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Chapter 403: Is This Going Too Far?
Chapter 403: Is This Going Too Far?
"Crimson Lotus!"
Akainu's arm transformed into molten Lava, stretching rapidly toward Kuzan. The Lava's tip morphed into a grotesque canine skull shape, its jaws gaping wide.
This move could truly bite.
"Two Spike Spears!"
Kuzan spread his hands, conjuring numerous ice spears from the air that shot toward the incoming Crimson Lotus.
Boom!
The Lava melted the ice, while the cold froze the Lava, generating blinding white vapor.
Logia-type Devil Fruits didn't require Haki reinforcement—such techniques were unnecessary. Their sheer power was their strength.
Akainu's Devil Fruit was recognized as the most destructive in the world.
Kuzan's Devil Fruit, meanwhile, was arguably the most formidable in terms of control.
"Ice Time Capsule!"
The attacks canceled each other. Kuzan raised his hand, unleashing a blast of cold air from a distance, directly at Akainu.
The chilling gust struck swiftly, encasing Akainu in ice—a frozen statue.
In that instant, Kuzan pressed one hand to the ground, exhaling another frigid blast. "Ice Age!"
A wave of freezing energy radiated outward from Kuzan, rapidly expanding.
The ice sculpture hadn't lasted long before it began melting, revealing Akainu's Lava-formed body. His arms raised upward, fists erupting with torrents of Lava.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Like a volcanic eruption, massive Lava fists rained from the Sky, matching the scale of his earlier 'Great Eruption.' The heat alone evaporated the ice on the ground before impact. Yet the vaporized ice quickly refroze, its coldness subtly weakening the descending Lava fists.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The Lava fists struck the ground. A single blow could obliterate an island, but here, the ice merely melted and refroze repeatedly, trapping the Lava in a cycle of destruction and containment.
The battlefield became a chaotic dance of Lava and ice hail, pounding the Black Tortoise Shield. The shield trembled violently under the onslaught.
Crack!
Visible cracks spiderwebbed across the shield's surface, like fractured glass.
The fissures widened. With a sharp snap, the shield shattered. Lava fists and icebergs crashed toward the Warship.
"Oh~ How scary."
Lucius Kro glanced upward, his body suddenly materializing midair. He formed an 'OK' sign with his hands, unleashing a barrage of lasers.
"Yata Mirror Beads!"
The concentrated beams tore into the sky, shattering the Lava fists and ice into fragments that dissipated under the onslaught. Still, some debris fell through.
"Kuro." Lucius Kro called out casually.
"Tch."
Kuro spread his five fingers, clenching his fist. "Wind Coffin!"
A whirlwind erupted from his palm, churning the air. The descending volcanic bombs and ice chunks twisted away, scattering into the Grand Line surrounding the Warship.
"Oh, you've reached this level already, Kuro? You've gotten stronger." Lucius Kro remarked, peering down.
"Don't tease me, Gramps. Weren't you supposed to hold back?" Kuro spat, then shouted toward the island, "Hey! Watch your surroundings!"
The two combatants were completely ignoring their environment, recklessly unleashing Aoe attacks.
But would they listen? Even if they heard, they had no time to care.
Despite appearing effortless, their focus remained locked on each other. A single misstep could result in catastrophic damage.
Alternating waves of heat and cold reshaped the island's terrain. Thunder rained from the turbulent sky like a storm.
The once-pristine island was now unrecognizable.
And this was only the beginning.
If this battle dragged on...
Kuro glanced at the sky. "The climate itself might change."
"Move the Warship further back." Sengoku sighed. "All ships except Vice Admirals and above should retreat. Medical vessels stay. Borsalino, keep an eye on things."
"Understood, Sengoku-san. Did you hear that, Kuro?" Lucius Kro said, landing on the ship.
Kuro twitched his lips, shooting the old man a glare. "Like I care what you say."
"Acting all high and mighty just because you're superior!"
"Once I become Fleet Admiral—"
Forget it. No ambition there. You win this round.
The battle raged from day into night, neither side relenting.
Their techniques shifted constantly—Devil Fruit abilities, Haki, and unarmed combat. The island became a battlefield of clashing red and white, punctuated by occasional roars.
But this wouldn't end soon.
At this level, their physical strength was monstrous.
That night, ordinary Marines slept while all Vice Admirals and above remained awake, watching.
They occasionally deflected stray Lava or ice to protect the Warship.
The next day—same as before.
By the third day, someone finally faltered.
"Puhahaha! The old man's going to sleep first."
Garp yawned widely at midnight. "This doesn't look like ending soon."
Gradually, Vice Admirals retreated to the Warship's fortress.
"Old man's resting. Kuro, you keep watch."
Lucius Kro smacked his lips. "Call me if anything happens."
"Tch. I'd like to rest too. Whatever, you go first. We'll switch tomorrow."
Kuro bit his cigar, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the island.
The battle continued.
On the fourth day, Kuro rested through daylight, then joined Lucius Kro for night watch.
By the fifth day, the island's battle had become apocalyptic—volcanic bombs and ice explosions tearing the land apart.
Sengoku and Garp finally intervened, containing the strength spilling beyond the island.
The two combatants were locked in a white-hot frenzy, neither able to enter the island anymore.
The sixth day saw a slight lull.
The seventh day reignited the intensity.
By the eighth day, standing outside the island, one could smell the fierce aura. Nearby sea beasts had long since fled.
"Jeez... Is this going too far?" Kuro muttered, watching the carnage. "They're comrades. A duel to the death wasn't necessary."
The two figures at the island's heart were bloodied and battered. Their intensity had waned, but the brutality remained.
These injuries wouldn't heal easily.
The window for simple recovery had passed.
"Philosophy isn't settled through mere duels. This is where your weakness lies." Sengoku glanced at Kuro. "In this turbulent Grand Line, survival requires conviction."
Kuro shrugged noncommittally, exhaling smoke. "He Popo, stop focusing on me. Watch the battle."
By the ninth day, their auras reached a critical threshold. They abandoned Logia techniques, engaging directly—abilities blending with hand-to-hand combat.
Their physical strength had become nearly equal.
On the tenth day, their auras neared collapse.
Then, just before dawn on the eleventh day—
"Sakazuki!!!"
Kuzan's explosive roar shook the air. His hand transformed into an ice claw, slashing toward Akainu's face.
"Kuzan!!!"
Akainu's fist erupted with Lava, forming a blazing claw that lunged at Kuzan.
"Hell Dog!!!"
Boom!!!
The ice claw carved two gashes across Akainu's face, tearing his ear.
Simultaneously, the blazing Lava claw struck Kuzan's chest.
At the last moment, Kuzan twisted left. The Lava claw shattered his leg instead, sending him crashing down.
Akainu staggered, gripping his fist, his expression complex as he stared at the fallen Kuzan.
"You bastard!"
Bang!
He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, his strength spent.
Both combatants had exhausted their physical limits.
"Medical team!" Sengoku barked. "Move in!"
"Probably can't reach them. Let an old man handle it."
Lucius Kro became a yellow blur, dashing into the island's heart.
Kuro followed as a shadowy afterimage.
Soon, Lucius Kro carried Akainu, while Kuro supported Kuzan, returning them to the Warship.
The Fleet Admiral battle had lasted ten days and nights. Akainu emerged victorious by the slimmest margin.
(End of Chapter)
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