The main battlefield at Ohara had become strangely quiet. Not because the fighting had ended... but because everyone instinctively stayed away. Even the Vice Admirals avoided approaching the frozen wasteland where two monsters stood facing one another. One side radiated absolute cold, while the other emanated an invisible pressure that seemed capable of tearing reality itself apart. A cold wind swept across the ruined island.
Crack... Crack...
Every step Admiral Kuzan took left a trail of ice spreading across the broken earth. Opposite him... Arthur calmly rested one hand upon the hilt of his sword. Neither man moved. Neither lowered his guard.
Kuzan: "Last time... I underestimated you." Several long seconds passed before Kuzan finally spoke.
Arthur: "You underestimated Heavenly Art." He smiled faintly.
Kuzan: "I won't make that mistake again." Kuzan's expression remained calm.
Arthur: "I expected nothing less."
...
Twenty years ago... Ohara had witnessed Kuzan sparing a little girl.
Months ago... The World Goverment had witnessed something far more humiliating.
Arthur had transformed an Admiral into a penguin. Not because Kuzan had been weaker... but because he had looked away for a single instant. A single touch. A single mistake. One impossible ability. That single moment had become one of Marine Headquarters' greatest embarrassments.
This time... Kuzan never took his eyes off Arthur. Not even once. His Observation Haki remained expanded to its absolute limit.
Every movement Arthur made. Every twitch of his fingers. Every breath he exhaled. Nothing escaped his senses.
Arthur: "Good. Now you're fighting seriously." He slowly nodded in approval.
...
BOOOOOOM!! CLAAAAANG!!
The air suddenly exploded. Both figures vanished simultaneously. Their blades collided in midair. An enormous shockwave erupted across the battlefield. Ice shattered. The ground split apart. The surrounding ruins collapsed beneath the pressure alone.
Arthur's Komainu transformed into twin black blades as they became coated in Advanced Armament Haki. Dark lightning exploded around it. Crackling waves of Conqueror's Haki burst outward.
BOOOOOOM!!
Kuzan's ice saber met it head-on. The sky itself trembled. Marine officers watching from afar instinctively stepped backward.
Marine: "...They're not even touching..."
Marine: "...Advanced Haki..." Another Marine swallowed nervously.
Neither sword actually connected. A thin layer of invisible force separated both weapons. Yet the pressure alone carved enormous trenches across the battlefield.
SHIIING!!
Kuzan suddenly disappeared. An ice spear erupted from beneath Arthur's feet. Arthur simply stepped aside. The spear narrowly missed. Another one appeared. Then another. Then dozens.
Kuzan: "[Ice Ball]." Hundreds of frozen projectiles shot forward.
Arthur calmly raised one hand. A crimson liquid flowed from his fingertips. The crimson liquid rapidly gathered around Arthur. It twisted... expanded... and transformed into countless scarlet spears. Arthur's second Devil Fruit, The Logia Blood-Blood Fruit. The blood spears shot forward.
WHOOSH!! BOOOOM!!
Ice and blood collided violently. Frozen crimson fragments scattered across the battlefield. Several blood spears instantly froze solid before shattering into crystal-like pieces. Kuzan calmly observed.
Kuzan: "...Blood... A Logia...?" Kuzan's eyes narrowed.
Arthur: "Surprised?"
Kuzan remained silent. The Marines had never reported this ability. Another Devil Fruit. Another impossible power. Before Kuzan could fully process it—
WHOOSH!! CLANG!! BOOOOM!!
Arthur was already before him. Another sword collision. Dark lightning exploded again. Kuzan slid backward across the frozen ground. Arthur didn't pursue immediately. Instead... his body slowly began changing. Black wings unfolded behind his back. Two elegant horns curved upward. His crimson eyes glowed beneath the morning light. Sharp fangs became visible as he smiled. Arthur activated his third Devil Fruit. The Mythical Zoan... Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire. Kuzan's usually relaxed expression finally changed.
Kuzan: "...Three." For the first time... his eyes widened.
Arthur: " Now... I'm complete." Arthur slowly spread his wings.
...
Marine: "...Another one?" The surrounding Marines stared in disbelief.
Marine: "Three Devil Fruits..."
Marine: "How is that even possible?!" Whispers spread through the battlefield.
Even several Vice Admirals momentarily forgot their own opponents. He possessed all three classes of Devil Fruits—a Paramecia, a Logia, and a Mythical Zoan. Three powers... existing inside one body. Something the world itself considered impossible.
...
Arthur flexed his fingers. The Vampire Zoan dramatically enhanced every aspect of his body. His speed, senses, physical strength, and his regeneration. Even the flow of Haki throughout his body became noticeably smoother.
Kuzan: "Your Blood Fruit isn't a good matchup." Kuzan quietly exhaled.
Arthur: "I know." Arthur nodded.
Kuzan: "Ice freezes blood." Kuzan raised one hand, he surrounding temperature plummeted. Everything nearby froze solid.
Arthur: "It does." Arthur smiled again.
Kuzan: "Then why use it?"
Arthur: " Because I need you alive... so you can tell the world exactly what happens to anyone who stands against the Art Pirates. Now I possess enough power... even without relying on my Devil Fruits." Arthur slowly lifted his swords.
Arthur: "I believe I've finally become one of the strongest swordsmen in the world." Arthur's Conqueror's Haki erupted once more.
BOOOOOOM!!
Before Kuzan could react— Arthur vanished. Not with Geppo. Not with Soru. Pure speed.
SHIIIIING!! CLAAAAANG!!
Kuzan barely raised his ice sword in time. The impact launched him backward. Ice shattered beneath his feet. Arthur followed immediately.
Another slash.
Another.
Another.
Each strike flowed seamlessly into the next. His swordsmanship had reached the realm occupied by only a handful of people on the seas. Every swing carried perfect precision. No wasted movement. No hesitation. Only relentless pressure.
Kuzan found himself pushed backward step after step. His Observation Haki warned him constantly. His Armament Haki blocked each strike. Yet... Arthur continued gaining ground.
Kuzan: "...You're stronger than me."
BOOOOM!!
Arthur answered with another slash. Their blades separated once more. Kuzan slid dozens of meters backward. A long trail of shattered ice stretched behind him. Arthur calmly lowered his sword.
Arthur: "Only a little."
Kuzan: "That's more than enough to make this troublesome." Kuzan smiled.
Without warning— The battlefield exploded again. Ice engulfed everything. Heavenly Art shaped countless blood spears from Arthur's own blood. Dark lightning split the heavens. The clash between Admiral and Emperor-class pirate candidate continued to shake Ohara itself.
...
Far away from the center of the island... The outcome of the other battles had become painfully clear. Rear Admiral after Rear Admiral lay unconscious across the ruins. Broken swords littered the battlefield. Marine rifles lay scattered among collapsed walls. Sabo leaned his iron staff across one shoulder.
Small arcs of blue-white lightning still danced around him.
Law calmly wiped Kikoku before returning it to its sheath.
Bepo stretched his shoulders as the last traces of Electro faded from his fur.
Kuina quietly cleaned her blade.
Koala calmly lowered her fists.
Sugar floated overhead, surrounded by hundreds of metallic weapons still suspended in the air.
Baccarat slowly exhaled. She still couldn't believe she had survived her first true battlefield.
Above them... Ikaros, Nymph and Astrea. The three Angeloids continued circling the sky while protecting Arthur's children. Not a single child had suffered even the smallest injury.
Across Ohara... the Marines had begun the battle with hundreds of soldiers. Now... only a few dozen remained standing. Every surviving Marine instinctively gathered near the remaining Vice Admirals.
Marine: "...This can't be happening..." Fear filled their eyes.
Another officer looked across the battlefield. Everywhere he turned... Art Pirates still stood. Every major member remained capable of fighting. Meanwhile... the Marine forces had already suffered near-total defeat. Far in the distance... Kuzan briefly glanced toward the collapsing Marine lines before turning back to Arthur.
Kuzan: "...Looks like we've already lost the first half of this war." He quietly sighed.
Arthur rested his sword upon his shoulder. A faint smile appeared on his face. His crimson eyes remained fixed on the Admiral.
Arthur: " Then... let's decide the outcome of the second half.