Not even Aokiji himself understood how those ice spears suddenly accelerated straight into Akainu's magma dog-head form—let alone why such spears could freeze magma capable of melting steel instantly. Most astonishingly, that icy sculpture of a dog-head, now hard as stone, actually shifted course and sank its frozen jaws into Akainu's flowing magma arm!
Akainu seized the moment to perform a ruthless self-sacrifice: with his left fist, he smashed down on the juncture where the frozen dog-head met the magma, effectively severing the transition point. The ice sculpture collapsed, and the deadly dog-head tumbled lifelessly to the deck.
Gasping for breath, Akainu staggered back, keeping his distance from Roya. Meanwhile, Whitebeard's counter-strike with his weapon, Bisento, landed precisely where the ice spears had been, producing an intense shockwave that rippled the surrounding air like a shattered web.
Marco soared through the air, reaching the level of Aokiji Kuza, and the crowd—already stunned by the sight of the three Admirals converging on Roya—could hardly believe their eyes.
Roya's responses and counterattacks were shockingly swift and powerful. In a heartbeat, he emerged unscathed while inflicting heavy damage on the initiating Akainu.
Before anyone could react, the battlefield shifted again: the photons shot by Kizaru split into two torrents, spiraling back to Aokiji and Kizaru himself. Aokiji, still processing the fact that his own ice spears were used against Akainu, knew he was next. Kizaru's dazzling photon formation, Yasakani no Magatama, comprised tens of thousands of light particles moving at light-speed—yet every single one was hijacked and redirected by Roya.
Instinctively, Aokiji unleashed a massive block of ice to shield himself, buying mere moments. Scores of photon particles crashed into the ice sphere, blasting away more than half of it instantly. Still, Aokiji maintained his freezing power to regenerate most of the ice, though its integrity was compromised. Finally, the fragmented sphere was hurled into the Navy HQ.
Kizaru, mind-blown, stared at the results. Tens of thousands of atomic-light particles—literally the speed of light—were under Roya's control, executed with terrifying precision.
In that instant, more photon streams rammed into the ice sphere, shattering it, and a storm of flying ice shards completely buried Kizaru. Another deafening impact echoed as Aokiji, slammed into the perimeter wall of the Marine HQ, crashed through stone masonry like paper. Only by sheer luck did he survive, immobilized as a broken ice statue embedded in the building's outer wall.
A horrific silence fell over the battlefield. Even though the three Admirals had unleashed their signature techniques in concert, they were not only repelled—they were severely wounded. The fact that a 3-on-1 assault led to their brutal counter-defeat stunned everyone.
Marco finally landed beside Whitebeard, both sharing a look of sheer disbelief. They understood that despite their best efforts, their response fell hopelessly behind Roya's maneuvers. The chasm between royalty and gods had been laid bare.
Under the watchful gaze of 100,000 Navy elites, Roya took a single step onto the shattered ice—his foot falling on empty air. Yet an invisible, solid staircase materialized beneath him, guiding him toward the execution platform. Every step he took seemed like miracle made manifest, as if the world itself was honoring his ascent.
The Marines craned their necks, awestruck, unable to deny his divinity. Even the hardened admirals chose to ignore his advance.
As Roya approached halfway, the remaining Navy forces finally recoiled—but in that stunned moment, Fleet Admiral Sengoku broke the silence, unleashing both his Conqueror's Haki and rage, crying:
"Attack! Move in! Justice will prevail!"
Though their wills had wavered under Roya's power, the Marines responded with drilled precision. Hundreds charged onto the ice-strewn battlefield toward the Moby Dick.
The pirates retaliated immediately, leaping to intercept them. A chaotic melee broke out across the frozen expanse.
But Sengoku's heart sank deeper: no one dared to lift a hand against Roya. The only barrier left between Roya and Ace was himself.
At the base of the execution platform, Akainu pressed a newly grown magma arm to his side. He didn't even look up—fear gripped him. Spinning away, he rushed toward the Crescent Bay exit channel, plotting:
"Beating Roya's impossible. Now… I must kill Whitebeard!"
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