Chapter 401: A Realm of Ice and Fire
Chapter 401: A Realm of Ice and Fire
Boom!!!
From Vegapunk Hazard’s island, a swirling current of searing heat and bone-chilling cold erupted skyward, racing toward the encircling warships.
“So cold!”
Half the Navy crew aboard the warship clutched their bodies, shivering violently.
“So hot!”
The other half broke into a sweat that evaporated instantly, their perspiration vanishing into steam. The scorching aura warped the air itself.
“C’mon, is this really necessary?”
Kuro stared blankly at the island, his cigar nearly slipping from his lips.
The island itself was undergoing a transformation.
One half froze over, frost thickening into an icy expanse that spread rapidly toward the Grand Line. The surrounding waters of the Grand Line solidified into a frozen sea.
The other half erupted like a volcanic apocalypse, its crimson inferno boiling the adjacent sea into bubbling chaos.
The collision of cold and heat sent turbulent air currents spiraling upward, dark clouds gathering overhead. Lightning crackled across the sky, thunder rumbling like a beast’s growl.
Climate, terrain, atmosphere—everything had changed.
And this was only the result of a single clash!
At the island’s core, Akainu’s lava surged as he collided with Kuzan’s ice-encased form.
“Kuzan!”
Akainu roared, his fists erupting with molten rock as he lunged forward.
“Sakazuki!”
Struck by the blow, Kuzan shattered into shards of ice, only to rapidly reform beside Akainu. His palm extended, conjuring a razor-sharp ice spike that stabbed toward his opponent.
The ice spike pierced Akainu’s body, instantly freezing his lava into black stone.
Hiss!
But the ice melted just as quickly, evaporating into steam as Akainu’s arm erupted with fresh lava, striking back.
One wielded ice, the other lava—natural forces locked in an endless struggle.
“Did they have to start this intensely?”
Kuro muttered, watching the chaos unfold.
“It’s a clash of philosophies. Scary how serious they are,” Lucius Kro remarked, eyes wide.
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze fixed on the island.
Akainu, Sakazuki, 54 years old, stood in his prime.
Kuzan, 48, though younger, was a living “Monster.”
Both were Navy-trained, mentored by Zeff and other instructors. Their skills, Haki, hand-to-hand combat, and even swordsmanship were nearly equal.
Sakazuki knew swordsmanship—so did Kuzan. Kuro could sense it.
Even his own grandfather wielded a blade with terrifying skill.
At this rate, with both fighting at full strength, this wouldn’t end quickly.
Boom!
Crash!
The two combatants broke apart after a flurry of blows.
“Great Eruption!”
Akainu’s lava erupted, forming a colossal fist hurtling toward Kuzan. It could vaporize icebergs dozens of times its size.
Kuzan stepped back, his hand slicing the air at a ninety-degree angle.
“Brutal Tengu Beak!”
A frigid wind summoned a massive ice bird, charging forward with earth-shattering force to meet the lava fist.
The bird’s passage refroze the already frozen battlefield, colliding head-on with the molten punch.
Boom!!!
The red and white forces clashed, sending another surge of heat and cold skyward. Lightning bolts struck the area, engulfing both fighters.
But even thunder couldn’t harm these embodiments of natural phenomena.
Akainu’s lava form reassembled behind him, while Kuzan’s shattered ice crystallized anew.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ice bird shattered, and the lava fist exploded into volcanic bombs and ice chunks, raining down on the sea.
“Damn it! Those are heading this way!”
“Move, move!”
The Navy crew scrambled in panic.
Are you kidding? If those hit, the ships will sink!
“Stop panicking!” Aokiji barked. “Retreat if you’re weak! You’re not qualified to spectate if you can’t handle this!”
“Wow, this is intense, Kuro,” Lucius Kro said, glancing skyward.
“Gramps, why aren’t you stepping in?” Kuro asked, scratching his head.
“Old men shouldn’t interfere—it’ll cause misunderstandings. Others could help, but you’re the most convenient. Use that ability to block attacks,” Lucius Kro grinned.
“Don’t hide behind others, Kuro. You can’t expect this old lady to handle it alone,” Ho chimed in, her tone calm.
“I’m just here to watch…”
Kuro sighed, drawing Autumn Water. He flicked two fingers along the blade, igniting a golden glow, then swung it forward.
“Black Tortoise!”
A colossal spectral tortoise materialized, shielding the ships.
Crash! Crash!
Ice and volcanic bombs slammed into the tortoise’s shell, rebounding or shattering like glass.
The Navy officers, witnessing Kuro’s Four Divine Beasts Mystic Art for the first time, gaped in shock.
“That’s the swordsmanship Borsalino praised? Honestly, even I’ve never seen this before,” Sengoku murmured, surprised.
During the Top War, he’d only seen Kuro’s strike against Shanks and the sea-water surge that drowned Blackbeard’s influence.
“Aokiji, why waste time in the North Blue? This doesn’t suit you, Commodore Kuro,” Aokiji called out, his tone half-admiring, half-frustrated.
He respected Kuro but seemed disappointed, as if his time with Admiral Lucius had dulled his edge. Otherwise, he’d be more than a Commodore by now.
You think I’d last five seconds fighting Lucius? Kuro shot Aokiji a deadpan look but held his tongue.
“Amazing! Can swordsmanship really summon mythical beasts?” Momousagi’s hand instinctively reached for his hilt.
“Whoa, that’s something!” Tatsumaki stared upward, impressed. “Reliable too.”
The other vice admirals exchanged faint smiles.
(End of Chapter)
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