The frozen sea of Crescent Moon Bay had become a battlefield unlike any other. Pirates and Marines poured off their ships, slipping over the icy surface and charging toward each other with weapons raised.
"Fall back no further!" Marines shouted, forming ranks.
"Push forward!" Pirates roared, weapons glinting in the cold light.
In an instant, they clashed like dumplings dropped into boiling water, bodies colliding with swords and gunshots filling the air.
High above the chaos, Admiral Kizaru stood up slowly, his calm gaze fixed on the massive silhouette at the bow of the Moby Dick. His voice was quiet but carried weight, "This is terrifying, as expected of a legendary powerhouse. His strength is immense. If we want to reduce casualties, then we must take down the king first."
Without another word, Kizaru transformed into a beam of brilliant light and vanished from sight, appearing high above Whitebeard's flagship.
His sudden flash of light struck every eye.
"So dazzling!"
"Who's that?!"
"My eyes, it's so bright!"
Pirates and Marines alike shielded their faces against the intense radiance.
Gradually the light coalesced into Kizaru's form hovering in the sky.
"It's Kizaru!"
"Kizaru is here!"
Though feared by the pirates, the Marines cheered at the Admiral's arrival with renewed courage.
Kizaru spoke sharply, "Yata no Kagami!"
Countless dazzling beams blasted downward toward Whitebeard, lighting up the battlefield like fireworks.
Whitebeard squinted. "Why is it so bright here?!"
Before the attack could overwhelm him, a figure sprang out from the Moby Dick and landed in front of Whitebeard.
This figure had vast wings wreathed in blue flames, blocking every radiant blast aimed at Whitebeard.
BangBangBang
The explosions echoed across the frozen bay, but the figure held strong.
"That's First Division Commander Marco!"
"Look, his wounds have already healed!"
"The Admiral's attack was blocked!"
"How is this possible?"
Confusion spread among the Marines. In their eyes, an Admiral's attacks should have been unstoppable. But every beam fired by Kizaru had been intercepted.
Kizaru blinked upward, eyes wide as he took in Marco's transformation.
"Rising with blue flames, reborn from the ashes. A Phoenix! The Mythical Zoan that rivals even Logia types!" Kizaru admitted, disbelief lacing his voice.
Marco chuckled confidently, "I won't let you disturb our king just as we arrive."
He transformed further into his phoenix form, blue fire crackling across his limbs. With Armament Haki enveloping his right foot, it turned pitch black with focused strength before he launched himself forward and struck Kizaru.
Kizaru lifted his hand to block, and with the collision came a resounding impact.
"Hmm, powerful…" Kizaru observed coolly, feeling the strength behind Marco's kick.
"Don't underestimate us!" Marco shouted, intensifying his force.
With that, he sent Kizaru hurtling backward as a blazing streak of light, crashing him into the icy wall of Crescent Moon Bay.
The Marines gasped in shock.
"Admiral Kizaru!"
"Is he okay?"
"He was kicked back by a commander!"
"That Whitebeard Pirates force is insane!"
Before they had time to speak more, a bright flash marked Kizaru's return to the battlefield, reforming in front of his allies.
"Admiral!" Marines called out in relief.
As the battle raged, a booming voice echoed across the frozen field.
"Make way!"
All eyes turned toward Third Division Commander Jozu, the colossal man of diamond who ran forward, creating a wide berth among friend and foe alike.
Pirates instinctively made space; neither side wanted to be near Jozu's next move.
Jozu planted his hands into the frozen ground. The ice cracked and arced outward like massive half-circles, converging into a gigantic circle more than a hundred meters wide.
His muscles bulged as he strained his immense strength.
"Hmph!"
With a mighty shout, Jozu lifted the ice slab and hurled it toward the execution platform where Ace and Sengoku stood.
The sheer size and speed of the ice block would have devastated anything in its path.
Just then, Admiral Akainu rose slowly from below the platform.
"Seriously? Everyone fighting everywhere, and no one guards here?" he muttered, irritation flickering briefly in his eyes.
His left arm ignited into molten magma as he prepared a massive strike.
"Great Eruption!"
With incredible force, Akainu punched through the advancing ice block.
The magma and the ice collided with a tremendous shockwave that rippled outward and shook the entire bay.
Yet the magma overwhelmed the ice, melting it completely.
Then Akainu's magma fist detached and shot upward in a blazing arc.
"That enormous ice block disappeared without a trace."
"It's Admiral Akainu!"
"Akainu, the Logia-type Magu Magu no Mi user!"
Fear rippled through the pirates.
Akainu's ruthless presence was known throughout the world. His magma abilities were unmatched, and his cold justice was a nightmare for all seafarers who crossed his path.
Suddenly, the sky shimmered and bright red magma rocks began raining down like meteorites.
"Run!"
"It's volcanic bombs!"
BangBangBang
Chaos broke out among the pirates. Everyone scattered, dodging the falling inferno.
Whitebeard frowned, eyes scanning the sky. He met a falling volcanic bomb with his blade, impaling it sharply then extinguishing it with a casual breath.
He turned and faced Akainu on the execution ground, voice low and steady, "Playing with fire will only cause you to wet the bed."
Akainu's eyes narrowed as a smirk curled on his lips, "Like a grand funeral, Whitebeard."
Whitebeard pointed toward Akainu's mechanical arm, watching the Admiral's hand twitch uneasily. This was the result of Rolan's previous clash with him; Rolan's blade had cut off Akainu's original right arm, forcing him to adapt to his left. Despite the passing time, he still bore the scarred reminder of that encounter.
"Perhaps you should worry about yourself instead," Akainu taunted, "you're only one strike away from the grave, Whitebeard."