"Ice Age!!!"
A lazy, distant voice echoed across the sea.
At the same time, an absolute freezing air spread, chilling everything in its path.
The undulating sea froze for a moment. Even the hundred-meter-high tsunami halted in midair, solidifying over the Buster Call warships, forming a massive cap of ice and snow.
The cold continued to spread, instantly freezing the waters for thousands of meters around Enies Lobby.
Sunlight reflected off the ice, dazzling and brilliant, creating a surreal, otherworldly scene. The sudden transformation stunned everyone into silence, followed by whispers of shock and awe.
"What… what happened? The sea… it's frozen!" Nami's wide eyes sparkled in disbelief.
"It's the same as before… that freezing power… it's identical to Xiao Ke's!" Erza said solemnly, recalling their previous encounter on the island.
"Such a massive freezing zone… could it really be the Great Ice Sorcerer?" Juvia guessed, her voice trembling.
"No! No! It's Aokiji! Admiral Aokiji—Marine Headquarters' top-tier power!" Robin took a deep breath, her words tinged with the fear of a long-standing nightmare.
"Nani… Admiral?!" Wendy blinked, confused.
Xia Lulu rubbed her forehead helplessly. "It's Admiral Aokiji. Among the Marine's highest powers, he's the one who can freeze everything."
Vivi's voice was barely audible, trembling, "That… that's Admiral?"
Mira gazed at the distant figure emerging from the icy horizon, astonishment painted across her delicate features. "This… is an entrance like no other."
Above the icy sea, the ten Buster Call warships and thousands of sailors stared in terror at the almost-inevitable tsunami.
They were so close… so incredibly close… to absolute annihilation.
"Saved… we're saved!" The Marines on the Buster Call ships twitched, then collapsed onto the decks, drained of strength. Thick cold sweat drenched them, their faces filled with a mix of relief and disbelief.
"The sea… it's frozen!"
"This power… it can't be wrong…"
"There's only one person in the world capable of this—Marine Headquarters' top power, Admiral Aokiji Kuzan!"
"Kuzan Admiral is here!"
"Our Admiral… he's arrived! We're safe!"
Excitement and relief spread like wildfire among the sailors.
Jingle bell~~
A crisp bicycle bell rang across the ice.
Under the eager gaze of the Marines, Admiral Aokiji Kuzan pedaled in, calm and composed, ringing the bell as he appeared.
"Heh… you remembered," Sugisawa Yuuto murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Yuuto was not surprised. He had expected Aokiji's arrival.
Twenty years ago, seeing Saul, the Titan's best friend, desperately trying to protect Robin, Kuzan—then a Vice Admiral—had secretly allowed Robin to escape. Now, two decades later, Kuzan had taken the role of overseer, quietly monitoring Robin's actions.
If Robin ever posed a threat to the world, Kuzan would act without hesitation.
The Alabasta incident had revealed Robin's connections with Locke Works and Shichibukai Locke Dar. While Yuuto thought Robin might have been acting independently, her alignment with Shichibukai touched Kuzan's bottom line.
Then came her joining Fairy Tail, defeating Bar Locke. Kuzan initially doubted any true change in Robin; he assumed she would continue her ambitions under Fairy Tail's protection.
A week ago, upon learning Robin's exact location, Kuzan had discreetly moved to the underground island. He had set a covert World Government operation in motion—unknown to Marshal Sengoku—to test Robin's resolve. The golden phone bug had been part of this test.
Kuzan had expected Robin, relying on Fairy Tail's strength, to resist the World Government's threat—but she had not. The woman who had evaded capture for twenty years surrendered almost immediately.
This might have been the best possible outcome: Robin willing to be arrested voluntarily, avoiding unnecessary conflict. Kuzan could even afford her minor privileges in Impel Down as compensation.
But now, everything had changed.
Fairy Tail had come—not to escape, but to fight.
They pursued Robin relentlessly, defeated Si Dao with overwhelming force, and openly declared war on the World Government.
Kuzan realized Robin had truly changed. Perhaps Fairy Tail was her final haven. In Kuzan's mind, her assessment was complete: Robin's final evaluation had passed.
Fairy Tail saving Robin was acceptable—but now…
Buster Call was activated.
Even Kuzan was shocked. Sugisawa Yuuto and Fairy Tail did not retreat—they stood their ground.
Yuuto's plan had worked perfectly: the tsunami would draw out Admiral Aokiji, the Marine's highest power. And as expected, Kuzan intervened just as the Marine fleet teetered on the brink of annihilation.
Top Admiral and Top Emperor.
The stage was set for an epic showdown.
Naval Headquarters, Marineford
The Buster Call's disturbance continued. Sailors gathered in small groups, whispering. The target? Enies Lobby—Ace Hall.
One of the World Government's three major institutions was about to face complete destruction. Marines were about to obliterate their own island… a scandal waiting to happen.
Clatter! Footsteps echoed along the corridor.
"Marshal Sengoku! Request reinforcements! Fairy Tail is too powerful—the standard Buster Call troops aren't enough!" Admiral candidate Momousagi Gion strode in, serious.
Initially, Gion had avoided the Buster Call operation—she despised indiscriminate destruction. But hearing that Fairy Tail was behind it, she couldn't stay idle.
"Gion, your injuries haven't healed—rest for now," Vice Admiral Tsuru warned gently.
"I've healed months ago! Let me fight!" Gion implored, eyes wide.
"It's too late. The Buster Call fleet is already at Enies Lobby. The doors of justice are open—it will take half a day at least to reach them!" Vice Admiral Crane cautioned.
"Half a day… Fairy Tail's actions may be over before then. It's better not to confront them directly," he added, a note of worry in his voice.
The next second, panic erupted:
"Marshal… Marshal Sengoku! Something terrible's happening!"
Green-haired Commodore Branau stumbled in, terrified.
"What is it?" Sengoku demanded.
"The Buster Call special operations team reports… nearly wiped out!" Branau stammered.
Nani?! Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was a Buster Call with five elite Vice Admirals and ten thousand sailors. How could it be nearly annihilated before even reaching Enies Lobby?
"Calm down, Sengoku. 'Nearly wiped out' is almost impossible—it means the situation is still manageable," Vice Admiral Crane said, voice steady.
He handed Sengoku the communication from Huoshaoshan.
"Fire Mountain, report! What happened at Enies Lobby?" Sengoku demanded.
"Marshal, it's… Sugisawa Yuuto! He's a monster! Smoker's report was right—he has both Thunder Fruit and Gravity Fruit abilities! Unprecedented double powers!" Huoshaoshan's voice trembled.
Sengoku, Tsuru, Gion, and Crane were stunned.
"Double Devil Fruits… is such a thing really possible?" Gion whispered, shocked.
"Breaking the fundamental laws of Devil Fruits… can Fairy Tail really wield such power?" Crane muttered, disbelief etched on his face.
"Not now!" Sengoku thought, suppressing his panic.
"Huoshaoshan, are the fleets okay?" Crane asked.
"No… Kuzan froze the tsunami. The Buster Call ships are safe!"
Relief washed over Sengoku. He had full confidence in Admiral Aokiji.
But just as he relaxed, another report came:
"They're fighting!"
"Kuzan Admiral is engaging that man!"
Chaos erupted on the line.
"Wait… Kuzan Admiral is about to be destroyed!"
Sengoku froze.
Enies Lobby, Ice-Sea Battlefield
Yuuto descended from the sky, electricity crackling around him—black and red lightning dancing across his form.
Aokiji's pupils contracted.
"Is… that the Conqueror's Haki?"
Yuuto grinned. "Wrong. This is Thunder Dragon King!"