The sea outside Marineford was unnaturally still—flat like polished glass, the calm before a storm that everyone knew was inevitable.
Kuzan stood on the frozen surface he'd created, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded as always. Across from him, Borsalino hovered lazily in midair, golden light flickering at the edges of his coat. Sakazuki stood at the shoreline with arms crossed, watching in silence. Nearby, Gion and Boa waited, their expressions tense but expectant.
On the high platform behind them, the Admirals, Vice Admirals, and hundreds of Marines looked on. Then came the voice that shook the quiet.
"Begin!"
—Marshal Kong's command boomed across the bay.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Kuzan didn't move his arms—he didn't need to. The sea beneath him spread into ice again, expanding outward in a perfect sheet. Frozen tides crawled toward Borsalino like a silent avalanche.
Borsalino didn't even blink. He simply dissolved into light.
"Ooh~ that's scary."
In the next breath, he reappeared high above the battlefield, hands crossing as a crystalline panel of refracted light formed before him.
"Yasakani no Magatama."
A storm of light bullets rained downward, thousands at once—blinding, scorching, screaming through the air. Each impact shattered the ice below like gunfire against glass.
Kuzan vanished into the mist and reformed several meters away, sliding backward across the ice as if gravity didn't matter. The sea exploded behind him in a chain of rapid detonations.
The frozen ocean was beginning to break apart.
But Kuzan wasn't done.
He exhaled, breath turning into a fog that swirled upward.
"Rain."
The sky darkened in seconds. Clouds condensed unnaturally fast—as if someone were forcing the atmosphere to obey. Heavy rain began pouring down over the bay, a curtain of water descending on the battlefield.
Borsalino frowned for the first time.
Kuzan raised a hand.
The raindrops turned white.
Then solid.
Then sharp.
A sky full of falling water transformed into needle-like ice—tens of thousands of frozen projectiles whistling downward in a killing field.
Borsalino blurred, scattering into light as the barrage pierced straight through the sea surface below and into the depths.
But Kuzan wasn't finished.
"Freeze."
The instant the ice touched the ocean again, it detonated outward—every shard exploding like airborne mines. The shockwave turned the air into a whiteout blizzard.
Even light struggled to escape.
On the observation deck, several Vice Admirals stood up in disbelief.
"That's not just elemental control—he's rewriting the climate itself…"
"He's already beyond a normal Logia user. That's an awakened power."
Even Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
Down below, Borsalino reformed in midair—coat ripped, skin steaming slightly from the sudden temperature shifts.
He gave a long whistle.
"My my… that's a troublesome ability you've got there, Kuzan."
Kuzan shrugged. "You started it."
But now Borsalino was done playing.
The air shifted. His body glowed brighter—so bright the Marines on shore had to shield their eyes.
"Then I suppose I'll use a little more force."
With no warning, he collapsed into pure radiance—not beams of light, but a blistering sunburst. Heat rolled across the bay like a silent shockwave. Clouds dissolved. The frozen sea cracked.
For a moment, the entire horizon burned gold.
Kuzan squinted against the glare, ice already melting around him.
He didn't panic. He simply exhaled again, palms touching the sea.
"Absolute Zero."
The temperature plummeted. Steam turned to frost. The sea refroze faster than it could melt. Two awakened Logia abilities clashed—not fists, not swords, but forces of nature competing for dominance.
And neither side could break the other.
Minutes passed. The battle didn't end, but it stalled. Neither man was willing to waste energy on something unwinnable.
Kuzan lowered his hand.
Borsalino dimmed back to human shape.
Both stared at each other, breathing steady, not exhausted—just done.
A silent agreement:
"We've tested enough."
Borsalino flickered and reappeared beside Sakazuki, hands in pockets.
Kuzan turned away, stuffing his hands back into his coat like nothing had happened.
The entire bay erupted in cheers.
Marines shouted Kuzan's name. Others cheered for Borsalino. Young recruits stared with shining eyes—not at commanders, but at future legends.
Admirals exchanged impressed looks.
Garp crunched his senbei loudly.
Zefa smiled with relief.
Even Kong looked satisfied.
The Navy had confirmed it—another monster had fully awakened under their flag.
On the walk back to headquarters, Borsalino spoke without his usual playfulness.
"You're going to be a real headache for pirates one day."
Kuzan replied without looking at him.
"Same to you, senpai."
Behind them, Sakazuki finally spoke, voice cold as iron.
"…Next time, I'm the one fighting you."
Kuzan smirked.
"Looking forward to it."
The battle was over. But its meaning had only just begun.
Because from this day on—
The future Admirals had all seen each other fight.
And the world would too.
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