When Arik, Aaron's clone, led his troops to occupy Frost Town and began using food supplies to recruit local civilians to help clear the docks, the real Aaron arrived alone at the entrance to Horton's base.
This was Aaron's second time here, the first had been half a year ago.
Back then, he had just been promoted to a small-time boss. He'd come bearing a crate of fine liquor to curry Horton's favor, hoping the man would assign him a decent piece of territory. Instead, Horton humiliated him, publicly giving him a "territory" that no longer even existed, a deliberate insult meant to put him in his place.
That was one debt.
Another dated back even further to when Aaron had first joined the Akio Syndicate, and Horton had branded him with hot iron during initiation.
And now there was a new one: just last night, despite taking countless bribes from Aaron, Horton had stood by and refused to help when Aaron's turf was attacked.
Tonight, Aaron had come to collect all those debts, old and new alike and settle the grudge between himself and Horton, one of the Akio Syndicate's senior officers.
Aaron's recent victories over Winters and Yashika, two powerful gang lieutenants, had made him the talk of the underground. His reputation was blazing hot. Before he even reached the gates, many of the Akio Syndicate members stationed inside came out to greet him, lining up respectfully on both sides of the entrance to usher him in.
But despite their show of respect, their faces were tense and uneasy. They weren't fools, they knew Aaron hadn't come for a friendly visit. Blood could easily be spilled today.
Just the previous night, the boss Akio himself had publicly announced Aaron's promotion to officer rank and granted him control of the Slums District.
Horton technically retained his officer title, but because he had neglected his duties as the Slums' overseer, his authority had been revoked.
Everyone here understood the truth: Aaron wasn't just here to accuse Horton; he was here to take complete control of the district.
Whether that handover happened peacefully or through a bloody fight… that remained to be seen.
"Long time no see, Lord Horton."
Aaron entered the base, his tone flat and cold as his eyes met Horton's.
The last time he had stood here, he'd carried a crate of liquor.
This time, he carried a massive battle axe, its blade still stained with blood, an unmistakable sign that he hadn't come in peace.
But times had changed.
After hearing of Aaron's defeat of Winters and Yashika, Horton had grown afraid. Though he knew Aaron came with hostility, the arrogance and swagger he'd shown during their last meeting were gone, replaced by grim tension.
His gaze fixed on the bloody axe in Aaron's hand as he forced out a strained, ugly smile. "Yeah... it's been, what, two months? So, what brings you here today?"
"I've come to collect what's owed and to formalize the handover of authority." Aaron's voice was calm but merciless. "Don't worry, Lord Horton, I'm being generous out of respect for Boss Akio. I'm only asking for a small payment. Cut off one of your hands and one of your legs with this axe, swear loyalty to me in front of everyone here, and our debts will be settled."
He tossed the massive axe at Horton's feet. Then, activating his Snow-Snow Fruit powers, Aaron formed a tall ice pillar beneath himself and sat atop a throne sculpted from snow, looking down at Horton with an emotionless gaze.
A suffocating, powerful aura began to emanate from him, pressing on everyone present until their chests felt tight and their breath turned cold.
At the same time, Aaron's Devil Fruit ability intensified, a snow cloud formed above the hall's ceiling, releasing a steady fall of snowflakes. The temperature plummeted in seconds.
His intent was unmistakable.
Aaron was mirroring exactly what Horton had once done to him, cornering him publicly, leaving no room for dignity or retreat. The only "mercy" he offered was for the sake of their boss, Akio.
Horton's face turned red with rage as his whole body began to tremble. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Aaron's, and a powerful aura surged from his body as he tried to fight back spiritually but he couldn't.
The confidence he once had when intimidating Aaron was gone.
By contrast, Aaron, fresh off victories against Winters and Yashika, both of whom had previously defeated Horton was utterly unafraid. His aura was dominant and unwavering.
In this clash of wills, Horton was completely crushed.
"Ten seconds," Aaron said coldly. "When that's up, what I take won't just be an arm and a leg."
He gave Horton no time to hesitate, his voice a sharp blade cutting through the silence.
Every second that passed echoed like a death knell in the hall.
This feud was entirely of Horton's making. Had he been just a little more generous or simply lent Aaron a hand the previous night, none of this would have happened.
But now, it was far too late.
Aaron began counting down, his voice like shards of ice.
"Damn you! I should've killed you in the branding chamber when I had the chance!"
Enraged beyond reason, Horton lost control. His body expanded as thick white fur burst from his skin; he had transformed into a three-meter-tall white bear.
Roaring, he snatched up the axe from the floor and hurled it at Aaron with monstrous force.
The weapon spun through the air, tearing through the atmosphere with a shriek. But just before it struck, Aaron calmly raised his right hand two fingers, coated in Armament Haki, caught the blade's edge mid-spin.
The hall fell silent. Every Akio member except Horton instinctively stepped back, eyes wide with disbelief.
As the axe trembled between his fingers, Aaron's left hand moved.
The battle had begun.
The snow scattered across the hall surged to life, morphing into two colossal snow serpents that lunged toward Horton.
Horton roared and punched with Haki-imbued fists, shattering both serpents' heads in a single blow. His body grew again, now towering at four meters as he charged toward Aaron's snow pillar.
Aaron swung his arm. The pillar beneath him transformed, merging with the snow on the floor into a towering five-meter snow golem, Snow Lapon.
Under Aaron's command, the creature roared and swung massive fists at the charging bear.
The clash was brutal, flesh against ice, Haki against raw power.
The Snow Lapon lacked Haki of its own, Aaron had yet to master Haki projection, the technique needed to imbue his creations. Horton's iron-hard blows shattered the snow beast's body repeatedly.
But the creature's regeneration was terrifying. Standing upon snow, it healed instantly, reforming its body each time and continuing the fight.
"Damn it!" Horton cursed. He realized the snow golem was nearly immortal. The only way to win was to kill the user.
Abandoning the golem, he charged straight for Aaron.
Before he could close the distance, Aaron's body expanded, transforming into a six-meter-tall giant of ice and snow.
He exhaled sharply.
"Snow-Snow: Blizzard!"
A frigid gale roared forth, dense with cutting snowflakes. Visibility vanished, and a massive snow tornado spiraled to life, racing straight toward Horton.
His face went pale. He tried to dodge, but before he could Snow Lapon, thriving in the blizzard, intercepted him and delivered a crushing punch.
Horton countered, shattering the golem's fist again but in the storm, the creature regenerated almost instantly. Before he could react, it lunged forward and wrapped him tightly in its arms.
The snow tornado swallowed them both whole.
Inside, Horton felt his body temperature plummet. Even beneath his thick fur, the cold gnawed through his skin. Snowflakes became countless razor-sharp blades, slicing him open again and again as the cold seeped through his wounds, draining his life heat away.
To his horror, the golem transformed into a massive snow serpent, its iron-hard coils constricting his body, crushing the breath from his lungs.
His movements slowed. His limbs stiffened. Darkness closed in.
Minutes later, the blizzard subsided. The snow serpent unraveled, revealing Horton's human form collapsed lifelessly on the frozen floor, his body covered in frostbite.
Aaron looked down at him, expressionless.
"From this moment on," he said quietly, "our debts are settled."
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