14

At the same time, outside Impel Down, in the sea area frozen by Elior.

Aokiji stood before the frozen landscape, his gaze fixed on the vast ice formation that stretched out before him, nearly blocking the view of Impel Down a few days? Looks like it won't be melting anytime soon."

He reached out, placing a hand on the solid ice. His usually indifferent expression shifted to one of surprise.

"This isn't ordinary ice... It's even harder than the ice I create!"

"Whoever did this is incredibly strong... Their freezing ability might even surpass the Ice-Ice Fruit!"

"Is there a Devil Fruit out there with stronger freezing powers than mine?"

Countless theories swirled in Aokiji's mind. The mere idea of someone else wielding a freezing ability this powerful was enough to rattle him.

For the moment, Elior carried a strong sense of mystery in Aokiji's mind, but as of now, no one in Marine Headquarters even knew his name.

Meanwhile, in the Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh had drawn his sword, while Kizaru wielded his Ama no Murakumo blade. Their clash sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

"Rayleigh, it looks like you're struggling a bit" Kizaru mocked.

Though Rayleigh had been holding his own for five or six minutes, the effort was starting to show. Retirement had left him rusty—he hadn't fought seriously in over twenty years. Now, he was facing one of the Marines' top brass, and even the former right-hand man of the Pirate King couldn't hold his ground forever.

Unlike Rayleigh, Kizaru was fighting with an almost lazy attitude. The power dynamic was clear—one side had the upper hand.

"In Sabaody, your real concern shouldn't be the Straw Hats, Kizaru."

Rayleigh's mind drifted to Elior and his crew. If he could shift the Admiral's focus, it might give Luffy and his friends a chance to escape.

As for the Impel Down escapees, he wasn't sure of their full situation, but surely the Marines wouldn't sit back and do nothing about it, right?

Shanks had bet his arm on the new era. Luffy was the one he had placed his hopes in—the one meant to inherit the will of the Straw Hat. No matter what, Rayleigh had to help them escape.

"Bullet and the others, huh? That is troublesome," Kizaru mused, pushing Rayleigh back with a burst of force.

Rayleigh's words had drawn his attention. Kizaru's gaze shifted, locking onto a distant group of figures watching their battle.

That mysterious young man, Bullet, Shiryu and Crocodile!

Four escapees from Impel Down, all gathered here. But Kizaru hadn't expected them to show up in Sabaody.

And to make matters worse, they'd captured Celestial Dragons.

Three of them, bruised and swollen, their expressions filled with fear.

First, Garp's grandson had attacked a Celestial Dragon, and now these criminals had gone even further. But this time, there were no reservations, no hesitation—they had been utterly ruthless.

"The Demon Heir is a monster. Back in the day, Garp was the one who kept him in check. Shiryu is nearly at an Admiral's level. Crocodile, a Logia user, isn't weak either…"

"But those three… are following him?"

"Who the hell is that kid?"

With his battle against Rayleigh momentarily paused, Kizaru couldn't help but be intrigued by Elior. Compared to the Straw Hats, Elior and his crew were far more dangerous.

"And what might your name be, kid?" Kizaru asked, his voice carrying its usual mocking tone.

"Elior, captain of the Elior Pirates" Elior replied coolly.

Kizaru gestured toward the Celestial Dragons. "You've got a big problem on your hands. The Celestial Dragons aren't people you can mess with so easily"

Elior smirked. "So, you're their loyal lapdog?"

Lapdog?

Kizaru's expression darkened slightly. He didn't take kindly to being called a dog.

"Tsk. This is really annoying" Kizaru sighed.

"You really had to show up at a time like this… what a hassle," Kizaru muttered, frowning.

In less than two weeks, the world would witness a public execution. The Marines and the entire Whitebeard Pirates were heading for all-out war. This was a critical time.

Under normal circumstances, there was no way the three Admirals would have left Marineford, not when Whitebeard could strike at any moment. But with the Celestial Dragons involved, the World Government had forced their hand.

At that moment, in the distance, Kuma moved.

Elior turned to his crew. "Wait here. Don't let Kizaru take the Celestial Dragons back."

With that, Elior activated Soru and vanished.

Elsewhere, the real Kuma stood before the Straw Hats, ready to send them to safety.

One by one, the crew disappeared before Luffy's eyes. Despair flooded him. He was too weak.

The weight of defeat crushed him.

"If you could travel anywhere… where would you like to go?"

Kuma was about to send Luffy away. His destination had already been decided—Amazon Lily.

This was what Dragon had instructed him to do.

Luffy had punched a Celestial Dragon earlier, and Kuma had immediately informed Dragon.

But then—

Whoosh!

Elior appeared mid-air, descending rapidly.

"I'd like to go to Amazon Lily too. Mind taking me along, Bartholomew Kuma?"

For the first time, Kuma's emotionless face showed a hint of surprise.

"Who are you?"

He was already preparing to attack, hands raised, palms ready to repel Elior.

But Elior struck first.

With a flick of his wrist, a massive ice spike shot forward, slamming into Kuma with overwhelming force.