On the ice outside the cage, the five Vice Admirals — Momonaga, Onigumo, Dauberman, Stainless, and Strawberry — veterans of countless Buster Calls, watched the battle unfold with confident smiles. The bursts of blue and red light from within Water 7, with very few other colors, could only mean one thing: the Marines had the upper hand!
With two Admirals on the scene, even a Four Emperor would have to think twice. What was a "Warlord hunter" in comparison?
Momonaga, his red mustache twitching, said, "Admiral Akainu's magma has stopped. Has he already finished the fight?"
Onigumo, his helmet engraved with twin dragons, removed his cigarette. "Momonaga, don't say such foolish things. Haven't you learned the terrifying power of Admiral Akainu yet?" The other three Vice Admirals nodded in agreement. There was no room for doubt; victory was assured.
Feeling a bit naive, Momonaga quickly changed the subject. "Then... let's watch Admiral Aokiji's fight..."
"Boom!!!"
Suddenly, a corner of the Birdcage was engulfed in a torrent of lava. The cage's ability to shield information and deceive Observation Haki was powerful, but this was a clear sign.
"Hahaha, it seems the battle is over!" Onigumo laughed, walking toward the commotion. The other four Vice Admirals followed, their confident strides echoing on the ice.
"Shouldn't we lend a hand?" Doflamingo asked, watching from a distance, a hint of pity in his voice. That powerful woman—the one who could copy him—he couldn't conquer her.
But the next second, not just Doflamingo, but all five Vice Admirals stopped dead in their tracks. They saw what was in the magma's wake, and their smiles vanished.
It wasn't an enemy.
As the magma receded, a black-faced man stood by the cage. His Marine cap was in tatters, and his hair stood on end like a hedgehog.
"Admi... Admiral Akainu?" Onigumo stammered, dropping his cigarette. The other four shared his disbelief. How could the Admiral, the pinnacle of the Marines' fighting power, look like this?
Akainu's fight had been nearly silent, a stark contrast to Aokiji's more destructive battle. What kind of foe could defeat Akainu's power so completely without leaving a trace?
"You little punk, are you toying with me?" Akainu said, his legs trembling slightly as he stared across an invisible line. "With your strength, how are you their captain?" In truth, it wasn't Rodin's strength that bothered him, but the lightning. He had taken the hit head-on, prepared to trade a little damage for a quick victory. But Rodin's transparent, silent attacks were incredibly difficult to counter.
"A Logia-type Lightning-Lightning Fruit?" Akainu muttered, removing his tattered cap. He walked forward, his ruined leather shoes falling apart with each step. He had never realized how much of a hassle clothing could be until he couldn't elementalize to save it. "I hope you don't disappoint me in the next fight!"
"Gulp." Flying Squirrel swallowed. "Who was Admiral Akainu talking to just now?"
"He's talking to the air!" Onigumo said, scanning the area.
"Wait, I think I saw a dark shadow pass by!"
"Enough, that's not what's important!" Strawberry cut them off. "Admiral Akainu has clearly encountered a powerful enemy. This kind of situation is not good!"
"Damn this Birdcage!" Doflamingo growled from a distance.
Just then, a Marine ran up. "Vice Admiral! Good news! Bartholomew Kuma... he seems to have woken up!"
"What?! He woke up?!" the Vice Admirals yelled, their spirits lifting. "Send him here immediately! We have to get ready to go in and support the Admiral!"
Akainu, still a bit disheveled, ignored their commotion. He walked barefoot, his tattered shoes having fallen apart.
"Are... are you giving me time to charge up?" Rodin's voice came from the air, followed by the silent launch of an eight-meter-long lightning spear.
Rodin had used his abilities to make his attacks transparent and silent, leaving only the physical impact. It was a terrifying strategy. Akainu, however, was a top-tier fighter. He could feel the slightest change in the air's flow and knew an attack was coming.
"Finally!" Akainu pulled back his fists as streams of lava gushed from his hands. "Inferno!" He launched two punches, merging the magma into a massive, fist-shaped attack with incredible speed.
But the lightning spear was faster. "Wh... boom!"
Magma and lightning collided, and the torrent of lava was instantly dispersed into a shower of fiery meteors. Akainu, caught in the blast, was momentarily stunned by the intense heat and electricity. He had to harden his body with Haki to withstand the shock.
Lava and lightning seemed to be a draw.
"Thunder Step!" Rodin took a step in the air, electricity under his feet propelling him forward. He took three steps in a row, accumulating power to its absolute maximum. He held the golden spear from his space ring, and with a final roar, he shot toward Akainu's heart.
Akainu had no time to build up magma. He crossed his arms and hardened them with Haki, taking the blow head-on. "Little devil... your strength is not enough!!!" he snarled, pushing the golden spear away. He then tried to punch Rodin, but Rodin easily dodged him.
"Damn it! Kizaru should be able to deal with that speed!" Akainu muttered, annoyed at his inability to land a hit.
Rodin, hundreds of meters away, his hand trembling, was exhilarated. The fight was pushing him to his limits, but the experience was invaluable.
Suddenly, the Vice Admirals' voices broke his concentration. "He's here! Tyrant Kuma has arrived!" The Warlords — Doflamingo, Hancock, and Jinbe — all gathered, and Doflamingo's hungry smile returned.
A few Marines ran up with a stretcher, on which lay Bartholomew Kuma, severely wounded. "He... can he still use his abilities like that?"
"Who knows," a Marine replied.
"Don't underestimate a Warlord! Even if they're injured, they'll still fight with stubborn pride," another added. The man's words died in his throat as the Marines carried the stretcher right up to the Birdcage.
Kuma struggled to open his eyes. He reached out a trembling, paw-like hand and touched the Birdcage. "Bomb," he whispered, his voice thin and weak.