Under Who's Who's horrified gaze, Sasaki's ice-encased body was completely pierced through by Kuzan's ice spear.
There was no accident.
There was no miracle.
Another of the Beasts Pirates' Flying Six had fallen.
"Khh—"
Kuzan exhaled a puff of white frost. Not far away, the ice encasing Jack the Drought's massive body began to fracture, deep cracks spreading across the frozen shell.
"No time to waste on you."
Kuzan's figure blurred and vanished, rushing toward another battlefield.
Compared to spending precious time finishing off Jack — a mammoth with an absurdly thick life force — Kuzan prioritized rescuing Bogard and Gion.
He was not like Akainu. He would not trade the lives of his own Marines just to kill pirates.
And as long as Imu and the Five Elders held the advantage…
None of these pirates were escaping.
So the most valuable action now was to preserve what remained of the Navy's fighting strength.
Who's Who stood frozen in place, unable to muster the courage to intercept the departing admiral.
Watching Kuzan kill both Snack and Sasaki in succession had planted a primal fear in his heart.
"ROOOOAR!!"
Jack the Drought shattered the ice binding him and let out a roar that shook the frozen sea.
Seeing Sasaki's impaled corpse, his bloodshot eyes burned with rage.
Hooves thundered.
The massive mammoth charged, every step cracking the ice beneath him.
Kuzan had killed Sasaki right in front of him.
His pride demanded revenge.
Elsewhere on the battlefield—
The Kiryuu Pirates' Impel Down Three Monsters were already escorting the captured Vice Admiral Gion back toward their airborne flagship.
Ener remained in the field, hunting down more Navy commanders.
His attention locked onto the duel between Garp the Fist and Big Mom.
The Navy's greatest living hero.
If he could steal that kill from a Yonko — and finish Garp himself — his infamy would skyrocket.
His bounty would surpass even the Pirate Empress and Bartholomew Kuma.
That thought alone thrilled him.
Stealing kills meant nothing to him.
Big Mom wasn't a true ally of the Kiryuu Pirates anyway.
Given the chance, Ener fully intended to kill her too.
Their goal was to rule the entire sea.
Both the Four Emperors and the World Government were enemies.
Not far away, another Marine warship was engulfed in clashing steel and flying sword aura.
Bogard, Garp's right hand, was being overwhelmed by King the Wildfire and Shiryu of the Rain.
His body was covered in deep blade wounds, his blood soaking through his uniform.
His stance remained disciplined — but his strength was nearly gone.
King admired him even now.
"As expected of the hero's strongest adjutant. If Shiryu wasn't helping me, I'd have never brought you down alone."
Bogard said nothing.
His breath was ragged.
He glanced once toward Garp's battle with Big Mom — unwillingness flickered in his eyes.
But his arms trembled uncontrollably. Blood dripped from his grip on the sword.
His muscles were torn from overexertion — he had nothing left to give.
Tea Pig Tokikake had already fallen.
Gion had been defeated and captured.
He himself was moments away from death.
Even Garp was in dire straits.
He understood.
They might truly perish here today.
"Stop talking."
Shiryu bit down on his cigar, cold eyes narrowing as he lunged forward again.
The longer this dragged on, the higher the risk.
But the next moment — Ulti and Page One rushed onto the deck in a panic.
"King! Finish him already! Kuzan is coming — Jack won't stop him!"
"Snack from Big Mom's crew is already dead!"
"We need to regroup and surround Kuzan!"
They shouted the situation clearly and urgently.
"Kuzan… escaped Barrett?"
Shiryu's expression tightened.
It felt like the moment you went to kill Lucky Roo — and Red-Haired Shanks walked in.
His killing intent sharpened.
He needed to finish Bogard now.
Hearing Kuzan was close, Bogard's fading spirit sparked once more.
Clenching his teeth, he forced his ravaged muscles to move and raised his sword, charging Shiryu for one final clash.
"Kuzan…?"
King's expression also hardened.
He immediately joined the finishing assault.
They had to kill Bogard before the admiral arrived.
Blood sprayed again as Bogard was struck — deep gashes opening across his body.
And then—
Just as Shiryu's sword plunged for the killing blow—
A freezing gale swept across the deck.
"Ararara… This guy is Garp's trusted aide. And also my friend. How about giving me a little face and letting him walk away?"
Kuzan appeared in front of the dying Bogard.
His ice-covered fists intercepted Shiryu's blade, sparks bursting across the frost.
"I don't give face. You're just as irritating as that red-haired bastard."
"Imperial Flame Dragon!"
King unleashed a blazing dragon-shaped slash wreathed in Lunarian fire.
"Lunarian flames really are something…"
Even Kuzan had to brace himself fully to block the attack and protect Bogard behind him.
"Annoying Logia user…"
Shiryu snarled when Kuzan's ice wall halted his follow-up strike.
Ulti and Page One were stunned that Kuzan had arrived this quickly.
Did Jack and Sasaki really fail to delay him for even a few minutes?
Were they both instantly defeated?
But soon — a rumbling quake echoed across the ice.
A furious mammoth charged toward them, shaking the sea itself.
"King! Kuzan's stamina was drained by Barrett. If we combine our strength, we can kill him!"
"Black Maria is already calling Cracker over!"
Page One shouted respectfully.
Hearing that, King and Shiryu's hesitation faded.
They stared at Kuzan with cold, killing intent.
With themselves, Jack, and soon Cracker — they could wear down a Marine Admiral.
Even the strongest could fall to exhaustion.
"ROOOOAR!! KUZAN!! YOU DIE HERE!!"
Jack barreled into the battlefield, eyes blood-red, reason long gone.