Chapter 285 - 143

Chapter 143Onigumo gritted his teeth."No wonder he can fight Admiral Aokiji to such an extent," Doberman said coldly."It's no longer surprising that he defeated Crocodile. I originally thought a two-hundred-million bounty was too high, but now it seems a bit too low," Yamakaji said with a chuckle.Momonga drew his sword. "A person like this must be thoroughly dealt with before he fully grows."Strawberry spoke indifferently, "He won't escape today, because the one fighting him is Admiral Aokiji.""Yeah, I can't let you run wild anymore." Aokiji's expression was cold to the extreme, and his tone carried a hint of solemnity.Ice Age!Buzz!!!Bone-chilling cold centered on Aokiji, spreading frantically like a plague. Its speed and range far exceeded anything before.Even the base of the Bridge of Hesitation and the cliffs at the edge of Enies Lobby were instantly covered in thick ice, as if the entire world was being dragged into an Ice Age!However, Luffy grinned. Fully activating the power of Gear 5: Nika Form, the ground beneath him and the surrounding area—the encroaching ice—was forcibly given the texture of Rubber. It became full of elasticity, and the freezing speed stalled."Rubberization can be used like this?" A flicker of surprise flashed in Aokiji's eyes.The powers of both sides collided violently once again.Whoosh!Aokiji's breath carried ice crystals as he looked at Luffy coldly. "Your growth speed has exceeded everyone's expectations. But you shouldn't have come here; you shouldn't have provoked the World Government. The Buster Call and Marine Admirals have already been deployed. If I don't arrest you, I won't be able to explain it to my superiors."Swish!Before his voice faded, Aokiji leaped up, his arms crossing in front of him. They instantly transformed into two massive ice pillars, like spears of divine punishment, falling from the sky and crashing toward Luffy."Ice Ball! Partisan!"Revealing his true speed and power, Aokiji's offensive was like a violent storm.Although Luffy was in a state of high excitement with his Observation Haki fully open, stepping rapidly and using Rubber's elasticity to make incredible evasions, he was still in constant peril."Give up, your partners have already been surrounded."Aokiji's voice was like a demonic sound drilling into his ears. He used Moonwalk to move flexibly in the air, instantly catching up behind Luffy and throwing a punch, cold air overflowing."They are waiting for me to go back!"Luffy roared as he turned and threw a punch. The elasticity of Rubber combined with the power of Haki, clashing with Aokiji's ice fist once more!Boom!This time, Aokiji clearly increased his power. High-level Armament Haki combined with the absolute low temperature of the Chilly-Chilly Fruit instantly suppressed Luffy's Haki, and a bone-piercing chill flooded into Luffy's body.Bang!After a second of stalemate, Luffy was ultimately no match. He was sent flying again, smashing into the thick layer of ice behind him and sliding a great distance.Luffy, flying backward, took a sharp breath in mid-air. His body expanded rapidly like a balloon, transforming into a white giant that reached the heavens.Rubber Giant!His massive palm reached into the sky, which was now filled with dark clouds due to the battle, and he actually grabbed the violent lightning flashing within!The insulating nature of Rubber and the miraculous power of the Nika Form allowed him to temporarily harness this natural force.Gomu Gomu no Kaminari!The massive pillar of lightning was hurled by him like a spear, smashing fiercely toward Aokiji on the ground!Chapter 208: The Final BlowAokiji remained expressionless and lightly tapped his foot.Rumble!A giant ice wall, over a hundred meters thick and nearly as high as the bridge, rose abruptly like a mountain range, blocking the lightning.The blinding lightning and the frigid ice wall collided violently, erupting in a deafening roar. Countless ice shards and electric snakes splashed everywhere, illuminating the entire battlefield."You're really strong."Luffy praised him sincerely as he deactivated his giant form and returned to normal. His chest heaved slightly, and his breathing began to grow heavy.The continuous high-intensity combat, especially maintaining Gear 5: Nika Form, was a massive drain on his stamina."Though I hate to admit it, when I was your age, I was just an ordinary Marine soldier under your grandfather. Your talent far exceeds mine!"But, it's over.Aokiji's figure appeared above Luffy again as if teleporting. He pressed a hand down, his tone indifferent:"Ice Meteor."With almost no warning, an ultra-giant ice sphere several hundred meters in diameter condensed in the void. Carrying the power to destroy everything, it crushed down like a true meteor toward the exhausted Luffy below.Its scope was so vast that it blocked all of Luffy's space to evade."Oh no."Luffy's pupils shrank. If he were hit head-on, or even just grazed, he would definitely be heavily injured and fall into the sea. Once he fell into the sea frozen by Aokiji's power, there would truly be nowhere to run, and he would be at his mercy.He gritted his teeth and mustered his last bit of strength. His body swelled up like a balloon again, but this time not for attack, but for defense.Rubber White Balloon!Thump!The massive Ice Meteor slammed hard into Luffy's highly elastic body, making a dull, drum-like sound.Luffy gave it his all, converting the impact of the ice sphere into elasticity and violently bouncing it away.Rumble!The deflected Ice Meteor veered off course and crashed heavily into the main island of Enies Lobby. It released a world-shaking roar, as if an infinite glacier had cracked. The massive shockwave, carrying countless ice fragments, completely leveled the buildings in that area.In the instant Luffy bounced the Ice Meteor away—the moment when his old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to form—Aokiji's figure flickered before him like a ghost. His arm turned into bone-white ice and pressed directly against Luffy's arm."It's over."Ice Time Capsule.A piercing chill instantly spread. Luffy's arm and even half of his body were quickly covered in ice.Gum-Gum Gatling!Luffy threw out fists that were mere afterimages, trying to make a final stand. But under Aokiji's absolute strength and precise timing, his counterattack seemed so powerless.He was struck down.His whole body plummeted toward the ground, crashing into the shattered ice with a boom."You didn't use your full strength either?"Leaping out from the shattered ice, a trace of blood appeared at the corner of Luffy's mouth. He coughed violently twice, and frozen marks appeared on his arm as well.Not just the fruit ability, but in terms of physical techniques, Haki, and speed, he was being completely suppressed.As expected of an Admiral.He was still quite far off.However, it wasn't like there was no way at all!A flash of ruthlessness crossed Luffy's eyes. Using his last bit of strength, he whispered in his heart:"Nika!"Far away on the going merry, the little white raccoon who was also tangled up with the so-called elite Marines suddenly curled her lip."Fine, fine, I'll give it all to you."Reluctantly, she turned into a streak of white light with a'shoo' sound, instantly crossing space and merging into Luffy's body.In the next moment, the aura on Luffy's body changed abruptly.Fully Unleashed State!He gave a low shout. His already snow-white hair and clothes became even more dazzling. His hair floated upward like burning white flames, and the steam ribbons circled his neck and armpits even more densely.His eyebrows curved into a shape more like the patterns on a Devil Fruit, and his pupils also underwent a strange transformation.He took a deep breath, and using his last bit of strength, his voice spread across the entire battlefield:"Everyone, prepare to retreat!"On the Merry, Vivi, who had been sensing the battlefield through the wind, and the Klabautermann Little Merry, simultaneously received Luffy's intent."Understood!"Vivi's eyes sharpened, and she suddenly raised both hands."Rise!"Little Merry gripped the helm tightly. The Klabautermann's power resonated with the ship itself!Whoosh!A powerful updraft was generated out of thin air, enveloping the going merry. At the same time, the hull itself seemed to come alive, emitting a faint glow.Under the boost of Vivi's Wind-Wind Fruit ability and the control of Little Merry's Klabautermannpower, the going merry actually broke free from the frozen sea surface. As if lifted by an invisible hand, it began to slowly ascend.Then it adjusted its direction and charged toward the dark, deep undercurrent below the circular waterfall at the edge of Enies Lobby."Everyone, jump down quickly!"Vivi's voice, through the wind, urgently reached the ears of every partner. "This is the only chance!"Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, and Robinlooked at the ascending Merry, then at Luffy who was still fighting Aokiji and the surrounding Marinefleet watching like tigers, and didn't hesitate for a moment."Believe in Luffy!" Nami shouted."Go!" Zoro sheathed his sword and leaped toward the Merry without hesitation."We can't let the Captain's intentions go to waste!" Sanji followed closely behind.Usopp and Chopper were scared, but they gritted their teeth and jumped with all their might.Robin took one last look at Luffy on the first pillar. "You must come back, Luffy."When the Marines saw this, they couldn't believe a group of pirates was escaping right under their noses.But they also never imagined the Straw Hat's ship could actually fly!This scene reminded many long-serving Marines of a certain great pirate from many years ago.Those who didn't know better would have thought that arrogant Golden Lion had arrived.Meanwhile, the ice-covered Luffy saw his partners starting to retreat, and a smile flashed in his eyes.Then, he poured out all of his final strength.Rubber, Giant Hegemony!!This wasn't a Hegemony based on Third Gear, but the strongest blow delivered by combining giant strength under the fully unleashed Gear 5: Nika Form!His right arm instantly expanded to a size comparable to a small island, entwined with black-red Haoshoku lightning so dense it was almost solid. Carrying the will to destroy everything, like the fist of a celestial god, it crashed toward Aokijistanding at the edge of the first pillar.The power of this strike far exceeded everything before it.Looking at the massive fist that blotted out the sky, Aokiji's normally indifferent face finally showed an extremely solemn expression.He exhaled lightly, a cold light exploded in his eyes, and he raised both hands, pressing them forward into the void.Chapter 209: Hero Catches Hero, Brave Catches Brave, Grandfather Catches GrandsonIce Time!Crack!Crack!!Crack!!!An unprecedented, terrifying chill erupted.With Aokiji at the center, the first pillar beneath his feet, the surrounding sea, and the water vapor in the sky—everything was frozen in an instant!He attempted to use the strongest chill to completely freeze Luffy's life-risking blow along with the man himself.Rumble!