When the Marines learned that Ian had attacked Impel Down Prison and rescued Jinbe and Crocodile, they understood that Ian would definitely intervene in this war.
Jinbe was imprisoned for opposing this war in the first place, so it was clear why Ian had rescued him. Combined with Ian’s close ties to the Whitebeard Pirates, it wasn’t hard to figure out.
However, the Marines were unaware of how Ian would appear. According to Vice Admiral Gion’s description of the battle at Impel Down, Ian left with people on a submarine from the seabed.
That submarine should belong to the Heart Pirates’ Trafalgar D. Water Law. Evidence suggested that Law had joined forces with Ian. Thus, the Marines naturally prepared for Ian’s possible appearance from the seabed using a submarine.
However, when Ian escaped from the Marine Headquarters at Marineford, he used a flying ship called the Ark Maxim. Based on this, Ian could also potentially appear from the sky using this Ark.
From underwater, the sky, or even approaching by ship from the surface, all three directions were possible. The Marines had to be prepared for all possibilities.
Given the Marines’ combat strength, they shouldn’t be this cautious towards a Warlord. Yet, Ian’s revealed power was enough to make the Marines take him very seriously.
Besides Ian, the Dragon Hunters Pirate Crew also had a vice-captain known as a “Monster” Fujitora. During their stay at the Marineford, another Logia-type Goro-Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) user, Enel, erged from sowhere. These three individuals were considered the “Three Monsters” of the Dragon Hunters Pirate Crew by the Marines. Based on the Marines’ assessnt of their strengths, they believed that these three had the capability to fight the Marine Admirals simultaneously.
After the events at Impel Down, Jinbe and Crocodile joined, along with four mbers of the Eleven Supernovas: Trafalgar D. Water Law of the Heart Pirates, Urouge of the Monk Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy of the Straw Hat Pirates, and the Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro. All four are rookies with bounties exceeding 100 million berries, and their strengths are not to be underestimated.
In addition, there are two individuals the Marines cannot afford to ignore: the clown Buggy and the Okama Emporio Ivankov. One is a forr mber of the Pirate King’s crew, and the other is a senior officer of the Revolutionary Army. Both were rescued by Ian from Impel Down, along with over 150 other prisoners from the prison. These prisoners, all notorious pirates, have bounties of at least tens of millions.
Upon reviewing this detailed report on the Dragon Hunters Pirate Crew’s strength, even the Five Elder Stars of the World Governnt were moved, let alone the Marines!
With the war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates still undecided, it’s hard to predict how things will turn out. If Ian’s forces suddenly intervene, they could tip the balance of the war in an instant!
As an Admiral, Kuzan was well aware of Sengoku’s battle plans. So, when he noticed Ace’s Vivre Card moving, indicating that Ian might have arrived on the battlefield, he had to take action!
A chilling aura suddenly emanated from Kuzan’s body as he began to crystallize. The sea beneath him started to freeze rapidly, spreading outwards at an astonishing speed. In the next mont, with a forceful step, Kuzan disappeared from his original position.
Ace was taken aback. Before he could react, Kuzan appeared beside him. With his icy right hand extended, he fired an ice bullet at close range towards Ace!
“Great Ice Ball!”
Ace instinctively raised his hand to block. However, upon contact with his body, the ice ball instantly expanded, covering his entire body. It transford into a massive crystalline structure of ice, encasing Ace completely.
Although Kuzan usually appeared lazy, often wearing his eye mask and seemingly not wanting to move, it’s undeniable that he is one of the top combatants in the Marines. Besides his Devil Fruit ability, Kuzan also possesses formidable physical prowess. The speed of his attack just now was so fast that it left no room for reaction.
Despite being trapped in the ice ball, Ace, being a fla user, was not completely frozen by it.
“Huh!”
Flas erupted from Ace, quickly lting the ice ball and allowing him to break free. A mist spread around, evaporating from the high temperature.
“White Fla: Shiranui!”
Breaking free from the ice ball, Ace imdiately swung his arms, releasing two white flas towards Kuzan—one from each arm.
After receiving a reminder from Ian, Ace had been working on increasing the temperature of his flas. Now, his flas had turned into white flas, and even the nas of his techniques had changed!
The two white flas shot towards Kuzan, but Kuzan swiftly twisted his body and swung his long legs, sending two consecutive kicks forward.
Two crescent-shaped ice blades flew out with his kicks. This was a technique derived from Kuzan’s combination of the Marine’s Rokushiki technique, the “Rankyaku” or Tempest Kick. The two ice blades collided head-on with Ace’s white flas. The collision of extre heat and cold lted and neutralized each other, turning into water vapor that filled the air.
Due to Kuzan’s ability, the area where they fought had turned into a frozen ground. Thus, Ace could safely move and attack.
Stretching out his hand, Ace pulled out the dagger from his waist and held it in a reverse grip. A white fla blade surged from the dagger, resembling Ian’s Sword of the Darkness Fla, though slightly shorter in length.
Ace lunged at Kuzan, slashing towards his abdon. Kuzan kicked out, blocking Ace’s elbow. Ace swung his dagger horizontally at Kuzan’s leg, but Kuzan instantly retracted his leg and countered with a reverse kick, striking Ace’s wrist from below. This kick sent Ace’s arm upward, causing the dagger to fly out of his hand, leaving his ribcage exposed.
Seizing the opportunity, Kuzan pointed his finger, and a spear made of frost shot out, piercing Ace’s right rib.
Compared to Kizaru’s laser attacks, because Kuzan’s frost spear was tangible, it was easier for his attack to entangle Haki. Ace’s elental form couldn’t withstand this assault.
Pained from the blade’s strike, Ace lted the frost spear with his flas and fiercely swung his hand, launching a large fireball at Kuzan.
Now, executed at close range, a surging fla imdiately enveloped Kuzan’s body.
The fla’s restraining effect on the ice caused Kuzan to feel an agonizing burn. However, he remained silent, intensifying his cold output. He instantly suppressed Ace’s flas, then rapidly approached Ace, bending down to grab both of his legs!
The sound of cracking ice echoed once more, and Ace’s legs began to freeze, spreading rapidly towards his upper body.
The Frozen Ti Capsule, Kuzan’s signature move…
“Aaah!” Ace quickly ignited his entire body with flas, attempting to lt the ice covering him. Yet, Kuzan was also enhancing his cold power. Just as Ace lted the ice, it imdiately refroze.
In essence, the battle between the two was a clash of high temperature against low temperature, two Devil Fruit abilities that countered each other. It all depended on who could wield their power more effectively and powerfully.
Although Ace’s fla temperature had increased significantly, Kuzan, a Marine Admiral at the peak of his physical abilities, used his Armant Haki to grab Ace’s ankle physically. Ace couldn’t even run away, stuck in a deadlock with Kuzan.
The location where the two were fighting was enveloped in billowing white mist, caused by the constant freezing and lting of ice blocks. This mist grew denser and thicker, affecting Ace’s abilities.
This mist, essentially water molecules, could be utilized by Kuzan, but it robbed Ace of his fla temperature!
Gradually, the ice covering Ace’s body spread upwards bit by bit, with Kuzan’s freezing gaining the upper hand.
Seeing the situation worsening, Ace punched Kuzan in the face.
Kuzan’s head was shattered instantly but quickly condensed again in the cold air.
A trace of blood ran from the corner of his mouth as Kuzan licked his lips and remarked in surprise, “Armant Haki? But for , it’s still not enough!”
“It’s ti to end this. Ice Age!”
With Kuzan’s murmured words, a stronger surge of cold erupted, sweeping over the surrounding sea. Within this cold, everything was frozen – the seawater, ships, pirates, and Marine soldiers locked in combat – all turned into frozen statues as if ti had stopped. Although Kuzan tried to limit the attack range, so unfortunate souls were inevitably affected.
Where Ace was, it turned into a massive ice pillar, with Ace entirely encased within its thick ice.
Although Kuzan didn’t want to harm Ace out of respect for Vice Admiral Garp, as a Marine Admiral, he had to fulfill his duty. When he got serious, Kuzan instantly unleashed overwhelming power.
Against Kuzan, Ace was still sowhat at a disadvantage…
Just as Kuzan was about to remove the ice pillar encasing Ace, a series of heavy footsteps echoed from behind. As Kuzan turned his head, he was struck by a trendous force, causing his frozen body to shatter as he was sent flying.
When he got up from the ground and reford his body, he found himself injured again due to the massive impact. Looking up, he discovered that the one who attacked him was none other than the third division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Diamond Jozu!
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