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"I'm going to kill that old Whitebeard!"
Lava rolled across Akainu's body, his tone filled with grim intent. Wherever he passed, molten rock left a distinct trail.
"Who allowed you to leave!"
Golden flames surged as Ace spoke coldly.
With him here, how could he sit back and watch Akainu threaten Whitebeard?
The immortal golden flames floated over his body, and in an instant, he became fully engulfed in fire. The roaring golden flames expanded, ready to block Akainu's advance.
But just then, a chilling, domineering aura struck.
"Brother, I didn't allow you to interfere!"
Aokiji, his heart seething with rage, made his move!
"Ice Time!"
His face showed no expression as icy energy surged from him. Without any other movement, a path of ice extended from beneath his feet.
The encroaching chill quickly surrounded Ace.
In the blink of an eye, a golden flame flickered within an ice sculpture that now stood on the plaza.
The next moment, flames erupted.
Boom!
Ace, pressed for time and with no interest in melting the ice slowly, shattered the ice to pieces.
The golden flames broke free, revealing him once again.
But Aokiji stood in front of Ace once more.
The dense cold air solidified, showing clear intent to bar his way.
"Get out of my way!"
Ace shouted fiercely.
This was his first battle after rebirth; his blood surged with fervor, his spirit ablaze with an unquenchable fighting drive!
"Fire Fist!"
The golden flames on his arm roared, transforming into a massive flaming fist, and surged forward in a blazing attack.
Aokiji raised an eyebrow subtly.
There was an odd sensation, something indescribably strange.
But with the situation already at its tipping point, he had no time or space to consider it.
Suddenly, the cold air intensified.
An ice mirror, reflecting the golden flames, appeared out of nowhere and blocked Ace once more.
Boom!
The flaming fist struck, and the ice shattered.
The power of the golden flames continued to press on Aokiji under Ace's control.
"Huh? Something's off with this strength!"
Aokiji hesitated momentarily as he raised his hand, surprised by how easily his ice mirror shattered against Ace's Fire Fist—this was illogical!
Meanwhile, blue flames of the phoenix enveloped Marco's body, forming wings as he took to the sky and dove towards Akainu.
"Oo~ Marco, it seems you can't meddle in someone else's fight~"
Kizaru's lazy voice floated through the air, tinged with a hint of anger.
After being kicked away by Marco multiple times, it would be a lie to say he wasn't irritated. So after Aokiji moved to stop Ace, Kizaru naturally confronted Marco.
As yellow light flashed before his eyes, Marco felt a sudden unease and thought, "Not good."
In the next instant, Kizaru's Flash Kick struck head-on.
Marco quickly raised his arms to defend.
Yet the impact still forced him back, sliding a distance before he managed to steady himself.
Seeing Kizaru, his form flickering in particles of light as he teleported around, Marco felt a sinking in his heart.
Kizaru's speed held the advantage; pinned down by him, there was no chance to reach Whitebeard.
This was bad.
"Ooo~ Marco, you seem a bit flustered~" Kizaru said, his hands tucked in his pockets, his tone unhurried.
After watching Marco's struggle, Kizaru became even more certain that Whitebeard's condition was far from optimal; otherwise, he wouldn't see the dignified Phoenix losing his composure so visibly.
"Damn it! Get out of my way!!"
Marco roared, disappearing in a flash.
The intense impact was accompanied by blazing blue phoenix flames, fierce and unyielding.
Kizaru's eyelids twitched slightly beneath his sunglasses.
Particles of light formed in his hand, slowly shaping into a yellow lightsaber!
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
For the first time, Kizaru's usual lazy tone sounded almost formal.
The lightsaber descended, clashing violently with the blue light and shadows.
The showdown between Whitebeard's right hand and the Marine Admiral had begun.
Marco, too, was held at bay.
"Gurarara~"
"Focus on your own battles! I AM no feeble old man!"
Whitebeard's laugh rang out as he reminded Marco and Ace.
He was Whitebeard!
Who else would protect him?
Dragging a molten trail of magma, Akainu sneered coldly:
"Whitebeard, I'll reduce you to ashes and scatter them over Marineford, so every Marine can trample on you each day!"
His words were laced with pure hatred.
Akainu's disdain wasn't limited to Whitebeard; it extended to all pirates.
"Magma brat, go home and light the candles for your birthday cake!"
Whitebeard remained unshaken by Akainu's taunts and strode forward confidently.
Murakumogiri came swinging down powerfully.
A white energy sphere reappeared, merging with Murakumogiri as it slashed downward.
Akainu's arm turned into magma, his cold eyes locking onto Whitebeard. With a fierce punch, he met the slash of Murakumogiri head-on.
A devastating gust of wind surged out from their clash.
The ground beneath them fractured, spreading intricate cracks across the battlefield.
The air howled as space trembled and the boiling magma seethed.
Whitebeard and Akainu had engaged in a brutal fight.
Ace and Marco were each blocked, by Aokiji and Kizaru, respectively.
The remaining commanders were also intercepted by the Warlords, and the Marines' relentless bombardment continued to hinder the Whitebeard Pirates' advance.
The battlefield had settled into a deadlock.
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