The temperature around Aokiji plummeted. Ice crackled as a cold wave surged toward everyone.
Enel gritted his teeth and transformed into lightning, charging at Aokiji. His golden staff shattered the ice body, but couldn't stop the attack.
Wyper and Lucci used their newly learned Haki to hold off Aokiji, but it only slowed the freezing. Ice continued to spread, about to cover the warships, when the roar of light speed came from the distance.
Aokiji's expression changed as he eyed the two approaching flashes of light.
The light converged, revealing two identical wretched-looking men.
One was Kizaru, and the other… was also Kizaru?
Aokiji looked at his colleagues in surprise, "Borsalino? Did he copy you?"
The two Kizarus answered in unison, "It's me, Aokiji! He's imitating me!"
Aokiji was dumbfounded. How could he tell them apart?
One "Kizaru" said in his infuriatingly slow speech, "You despicable pirate — do you think Kuzan won't recognize you?"
The other "Kizaru" glanced at him disdainfully, "Aren't you afraid? Kuzan can tell at a glance that you're the fake."
The "Kizaru" on the left smiled, "Still pretending. If you dare, let's fight again, and Kuzan will naturally be able to tell."
The "Kizaru" on the right refused to back down, "Bring it on — let's see who's really light speed!"
Two flashes of light collided and soared into the air, leaving everyone stunned as shouts and curses rang out above.
The cries from both shores continued, and the pressure fell on Aokiji. He scratched his head with a headache.
You're giving me way too much credit. I really can't tell them apart…
Kuzan eyed Enel and the others blocking his way. He had an idea, "Whoever's real, take out Noyer's subordinates!"
The two combatants barely hesitated. They charged at Wyper and Enel simultaneously, both launching light-speed kicks. Wyper and Enel were hit, their bodies twisted as they flew away.
This…
Kuzan was out of options. Was Noyer really going all out against his own people?
Enel crawled out of the ruins, disheveled and struggling to hold his head. He spat out blood.
Though there was no proof, why did it feel like… he'd been backstabbed by his own captain? The one who kicked him nearly to death was definitely that bastard Noyer!
"Kizaru" looked at Enel, blinked innocently, and smiled.
You think you can test Noyer's identity like this? You think he wouldn't dare attack his own crew? Truth be told, when he was bored on the ship with nothing to do, he'd beat up Enel for fun!
Unable to distinguish between the real and fake Kizaru, Kuzan abandoned this idea and used his cold air to freeze the enormous warship.
Joy flashed in Noyer's lazy eyes. This was the moment he'd been waiting for!
The instant Kuzan activated his ability, Noyer seized the opportunity. He transformed into his element form and closed in on Aokiji!
The real Kizaru had already anticipated this move and flashed over to protect Aokiji. His golden light kick struck Noyer's shoulder, but Noyer didn't stop. He endured the blow and collided with Aokiji.
『 Ding!〔 Devil's Dwelling · Hie-Hie 〕has been Copied! Select another Talent for Replacement 』
Noyer wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled with relief.
In the eyes of Kizaru and Aokiji, this smile was nothing less than the devil's grin!
Danger signals rang in their brains. Aokiji, who had carelessly let Noyer touch him, stared at him with an ashen face. Even with two admirals joining forces — a lineup that could face an Emperor head-on for several rounds — preventing contact while defeating a Warlord-level opponent like Noyer was nearly impossible.
Combat inevitably involves contact, and Noyer's unstoppable Copy-Copy Fruit gave him an inherent advantage. What's more, he now also had the Glint-Glint Fruit. On the vast seas, who else was there that he couldn't touch or copy?
Noyer stored the 〔Devil's Dwelling · Goro-Goro〕 in his catalog, straightened up with surging momentum, and returned to his original appearance.
{T/N: Despite being a powerful fruit, he will never reach the full potential of the Devil Fruit because Enel is his subordinate and it wouldn't make sense to kill him just for that. The same thing with Ace's Mera Mera no Mi. Kizaru can be killed or he can fuse the Pika Pika no Mi with the Yami Yami no Mi in the future (both Gold Rank), making him the only one who has that power and therefore can use 100% of it.}
His calves transformed into flashes of light, his feet treading on shadow-flow waves, his arms covered with ice armor. Noyer rolled his neck and smiled, "Come on, round two!"
Seeing him reveal his true form, the Marine soldiers hurriedly raised their guns and fired in well-trained volleys.
Noyer swept his hand, and an ice wall rose from the ground, blocking the hail of bullets. The gunfire and cannonballs from over a thousand marines couldn't break through his defense. At this moment, someone finally remembered his ability.
Noyer the Devil Man, possessor of the Copy-Copy Fruit!
Under his command were a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit — known as the strongest Logia-type — and a rare Ancient Zoan user. According to the latest intelligence, the entire CP9 government intelligence agency had joined his crew!
Such a pirate was a nightmare for ability users. He'd even copied the Admirals' abilities. With only Admiral Sakazuki remaining, the Marine's highest combat powers had been completely compromised…
Aokiji and Kizaru abandoned any thought of slacking off. The two joined forces to attack Noyer.
A fusion of ice and light, combined with the wide-ranging influence of shadows — Noyer's explosive power was second to none. However, activating multiple abilities simultaneously meant his stamina consumption increased exponentially. Even he couldn't endure this for long.
If only he had Kaidō's stamina talent, he wouldn't need to worry about the stamina drain from Devil Fruits. Just like Law had the power of the Ope-Ope Fruit, but without the physical constitution to match, he'd run out of stamina after using it just a few times.
Noyer raised Amaterasu flames, spreading them to Rasetsuō, and swung the black-fire blade toward Aokiji.
Kizaru's light had no elemental weakness, but Aokiji's ice was a different story!
The intense heat of Amaterasu rushed toward him. The cold-natured Admiral instinctively showed fear, forced back several steps by the astonishing heat.
This kind of high temperature — even Aokiji hadn't felt this when fighting Akainu!
What kind of ability was this?!
Noyer pressed his advantage relentlessly. The demonic blade burning with black fire carried a terrifying presence, pushing the Ice Man back step by step with frenzied slashes. Suppressed by Amaterasu's temperature, the ice Aokiji created melted in an instant, forcing him to fight while retreating.
Fortunately, Kizaru arrived in time to support, wielding the Ama no Murakumo sword to clash with Noyer again. Aokiji provided support from the side, occasionally using ice spikes to interfere.
The Admirals were experienced. The battle situation quickly changed, and Noyer fell into a disadvantage once more.
Just as his stamina was gradually failing, a deafening cheer came from behind!
"We did it! We've broken through the ice!"
Hearing the voice behind him, Noyer finally breathed a sigh of relief. The black flames swept across the countless ice swords protruding from the ground, melting the obstacles instantly.
Using Aokiji as his breakthrough point, he fought his way out of the two admirals' encirclement with his blade and shouted, "Push the ships off the continent — leave it to me!"
The two giants responded in unison, extending their long arms to grab their companions and lift them onto the ships, then exerted their full strength on the warships and pushed them off the Red Line in one go!
Kizaru's movements paused — were they trying to commit suicide?!
The Red Line, this nearly insurmountable mountain, and yet they wanted to jump off! Weren't they afraid of being smashed to pieces along with the ships?
Aokiji suddenly understood and shouted urgently, "Borsalino! Don't let Noyer use his ability!"
But Noyer had already sprung into action. Seizing the moment, he desperately spread a crystal-like ice mist through the air. In an instant, an ice path appeared beneath the warships, slanting downward into empty space!
An ice slide? The Marine soldiers could hardly believe their eyes — could something so playful actually help them escape?
Landing on the ice slide, they shifted from a vertical fall to a rapid descent. The uneven ice surface sent everyone screaming, though joyful shouts outnumbered the terror.
Meanwhile, the slide's creator was suffering. Noyer stood at the bow of the lead ship, both hands raised, maintaining his ability without a moment's rest. The ice path ahead kept extending, never stopping.
The Red Line was impossibly high. The ice slide could only slow their descent — Noyer's stamina wasn't enough to create ice covering such a massive area.
Having just resolved his swordsmanship and Haki talents, he'd need to pursue stamina next…
Noyer thought with a bitter smile. Then his Observation Haki suddenly blared a warning — danger was approaching!
He didn't hesitate. Ducking his head, he evaded just as a beam of light streaked past, nearly blowing his head off.
Noyer looked up and turned toward the figure behind him.
Atop the mast of the trailing warship, Kizaru stood with one hand on Aokiji's shoulder and the other extended, fingers pointed at Noyer. Their justice cloaks fluttered behind them, radiating immense pressure.
Someone looked up at them and shouted angrily, "Even now! The Marine still won't let us go?!"
Kizaru spread his hands, "Really sorry about this. Just following orders."
Actually…
The truth was, when Kizaru had seen Noyer escaping on the ice slide with the soldiers unable to pursue, he'd wanted to call it a day and go home. But his usual slacking-off partner, Aokiji, had suddenly gotten some wild idea and insisted Kizaru bring him along to chase after them.
And so, the two laziest admirals found themselves voluntarily working overtime.
Aokiji listened to the freed slaves and looked calmly at Noyer, "Noyer the Devil Man, let's make a deal."
Make a deal? What deal?
Whatever — stalling for time would be best.
Unable to free his hands, Noyer tried to act relaxed, "What do you want to talk about? Let's hear it."
Aokiji pointed at everyone below, "If you surrender and hand over the Celestial Dragon you kidnapped, I'll stop pursuing them and take them somewhere safe."
Kizaru raised his eyebrows in surprise and asked quietly, "Are you authorized to make that call?"
Aokiji's expression remained indifferent, but his tone was firm, "I'll take responsibility. Our mission is to capture Noyer and rescue the Celestial Dragon. As for those slaves… we'll just say they scattered and escaped."
Hearing his condition, Noyer laughed disdainfully, "What a generous offer you're making…"
Aokiji wasn't fazed by his sarcasm, "What do you think?"
Before Noyer could answer, the brothers he'd rescued erupted in angry shouts. Somehow, they found the courage to point at the Admiral's nose and curse.
"Shameless Marine! What right do you have to take our benefactor away?"
"Our benefactor is powerful enough to drag burdens like us along while escaping, and you think you can arrest him with just a word? Bullshit!"
"If we're let go, we'll just be captured again anyway. We'd rather stay here and fight alongside our benefactor!"
"That's right! We don't want your hypocritical charity!"
Aokiji was surprised by the slaves' fierce resistance. Facing their questions and curses, he remained silent.
After a long moment, Aokiji turned to Noyer. A smile appeared on his ice-cold face, "They're all willing to follow you, Noyer. Seems like you have quite the charisma."
Sensing his hostility had faded, Noyer chuckled and shook his head, "Kuzan, are you playing dumb? You should understand — it's not that I have such great charisma. It's just that to these poor souls, a lawless madman is more trustworthy than the righteous Marine serving the government."
His eyes bore into Aokiji as he spoke word by word:
"The Marine's justice, your justice — as long as the World Government exists, it can never be realized."
Aokiji listened quietly. After a while, his cool voice drifted through the air, "Is that so…"
Noyer didn't know how much of his carefully chosen words Aokiji would take to heart. But one thing was certain — no matter how much time he stalled, they wouldn't let him go.
If talk-no-jutsu worked this easily, Admirals wouldn't deserve to be called Admirals.
Under everyone's gaze, Aokiji exhaled a breath of cold air. Kizaru raised his arm.
Ice blade and light sword materialized in their hands. Aokiji's eyes sharpened as he stared at Noyer, "Come on. You and I will fight. Just the two of us."
An even more biting wind rose. Extreme cold condensed into ice. The warships that had been sliding down the ice path gradually came to a stop.
Noyer released his hands in surprise. Frost spread across Aokiji's body, "If you win, I'll leave. If you lose, I won't make things difficult for these people either."
Kizaru held the Ama no Murakumo sword, dumbfounded, "We can do it like this? Then what am I supposed to do?"
From the side, Enel stepped forward, brimming with fighting spirit, "I'll deal with you!"
Kizaru glanced at him. Ah… a defeated opponent…
Seeing Kizaru glance once and then ignore him, Enel was so angry he hopped about.
A hand landed on his shoulder. Wyper stood beside Enel, "I'll go with you."
Lucci walked out with his hands in his pockets, speaking coldly, "My justice tells me these slaves are indeed burdens, but orders are orders. That self-righteous captain — his justice must be defended too."
Kizaru finally looked properly at the trio. He spoke slowly, "The so-called justice of pirates — isn't it just lawlessness?"
Lasers erupted from his body as the Ama no Murakumo sword slashed viciously toward the three.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
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