Chapter 141 Robin's Unknown Past
— — Boom!!!
An invisible Aura erupted from Luffy's body!
Veins popped out on his fists, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
Yet, his eyes were incredibly firm, without a trace of fear!
At this moment, his declaration, like a sharp sword, pierced directly at Aokiji!
Robin's eyes widened as she stared blankly at Luffy, who stood in front of her, her heart trembling violently!
Her breathing was a little hurried, and her body trembled slightly.
She didn't know if it was due to fear or shock.
"Luffy..."
She whispered softly, her heart filled with an inexpressible emotion.
Her life had once been filled only with betrayal, escape, survival, and utilization—
But at this moment, someone stood before her, declaring without hesitation that he would protect her!
This ignited an indescribable emotion within her.
It made her unable to help but shed tears.
Aokiji remained calm, his deep gaze fixed on Robin, and his voice slowly echoed:
"The amount of a bounty doesn't just represent the level of strength..."
"It also represents the degree of a person's threat to the World Government."
"And Nico Robin..."
His voice paused slightly, then slowly revealed a startling fact:
"When she was only eight years old..."
"She had already become a criminal with a bounty as high as seventy-nine million Berries."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in shock!
"What?!!!"
Usopp looked at Robin with an expression of disbelief.
"Bountied at seventy-nine million Berries at eight years old?!!!"
Nami, Sanji, and Chopper's faces were also filled with astonishment.
They looked at Robin in shock, their hearts stirring with a monstrous wave.
Robin remained silent, her head lowered, her expression complex.
"Although... she was just a child then."
Aokiji's gaze remained fixed on Robin, a hint of an unknown emotion in his eyes.
"But she survived that inhumane massacre."
"Betrayal, escape, survival, utilization..."
"You relied on your quick wit to struggle and survive in the dark world."
Aokiji narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny and vigilance:
"This time..."
"These are the people you've chosen as your hiding place, aren't they?"
— — Boom!!!
Aokiji's words were like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at Robin's heart!
Robin's pupils suddenly constricted, her face instantly turned pale, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes!
Her lips trembled slightly, as if the deepest fear in her heart had been exposed!
She knew... her entire life had been spent in darkness.
No matter where she was, she was always a hunted existence—
A threat that the World Government had deemed "must not survive"!
Now, she had merely changed places, changed groups of people... but... would it really be different?
Could she really continue to stay here?
Her heart, which had just begun to warm, and the bonds of companionship.
Could they continue?
Would they still accept her?
At this moment, Robin's heart was shaken like never before!!!
And the Straw Hat, standing in front of her, each person's face became incredibly solemn.
They finally realized—
Nico Robin, this enigmatic woman, her past... what heavy fate did she bear!
How much did her existence make the World Government wary!!!
The air was dead silent.
At this moment, Lin Ning slowly took a step forward.
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, looking directly at Aokiji, his voice cold and firm:
"Her past has nothing to do with us."
"She is now a companion of our Straw Hat."
"Even the World Government..."
"Will not take her away from us!"
— — Boom!!!
These words, like a bolt of lightning, echoed throughout the entire forest!!!
And illuminated Robin's inner world.
Aokiji quietly looked at Lin Ning, the expression on his face still indifferent.
The corner of his mouth curved into a meaningful arc.
"Oh my... This is really..."
"More troublesome than I imagined."
An invisible rage burned in the air!
Sanji suddenly stepped forward, pointing angrily at Aokiji.
Burning flames of fury blazed in his eyes, capable of incinerating this lazy Admiral!
"Hey, you brat, don't say such infuriating things!!"
"What kind of grudge do you have with Young Miss Robin?!"
Sanji's tone was aggressive, his face filled with anger and bewilderment.
But Aokiji still maintained his lazy demeanor, shrugging his shoulders, his tone indifferent:
"Grudge? Not really."
"But if you're talking about acquaintance..."
"It's probably... that I let her go once."
— — Let her go once?!
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed!
Robin's face turned even paler, her pupils suddenly constricted, and her body involuntarily trembled slightly.
Aokiji, however, seemed to be recalling something, his tone suddenly becoming distant.
"However, those are all things of the past."
He slowly scanned everyone, his voice deepening a few shades, carrying a disturbing implication:
"You will soon understand..."
"Before long, you will definitely regret having such a 'troublesome' woman by your side."
"The best proof is..."
"Up until now, any organization that has been involved with Nico Robin..."
Aokiji paused, then spoke a chilling truth in an undeniable, cold tone—
"All... perished."
Upon hearing this, Robin's breathing suddenly caught, and her body stiffened abruptly.
Her fingertips unconsciously curled, her face terrifyingly pale.
But Aokiji still stared at her calmly, then changed the subject, questioning in a low voice:
"Only you survived."
"Why is that, Nico Robin?"
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, piercing directly into the deepest fear and unease in Robin's heart!
Why...?
Why, every time, was she the only "survivor"?!
The air, at this moment, solidified!
Just then—
"Shut up!!!"
Luffy roared out, breaking the oppressive silence!!!
"This has nothing to do with what happened before!!!"
His fists were clenched tightly, his eyes incredibly firm.
His tone carried undeniable anger and determination!
Usopp also shouted loudly:
"That's right!!"
"If we're talking about the past..."
"We also have a pirate hunter on our ship, and one is even a thief!"
Before he finished speaking—
"Bang!!!"
Usopp screamed and was directly knocked to the ground by Nami's punch!
"That last part was unnecessary!!!" Nami roared, her face full of fury.
Zoro coldly glanced at Aokiji, his hand already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
His tone was cold but carried an undeniable killing intent:
"Isn't what's happening now more important than what happened before?"
Chopper, even more so, bristled, standing in front of Robin and loudly roaring:
"Don't you dare speak ill of Robin!!!"
Lin Ning slowly took a step forward, his entire body brimming with Battle Intent.
His halberd was already in his hand, his Aura rising steadily, like a volcano about to erupt!
"Robin is an important companion of our Straw Hat Pirates."
"We will not allow you to slander her like this."
— — Boom!!!
A powerful killing intent rose from Lin Ning's body!
At that moment, everyone in the Straw Hat glared angrily.
Their gazes were as firm as iron, standing unyieldingly in front of Robin!Chapter 142 Fierce Battle with Aokiji
Their bodies leaned slightly forward, assuming a stance ready for battle at any moment!
Their attitude was already self-evident!!!
Aokiji looked at the group of furious young people before him and finally let out a soft sigh.
"Ara la la..."
His gaze swept over everyone, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly, revealing a faint smile.
"So that's it..."
"It seems... your relationship with her is already very deep."
"You're willing to fight me... just to protect her?"
—Boom!!!
An extremely chilling coldness suddenly spread from Aokiji's body!!!
The entire air emitted an astonishing chill!!!
"What exactly do you want to say?!"
Robin finally lost her patience, her eyes blazing with fury, her tone resolute and determined!
"If you want to capture me..."
"Just do it directly!!"
"Thirty-Flower Bloom!!"
Crack crack crack!!
Countless arms rapidly spread across Aokiji's body!
Neck!
Elbows!
Knees!
Aokiji's entire body's joints were instantly locked tightly by Robin's ability!
Her palms suddenly exerted force, her hands crossed.
"Clutch!!"
Snap!!
Aokiji's body instantly twisted and deformed, and a crisp cracking sound rang out!
Bang!!!
In an instant, Aokiji's body was like an ice sculpture.
It was covered in countless cracks, and finally, with a "bang," it shattered completely into a myriad of ice shards!!
Lin Ning's gaze narrowed, and he said in a low voice:
...It's a Logia-type Devil Fruit ability.
The air briefly solidified.
However, the next second, Luffy had already roared out!!!
"It's war, brothers!!!"
"Enemies who dare to lay a hand on our comrades—"
"Crush them!!!"
Zoro curled his lips into a wild Battle Intent smile, taking a step forward.
His right hand was already on the hilt of his wado ichimonji!
"Heh... it was time for war long ago."
"So much rambling..."
Lin Ning tightly gripped his halberd with both hands, suddenly swung it forward, and his entire Aura surged violently!!!
"It's time to test the results of our training!!"
"Our opponent is an Admiral... Everyone—let's get serious!!!"
—Boom!!!
Conqueror's Haki, completely erupted!!!!!
In an instant, the entire island trembled wildly, and terrifying black and red lightning roared in the sky!
Lin Ning's Haoshoku, like a thunder god descending, suddenly swept across the entire island!
The wind howled!
The earth cracked!
The surrounding trees under this immense pressure.
Were instantly uprooted, turning into flying broken branches and withered leaves!
Above the halberd, black lightning raged.
Violent Conqueror's Haki Coating wrapped around it, and even the earth was shaken by this power, cracking in layers!
In the air, black and red Haki lightning surged freely.
The entire island was completely enveloped by this world-destroying Aura!
—This was the absolute deterrence of Conqueror's Haki!!!
At the same time, crimson light suddenly burst forth from Luffy's eyes!!
Observation Haki, completely locked onto Aokiji's position!!!
Another surge of Conqueror's Haki roared up into the sky.
Black and red arcs of electricity raged like thunder, echoing Lin Ning's Haki from afar!
Boom!!!!
The entire sky was forcefully torn apart by the two surges of Conqueror's Haki.
Streaks of black and red lightning intertwined and collided, and the entire island trembled wildly, with the earth shaking and mountains quaking!!!
And Aokiji's location was being violently crushed by the two surges of Haoshoku.
The cold air in the atmosphere was actually completely suppressed at this moment.
Even the Logia-type Devil Fruit ability could not be fully released!!!
The deterrence of Conqueror's Haki actually temporarily hindered the power of the Ice-Ice Fruit?!
Aokiji's brows furrowed slightly, and his originally lazy expression finally showed a hint of change.
He felt a truly... dangerous presence!
"Ara la la..."
Aokiji slowly raised his head, the lazy look on his face finally gone, his gaze incredibly profound.
He was shocked.
Aokiji had originally thought the Straw Hat were just unpolished jade.
Though they had potential, they were ultimately naive, yet—
These two in front of him didn't seem like rookies at all!!!
Especially... Lin Ning!!!
Aokiji could clearly feel that the circulation of the cold air within his body was inexplicably suppressed!
The power of the Ice-Ice Fruit... was actually weakened to the extreme in front of Conqueror's Haki!!
Lin Ning, his Haoshoku was too terrifying!
It carried a complete sense of suppression, even directly affecting his Devil Fruit ability.
Making him unable to freely unleash even the Logia-type elementalization!
"This doesn't match the intelligence Garp-san told me..."
Aokiji's heart sank, and he muttered in a low voice.
"Such strong Haoshoku... it shouldn't be the strength possessed by a rookie pirate at all..."
In an instant, Aokiji's laziness completely vanished, and his previous nonchalance was replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
—His original attitude of just "playing around" was now completely shattered.
Aokiji realized that this battle—had to be taken seriously!
"Truly... a bunch of monsters."
—Boom!!!
The earth shattered, and air currents surged!
Luffy's arms were already completely covered by thick Armament Haki.
Black Haki Coating wrapped around them, emitting a black flowing light!
The next second, Luffy suddenly stomped, instantly soaring into the sky!
At the same time, Lin Ning also charged out, halberd in hand!
The two of them, like two black lightning bolts piercing through the sky, rushed towards Aokiji in mid-air to attack!
—"Gum-Gum Rocket!!!"
Accompanied by Luffy's roar, his Armament Haki-coated fist slammed towards Aokiji!!!
"Good timing!!"
Aokiji's eyes flashed with cold light, in a flash of lightning.
His arm quickly turned to ice, and his palm met Luffy's fist, he let out a low cry—
—"Ice Age!!"
—Crack!!!!
Terrifying cold air erupted from Aokiji's center in an instant!!!
Just as Luffy's fist touched Aokiji's palm.
An extreme low temperature spread wildly along Luffy's fist, instantly engulfing his entire being!!!
In the blink of an eye, Luffy's body was completely frozen, turning into a lifelike ice sculpture!!!
The air suddenly became silent!!!
"Luffy!!!"
Nami, Usopp, and others cried out in horror, their faces pale!
Everyone gasped, their hearts utterly shaken!!!
Even a body covered in Armament Haki... couldn't withstand this cold air?!
Is this the terrifying power of an Admiral?!
Luffy in the ice sculpture still had his eyes wide open in anger.
His thoughts seemed frozen, but the Battle Intent in his heart was more fervent than ever!
However, the crisis was not over yet.
The frozen Luffy was rapidly falling towards the ground!
Aokiji's gaze was calm, as if he were admiring a meaningless sculpture.Chapter 143 Zoro's Great Swordsman-Level Slash
And the ice sculpture would shatter the moment it hit the ground.
This was the terror of Frozen Time.
However—
Just as the ice sculpture was about to hit the ground!
"Crack!!"
A sudden cracking sound rang out!!!
The ice covering Luffy's body suddenly became covered in countless cracks!!
"Crack!!"
The next moment—
It exploded with a boom!!!!
Ice shards splattered everywhere, like exploding stars scattered across the ground!!
Along with the sound of breaking ice, a figure suddenly leapt from the ice shards, landing firmly on the ground!!!
"Hoo..."
Standing still, Luffy's eyes showed an unprecedented seriousness.
He slowly raised his left hand, looking at the frost still lingering on his arm, a hint of shock flashing through his heart.
"Even Armament Haki can't resist the erosion of freezing..."
Luffy muttered to himself, his voice low.
"This Admiral..."
"So strong..."
"To be able to develop the power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit to this extent!!!"
In the air, cold Qi permeated, and black-red lightning crisscrossed!
Aokiji hovered in mid-air, his gaze deep as he watched Luffy on the ground, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"He broke free from the ice's restraint so easily."
"Conqueror's Haki, truly an unstoppable and overbearing Move..."
He sighed in his heart, his brows slightly furrowed.
His Frozen Time ability could instantly freeze a target, making it completely lose its ability to resist.
However, under the suppression of Conqueror's Haki, the power of Frozen Time had significantly decreased!
If not for the suppression of Conqueror's Haki, even a strong person covered in Armament Haki would never have been able to break free so quickly after being frozen!
But Aokiji had not finished his thoughts when a sharp killing intent already rushed towards him!!
"Distracted during a fight... are you looking down on me a bit?"
An overbearing and sharp voice echoed through the sky!!!
Aokiji's pupils suddenly contracted—
Lin Ning!!
At this moment, Lin Ning had already arrived in front of Aokiji!
The halberd in his hand flowed with powerful Advanced Armament Haki.
Unleashing terrifying destructive power, he brought it down towards Aokiji's head!!!
"Tsk... just as Garp the old man said..."
Aokiji's heart trembled, and a rare look of caution appeared in his eyes.
"This kid actually knows Advanced Armament Haki!!"
Boom!!!
In a flash, Aokiji no longer hesitated!
He reached out and grabbed, and terrifying extreme cold power condensed, and a long blade made of ice crystals instantly appeared!!
"Ice Saber!!"
Following Aokiji's soft shout, the ice crystal long blade was instantly covered in dense Armament Haki!
The originally clear and transparent ice blade had now turned black and red, releasing a chilling Aura of destruction!
This was a rarely serious technique performed by Aokiji, using the strongest Armament Haki to activate the ice blade.
Making its hardness reach an incredible level!
And at this moment, Lin Ning's halberd, already carrying terrifying Conqueror's Haki Coating, crushed down!!!
Boom!!!
The two weapons, covered in extreme Haki, collided fiercely in mid-air!!
In an instant, the world changed color!!
A terrifying shockwave spread wildly, sweeping across the entire sky and earth!
Black-red lightning frantically tore through the sky, as if even the firmament would be split open!!
The terrifying aftermath of the battle, like a Category 12 hurricane, directly swept across the entire island!!
On the ground, all the vegetation was completely shredded, turning into dust!!
The clouds that were originally floating in the sky were directly torn and shattered by the terrifying shockwave!!
The entire world was completely distorted at this moment!!!
Nami, Usopp, and the others in the distance turned pale, struggling to stabilize themselves, their hearts filled with shock.
"This... is this the clash of strong people?!"
However, under everyone's shocked gaze—
"Crack!!"
Accompanied by a crisp shattering sound—
Aokiji's Ice Saber, under the impact of the halberd's Advanced Armament Haki, suddenly shattered!!!
—Crack, crack, crack!!!
In an instant, ice shards scattered, turning into ice crystals!!
However, at the moment of shattering, Aokiji's figure retreated rapidly like a phantom, creating distance from Lin Ning.
Lin Ning also used the recoil force to instantly soar back, landing steadily.
Everyone's eyes widened, staring intently at Aokiji in the air.
"Aokiji's... Aokiji's ice blade actually shattered!!"
Aokiji lowered his head and glanced at his shattered weapon, a faint, meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"A weapon imbued with Advanced Armament Haki... it really isn't something ordinary Armament Haki can block, is it?"
His tone even carried a hint of admiration.
"You kids really can't be measured by ordinary standards."
However, Lin Ning coldly smiled, pointing his halberd directly at Aokiji, his Aura undiminished!
"Now is not the time for sentimentality."
"Aokiji—"
"You need to get serious!!"
The moment the two separated, Zoro had already drawn his sword!!
He held wado ichimonji in one hand, and Armament Haki completely covered the blade.
A black ethereal light moved along the blade, and the sharp edge subtly distorted the surrounding space!
"One Sword Style: Myriad Phenomena Split the Sky!!"
With a low shout, the world was instantly cleaved apart!!
At that moment, the island's storm ceased.
Only Zoro's terrifying Sword Qi remained, sweeping wildly through the air!!
A slash spanning heaven and earth, carrying a sharpness that could tear everything apart, directly struck Aokiji in mid-air!!
"Hmm?"
Aokiji's gaze deepened slightly; he had already sensed Zoro's attack through Observation Haki.
But the moment this sword truly struck, his expression changed!
"This isn't an ordinary slash... it's a Great Swordsman-level slash?!"
Aokiji's expression for the first time showed a hint of seriousness; he had originally thought Zoro was just a swordsman with good Aptitude.
But at this moment, he realized that this man had already stepped into the threshold of a true Peak Swordsman!!
"What a terrifying bunch of kids..."
Aokiji sighed softly, and the next moment, his right hand suddenly rose!!
"Ice Saber!!"
Terrifying frost power gathered, instantly condensing into a black-red ice crystal long blade!!
Black-red Armament Haki Coating, Haki flowing.
The black ice blade cut through the sky, directly meeting Zoro's world-tearing slash!!
—Boom!!!
The moment the Sword Qi and ice blade collided, the entire island trembled!!
Sword Qi tore through the firmament, and a terrifying shockwave exploded in the air.
Directly cracking the ground in the center of the battlefield, large areas of rock were instantly sent flying!!
"Ha..."
Zoro slowly sheathed his sword, his eyes burning, a wild smile playing on his lips.
"As expected of an Admiral..."
"An opponent like this is worth my full effort in battle!"
His Battle Intent grew even more fervent, and his entire Aura surged!Chapter 144 Aokiji's Seriousness
"Diable Jambe!!"
Just then, a streak of fiery light cut through the sky!!
Sanji, using Moonwalk, shot up like a fiery meteor.
He became a burning streak of flame, his right foot enveloped.
Armament Haki and scorching flames intertwined, creating a terrifying temperature!!
Sanji's eyes were cold, his right foot tracing a searing arc in the air, kicking directly at Aokiji's back!!
"Flames? Interesting..."
Aokiji's eyes flickered slightly. How powerful was his Observation Haki?
Sanji's attack had long been sensed by him!
Just as Sanji's foot was about to strike Aokiji.
Aokiji's right hand suddenly swung, and an Ice Saber swept out, driven by an extreme chill!
Instantly, the terrifying cold directly froze the air.
Even Sanji's scorching flames were instantly covered in ice crystals!!
"Crack!!"
The flames were completely frozen before they could even burn!
Flames and frost clashed intensely at this moment, and the victor was already decided!
Sanji's right foot was completely covered in a layer of extreme frost.
The cold even spread wildly up his right leg, attempting to freeze his entire body solid!!
"Hmm?..."
Sanji's expression changed slightly, and in the next instant, his left foot stomped hard!
"Moonwalk!"
The air exploded as his figure rapidly retreated in mid-air!
At the same time, he suddenly swung his right foot!
"Crack! Crack!!"
His right foot trembled violently, the ice layer shattered, turning into countless ice crystals scattering and falling!
Sanji's right foot ignited with scorching flames once more, burning brightly.
Flames and Armament Haki shimmered, his gaze sharp and fixed on Aokiji in front of him.
"An Admiral-level opponent... is indeed a monster."
His voice held a hint of coldness and solemnity, but in his eyes, an even more vigorous Battle Intent burned!!
Between heaven and earth, Battle Intent boiled, ice and frost intertwined, and the fierce battle had already entered a white-hot stage!
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Lin Ning's attacks were like surging waves.
Fist shadows, sword light, fierce flames, and halberd gleams crisscrossed.
The aftermath of the battle shattered mountains and ripped apart the earth. The combined assault of the four put heavy pressure on Aokiji.
Lin Ning's terrifying Advanced Armament Haki was like an invisible giant mountain.
It continuously suppressed Aokiji's Devil Fruit ability, preventing him from easily freezing his opponents as usual.
However, Aokiji was an Admiral after all; how could his terrifying combat power be easily suppressed?
His figure moved through the attacks of the four, continuously outputting Armament Haki.
Dodging, parrying, counterattacking, every move he made was like the arrival of winter!
"Bang!"
Luffy's Armament-covered fist was blocked by Aokiji, and the surface of his fist instantly frosted over, cold spreading wildly up his arm.
"Clang!"
Zoro's three-sword strike fell, Aokiji's figure swayed, and an Ice Saber swept out.
The sharp Saber Qi and Sword Qi collided, forcefully repelling Zoro's attack!
"Boom!"
Sanji's Diable Jambe kicked fiercely at Aokiji, but Aokiji met it with a powerful counter-punch.
Sanji's right leg instantly froze, and he was sent flying backward, forcibly performing a spin kick in the air to shake off the frost.
"Clang--"
Lin Ning's halberd struck down like thunder, black and red lightning tearing through the sky, carrying the might of Advanced Armament Haki directly at Aokiji's shoulder.
Aokiji's hands shook, Armament Haki rapidly covered them, condensing into two ice shields.
He withstood Lin Ning's blow, the ice shields shattered, his figure swayed slightly, and he slid back several meters upon landing.
"Humph..."
Aokiji's gaze deepened, and his expression showed a few more hints of solemnity.
He knew that these four guys' attacks were not random but were constantly wearing down his stamina.
Although a battle of this intensity wouldn't consume much of his stamina... in a one-on-one fight, apart from Lin Ning who could contend with him for a while, the other three wouldn't last many moves.
But with the four of them working together, plus Lin Ning's terrifying Advanced Armament Haki suppression, he was actually in a stalemate!
"...These are really troublesome brats," Aokiji murmured softly.
"Twin Spears!"
A cold glint flashed in Aokiji's eyes, and he instantly rose into the air.
With a clap of his hands, four ice spears several meters long condensed from the Void Realm.
Their cold light was chilling, incredibly sharp, and they shot out, carrying destructive cold energy!
"Boom--!"
The first ice spear flashed like lightning towards Lin Ning, who swept his halberd across.
A terrifying black and red slash cut through the ice spear, but the terrifying cold still made his movements falter slightly.
The second ice spear struck directly at Zoro, who crossed his twin swords to block, and the sharp ice spear exploded with a roar.
Shattered ice flew, and he was shaken back dozens of steps, his shoulders covered in frost!
The third ice spear arrived in an instant, its target precisely Sanji!
Sanji suddenly kicked horizontally with his right leg, but as soon as the flames touched the ice spear, they instantly extinguished, and the cold pierced to the bone.
He was forced to dodge sideways, still getting his shoulder grazed by the ice spear, blood splattering!
The fourth ice spear went straight for Luffy, who roared.
His arms covered in Armament Haki, he met it head-on, and the ice spear exploded with a roar.
But the emitted cold instantly covered half of his body, stiffening him for a moment!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The four fell to the ground, raising clouds of dust.
The frost on their bodies hadn't dissipated, and they were breathing slightly, clearly having taken quite a shock.
Aokiji slowly descended, his gaze overlooking everyone.
His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable pressure—
"The game ends here."
"Ice Age!!"
As Aokiji's low growl, an indescribable, terrifying cold burst forth from beneath his feet.
In an instant, violent frost swept out like a raging sea.
On the ground, glittering ice frost spread rapidly in all directions, freezing everything in its path!
"Crack! Crack!!"
The island's surface froze wildly, turning into an ice field in an instant!
"Boom!!"
The entire sea area was affected by this terrifying cold, and the crashing waves solidified in an instant.
The originally turbulent sea surface completely froze into a land of ice, and from a distance, the entire world appeared frozen!
In the center of the battlefield, Lin Ning, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were surrounded by the cold.
The ground beneath their feet was completely frozen, and a thick layer of frost covered their bodies!
Aokiji stood on this frozen land, his gaze cold.
Looking at the four frozen individuals, he spoke faintly—
"This is a world of absolute ice."
"Under this Ice Age, no one can break free."
Ice shards filled the sky, the air itself seemed to freeze, and the entire island was completely turned into a frozen land.
Nami cried out, her voice filled with uncontrollable shock:
"Wh-what?! The entire island is frozen?! Even the climate has been completely changed!"
Usopp's teeth chattered uncontrollably, his gaze trembling as he scanned the surrounding land that had turned into an ice field.
His voice quivered: "Ho-how terrifying an ability!
Not only the island, but even the entire surrounding sea area has been frozen solid... Is... is this something a human can do?!"
Chopper also looked terrified, his limbs stiff as he stared at the scene before him.
His voice carried a hint of disbelief: "This is... the power of an Admiral..."Chapter 145 The Terrifying "Ice Hockey"
Lin Ning's gaze was profound, staring at the land covered by thick ice.
Below the frozen world, even the air carried a bone-chilling cold.
He slowly spoke, a rare hint of solemnity in his tone: "...What a terrifying Move."
Aokiji, standing in the center of that ice field, slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the four figures in front of him.
A slight smirk played on his lips, his voice calm yet with an imperceptible sharpness:
"To actually force me to use 'Ice Age'... Lin Ning, I have to admit.
Your Conqueror's Haki is very strong, so strong that even my Devil Fruit ability is suppressed..."
Aokiji paused, the smile on his lips gradually fading.
His tone slowly turned cold: "But... it's still not enough."
As this world completely transformed into a frozen land.
The cold air completely dominated this Domain.
And the influence of Lin Ning's Conqueror's Haki on Aokiji's Devil Fruit ability... was gradually weakening!
Lin Ning slightly narrowed his eyes, feeling Aokiji's Aura slowly rising.
He tightened his grip on the halberd in his hand and said coldly, "Stop talking nonsense, let's fight!"
"Slash—!"
Zoro didn't hesitate, stomping his foot, and the ice surface cracked.
His figure was like an arrow released from a bowstring, the three swords in his hand gleaming with cold light.
His Aura was astonishing, his sword intent sweeping, as he slashed furiously towards Aokiji!
Luffy clenched his fists, wrapped in Armament Haki, and charged at Aokiji with a roar!
Flames ignited around Sanji, and Diable Jambe, carrying a scorching heat, kicked towards Aokiji's back!
Lin Ning, on the other hand, held his halberd, enhanced with Advanced Armament Haki.
The long halberd swept across, tearing through the sky, black and red lightning intertwined, striking down with a crash!
"Well, there's no helping it..."
Aokiji sighed helplessly, but his gaze grew sharper.
Facing the fierce attack of the four, he suddenly raised his palm.
Surging cold air churned out like a tide, and violent frost condensed in his palm.
In an instant, it transformed into four extremely cold currents, shooting out like meteors!
"Ice Ball!"
The four cold currents, like icy lightning, instantly struck the four who were rushing forward at high speed!
"Bang!!"
As Lin Ning's halberd had just swung out, terrifying cold instantly invaded him.
His movements suddenly froze, and frost rapidly spread from his limbs.
He was instantly frozen into a giant, crystal-clear block of ice!
Zoro roared, his three swords covered with Armament Haki.
Before his slash could land, the cold air had already invaded, and he resisted with all his might.
But the frost still swept over his entire body, completely freezing him!
Luffy's attack had not even gotten close before his entire body was engulfed by the cold current, instantly solidifying into a block of ice!
Sanji kicked out fiercely at the last moment, flames burning brightly.
But in the face of extreme cold, the flames extinguished in an instant.
The cold air instantly covered his body, and in the next second.
His figure was completely fixed, sealed within a giant block of ice!
"Crack—"
Four massive blocks of ice stood on the battlefield, reflecting a crystalline and chilling cold light under the sunlight.
Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, and the others in the distance cried out in alarm, their eyes filled with shock and fear—
"Luffy! Zoro! Sanji! Lin Ning!!"
Usopp's body trembled violently, his voice tinged with despair:
"Ho-how could this happen?!
All four... all four were frozen in an instant?!"
Nami's face was pale as she looked at her comrades sealed in the ice blocks.
Her voice trembled slightly: "Luffy, Lin Ning...!!!"
Chopper's eyes were bloodshot, desperately trying to rush forward.
But he was stopped by Robin, who said in a low voice:
"Don't go... Against Aokiji, we have no chance of winning at all..."
Frost fell everywhere, and the world entered an eternal silence.
The air was suffocatingly cold, and even the breeze was frozen.
Only chilling ice sculptures remained on the battlefield, reflecting the bleak sunlight.
Aokiji stood quietly on the frozen ground, his gaze indifferent.
He slowly scanned the four completely frozen figures.
Four colossal blocks of ice stood in place.
Reflecting a chilling cold light, silently proclaiming the end of this battle.
However, Aokiji did not show any joy of victory; instead, he carried a sense of calmness and casualness.
He had no intention of capturing the Straw Hat Pirates; this battle was merely a thrill of the hunt.
He admitted that these young brats were stronger than he had imagined, but this was the end of it... Aokiji sighed slightly and lifted his foot, preparing to leave.
However, just as he turned around—
"Crack—snap!!"
A sudden, muffled cracking sound came from behind him, and Aokiji's brow furrowed slightly, his footsteps pausing.
The next moment, he slowly turned his head, his gaze slightly condensed, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
He saw—
A hideous crack had appeared on the surface of the gigantic ice block that encased Lin Ning!
Beneath the ice, an astonishing power was surging madly, ready to break free from this icy prison at any moment!
Not only that!
The ice blocks sealing Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji also began to show subtle cracks.
Frost peeled away, faintly revealing an extremely unstable Aura!
Aokiji's eyes narrowed slightly, and a rare hint of astonishment appeared between his brows.
"Oh?"
This was not an ordinary situation.
One must know that once frozen by his "Ice Ball."
Even elite Marine Vice Admirals, or some great pirates, could not break free in a short time.
The Seal was not just a physical freezing, but an extreme cold that penetrated deep into flesh, bones.
And even the depths of the Soul, causing everything to completely stagnate.
However... these four guys were all about to break out of the ice?!
Aokiji's gaze involuntarily fell on Lin Ning in the very center.
As the "crack" sounds continued, the cracks in the ice block covering Lin Ning grew larger and larger.
Spreading like a spiderweb, the entire giant ice block began to tremble slightly.
Beneath the ice, a rampant and unparalleled Aura.
Like a sleeping beast awakening, it was frantically impacting the cage that bound it!
"Crack! Crack—!!"
The ice layer that originally covered Lin Ning completely shattered in a deafening explosion.
Ice shards scattered everywhere, and a shockwave swept in all directions!
A frantic and utterly violent Conqueror's Haki, like a raging storm, swept across the entire island with Lin Ning as its center!
The air instantly boiled, and the atmosphere vibrated violently.
The ground began to crack into countless bottomless fissures, and the ice layer was forcefully shattered, revealing the long-frozen earth!
A wild will, powerful enough to turn the world upside down and shake the heavens, swept in all directions, as if a Heavenly God had descended!
Aokiji's gaze suddenly froze, staring intently at the gradually clearing figure in front of him.
Lin Ning's figure, under that terrifying Aura, was visibly growing taller and larger!
His originally slender and powerful body was now rapidly expanding.
His muscle lines became more defined, as if cast from steel, each muscle containing explosive power!
"Bang—!"
The wind howled, and Lin Ning's figure became even more imposing.
In just a few breaths, his body size soared to a height similar to Aokiji's!
No—
Not only that!
Lin Ning's Aura was still rising wildly!
An unparalleled sense of oppression swept across the heavens and earth!