When this man stood before them, Carina and Baby 5 didn't show much of a reaction, but Robin's pupils flickered, expanded, and subconsiously leaned on Shinra.
"It's an honor to have an admiral personally greet me."
As Shinra comforted Robin, patting her hand softly, he returned Kuzan's greeting as he wondered what he should do with this man.
Yes, it could be said that Kuzan was a good person, someone who believed in justice, and he even followed the belief in the burning justice that would help those who were weak and fight evil!
In Kuzan's mind, he was really that burning justice that would erase all of the evil in the world!
Until that day, the day when he was told to destroy the island of scholars and kill his best friend.
Even now, he hadn't forgotten that day, and because of that, while it might seem strange, as he was on the side of justice and someone who worked under the World Government, he had been helping and supporting Robin from childhood till now.
After all, with how young Robin was at that time, how could she even escape from all the dangers and those who were greedy for her bounty?
Still, this time, Robin met someone unexpected, someone who didn't care about her bounty, especially when Shinra was so wealthy, and more importantly, he also had a power that was comparable to the Four Emperors.
When Kuzan stood before him, he could even feel an invisible pressure that made him unable to breathe, knowing that when they fought, the battle that they would have wouldn't be easy for him, and while he didn't want to admit it, there was a high chance that he might lose.
Yet, this was also the reason why he came to Shinra, as he needed to know why he came to Robin.
Why did Shinra take Robin with him?
Yet, when Kuzan saw Robin, who was next to Shinra, hiding most of her features with a hijab, appearing so dependent on him, it made him feel strange and confused. Then again, as he had been single most of his life, he also wasn't familiar with these types of emotions.
"So, you are the one who will lead me to the Marine Headquarters, Admiral?"
"Yes." Kuzan nodded, yet also frowned at Shinra's relaxed attitude as he wondered whether this young man hadn't realized his purpose. "But if you don't mind, how about we have a spar over there?"
"You want to have a spar?"
"Yes." Facing his doubt, Kuzan made such an answer directly. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku has agreed to let you join the Marines, and without a doubt, you will be in a high position due to your feat in protecting Dressrosa from Kaidou's anger, so, as we will be colleagues from now on, do you mind if we have a spar?"
"Why not?"
Shinra didn't mind having a spar with Kuzan, but he knew well that this was what Kuzan wished to do with him from the beginning. Unfortunately, there were too many people around them, so it was hard for Kuzan to initiate their conversation directly, asking this young man about the question that he had always wanted to ask, but while talking was important, without a doubt, the strength was the most important!
Yet, without a doubt, the duel between Shinra and Kuzan caught the interest of many, and everyone quickly cleared the stage for the two, as they watched from a distance.
Kuzan's strength was, without a doubt, as he was one of the admirals, and more importantly, he was also the user of the Logia type of Devil Fruit, Hie Hie no Mi, which made him able to manipulate ice!
Yes, he was the ice itself!
Was it an ice power?
Of course, how could it not be powerful?
Ice was the opposite of fire, yet even so, while it might not be blazing hot and burn everything in its path, and even had an image of being gentle, Shinra knew well that the power of ice was even more fearsome than anyone could imagine.
The frigid ice could kill someone with ease!
If Kuzan could go further, with the ice ability, he might even be able to freeze time or other conceptual objects.
Yet, what made ice was better than fire; it had no need for fuel.
A fire needed oxygen to burn, but ice had no need for that; it just existed by slowing down the molecules and then killing all the living beings into a desert-like state similar to Antarctica.
However, Shinra wasn't weak as he had even defeated Kaidou.
Also, it seemed that he had also eaten the Devil Fruit?
But what kind?
Still, regardless, Kuzan looked at Shinra, who made a stretch in relaxation as if this battle would be easy for him, which made him frown. "Do you want me to hold back a little?"
"No, it's fine. Just go all out."
"Are you sure?"
"Yup." Shinra nodded. "If you don't, you will lose anyway."
"Oh?" Kuzan suddenly smiled, but this smile showed a coldness. "You think you are better than me?"
"Then, can you defeat Kaidou?"
"....."
Kuzan took a deep breath and said, "Let me teach you that an admiral isn't someone that can be underestimated."
"Then, teach me."
Shinra took out the new sword that was given to him, Shishui, the treasured sword of Wano, while wondering how the Five Elders got it.
Did they steal it from Moria?
After all, based on his memory, it seemed Moria had taken Shishui from Wano, along with all the corpses of powerful characters from that country, when he lost to Kaidou.
As this katana was taken, the sharp aura somehow exuded from him, and it caused everyone to shudder as if they were cut by him, even though they stood next to him.
"What do you think, Robin?" Carina asked curiously.
"Shinra-sama will win!" Baby 5 said with extreme conviction!
"...I am not asking you."
Robin didn't give an answer, yet as she stood behind Shinra, she felt like he was there, cutting down all of her fears, and protecting her, standing in front of her as if telling him that she would be okay.
"He will win."
At that moment, the fear, nervousness, and everything about this world were erased within her, as Robin knew well that Shinra could do anything!
Then, as expected—
"Let's start, Admiral~!"
All of a sudden, Shinra's presence disappeared as if he didn't exist in this world. It was as if he had become one with the air, grass, soil, and everything, which made it impossible to detect him!
Even if Kuzan used his Observation Haki, it was meaningless, yet even so, as he felt threatened, he used his strongest attack!
"Ice Age!"
At that moment, the world was about to become a frozen wasteland, yet before that happened, Shinra suddenly stood before him and slashed his blade, which had the concentration of his techniques, Haki, and everything.
If Roger's sword technique, Divine Departure, was a technique that would make even a god run away, then Shinra would go beyond that!
His sword technique would be one that could cut down a God!
"Longinus!"
Like a nuclear explosion, the world turned white and black as the aftermath destroyed everything.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!