmed, being relentlessly pounded into the ground.
Initially, Akainu was filled with resentment over his predicament. However, after catching a glimpse of Aokiji's sorry state, he suddenly felt a bit better.
After all, he wasn't the only one being beaten down. Aokiji, facing off against Wood, was clearly in no better shape. The injuries Aokiji sustained from Wood's devastating slash were as severe as those Akainu had suffered.
Despite his injuries, Aokiji remained composed. The massive slash across his chest, which had drenched his pristine uniform in blood, didn't faze him. The Admiral stood steadily, an aura of cold radiating from him. As the chill spread, the blood and wound on his chest froze over, sealing the injury with ice.
Aokiji looked at Wood, who was clad in his blue-and-white armor and wielding Astsuyu and Frost Dew. With a perplexed expression, Aokiji asked, "Earlier, when I froze you, you didn't use Armament Haki. So how did you emerge unscathed?"
This was the most baffling part for Aokiji. Given Wood's strength, Aokiji hadn't expected his Ice Time technique to finish him off. However, it should have at least immobilized him. Yet Wood had broken free in mere moments and launched a swift counterattack.
"Confused?" Wood replied with a calm smile. "It's no secret. This armor of mine is crafted from a special combination of metals and materials. One of its key features is exceptional resistance to cold.
"So, Admiral Aokiji, you picked the wrong opponent. Your abilities are a poor match against mine!"
As he finished speaking, Wood's foot shattered the ground beneath him, propelling him forward in a blur of blue and white light toward Aokiji.
"Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style – Fire Attribute Dual-Blade Style: Phoenix Fire!"
Wood's blades moved with incredible speed, leaving afterimages in the air. As fire-element magic infused into the blades, the surrounding temperature rose dramatically.
Aokiji immediately sensed the danger and reacted swiftly.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
A surge of frigid air condensed around Aokiji's right arm, forming a massive ice bird that took flight in the next instant.
At the same time, Wood's fiery magical slash coalesced into a blazing phoenix in the air. The ice bird and fire phoenix collided midair, their opposing natures—scorching heat and piercing cold—creating a violent explosion.
The clash split the battlefield in two. On one side was a hellish inferno, and on the other, an arctic wasteland. The intense elemental collision caused the surrounding space to distort, a testament to the sheer power of their abilities.
The scene of Wood's battle with Aokiji, along with his earlier clash against the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk, was broadcast across the seas by Buggy's Den Den Mushi.
Until now, the world had known Wood as the "Ancient Weapon," a man of immense power. However, few had witnessed his true strength firsthand.
In this Paramount War, Wood showcased his prowess, proving that his rise to prominence wasn't merely due to his mastery of advanced weaponry.
As the "Ancient Weapon," Wood himself was one of the world's strongest fighters.
Defeating the world's greatest swordsman and now holding his own—and even pressuring—a Marine Admiral, Wood demonstrated why he was a force to be reckoned with on the seas.
The Navy's ranks were filled with furrowed brows. Wood's unexpected participation in the war disrupted their plans, adding another powerhouse to the fray.
On the other hand, the Whitebeard Pirates and the prisoners from Impel Down were elated. The stronger Wood was, the greater their chances of defeating the Navy.
Some members of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't help but wonder when their father had secretly invited Wood to join their side.
Wood's battle against Aokiji had far-reaching effects, influencing more than just the immediate combatants.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, who had been largely passive until now, changed her stance. Seeing Wood engage Aokiji, she concluded that Wood was siding with the pirates.
With this realization, Hancock abandoned her neutral position. She delivered a powerful Perfume Femur kick, smashing one of the Navy's Pacifistas to pieces.
Meanwhile, Wood's vice-captain, Ruth, wasted no time. Transforming into his massive prehistoric dragon form, his colossal hundred-meter frame charged into the Navy's ranks, causing chaos and destruction.
Revolutionary Army officers Ivankov and Inazuma, along with Warlord Jinbei, were equally surprised by Wood's appearance on the battlefield.
Ivankov turned to Luffy, who was rushing toward the execution platform, and asked, "Does Fire Fist Ace know Wood, the Ancient Weapon?"
As a close confidant of Dragon, Ivankov was aware of Wood's status as a logistics officer within the Revolutionary Army. Upon learning that Wood's relationship with Ace was merely superficial, Ivankov suspected that Wood had come to help because of Luffy—Dragon's son.
Jinbei, on the other hand, believed Wood's involvement stemmed from his ties to the Whitebeard Pirates. Wood had close relations with Fish-Man Island, which the Whitebeard Pirates had long protected.
To Jinbei, Wood's actions were likely a gesture of gratitude for past favors.
Regardless of their reasoning, both Ivankov and Jinbei shared the same sentiment. They turned to Luffy and said, "With Wood stepping in to save Ace, our chances of success are much higher.
"When that man gets serious, there are few in this world who can stop him."
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