In the next instant, the shattered throne dissolved into countless fragments of glittering ice, falling like a gentle drizzle.
Hum!
As the icy particles touched the ground, the dark soil froze instantly, spreading in all directions at incredible speed.
"These… ice crystals!" Sengoku's expression darkened. Without hesitation, he leapt into the air, as did the other Admirals. None of them knew what kind of strange ability this was, and getting caught in it was a risk they couldn't afford.
Crack! Crack!
A few Vice Admirals were slower to react. In the blink of an eye, they — along with the Marines behind them — were frozen solid, transformed into lifelike ice sculptures.
Those who managed to avoid the spread of frost felt a fleeting relief, but their relief quickly vanished when they saw the freezing continue outward, expanding at a terrifying rate.
Buildings, trees, stalls, even stray animals — everything the frost touched was instantly frozen solid.
Within moments, nearly the entire Sabaody Archipelago had turned into a world of ice.
Icy houses, icy trees, icy ground — everything glistened in shades of pale blue and white.
Sengoku's jaw tightened. He glanced at the frozen landscape, fury twisting his features. Despite evacuating the surrounding population, thousands had still been trapped within — and at least half of them were Marines.
They were the best of the Navy's elite, brought from nearby islands to form the third encirclement around Sabaody. All of that planning… wasted.
Realization struck Sengoku like a hammer. His face turned grim, his rage boiling over as he stared at Kaito, hovering calmly above.
The remaining Vice Admirals shared the same fury. Their glares could have burned through steel.
"Akainu!" Sengoku barked. "Take several Vice Admirals and use your magma. Try to evaporate the ice and free the frozen Marines if possible!"
He turned toward the others. "The rest of you, with me. We're capturing Kaito — alive or dead!"
"Yes, Sengoku-sama!"
Although clearly displeased, Akainu followed orders, leaving with several Vice Admirals — the less powerful among them — to deal with the spreading frost.
With their departure, Sengoku's aura flared once more. Kizaru, Momousagi, Garp, and the remaining Vice Admirals surrounded him, their resolve solidified.
Golden light blazed from Sengoku's colossal Buddha form as his massive fist ignited with power.
Kizaru's body shimmered, countless golden particles gathering into long swords of light.
Momousagi's blade gleamed with cutting intent, while Garp's fists, wrapped in thick Armament Haki, cracked the very air.
Then — they struck all at once.
The sky filled with radiance, sword light, and divine fury.
From a distance, Rayleigh and Shakky stood atop a rooftop, watching the chaos unfold.
Shakky sighed softly. "Sengoku and Garp… both going all out? How shameless. So many of them against one man."
Rayleigh chuckled bitterly. "Well, Kaito's been plucking Sengoku's nerves for a while. It's no wonder the old man snapped."
"Still… it's a shame. The boy's too sharp for his own good. With this strength, he could've become a legend on the seas."
"Agreed," Shakky murmured. "If you get the chance… make sure his body doesn't end up in the Navy's hands. He deserves better than that."
Rayleigh nodded solemnly. "Understood."
Their words faded into the background as the storm of attacks rained down on Kaito.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air itself twisted from the sheer power of the combined onslaught.
For a brief moment, Sengoku and the others felt relief — even triumph. No one could possibly withstand such power.
Except maybe Kaido, the so-called immortal monster.
But their relief didn't last long.
As the smoke cleared, their smiles froze.
Every single attack — sword light, shockwave, Haki strike — passed straight through Kaito's body.
He floated there, untouched, like a phantom watching mortals swing at shadows.
Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! My fist… it passed right through him!"
Then, realization struck him. "No… that's space! A spatial ability!"
The words sent ripples of unease through the Admirals.
Space — one of the rarest and most terrifying powers in existence.
If Kaito truly commanded it, their attacks would never reach him. He could vanish, reappear, and escape freely, untouchable within another dimension.
Kaito looked down at them, lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.
"Figured it out already? So tell me…" His voice carried through the frozen air, calm and confident. "Do you still think you can keep me here?"
Sengoku clenched his fists, his fury barely restrained. He had underestimated Kaito — and now, the cost was blood and humiliation.
Then —
Whoosh!
Several sharp sounds cut through the air as figures in black cloaks and masks appeared, standing midair through Geppo.
"Marshal Sengoku," one of them said coolly, "we were sent by Commander Kong. Advisor Tsuru anticipated this — she knew you lacked a way to suppress Kaito's spatial abilities."
Sengoku's eyes lit up. "Then you have a method to seal space?"
"Yes." The masked man stepped forward confidently. "I possess a Barrier Fruit. While it has no offensive use, once activated, it covers the entire island in an invisible enchantment. Within its boundaries, all spatial fluctuations become null."
The man looked up at Kaito, his expression steady. "Within this barrier, his ability will be completely sealed."
Sengoku grinned, relief and satisfaction flashing across his face. "Excellent. I'll leave it to you."
"Understood."
The agent nodded and leapt toward the ground with his subordinates.
The moment their feet touched the surface, a pulse of invisible energy surged outward. The air rippled faintly.
Observation Haki users immediately sensed it — a vast, unseen barrier expanding from the island's edge, enveloping the entire Sabaody Archipelago.
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly.
A subtle tension filled the air, the icy landscape now charged with an almost palpable anticipation. Even the frozen Marines seemed to tremble within their crystalline prisons, as if sensing the shift in the battle's tide.
The masked agent's presence radiated calm authority, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them. The others could feel it — the barrier was absolute, unyielding, and for the first time, Kaito's freedom seemed threatened.
Sengoku's gaze hardened. "Now," he muttered under his breath, "we bring this to an end."
The icy wind howled across the archipelago, carrying with it the promise of a confrontation that would decide the fate of everyone present.
Kaito hovered silently, his usually confident smirk faltering ever so slightly as the invisible threads of the barrier began to constrict the reach of his spatial abilities.
A battle poised on the edge of reality itself was about to escalate.