"Come and try to stop me if you dare!"
Charging ahead, Jiang Lin was met by a colossal ice sphere, dozens of meters tall, knocked over by Jozu and sent hurtling straight toward him.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Even jokes have to have limits, you know?"
Jiang Lin reluctantly halted. Jozu's attack wasn't aimed at him; it was just bad luck that he ended up in the Marine formation, making him an unintended target.
"Seriously, those guys are abandoning their posts. If everyone went on the offensive, who would defend this place?"
Facing the giant ice block, Akainu stood from his seat, muttering angrily. His right hand began to boil and swell, molten magma coursing within, and with a single punch, he shattered the massive ice.
"So strong… is this Akainu's true power?"
Jiang Lin, standing amidst the Marine encirclement, narrowed his eyes slightly at Akainu's overwhelming presence. The pressure from Akainu's attack struck deep into Jiang Lin's mind, making him realize that the outcome of this battle was far from certain.
"Devil Fruit Awakening!"
Under the pressure, Jiang Lin's gaze turned to the system interface. Since acquiring this function, he had never activated it—but now, facing a formidable enemy, he had no choice but to take the risk.
System Announcement: Devil Fruit Awakening: Every Devil Fruit possesses the potential to awaken. The host may awaken a possessed Devil Fruit randomly or by choice after engaging a Marine Admiral-level (or higher) enemy in battle for thirty minutes or after defeating an Admiral-level (or higher) enemy.
Battling an Admiral for thirty minutes or defeating one outright was no small feat. This meant Jiang Lin had to risk his life to meet the awakening conditions.
System Announcement: Devil Fruit Awakening mission activated. The host is required, within the next 24 hours, to either battle an Admiral-level opponent for 30 minutes or defeat an enemy of Admiral rank or higher. Successful completion will randomly or selectively awaken one of the host's Devil Fruits. Failure will result in the permanent deletion of one Devil Fruit card, which cannot be copied again.
The system's voice sounded, signaling that Jiang Lin had prepared for the worst. He risked permanently losing a Devil Fruit card to secure a safeguard for his upcoming battles.
"Jiang Lin, you won't save Ace! Don't forget, behind me stand the Giant Army and Admiral Akainu. You won't even get past me!"
Doflamingo rapidly descended from midair, diving straight at Jiang Lin.
"I'll be taking your ability!"
Jiang Lin removed the Glint-Glint Fruit and loaded the Dark-Dark Fruit again.
"Dark Water!"
A violent suction force immediately appeared, pulling the airborne Doflamingo directly into Jiang Lin's palm.
"This ability of yours…"
Unaware of the Dark-Dark Fruit's power, Doflamingo was caught completely off guard. As soon as Jiang Lin grabbed his neck, he instantly lost his Devil Fruit ability.
Bang!
A dense white light circle appeared in Jiang Lin's hand and surged into Doflamingo's body.
"Wah!"
Crimson blood erupted from Doflamingo's throat, turning his face pale as wax in an instant.
Boom!
After striking, Jiang Lin pressed Doflamingo heavily into the ground.
Whoosh!
Just as Jiang Lin was about to finish him off, Dracule Mihawk, observing from the high platform, intervened with a brilliant slash shot toward Jiang Lin.
Boom!
Jiang Lin didn't dare take the attack lightly. Releasing Doflamingo, he slid back just in time to avoid Mihawk's strike.
"You wield that man's power. Let me be your opponent!"
Mihawk's eyes moved slightly, locking on Jiang Lin below.
"Another troublesome opponent," Jiang Lin thought, furrowing his brow. With his current Devil Fruit abilities, dealing with Mihawk would indeed require significant effort.
"What? Facing a powerless man like me doesn't interest you?"
Mihawk's eyes widened, and a terrifying aura radiated from him, forcing the surrounding Marines to retreat quickly.
"Mihawk has engaged D? That's good. The biggest threat remains that man," Sengoku observed, shifting his attention back to the immovable Whitebeard.
Since arriving at the battlefield, Whitebeard had done little besides exchanging a few words with Jiang Lin and resting a hand on his shoulder. He stood like a mountain, anchoring the entire battlefield.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the battle lines became clearer, Akainu's molten lava, released after melting the icebergs, transformed into scorching volcanic projectiles, raining down from above.
The Whitebeard Pirates immediately fought back, destroying countless volcanic projectiles in their hands. Even Whitebeard, previously inactive, moved to intercept the projectiles aimed at the Moby Dick.
"Such extravagant firepower… You should be lighting birthday candles, you little magma brat!" Whitebeard said with a grin.
Akainu, across from Whitebeard, smiled faintly and said, "Don't like luxurious funerals, Whitebeard?"
"Hahaha… my will is carried by him! D! Go! Everyone, cover D! Let him reach the highest point, where my son is!"
Whitebeard slammed his Bisento into the ground.
"Cover D! Brothers! Charge!"
Marco, clad in blue flames, transformed into a phoenix and flew toward Jiang Lin. Other squad leaders moved alongside him.
"Mina! Thank you all! Mihawk, step aside!"
Jiang Lin shouted, clenching both hands and releasing a violent shockwave that shattered the air around him.
The ground beneath him cracked and collapsed under the force.
"Earthquake!"
Jiang Lin's strike had triggered a massive tremor, demonstrating terrifying power.