Chapter 103: Sabaody Archipelago: Battle with Akainu, Part 4
"Hey, is this Shakuyaku?" After receiving Chiron's report, Eric immediately called Shakuyaku to inform her and Rayleigh to prepare for evacuation.
"Little Eric , you all have done something no one has dared to do in the past 800 years," Shakuyaku said with an unusually serious tone. Eric had killed a Celestial Dragon and even broadcast it live to the entire world.
More than twenty years ago, even the powerful Rocks Pirates were wiped out by the Navy in alliance with the Roger Pirates for attacking the Celestial Dragons. That formidable crew instantly fell apart, and the very existence of the Rocks Pirates was erased from history by the World Government.
And now, after killing a Celestial Dragon, Eric 's group hadn't even fled but were directly fighting an Admiral on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"That aside, I've received word that the Navy has sent ten warships. It's probably a Buster Call. Get out of there with Uncle Rayleigh immediately, and let the civilians know to evacuate the Sabaody Archipelago as well!"
"...!" Shakuyaku's expression turned grim. She was well aware of the power of a Buster Call. Its cannon fire could erase an island. It had been used in the destruction of Ohara and in the pursuit of Douglas Bullet.
Even the exceptionally powerful "Heir of the Devil" Bullet, who could fight Rayleigh to a draw, had fallen under the Buster Call and was imprisoned in Impel Down. That alone proved its terrifying might.
"Thank you, Little Eric . That's critical intel."
Shakuyaku asked, "By the way, Rayleigh wants to know—do you need his help?"
"Please thank Uncle Rayleigh for me, but this mess is ours to deal with. We'll handle it ourselves," Eric replied in a heavy voice. "However, there is something else I need help with. Try to notify as many civilians as possible. Save as many people as you can."
"No problem. It's a junior's request, after all." Shakuyaku hung up. "A pirate with more responsibility than the Navy..."
Rayleigh laughed heartily, "Hahaha! He's got responsibility and backbone—just too bold! Eric -kun, what kind of path will you take next, I wonder..."
…
Dozens of Ice Knights descended from the ship, lining up behind Esdeath. She didn't order them to attack Akainu because their attacks would be useless against him. If they were melted by his magma, she'd just be wasting a huge reserve of carefully stored energy.
Now, possessing the Ice-Ice Fruit, Esdeath had refined her control over temperature with far greater precision.
"Judging by the size of this island, the energy from just ten Ice Knights should be enough…" Esdeath calculated the energy consumption for her next move. With a snap, she raised her right hand and pointed skyward.
As soon as the snap echoed, ten Ice Knights slowly shattered into chunks of crystal, which dissolved into white cold air that swirled toward Esdeath.
"Ice Storm Grand Marshal!"
The white cold air shot skyward from Esdeath's fingertip, blanketing the entire 27GR island.
Temperatures on the island dropped drastically. Large snowflakes began to fall, and freezing northern winds howled through the area.
To people on the surrounding islands, 27GR became shrouded in thick black clouds, from which a snowstorm poured down—only a misty gray could be seen.
"Whoa!" exclaimed the well-informed Morgans. "Has her Devil Fruit awakened already?! She looks barely in her twenties. If she doesn't die at Akainu's hands today, she's bound to become one of the sea's future titans."
"No, she definitely won't die here. Eric 's cautious personality wouldn't have led him into a death trap. Damn that ambitious bastard—trying to rise in power by stepping on the Navy's name?! Hahahaha… With you around, Darin Eric , there's never a shortage of explosive headlines!"
Morgans laughed like he'd found a mountain of gold. Joyful laughter filled the entire broadcast room.
"Hmph. Your snowstorm doesn't affect me. I am magma that incinerates all!" As expected of anime logic, Akainu calmly waited for Esdeath to unleash her special move before charging forward with his searing magma.
"Of course I know the snowstorm won't harm you… I just wanted to power up my ice attacks! White Ice Shard Lance!" Hundreds of ice spears materialized midair, surrounding Akainu.
"Go!" The ice spears, laced with traces of Haki, shot toward the magma-encased Akainu.
"Your ice is useless! Stop wasting your strength!" Akainu generated more magma, enveloping himself.
Though imbued with Haki, the ice spears couldn't resist the magma's extreme heat. They instantly vaporized into steam, which then froze into icy fragments in the frigid air.
"Heh, your Haki isn't strong enough. With consumption this intense, your Haki won't last," Akainu sneered. He had seen that Esdeath's weakness was her limited Haki reserves, though her overall strength was astonishing for her age.
'I must execute her here and now!' Akainu resolved to kill Esdeath—her potential was too great a threat.
Despite her heavy stamina consumption, Esdeath snapped her fingers again. Four more Ice Knights shattered, releasing white energy that flew toward her and fused into her body.
"Hmm?" Akainu made a sound of confusion. Through his Observation Haki, he sensed that Esdeath, whose energy had been half-depleted, had suddenly returned to full strength.
"Zzzzt zzzzt!" Blue lightning and a red magic spear shot toward Akainu just as he was momentarily distracted.
"Boom boom boom…" Dozens of Kurumi clones fired simultaneously, each bullet trailing light as they flew at Akainu. The firepower rivaled that of a reinforced army unit.
"Zzzzz…" Countless bullets struck the magma, knocking off bits of it before melting within.
"Elemental dodge again, huh?" Eric and Scáthach's Haki attacks had missed, and Kurumi's bullets lacked the ability to carry Haki at all.
"Another ability user… but without Haki, those bullets are useless against me!" Akainu roared as he punched from afar. A magma fist with a blazing trail shot toward Kurumi.
"Ara, looks like I was underestimated." While Kurumi couldn't coat her attacks with Haki, she did have acceleration from her First Bullet. There was no way Akainu could land a hit so easily.
All her clones vanished into shadows instantly, and Kurumi's real body easily dodged the punch.
"Hailstorm Assault!"
While Akainu's attention was fixed on Kurumi, Esdeath leaped high into the sky and unleashed her most powerful single-target move.
"I'll send you all to hell right now!"
Though the group assault hadn't really hurt him, the fact that he couldn't hit any of them infuriated Akainu.
Like mosquitoes buzzing around your head on a summer night—unreachable, but endlessly irritating.
His explosive temper flared, and killing intent surged. "Great Eruption!"
Magma flowed from his right arm in greater torrents. Thick smoke billowed as he threw a massive punch toward the enormous ice block in the sky. The red-hot magma fist expanded again.
When the magma fist clashed with the ice, the point of contact instantly melted and shattered. The block visibly shrank before their eyes. Just as the magma was about to melt half the ice—
Eric , Scáthach, and Akame attacked Akainu while he stood with his fist raised. Can't attack during a special move? Sorry, we don't follow that rule.
(END CHAPTER)
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