Ashveil watched the Moby Dick fade into the distance, his lips curling into a calm smile. Now, the United Army was truly in trouble.
He had hesitated to go all out earlier, afraid that his power might harm Whitebeard's ship and his allies. But now that the Moby Dick had retreated far enough, there was no need for restraint.
The entire battlefield was filled with enemies. No matter how he attacked now, only the enemy would suffer.
"Kid, without the Whitebeard Pirates, do you really think you stand a chance?" The mocking voices of the Gorosei echoed from afar.
"I advise you to surrender now to avoid unnecessary suffering," Saint Jaygarcia added in a cold tone.
Ashveil let out a short laugh, brushing off the condescension.
"Hahaha, if you want to fight, then fight. What's the point of all this chatter?" His expression turned calm, almost indifferent. "But before that, I'll need to make a proper venue. Floating around like this is inconvenient."
Everyone around him was stunned.
A venue? What does he mean by that?
Even the Gorosei exchanged puzzled glances. Did this man really have the leisure to worry about where he fought?
Ignoring their confusion, Ashveil raised his hand, and a white mist began to rise from his body. The surrounding air instantly grew frigid.
Aokiji's expression changed as a chilling pressure spread through the battlefield.
"This… This is the Ice-Ice Fruit's aura! What's he trying to do?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
The mist surged downward, flooding into the sea below.
Crack… crack… crack…
The sound of freezing water echoed across the world. The sea turned solid in an instant, freezing countless Marine warships in place. No matter how hard the helmsmen struggled, the ships refused to budge even an inch.
"Look! My god, the entire sea—it's frozen solid!" a Marine scout shouted, trembling as he peered through his telescope.
All around, the ocean had turned to ice as far as the eye could see. The cold wind bit into their skin, making even seasoned soldiers shiver uncontrollably.
Several Marines leapt down from their ships with shovels and axes, trying to break through the ice around their hulls.
But the moment their tools struck the frozen surface, the metal bent and chipped.
"This… this hardness… is this even ice?" one of them stammered. "It's like solid stone!"
Issho Fujitora frowned as he activated his Observation Haki, sensing the terrifying depth below. His brows furrowed in disbelief.
"Forget breaking the ice. These layers go down ten thousand meters deep," he said quietly.
The Marines around him froze.
"Ten thousand meters?!"
"Not even Admiral Aokiji could freeze to that depth!"
They stared at Ashveil in shock. One casual gesture, and the ocean itself had turned into an unbreakable field of battle.
Ashveil observed the landscape with satisfaction. The ice field stretched nearly ten kilometers in every direction—perfectly large enough for him to fight without endangering anyone else.
Directly ahead, the sea between him and the Moby Dick had become a glacial plain, its edge stopping precisely where Whitebeard's ship waited.
On deck, Marco squinted at the icy expanse.
"Is that Aokiji's doing? What's the United Army planning?"
Whitebeard planted his Murakumogiri on the deck and shook his head.
"No… that's not Aokiji. Such power and control—it's Ashveil's work."
Around the world, spectators watched the unfolding scene in astonishment.
Red-Haired Shanks exhaled, unable to hide his awe.
"I didn't expect this. That man not only wields Conqueror's Haki of immense strength but also commands so many abilities…"
Lucky Roux scratched his head.
"Wait, isn't that Aokiji's power? Can he copy other people's abilities?"
Beckman flicked away his cigarette, his expression grim.
"Regardless of how, a man like that—besieged by the entire United Army—it's a tragedy waiting to happen. The world's losing a rare genius."
On the Revolutionary Army's ship, Ivankov threw up his hands dramatically.
"Didn't I say it before? Every one of his powers is more ridiculous than the last!"
Dragon nodded quietly, eyes on the broadcast.
"The Ice ability… terrifying. I hope he can make it through this war alive."
---
Back on the battlefield, Ashveil clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the frozen plain.
"Well? Don't just stand there gawking. Come at me. If I make the first move, none of you will get a chance to fight back."
A vein pulsed on Big Mom's forehead.
"This brat dares to look down on us!" she bellowed, fury blazing in her eyes.
As one of the Four Emperors, no one had ever dared provoke her like this. With a roar, she swung Napoleon, her blade tearing through the air with explosive force.
Kaido joined her instantly, his massive frame glowing with energy.
"Linlin! Let's show him what true power means!"
"Hakai!"
The two Emperor-level monsters attacked in unison, their combined energy surging toward Ashveil like a tidal wave.
"Don't let him recover—break his defense and finish him in one strike!" Sengoku shouted from behind, his voice booming across the battlefield.
Shiryu of the Rain appeared mid-air, his sword gleaming. He descended with a vicious grin, slashing down toward Ashveil.
Behind him, Avalo Pizarro, Wolf, Big Barrel, and the Nine-Tailed Fox unleashed a barrage of flames and mechanical projectiles.
"Ashveil! You'll pay for what you did to us!" they screamed.
Ashveil's gaze turned cold, his voice laced with mockery.
"So Vegapunk turned you into this… half-machine, half-human abominations? Pathetic."
Their faces twisted with rage.
"Even if we die, we'll drag you down with us!"
They abandoned their flame cannons, charging forward with weapons raised high.
At the same time, Fujitora stepped in, gripping his blade tightly.
"Gravity Blade—Fierce Tiger!"
The space around Ashveil rippled. A crushing wave of gravity smashed down, distorting the air and cracking the frozen surface beneath his feet. The ice, ten thousand meters deep, groaned and splintered under the pressure.
Beside him, Aramaki leapt forward, his legs digging into the ice for momentum. A strange green Armament Haki covered his fist as he launched a devastating punch toward Ashveil.
The other Admirals followed suit, combining their techniques. The air trembled as their combined power closed in, striking Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki barrier.
"His shield's about to break!" Sengoku roared. "When it falls, strike together!"
He transformed into his massive golden Buddha form, his palms glowing with Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
"Shockwave Strike!"
The explosion that followed shattered the sky. The shockwave collided with Ashveil's barrier, unleashing a storm of energy that tore through the battlefield.
Winds screamed across the frozen sea, scattering chunks of ice like shrapnel.
"Damn it, Sengoku!" Kaido barked, shielding his face. "You trying to blow us all up?"
Linlin growled, her aura flaring in anger.
Nearby, Shiryu, Avalo Pizarro, and the others quickly hardened their Armament Haki to resist the storming backlash.
Through the chaos, Kong and Garp's eyes gleamed with battle lust. Ignoring the danger, they moved in perfect sync, vanishing from sight.
In the next instant, they appeared behind Ashveil.
"Iron Fist!"
"Adamantine Bone Fist!"
Their strikes landed simultaneously with a thunderous boom. The ice beneath Ashveil shattered, sending shards flying dozens of meters into the air.
The Conqueror's Haki armor coating his body cracked and splintered under the assault.
And yet—Ashveil stood unmoved, his eyes glinting coldly beneath the haze of frost and smoke.
---