Haki is a latent power that exists in all humans of this world. It's an innate ability, composed of presence, killing intent, fighting spirit... When one learns to control these invisible sensations, their willpower can be turned into a weapon. This formidable power is what people call Haki.
However, it's not exclusive to humans; some particularly intelligent animals can also awaken Haki.
For example, the Kung-Fu Dugong from the original series.
In short, as long as one has enough intelligence to control these sensations and steadily trains their body, awakening Haki becomes natural.
But the premise is, "enough intelligence"! Sea Kings are not an intelligent species like the Kung-Fu Dugong. They're dumb, savage, and live purely by instinct. They are the most terrifying beasts in the ocean, bar none.
So, even with their naturally powerful bodies, awakening Haki should be completely impossible, or at least, that's how it should be!
However, what's happening now?! These Sea Kings, each as massive as a mountain, every single one of them has awakened Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki)!
Aokiji deeply suspects they might even possess Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).
It's just that Observation Haki requires a higher level of intelligence and constant calm to control. Just like in the original story, when Katakuri lost his composure during the fight with Luffy, he took a severe beating.
Unlike Armament Haki, which is more emotion-driven, so it hasn't been as outwardly noticeable.
"Is this the power of the 'Sea King', Poseidon?! Not just summoning and commanding… she can elevate them, bridging the gap of intellect."
Aokiji was certain that before this moment, these Sea Kings had never had Armament Haki. Otherwise, whether the Marines or pirates, someone would've already discovered and spread news of such a terrifying reality.
There's no doubt, Shirahoshi must've done something to cause their Haki Awakening.
Glacial Mountains!
One by one, colossal beasts, each the size of Marineford itself, surged at him from all directions. Their shadows blotted out the sun. Aokiji took a deep breath and stomped heavily on the ground.
At this range and scale, dodging was impossible, he could only defend.
Ka-cha…
Ka-cha ka-cha!
In an instant, freezing winds surged.
A towering mountain made entirely of ice burst upward from the ground. And it wasn't alone, more icebergs rose in succession, forming a mountain range over a thousand meters high, standing between him and the charging Sea Kings.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
One after another, the enormous Sea Kings slammed into the icebergs. The terrifying tremors echoed, threatening to rupture eardrums.
Shards flew through the air. The icebergs cracked and fractured, but just barely held.
But the attacks didn't stop there.
Some fish-like Sea Kings reluctantly retreated into the sea, but others, those with terrestrial features, swung their heads and claws. With fangs and talons bared, they resumed their assault on the icebergs.
The sturdy ice, in this moment, was as fragile as slush. Against Sea Kings using Armament Haki, Aokiji grimly realized, his home field advantage was gone.
The boost in offense and defense from their Armament Haki made the ice far less effective against oceanic life. Like crazed beasts, they ground away at the Glacial Mountains at a pace visible to the naked eye.
"A futile struggle…"
Watching the swarm of Sea Kings madly besieging the icy barrier, Shirahoshi spoke coldly from a distance: "If it were Kizaru or Soryu, I might still have to worry, just a little. But you? You're not even qualified."
BANG!!!
Just then, the icy plains beneath her tail suddenly split apart, and from within emerged an ice figure, hand formed like a sword, expression calm and composed.
"Oh? Is that so?" Aokiji's face was unreadable, his fingertips glowing with terrifying cold.
"When did this happen?!" Shirahoshi's pupils contracted. In an instant, she understood.
"Damn, it's a trap!" Those massive Glacial Mountains weren't just a shield, they were a smokescreen to hide Aokiji's escape from the battlefield.
Aokiji gave her no time to react. Grasping this fleeting opportunity, he roared:
"0° Aurora!"
BIU!
A ray of extreme cold burst from his fingertips, blazingly fast like light itself. Its very presence made Shirahoshi feel as if her soul was freezing. Under this intense chill, her movements slowed to a crawl.
"At least… I stopped her before she could cause more destruction. Rest in peace, people of Ryugu Palace City."
That's what Aokiji was thinking.
0° Aurora wasn't his most powerful attack, but in terms of speed and burst, it was unparalleled. With the element of surprise on his side, this was a guaranteed hit.
And even if not his strongest, it was more than enough to kill Shirahoshi.
This was a finishing move that could freeze the very life out of a Sea King in an instant. Without proper defense, even Akainu would be seriously injured.
"Hehe, where exactly are you aiming?"
Suddenly, a cold, crisp voice jolted Aokiji awake. He looked up in shock, and in the next second, his pupils constricted.
Whoosh...
Ka-cha ka-cha!
A surge of frigid air descended upon the island turtle's body. In an instant, a howling wind swept across it, freezing its massive body, several kilometers long, solidly in place.
However, amidst the billowing white smoke, Shirahoshi remained in her tilted posture, completely unscathed!
"How's that possible? She actually... dodged?!!"
Shirahoshi had only moved twenty centimeters, but under the sheer speed and surprise factor of 0° Aurora, twenty centimeters made the difference between life and death.
"Die!!"
Jet-black Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) wove around her body. Shirahoshi's chest heaved slightly, then with a forceful jolt, she shattered the ice shell encasing her torso.
Whoosh... BANG!!
With a sweep of her strong, powerful mermaid tail, Shirahoshi leapt up, spun in midair, and smashed it into Aokiji's chest like a steel hammer.
Boom…
Crashh!
Aokiji's left leg, formed of condensed ice, shattered into countless shards on impact. Though the strike landed on his chest, the sheer force was so tremendous that it obliterated the Ice Mass forming his leg.
"Pfft!!"
Aokiji spat out a mouthful of thick blood and was launched through the air. A nearby Sea King turned at the sound, only to be smashed in the head by Aokiji's crashing body, its eyes rolling white as it collapsed.
Suffering the recoil of a second impact, Aokiji's entire body was wracked with pain. His limbs hung limp as he soared helplessly skyward.
"As I suspected… I still haven't fully mastered this new body. I almost fell into your trap." Shirahoshi raised her head warily, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes.
Just now, if she hadn't risked everything to move even a sliver, she would've ended up like the island turtle behind her, frozen solid, her life extinguished.
"You..."
Aokiji turned his head with great difficulty, disbelief etched in his eyes.
"That's not her!!"
No wonder something had felt off this whole time. At first, he thought Orrick had done something to Shirahoshi, altering her personality.
But now it all made sense...
It was never that complicated to begin with, The "Shirahoshi" before him... wasn't the original Shirahoshi.
There was another personality, or perhaps another soul, residing inside her, one that now controlled this body and the power of the Sea King Poseidon.
As if reading his thoughts, the figure, who looked exactly like Shirahoshi, curled her lips slightly.
"Correct. So here's your reward... Go die!"
ROAR!
A dozen Sea Kings turned their attention to the plummeting Aokiji, letting out earth-shaking howls. Even a single one of them could block out the sun, but now, dozens surged forward, making escape impossible.
Enduring the excruciating pain, Aokiji summoned an earth-shattering cold wind, managing to hold them off for barely a second, before the Sea Kings smashed through the Ice Mass spreading from the center and collided together.
BOOM!!!
The impact was deafening. The very ocean was pushed back, creating a vacuum zone, while tons of Ice Mass plunged into the sea, stirring up colossal waves.
Shirahoshi stood silently where she was. Only after confirming that Aokiji's life force had completely vanished did she finally turn away.
"Just a mere Hie Hie no Mi (Ice-Ice Fruit) ability user, and he was still this troublesome… I was too impulsive. He led the World Government for 800 years. Powerhouses like him are hardly rare."
Saying this, Shirahoshi's eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto the direction of the Holy Land, and a cold smile spread across her lips.
"But just wait. Once I've fully regained my power… You will taste every bit of this 800 years' worth of hatred."
The Sea Kings roared in unison, following Shirahoshi as she slowly sank beneath the surface, vanishing from sight.
One hour later...
A black "cloud" descended upon the region.
Bald Zero stood atop the lookout of the Ark Maxim, arms folded, utterly unbothered by the howling winds at 1,000 meters above sea level. His steady gaze scanned the frozen plain below, as if bombarded by artillery fire.
"Still… too late?"
Seeing the shattered and frozen corpses of Sea Kings, Bald Zero gasped sharply.
From the traces alone, he could envision the intense battle Aokiji must've faced.
"Bring us down. Search the sea!"
"Dead or alive, we must find him!!"
(End of Chapter)
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