Black Viper's ability, just moments ago, had been similar to the release of Conqueror's Haki — an invisible pressure that brought countless people crashing to the ground.
But while Conqueror's Haki merely stunned the weak, Black Viper's Devil Fruit ability, possessed by a man who claimed he could wither all things—directly drained life force itself. He had already siphoned vitality from large numbers of people earlier.
Elior, watching from a distance, naturally noticed this.From the beginning, his intention had been clear: eliminate this bizarre ability first.
He had learned about it from Gion, and even she had described it as extremely abnormal.
What Elior did not know, however, was that Black Viper's Devil Fruit had already awakened.
Just like Bullet in the original story — who, after awakening his Devil Fruit, fused an entire island's structures into himself — Black Viper could drain the life force of the surrounding battlefield and temporarily obtain terrifying power.
Of course, the battle between Black Viper and Redfield had not yet reached that point.
If Black Viper truly drained everyone present, the Marine would also suffer massive losses. That was precisely why he hesitated.But if forced into a corner—burning the boats behind him—he would not hesitate to do it.
After all, his justice was a form of dark justice, even more extreme than Akainu's Absolute Justice.
Redfield pondered for a moment and said calmly,
"His ability is indeed troublesome. If not for my own power partially restraining him, he might already be draining my life force."
"Then just kill him," Elior replied with a cruel smile.
In full view of everyone, Elior grabbed Black Viper by the hair and smashed his head into the ice again and again.The dull, brutal impacts echoed across the battlefield.
This sight alone made countless people's scalps go numb.
An Admiral — being tortured like this.
How humiliating. How disgraceful.
"AHH! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Black Viper roared in rage, desperately trying to activate his ability—his most terrifying move, the one that drained life itself.
But suddenly, his expression froze.
He couldn't activate it.
The ability was still there… yet it refused to respond.
"What did you do to me?!" Fear crept into Black Viper's voice.
Elior's left hand rested calmly on Black Viper's back.
This was Imagine Breaker — an ability similar in principle to the Dark-Dark Fruit, capable of forcibly suppressing Devil Fruit powers.
It was the first time Elior had used it in this form.
The moment Black Viper released his ability earlier, Imagine Breaker had already crushed it back into his body, sealing it completely.
The power was not gone.It was simply locked.
Elior continued smashing Black Viper's head into the ice.
With his ability sealed and his physical strength far inferior to Elior's, Black Viper could do nothing but be overwhelmed.
Again. And again. And again.
Even Redfield couldn't help but sigh at Elior's cruelty.
As for everyone else — both pirates and marines alike — their fear had reached its limit.
Every powerhouse had their pride.
And Elior was trampling that pride into the dirt.
Publicly.
Who could endure such humiliation?
The ice beneath Black Viper shattered like a spiderweb.
"You bastard! If you have the guts, fight me in a fair duel!" Black Viper roared.
He knew now — this suppression was Elior's doing.
Fear gnawed at him, but his humiliation was greater.
Puff.
Elior's left hand transformed into a sharp ice spike, coated in Armament Haki, and drove it straight through Black Viper's back—piercing his body clean through.
Elior deliberately avoided vital points.
The pain was endless. Death, delayed.
"AAGHHH!"
Black Viper screamed in agony.
Elior stepped down on his head.
BOOM!
The ice collapsed into a massive crater.
"I've never really enjoyed torturing enemies before," Elior said calmly, almost amused.
"Consider this practice."
In his mind, this was nothing more than preparation — for the Gorosei, and even Imu in the future.
Another ice spike pierced Black Viper's body.
"Redfield, block them," Elior said. "The others might interfere."
High-ranking Marine officers were already moving, unwilling to watch an Admiral be tortured to death.
Redfield stepped forward without hesitation.
Among them were Tsuru and Tokikake.
Redfield wasn't afraid.
With Redfield holding the line, Elior became even more unrestrained.
Ice spikes riddled Black Viper's limbs.
His screams grew weaker.
Blood soaked the ice beneath him.
No one could save him.
Who dared approach the Yonko Elior and Redfield?
Finally, Elior grabbed Black Viper's head—this time, not by the hair.
"Please… Let me live…"
Black Viper begged weakly.
After more than half an hour of torture, he had broken.
But Elior knew better.
This was the same kind of surrender Blackbeard offered — false, temporary, waiting for revenge.
"If you don't die," Elior said coldly, "how can I take your ability?"
Black Viper's face twisted in horror.
Elior pulled.
With a sickening sound, Black Viper's head was torn from his body.
Blood erupted violently, splashing over six meters away.
His eyes remained wide open—frozen in disbelief and terror.
In that instant…
The Marine fell completely silent.