Chapter 280: Imminent Clash

As the battlefield solidified into an icy wasteland, the strongest forces of the Marines stepped off their warships onto the frozen expanse.

"Are you kidding me? This is the lineup they sent to deal with us?" Ace exhaled sharply, his breath visible in the cold air.

Standing before them were all three Marine Admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—flanked by no fewer than twenty Vice Admirals. This was a force strong enough to challenge the entire Whitebeard Pirates, yet they had mobilized it just for him and Yamato.

"Their target isn't just us," Yamato remarked, uncharacteristically sharp. "They want to capture us alive... and then use us against Whitebeard and Shin."

Ace clenched his fist, flames flickering around his fingers. Then, he grinned. "Well, let's not make it easy for them. Yamato! Let's use that move!"

"Got it!" Yamato's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Ace's flames flared, while Yamato's kanabo shimmered with icy mist. Together, they struck, unleashing an attack that violently warped the very air around them. The extreme temperature clash between fire and ice erupted with explosive force.

"Crack!"

The three Admirals reacted instantly, their combined Haki forming an impenetrable barrier against the oncoming shockwave.

The sheer impact tore through the battlefield, sending tremors across the ice.

When the energy finally dissipated, the frozen continent had been split in two.

The Admirals remained standing, seemingly unscathed, but their coats were torn and tattered.

Akainu scowled, tearing off his ruined Marine cloak. "Tch... A combined attack like Kaido and Big Mom's. Even without our other objectives, we'd need to put these two down before they become real threats."

"Yo-ho... Quite terrifying," Kizaru mused, though his usual lazy demeanor seemed slightly more focused.

"Let's end this. We strike together."

In an instant, the three Admirals, backed by two Admiral candidates and a dozen Vice Admirals, charged forward.

Ace and Yamato fought back with all their might, their skills honed through relentless training, but the overwhelming numbers and raw power of the Marines bore down on them.

Despite their growth, they lasted only an hour or two before being overpowered and captured.

"Secure the prisoners and prepare for transport," Akainu ordered. He turned to a masked CP0 agent beside him. "Begin extraction."

The agent nodded, raising a hand as a fine mist spread over the fleet. Within moments, the entire naval force disappeared without a trace.

The agent possessed the Mirage-Mirage Fruit, capable of generating illusions and hiding entire fleets from detection. It was this ability that had allowed the Marines to ambush Ace and Yamato undetected.

[T/N: As far as I know, this fruit does not exist in canon.]

Elsewhere...

"I found them! The Marine fleet!"

Violet's voice rang with urgency. Under Shin's orders, she had been scanning the area daily with her enhanced Clairvoyance. Today, she had finally located the hidden fleet.

Originally, the powers of her Glare-Glare Fruit didn't allow her to mix farsight and X-ray vision. But with the addition of Shin's modifications, she seamlessly integrated both abilities, giving her a truly legendary form of sight.

To Shin, the Marine's cloaking attempts were now useless.

"Where?" Shin asked, his tone sharp.

"They're sailing through the Calm Belt!" Violet replied, her voice tinged with surprise.

Shin narrowed his eyes. "The Calm Belt, huh? Clever."

It explained how they had traveled undetected. The Marines must have established secret bases within the Calm Belt, negating the need for traditional supply lines.

"But now that we've found them... they won't escape."

Without hesitation, Shin shot into the sky, grabbing Violet as he transformed into his dragon form, streaking toward the Calm Belt at incredible speed.

In the Calm Belt.

Basking in the sun, Kizaru suddenly frowned.

"Hmmm? Something feels off... This is the Calm Belt, right?"

Though the Calm Belt had no natural winds, the movement of the ships would still generate a faint breeze. However, Kizaru felt an unnatural shift in the airflow.

His expression flickered with realization. "Wait... What is that?"

His words drew the attention of the entire fleet. Within moments, all eyes turned skyward.

A black storm cloud loomed in the distance, moving at an unnatural speed.

Under normal circumstances, sudden weather changes were common at sea. But in the Calm Belt—where there was no wind—such a sight was impossible.

"Enemy attack!" bellowed a Marine from the crow's nest.

Akainu was the first to react, stepping forward without hesitation. Raising his magma-covered fist, he launched a searing attack toward the approaching storm.

"Meteor Volcano!" (Ryusei Kazan!)

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