The scene at this moment was like the eve of a life-or-death showdown.
A tense atmosphere filled the air, making it almost impossible to breathe.
On the high platform, Sengoku's expression turned grim. He clenched his teeth, his heart filled with regret and self-reproach.
"To think that old man would be so cunning, actually coating the Moby Dick and sneaking up from beneath the sea. I was far too careless!" Sengoku muttered.
He had never anticipated Whitebeard would pull such a move.
Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru's face was equally dark and foreboding.
Her brow was tightly furrowed, clearly anxious about the current situation.
All their meticulously laid plans had been overturned by Whitebeard's maneuver.
Even worse, Whitebeard's move had caught everyone off guard, leaving them unprepared.
This loss of control not only made the coming situation unfavorable but would also demoralize the Marines.
Yet Whitebeard seemed to have long foreseen this.
His gaze fell in the direction where Ace was, and then he raised his voice and shouted loudly.
"Ace... your old man is here!"
At that moment, he raised the Murakumogiri high above his head.
Without hesitation, he slammed it downward with tremendous force. With a deafening "bang," the hilt of the blade embedded itself deep into the wooden deck like a nail!
However, this was only the beginning. His movements didn't stop. Bending his knees slightly, he seemed to gather all the strength in his body. In the next instant, his fists shot out like lightning, carrying unparalleled power as they struck fiercely into the empty air.
Crack, crack...
A chilling sound echoed, as if the entire world were being torn apart.
To everyone's astonishment, under the impact of his fists, the very space itself began to fracture, revealing terrifying cracks!
Moreover, these cracks didn't stop spreading.
As his power continued to intensify, the cracks grew larger, rapidly expanding in all directions like a torn spiderweb.
In an instant, the entire sea trembled violently, as if a colossal beast had been disturbed.
Under the immense force of this tremor, the sea surface was lifted by an invisible hand, forming a localized tsunami.
Waves towering dozens of meters high surged forward with overwhelming momentum, engulfing the entire Marine Headquarters.
'Hiss...'
Witnessing this breathtaking scene, everyone present couldn't help but gasp in shock.
Even legendary figures like Hawk-Eyes Dracule Mihawk and Boa Hancock, as well as high-ranking officials of the Marine Headquarters such as Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, paled at the sight, their faces filled with disbelief.
There was simply no other way—Whitebeard's move was too formidable, almost defying the heavens!
Even someone like Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, had no confidence in being able to withstand this attack.
Even if he were to exert his strength and slash through the wave with a single strike, the tsunami wouldn't vanish.
It would still come crashing down like a mountain.
At that point, even a master like Mihawk would likely find it impossible to escape being swallowed by the colossal wave.
This was one of the reasons why Whitebeard was hailed as the world's strongest.
Because his ultimate move was nearly impossible to counter, and it could easily destroy an entire island.
"Ice Age!"
At that critical moment, Aokiji leaped into the air like a swift swallow.
He knew all too well that if he didn't act now, no one present would be able to withstand the surging, towering tsunami.
This was the terrifying power of Whitebeard's ability.
This move was one of Aokiji's signature techniques.
He could release the cold energy from his body, forming a powerful freezing force that instantly covered an immense area.
This frigid air could not only instantly freeze the sea between several islands into solid land, but the frozen state could last for up to a week!
Therefore, these towering waves, catastrophic to others, meant nothing to him.
In the blink of an eye, Aokiji swiftly spread his arms wide, as if trying to encompass the world within his grasp.
Immediately afterward, a bone-chilling cold erupted from his palms like two roaring white dragons, shooting straight toward the surging waves.
The moment the frigid air met the waves, it was like a collision between fire and earth, triggering a world-shaking impact.
Yet, surprisingly, the waves were powerless against this formidable cold.
In an instant, they were frozen into a crystalline wall of ice.
But this was far from over.
Like a blue bird, Aokiji plummeted rapidly from the sky.
His figure, illuminated by the sunlight, appeared exceptionally dazzling.
The moment his feet touched the sea's surface, a terrifying wave of cold erupted like a ferocious beast.
This frigid air spread at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, the entire sea surface was covered by a thick layer of ice.
The ice layer, like a giant mirror, reflected a blinding light that dazzled the eyes.
Everything happened too quickly, leaving people almost no time to react.
Within just a few breaths, the entire harbor's sea surface was frozen into an icy plain, including the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick anchored in the military port.
"This..."
Dracule Mihawk, Boa Hancock, Basil Hawkins, Urouge, and others couldn't help but widen their eyes in astonishment.
They had never anticipated that Aokiji possessed such a terrifying ability.
This move was a stroke of genius, instantly reversing the unfavorable situation.
Not only them, but even Marco, "Diamond" Jozu, "Flower Sword" Vista, and the other division commanders grew solemn.
Originally, the old man's powerful strike was enough for them to crush the Marine Headquarters with an absolute advantage.
However, Aokiji's move altered the situation, plunging them once again into a precarious position.
To make matters worse, they now found themselves surrounded in the middle.
Yet, things often have two sides, and the situation also held advantages for them.
With the sea frozen, the once turbulent waters became as flat as land, presenting them with a perfect opportunity—they could now charge forward and engage in close combat directly!
Whitebeard's gaze was sharp as a torch, fixed intently on Aokiji, a trace of irritation flashing in his eyes.
"Kid, you're quite a nuisance!" His voice was low and commanding, as if the very space trembled with his words.
Immediately after, he swung his arm forcefully and issued the order.
"Bring Ace back to me!"
Following Whitebeard's command, led by "Flower Sword" Vista, the pirates surged forward like a raging torrent, heading straight for the high platform.
Only Marco and "Diamond" Jozu remained, standing guard on either side of Whitebeard.
At the same time, the Marines instantly grew solemn.
Realizing the enemy's intent, under the command of various Marine officers, they swiftly adjusted their tactics, advancing toward them like an indestructible wall.
'Kekekeke...' Lancelot couldn't help but curl his lips into a wicked smile at the sight.
He thought to himself, 'This is the perfect chance for me to show off my skills!'
In the blink of an eye, he pushed off with both legs, shooting into the sky like an arrow from a bow, his body soaring like a cannonball.
Instantly, his figure vanished from where he stood.
Yet, in the very next moment, something astonishing happened.
His feet seemed to tread upon empty air, stepping continuously in mid-air, each step as if pressing down on springs of air, propelling his body forward at an incredible speed.
His movements were fast as lightning, leaving behind a series of afterimages, like an air-shock engine providing an endless stream of power, driving his body like a meteor toward Whitebeard.
Even more astonishing was that with each step he took in the air, his body seemed to teleport forward a full hundred meters!
Such speed was unbelievable, making one wonder if he had truly mastered some mysterious spatial ability.
Just as he closed the distance to Whitebeard at such an astonishing pace, Hawk-Eyes, who had been intently watching Whitebeard, suddenly let out a soft "Hmm."
Clearly, he had noticed Lancelot's movements and was surprised by the sight.
However, this surprise didn't last long.
Mihawk's lips soon curled upward, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
He seemed to be looking forward to the impending confrontation.
After all, he had long wanted to see just how great the gap between himself and Whitebeard truly was.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mihawk swiftly reached back and drew Yoru from its sheath.
The blade gleamed coldly in his hand, as if whispering of its sharpness and lethality.
Then, with a powerful swing of his arm, Mihawk traced a brilliant arc through the air with Yoru, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.
In an instant, a terrifying slash shot forth like a bolt of lightning.
This slash stood over twenty meters tall, resembling the sword aura of a celestial swordsman, its power unparalleled.
Wherever it passed, the ice beneath was sliced apart as easily as tofu.
Moreover, the sheer force of this slash was overwhelming, as if it could split the entire ice field in two, its might leaving onlookers breathless.
And the target of this terrifying slash was, naturally, Whitebeard.
"Hmm?"
Faced with attacks from above and below, Whitebeard narrowed his eyes slightly.
Though he, too, felt a hint of pressure.
Yet he remained motionless, for it was not yet time for him to act.
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