"Patrick Redfield!"
Smoker gritted his teeth and growled:
"Everyone, fall back! This is not an opponent you can handle! Call for reinforcements! Support with long-range artillery!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
The Marines quickly retreated. As a Logia-type user, Smoker wouldn't be harmed by their artillery. The troops scrambled to carry out the order.
"Hmph… interesting."
Redfield flashed forward with a sudden "shup," appearing right in front of Smoker. With a casual tap of his palm on Smoker's head, he withdrew immediately, his expression growing serious.
"A mere Vice Admiral, yet your mental defenses are this strong? Even my ability can't access all your memories…"
He smirked.
"No matter. The ones that left the deepest impression… are enough."
Before Smoker's horrified eyes, Redfield flicked two leaves into the air. In a flash of light, they transformed—into two people.
"Rosinante! Aokiji?!"
Smoker clenched his teeth hard.
"Those leaves… can become people?! That's impossible!"
"Go on, show me what you've got."
Redfield opened his arms wide and let out a wild laugh:
"Wipe this warship off the map!"
"Heh… Smoker. Didn't expect we'd be crossing paths."
The "Rosinante" lit a cigarette, his coat of justice blazing with fire. Smoker snarled:
"Damn it! Did you even copy his idiotic personality too?!"
"Arara… This won't even be a contest."
The "Aokiji" waved a hand, and an intense chill filled the air. Two jagged ice spears formed beside him.
"Ice Block: Partisan!"
"Silent Stasis Field!"
...
"Arara… Looks like Smoker's in trouble."
Kuzan frowned, pulling out a den den mushi that was wailing non-stop. This was a full-priority emergency distress signal—no time even for a verbal message?
He connected the call. His frown deepened as the sound of fierce battle erupted from the other end of the line.
But what really set off alarm bells—was that he clearly heard his own voice from the den den mushi.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Kuzan dropped his bike and launched into the air with Geppo, racing toward Smoker's location.
"This is bad… What the hell is going on?!"
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Wright hung up the den den mushi, then immediately dialed another number.
"Borsalino-senpai, change of plans. Redfield's situation has escalated. We'll need you over there—immediately."
"You might be in for a tough battle… Be ready."
"Ahh~ So scary~ A tough battle, you say~"
Borsalino sighed lazily:
"Taking on Redfield~ That old man~~ Are we really sending two Admirals?"
"Yes… and even two Admirals may find it tough. You'll understand when you get there. The old man's no longer fighting alone."
"Ooh~ Now you've piqued my interest~"
...
Smoker spat a mouthful of blood. Facing both Kuzan and Rosinante at once, even with his familiarity with their abilities, the outcome was grim.
"Good thing… their power is a far cry from the originals. Aokiji's strength is probably around top-tier Vice Admiral level at best."
"But Rosinante's ability… still annoying as hell, even weakened… tch!"
Thankfully, Redfield hadn't joined the fray himself, which bought Smoker some time. The Marines' long-range fire support was causing problems for the clones as well.
This old bastard… is he testing the limits of his ability? This power is completely broken!
Wait… isn't this that pet tanuki's ability? It never showed anything like this before!
"Urgh!"
A searing pain stabbed through Smoker's chest, and another mouthful of blood spewed out. The "Aokiji" clone raised his hand—
"Ice Time Capsule."
Smoker was instantly encased in a block of ice.
"BOOM—!"
"Ngh!"
The ice shattered in a fiery blast as Smoker burst out, panting hard. At the same time, the "Rosinante" clone was suddenly skewered by a smoke-formed spear from behind, dispersing into a leaf.
"Impressive. Even among Vice Admirals, you're one of the strong ones."
Redfield sat nonchalantly on the ship's rail, observing with amusement. But then, his expression suddenly shifted, and he vanished in a flash of crimson light.
"Arara… This is tricky. Even I can't tell which one's the real me."
Where Redfield had just been sitting, a solid block of ice now remained. As the warship shook, shards of ice scattered and fell.
"Aokiji…"
Smoker gasped for breath. The real deal had finally arrived.
Kuzan stood atop the mast, coat of justice fluttering, scratching his head as he glanced down at the clone fighting Smoker—and at the real Redfield now standing at the stern.
"So much for all our precautions. There's still an intelligence blind spot big enough for this to happen."
"Kuzan… you brat, do you think I can't use Observation Haki anymore?"
Redfield smiled with a devilish glint and nodded slowly.
"As expected, the young Fleet Admiral wouldn't dare take his eyes off an old man like me…"
"You've all been watching me for so long. Today, consider this my little gift in return—satisfied?"
Kuzan glanced at the fallen, battered Marines and sighed.
"You're really making things difficult, old man. Couldn't you clone someone else? Watching myself fight myself is just…"
Massive ice spikes erupted from the deck, speeding toward the fake Kuzan. The clone tried to parry, but Smoker seized the opening:
"White Dragon Spear!"
"White Cloudburst!"
BOOOM——!!
A thunderous blast obliterated the fake Kuzan. Kuzan winced slightly.
"Watching myself get taken out like that… visually speaking, that's pretty rough."
"Heheheh…" Redfield nodded approvingly.
"Seems it works just fine."
"Then I can proceed with my plans in peace…"
"Hah? You're just leaving now, old man? That's insulting."
Kuzan spread his arms wide, summoning two spears of chilling energy.
"True Ice Block: Partisan!"
Smoker cracked a smirk—Kuzan even named his moves…
"Shup—"
Redfield vanished in a streak of crimson, his wicked laughter echoing in the air:
"Hehehehehe… You both know, if I want to leave, not even the strongest ice Logia user can stop me…"
"Next time… it won't be like this."
"Deploying Admirals just to face me—guess I'm still a real threat, huh?"
"That's… oddly touching. Hehehehehe…"
Kuzan leapt down from the mast. Smoker walked over to him.
"… We miscalculated. We never imagined Redfield possessed such overwhelming power."
"And that's without his pet tanuki around!"
"Well… that's why our Fleet Admiral's concern was justified. Red the Aloof likely came just to test the waters. If he meant to go all out, even the two of us wouldn't be able to hold him."
"Borsalino will be here soon. Let's start treating the wounded…"
"We're in for a hard fight ahead."
"Understood."
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