"Oh my, did I go a little too far?"
Aokiji stood on the island's shore, frost still drifting from his hands as he scratched his head in mild realization. The entire island before him had been turned into a frozen wasteland, ice glittering under the pale sunlight.
Swish!
A streak of reddish-yellow light flashed overhead and landed beside him, coalescing into the tall figure of Admiral Kizaru. The older man's weathered face curved into a half-smile as he spoke lazily.
"Oh my, Kuzan… if you hadn't shown up, I might have had to make a very undignified retreat."
"Borsalino, your hand…"
Aokiji's gaze dropped to Kizaru's right arm, which was still in its light-particle form. His expression sharpened.
"You… injured? You, who avoid risk and excel at speed?"
"Oh, this?"
Kizaru glanced down at his half-elemental hand, then sighed with exaggerated weariness.
"No choice, this new monster is… something else. I wasn't paying attention and almost lost my life. These missions the Celestial Dragons hand out keep getting more troublesome. Honestly, I'm considering retirement."
Aokiji ignored the grumbling, his eyes scanning the silent forest beyond.
"Plunderer, Shirogai Yamikuro… capable of actually threatening you? That's unexpected."
"Oh my, oh my~" Kizaru's mouth twitched. "Even I'm impressed. No wonder the Gorosei are so interested in him. That Talent-Talent Fruit of his has already put him at near Four Emperors level."
"Then we should move quickly," Aokiji said flatly. "Ice Age might not hold him long."
Kizaru glanced toward the horizon, his voice drawling. "No need to rush. The Seastone handcuffs have arrived."
A warship approached from the sea — the same one Kizaru had used earlier.
"Oh my god! The whole island's frozen solid!" one of the Marines on deck shouted.
"Wow… Admiral Aokiji must've done that!" another said, eyes wide.
"With both Admirals here, that pirate doesn't stand a chance!"
"Of course! Even a Yonko would have trouble if they both attacked at once!"
The ship stopped at shore, and squads of Marines rowed small boats in, each group carrying Seastone shackles. They formed ranks and saluted sharply.
"Reporting, Admiral Kizaru, Admiral Kuzan! Seastone handcuffs and chains ready! Orders?"
"Follow us. Capture the pirate — Plunderer, Shirogai Yamikuro."
"Yes, sir!"
The two Admirals reached the spot where Shirogai was supposedly frozen beneath the ice. Marines stood at the ready, chains in hand, prepared to restrain him the instant Aokiji thawed the block.
But Aokiji's brow furrowed.
"…Strange. What's under here isn't alive."
Kizaru's eyes narrowed. "Oh my… don't tell me he slipped away."
Aokiji knelt, pressing his palm to the ice.
"Defrost."
The frost melted rapidly, turning to water that soaked into the earth.
"Woo… woo…"
"Awooo!"
Frozen animals thawed and staggered away, fleeing into the forest. At last, the shape in the ice was revealed — a perfect replica of Shirogai… made entirely of hardened wax.
Kizaru's expression twitched.
"Well… looks like we've been had. I didn't even notice the swap."
"He's already gone," Aokiji said calmly, scanning the treeline.
Then a voice, light and amused, drifted down from above.
"Oh, gentlemen… were you looking for me?"
"Who?!"
Marines raised rifles toward the sound. Both Admirals looked up.
There, perched on the thick branch of a giant tree, sat Shirogai Yamikuro, watching them like a spectator at a play.
"I've been sitting here for a while now," he said casually. "Didn't realize you two were working so hard just to find me."
His eyes settled on Aokiji, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"You, Admiral Aokiji… hiding your strength so well. Lucky for me — I've been looking for something, and you've just handed it over."
"You've been here the whole time?" Aokiji's frown deepened.
"Two Thorns Spear."
The temperature around Aokiji plummeted. Six massive ice spears materialized above him, shooting toward Shirogai's perch.
"Oh my, so you noticed…"
Shirogai raised a hand, his tone almost playful.
"Two Thorns Spear."
Frost exploded from his body. Six ice spears identical to Aokiji's formed behind him and launched forward.
Gasps rose from the Marines below.
"No way! He's using Admiral Kuzan's Ice-Ice Fruit ability!"
"Impossible! Is this some kind of illusion?!"
The spears met midair with a thunderous crack, shattering into a massive bloom of ice crystals. The frozen mass crashed to the ground.
"Clear out! It's falling!"
Marines scrambled as the chunk smashed into the earth, leaving a wide crater rimmed in frost.
Kizaru slapped his forehead with a strange laugh.
"Oh my, oh my… Shirogai, my friend, you've even copied Kuzan's Ice-Ice Fruit. Your strength just keeps getting more troublesome."
"Plunderer," Aokiji murmured. He wasn't surprised — Smoker had warned him of this ability — but curiosity still lingered.
"So… your Talent-Talent Fruit lets you copy abilities just by observing?"
Shirogai smiled faintly. "How rude. Do you think I'd tell you my secrets?"
He landed lightly before them. "But yes… I only need to see it once."
Aokiji's expression didn't change, but a cold smile tugged at his lips.
"An interesting ability."
"And an interesting Admiral," Shirogai replied with a grin. "This Ice-Ice Fruit of yours… just the appetizer I needed."
[Host observed: User of the Ice-Ice Fruit. Understood: The ability to transform into ice and generate freezing air capable of freezing anything on contact.]
Then another notification sounded in his mind.
[Host observed a Devil Fruit Awakener. Awakening limit unlocked.]
Shirogai's eyes glinted.
So… Aokiji had already awakened his fruit long before the Summit War.