"Dragon Breaking Ice Fist!"
The temperature around Ashveil suddenly plummeted. Frost spread from his shoulders, swirling outward until it shaped itself into a colossal dragon of ice.
With a deafening roar, the frozen beast took form, its sheer presence making the very air feel heavy, almost solid.
Ashveil hurled himself toward the Admirals once more.
Their faces twisted in shock.
Kizaru's jaw slackened, his usual lazy grin nowhere to be found. He leaned slightly toward Aokiji, muttering in disbelief.
"This brat… he's a monster, isn't he? He's actually using your ice ability?!"
If Kizaru knew the truth—that what Ashveil was displaying was only the bare minimum of his abilities, and that he also wielded Kizaru's own light powers, not to mention that his techniques could merge with Conqueror's Haki—he would've lost his composure completely.
What the Admirals were seeing was nothing more than Ashveil's most basic and casual attacks.
Among the trio, Vice-Admiral Tokikake—by far the weakest of them—could only stare blankly, his eyes wide, lips parting in astonishment.
"What a terrifying boy… Fire and ice together? What in the world is going on with him?!"
Even for a battle-hardened Admiral, Ashveil's existence was beyond comprehension.
Aokiji himself was visibly unsettled. His eyes widened as the icy breath left his chest.
When did this kid gain a Devil Fruit ability?
And not just one. Both Sakazuki's magma and his own freezing powers… Was this kid even human, or a devil in disguise?
All around Marineford, the ranks of Marines erupted in confusion.
"How's that possible? Doesn't anyone who eats two Devil Fruits die instantly?!"
"He's using the powers of two Admirals at the same time… This brat really is a devil!"
On the battlefield, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face hardened, his usually calm expression replaced with rare unease.
"Tsuru… what is happening with this boy?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's sharp eyes narrowed, her tone serious.
"A man with two Devil Fruits? Could it be some unique body… a special constitution?"
Up in the sky, Morgans nearly dropped his pen, his massive wings flapping in disbelief.
"This brat… he seemed to have used the Tremor-Tremor Fruit before!"
Another reporter beside him shouted, "That's right! The Blackbeard Pirates were found shattered to pieces, like they'd been struck by earthquakes!"
"At the time, we suspected it was the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, but since Whitebeard still held it, we ruled it out… But now it's clear! Blackbeard died to this boy!" Morgans slapped his forehead, his face lit with the thrill of the scoop. "Unbelievable! He's carrying multiple Devil Fruits!"
On the ground, Ashveil clenched his fist. White light burst forth, coalescing into a glowing sphere that pulsed with violent seismic energy.
Unlike Whitebeard, who wielded the Tremor-Tremor power through raw strikes, Ashveil hurled the glowing quake-sphere directly. At the same time, a blast of Conqueror's Haki surged outward, its tyrannical will crashing over the battlefield like a tidal wave.
The Shichibukai stiffened, each one reacting in their own way.
Doflamingo licked his lips, excitement sparking in his eyes. "So this is the strength you wanted me to see, Ashveil? Truly terrifying…"
Boa Hancock's face grew solemn. Even with her pride, the sheer pressure of his strength left her shaken.
Mihawk's heart trembled, though his face remained calm. He knew the truth better than anyone: mastering the sword consumed one's life. There was no room for distraction. And yet Ashveil wielded swords, ice, flame, light, and now even quakes… his talent was monstrous beyond measure.
Even Rocks D. Xebec, who once sought to dominate the seas, might not have matched such overwhelming talent.
To witness such a being in his lifetime… was a rare honor.
Moriah's face twisted in disbelief. "Three Devil Fruits… How can anyone in this world contain such power?!"
Far to the rear, Garp exhaled sharply, swallowing the lump in his throat. "This brat… he even has Whitebeard's power!"
The sight pulled memories of Rocks to the front of his mind. Garp clenched his fists, voice grave. "He reminds me of only one man… Rocks himself."
The mention of that name darkened Sengoku and Tsuru's expressions instantly.
Sengoku slammed a fist into the railing, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared into the loudspeaker. "Capture this boy alive! No matter the cost, he must be locked in Impel Down! His very body might hold the answers we've been searching for!"
Vegapunk's research… if they could uncover Ashveil's secret, the balance of the seas would shift entirely.
But Ashveil only smirked. That was exactly what he wanted.
The Admirals, however, looked stricken. Capture him alive? Sengoku's words sounded like madness. Killing him alone would be nearly impossible. To imprison him? Utterly unrealistic.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!" Aokiji roared, forming a giant ice bird with his arm that clashed violently against Ashveil's ice dragon.
At the same time, Kizaru drew the blade of light, Ama no Murakumo, his strike joining with Tokikake's slash, both attacks colliding against the quake-sphere Ashveil had thrown.
Boom!
The dragon and bird of ice tore into one another midair, shattering into frozen fragments that rained down across Marineford, each shard freezing whatever it touched.
The quake-sphere detonated against the two slashes, creating a catastrophic explosion that echoed like a nuclear blast.
The shockwave obliterated the central battlefield, reducing towers and fortifications to rubble. If the soldiers hadn't been positioned far back, they would have been wiped out instantly.
Dust and debris rose in a suffocating cloud. Then—another roar split the haze.
An ice dragon burst free from the smoke, surging straight toward Tokikake, the weakest link among the fighters.
Its power… it was even stronger than Aokiji's own ice techniques.
Tokikake's face hardened. He raised his blade, advanced Armament Haki swirling around it. Sakura Flow coated the edge, distorting the very air as his slash raced forward.
Boom!
The dragon shattered, shards exploding outward. Even though Tokikake blocked the brunt of the attack, jagged fragments tore through his defenses, ripping open his arm. Blood spilled, only to freeze instantly beneath the biting frost. His entire arm stiffened, encased in ice.
"Tokikake!" Aokiji's expression darkened.
Ashveil's ice… was superior.
Tokikake gritted his teeth, forcing his frozen arm to move. "Don't worry about me! Focus on ending him now!"
He gripped his katana tighter with his good hand, channeling every last ounce of his strength.
"One Sword Style… Shura Red Slash!"
A crimson arc ripped through the sky, its edge screaming with killing intent, racing toward Ashveil at lightning speed.
"He's spent too much already! Just press him harder, break his defenses, and he's finished!" Tokikake shouted.
His words jolted Aokiji and Kizaru into action. They realized he was right. Ashveil had unleashed too many powers at once. He had to be nearing his limits.
"Then let's finish this," Aokiji growled. "Use our strongest attacks!"
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