Aokiji's face changed instantly, shock etched across his features. He had not expected his Ice Pheasant Beak to be broken so outright. The ice formation shattered on contact, undone in a single collision.
This youth's magma technique surpassed even Admiral Akainu's.
Although the ice phoenix failed to stop Ashveil's magma dragon, it bought a crucial moment. That pause was all Vice Admiral Tokikake needed to avoid a fatal blow.
Tokikake rocketed dozens of meters into the air using Geppo, while the magma dragon slammed into the deck where he had been standing. The ground beneath his foot cratered and smoked, molten rock bubbling fiercely.
Drenched in sweat, Tokikake felt the damp fabric cling to his back. Had Aokiji's ice attack not granted that sliver of time to evade, even his Armament Haki would not have saved him from certain death.
Around them, Marines watched in stunned silence, swallowing hard.
"He withstood the Admirals' attacks?" one whispered.
"Three Admirals attacking at once, and he still stands," another muttered. "Who is this young man? Is he a candidate for Pirate King in the making?"
At the rear of Marineford, Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru exchanged grave looks. Each studied Ashveil on the battlefield, measuring him with the weight of experience.
High above, Morgans' feathers trembled as he gulped, camera forgotten for a moment. "Ashveil's strength keeps redefining everything I thought I knew," he breathed.
Around the field, seasoned figures watched with differing reactions. Mihawk's hawk eyes glittered. Doflamingo's grin widened as anticipation lit his face. Empress Hancock's expression betrayed disbelief and a hint of awe. Gekko Moriah simply shook his head in incomprehension. How could someone so young trade blows with three Admirals?
Sengoku's telescope flashed in the light as a report reached him. Intelligence had just confirmed a rumor: Kaido of the Beasts had been found on Kuraigana Island, bloodied and unconscious.
Kaido, the so-called immortal, famed for breaking chains and shattering blades, had been beaten into collapse. The source of the report suggested Ashveil as the likely culprit.
A bright glare reflected off Sengoku's glasses. He clenched his fist until his knuckles whitened. "This youth has already surpassed Whitebeard's measure," he murmured. "He must be taken down. We cannot let him escape."
Back on the front lines, the three Admirals tightened their focus on Ashveil.
Tokikake was the first to speak. "He has incredible defense and a magma ability akin to Sakazuki's. He cannot be underestimated."
Aokiji set aside his typically languid manner. "We must break his defense, otherwise victory is impossible."
Kizaru's face was uncharacteristically serious beneath his sunglasses. "Concentrate on a single point. Strike together."
They moved as one. Before Ashveil, three afterimages bloomed in the air like sudden mirages.
Tokikake struck first. Konpira glowed as he drove the blade forward with both hands, Armament Haki thickening the edge until a dark red arc cut the air.
"Gale Arc Slash!"
The crimson sweep struck Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki barrier, whipping wind into a frenzy and making the barrier ripple violently in that sector.
"Now! Hit where I slashed!" Tokikake yelled, eyes sharp and calculating.
Aokiji channeled a cold so intense the air seemed to crystalize. Four ice spears materialized, glinting like frozen lances.
"Ice Age: Two-Spiked Spears!"
All four spears converged on the recently disturbed section of Ashveil's Haki, racing through the air and carrying a biting chill that froze the moisture around them.
The ripples on Ashveil's barrier intensified.
From above, Kizaru unleashed a shower of prismatic light.
A large yellow flare appeared then fractured into countless dazzling bullets that hammered the already trembling spot, explosive impacts detonating in rapid succession.
Smoke and debris filled the area around Ashveil. Explosions rolled over the waves like thunder, and the barrier's vibration spread until the entire zone pulsed.
Ashveil felt the tremors in his Conqueror's Haki. He allowed himself a slow nod. If he fell here to this coordinated strike, it would be reasonable. If he were to be defeated by this level of combined force, the Marines could believe it.
He stepped through the steam and smoke, emerging composed. The Appearance fruit had served its purpose; his features bore deliberate traces of blood to sell the ruse.
The Admirals' expressions shifted. Relief and renewed confidence crossed their faces.
"He's not invincible," Tokikake said with restrained triumph.
"Yes, his defense has a weakness," Kizaru added, a hint of delight in his tone.
Aokiji's gaze remained measured. "The three together should be enough."
From the command positions, Sengoku allowed a tight breath to leave him. "No one faces all two Admirals and surprises us," he said aloud.
Ashveil's smile was faint, almost polite. The performance was working exactly as planned. He would be taken into custody, brought to the Underwater Great Prison, and the rest of his scheme would unfold.
But before he accepted capture, he intended to give the Marines one last demonstration.
He raised a hand slowly, projecting a controlled fury.
"You arrogant Marines," he called out, voice low with mock irritation. "Do not think I fall so easily. Take my final blow."
The words were a lure, theatrical and loud enough to reach the front lines. Inside, Ashveil laughed quietly. Once he reached the prison, Ace and the others would be freed. Chaos on the sixth floor would ripple outward and turn Marineford inside out. The Whitebeard Pirates would arrive to capitalize on the disorder and reclaim their honor while casualties among his allies remained low.
It was, in Ashveil's mind, an elegant plan. The prisoners would lead the uprising, the Whitebeard crew would sweep in from behind, and the Marines would be forced onto defense. The price for daring to provoke the Whitebeard alliance would be paid in full.
He tightened his fist and unleashed the final blow.
Flames roiled, not as an aimless blaze but as a crafted weapon. The magma dragon surged forth, eyes burning with focused heat. It tore toward the Marines with overwhelming force, a last curtain call to seal the illusion of defeat or to ensure the chaos he intended would unfold.
No one on the field could be certain then whether the next instant would bring capture or catastrophe. The Admirals braced, Marines around them held their ground, and Ashveil stood poised, the thin line between victory and sacrifice drawn sharp in the steam and light.
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Milestone
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter.