"Charge!!"
"Rescue Ace!!"
"Follow the Vice Admirals!!"
"Don't let a single pirate through!!"
"Kill them!!"
Roars echoed across the frozen bay as both sides, armed with swords and guns, ferociously bellowed and launched their charges. The Summit War was on the verge of breaking out.
Right at that moment.
*Schwing!!*
Catching everyone completely off guard, a cold gleam flashed as a massive Flying Slash was unleashed from beneath the execution platform!
The terrifying slash tore straight toward the Moby Dick. Wherever it passed, the ice was effortlessly ripped apart, and even the sky seemed to dim under the sheer power of the strike.
"It's Hawkeye...!!"
"A slash from the World's Strongest Swordsman!"
The sudden attack stunned everyone. In the plaza, all eyes converged on the Moby Dick, where Whitebeard calmly faced the terrifying slash.
Just as everyone was watching with curiosity and anticipation to see how he would counter, a burly figure suddenly rushed out.
The Third Division Commander, Diamond Jozu, darkened his expression as his body transformed into glittering diamond. Facing the approaching slash, he spread his legs and dropped into a half-squat.
*Clang!!*
The massive Flying Slash hit him head-on! Furious sword energy rampaged outward, sending a ring of agitated freezing air rippling across the ice.
Jozu gritted his teeth, resisting the impact. His feet plowed through the ice, sliding back two steps before he firmly brought himself to a halt!
"He actually blocked it!!"
"What astonishing defense!!"
Everyone present dropped their jaws in shock.
"Haaah!!"
Jozu let out a deep, rumbling shout. Wrapping his arms around the almost tangible sword energy, he violently heaved it upward!
*Vwoosh!!*
The terrifying Flying Slash spiraled into the sky and shattered into an explosion high above!
Jozu exhaled a heavy breath, glaring fiercely at Hawkeye in the distance.
"It seems facing the strongest won't be that simple," Hawkeye said calmly, slowly returning his massive black blade to his back.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a fierce gale whipped up nearby.
Several Warlords of the Sea glanced over, only to see Allen in a half-squat, a pair of massive black wings violently unfurling from his back.
Donquixote Doflamingo looked on with interest. "Fufufufu... Are you going to make a move too?"
"The world's strongest is surrounded by a gathering of monsters. Since we're already here, we might as well find some amusement to pass the time."
The corners of Allen's mouth curled up slightly. His black hair gradually turned white. Pushing off the ground, he leaped up and flapped his wings, shooting straight into the clouds.
*Fwoosh!!*
A cluster of flames rapidly expanded. Allen looked down from above, the fire on his back surging and spreading down his arms. He cupped his hands together, aiming at Whitebeard on the Moby Dick.
The explosive flames quickly compressed into a giant fireball, containing terrifyingly high temperatures. It radiated crimson light and heat waves, much like a miniature sun.
"Sun Flare・Flame Dragon Emperor!!"
Allen roared deeply. The scorching fireball hovering before his palms suddenly expanded, and sixteen ferocious crimson dragons churned out, diving down at extreme speed from all directions!
"A fresh face. Is he a rookie?"
Looking at Allen in the sky, Whitebeard's eyes showed a hint of surprise before a faint smile touched his lips. "He looks a bit like that brat from Kaido's family."
"You haven't heard of him yet, Pops? That's Demon Lion Allen, the newly appointed Warlord of the Sea known as the strongest rookie."
Marco walked out from behind with a light smile. He stared straight at the ferocious fire dragons plummeting from the sky, clusters of blue flames emerging from his body.
Then, his arms rapidly transformed into wings made of blue flames. He bent his knees and leaped with a powerful kick!
*Bang!!*
Under the immense force, the bow of the Moby Dick sank slightly.
Marco shot into the air like an arrow. Spinning his body, his wings unleashed a massive amount of blue flames, forming a giant barrier to intercept the dozen or so ferocious fire dragons.
*Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!*
The crimson dragons crashed into the blue flames, sparking bursts of fire.
Marco's blue flame body was blasted to pieces, only to rapidly heal amidst the vigorous burning, until all sixteen fire dragons were completely blocked.
"How could we let you disturb our king right off the bat?"
Amidst the blazing wings of blue flames, Marco's face emerged, his eyes carrying a somewhat playful smile.
Allen hovered in the air, confronting Marco from a distance, and teased, "First Division Commander Marco the Phoenix. In that case, you can play with me for a bit."
"I've seen plenty of rookies enter the New World clamoring to challenge us, but unfortunately, not a single one has been able to stand until the end. I hope you're not just all talk."
Marco smiled with a dismissive tone. Flapping his wings, he suddenly accelerated upward.
Arriving in front of Allen, Marco spun around and delivered a flying kick, his leg transforming into a bird's talon!
Allen's eyes darkened. The muscles in his bent arm tensed as he met the attack with a fierce punch!
*Bang!!*
The talon and fist collided heavily, erupting with a shockwave of astral winds in midair!
"No way, Commander Marco's attack was actually blocked."
"Don't let his youth fool you. He's still a Warlord of the Sea, after all. Don't underestimate him."
"You're right about that..."
Seeing this scene, the pirates below revealed expressions of astonishment, unable to hold back their exclamations.
In the air.
After blocking Marco's attack, Allen backhanded the man's ankle, gripping it tightly.
Marco quickly swung his wings to strike, but Allen leaned backward.
While dodging the attack, Allen, still gripping his opponent's ankle, forcefully swung Marco in a half-circle over his head and violently hurled him toward the ground!
*Whoosh—!*
Marco's body resembled a comet, trailing a long tail of blue flames as he plummeted toward the earth at extreme speed!
*Boom!!*
A small crater blasted open on the ground, sending crushed rocks flying and dust billowing into the air.
Allen pointed his head downward, flapped the wings on his back, and went into a rapid dive to pursue him.
In the crater, Marco flapped his wings to disperse the surrounding dust, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"That was a bit unexpected. Looks like I'll have to show a little bit of my true strength."
With that said, Marco folded his wings in front of him, wrapping himself up, before letting out a loud shout and violently spreading them open, firing off countless clusters of blue flames!
"Blue Flame・Flock of Geese!!"
*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Those blue flames rapidly transformed mid-flight, turning into sharp-beaked flying geese that struck out at high speed!
His blue flames weren't just for healing; he could freely manipulate them and adjust their temperature for both offense and defense.
Although they couldn't maximize the characteristics of combustion and high-temperature impact like Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit, combining them with the technique of Emission allowed the blue flames to achieve considerable power.
Facing the densely packed flock of blue fire geese shooting toward him, Allen's pupils turned green as he quickly locked onto them using Observation Haki.
Then, a burst of explosive flames surged from his palm. Allen bent his arm and extended his index finger.
"Flying Finger Pistol・Red Spot!!"
With a low shout, Allen thrust his finger continuously, shooting out scorching fire bullets!
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The torrential rain of fire bullets accurately hit the blue geese, causing the compressed flames to violently explode in waves.
In an instant, the crimson and blue flames mixed together, blooming in the sky like gorgeous fireworks.