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It was completely unexpected. Kuzan had assumed the spear posed no threat to him whatsoever. And yet the moment it made contact, he collapsed to the ground for no apparent reason.
"It actually worked!" Vivi covered her mouth with both hands, staring in open surprise.
"Interesting," Hancock said, looking Kuzan up and down. "Even someone who can elementalize is affected?"
"Kuzan, how does it feel?" Gion asked, laughing.
"Not great," Kuzan said with a frown, looking down at his right leg. "I seem to have lost control of my lower calf."
Where the lower half of his calf should have been, only a stub remained. The rest had separated into ice and fallen to the floor. Under normal circumstances, he would have had complete control over detached ice and could simply reabsorb it. Right now, he found he couldn't. Fortunately, that sensation passed quickly. Within moments, Aokiji reasserted control over the broken ice and reconstructed his lower leg.
"As you can see," Ikki said with a smile, "Astolfo's spear is effective against those who can elementalize. It works even on a top-tier ability user like Kuzan."
"Of course, that's because Kuzan didn't resist," Ikki added. "If he had truly tried to avoid it, someone with his abilities would have made it very difficult for Astolfo to land a hit in the first place."
Even so, the ability was remarkable. Hancock stroked her chin, her thoughts drifting. She had started to wonder whether Nero had abilities that hadn't yet been revealed. And if Ikki were ever able to summon Nero, would Nero arrive in a different class than Saber?
As it happened, Hancock's instinct was correct. Nero did intend to come to this pirate world in a different class. Astolfo himself had more options available now, and could even descend in the Beast class if the conditions were met.
But if Nero were ever to truly arrive in this world as a Beast, Ikki had a feeling the world would be in serious trouble. He himself would probably be regarded as some kind of demon king for having summoned a being capable of threatening human civilization.
"I see," Kuzan said, sitting up slowly. "What a peculiar spear. It forced me to fall without any ability to resist." He turned it over in his mind. "Would it have the same effect on a giant?"
The spear was easy enough to dodge, but its value in actual combat was undeniable. If a powerful fighter suddenly lost their footing in the middle of a battle, the opening it created could be devastating. Kuzan found himself thinking about Whitebeard. Even someone like him, if he lost his balance for even a moment, could be seriously wounded in that instant.
"It would work the same way on a giant," Ikki said. "But don't get any ideas, Kuzan. The Trap of Argalia only reaches its full potential in Astolfo's hands. Anyone else holding it would just be holding an ordinary spear."
"Ah, you saw right through me," Kuzan said with a look of genuine regret. "I was actually thinking of borrowing it for a while."
"Forget borrowing it. If you want to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates, find another way." Ikki shrugged.
Astolfo climbed onto Hippogriff's back. Ikki followed.
"I'm going to take a look around the area," Ikki said. "If there's nothing else, we'll be off."
"Ikki, this is Marine Headquarters," Aokiji said. "There are plenty of places you're not supposed to see."
"It's fine. I'll keep an eye on him." Gion spoke calmly and climbed up onto Hippogriff's back, settling in behind Ikki.
"How cunning," Hancock said, her frown sharp as she looked at Gion.
"Apologies," Gion said to Hancock. "It seems there's only room for three. Any more and it would be too crowded." She turned forward and told Astolfo to go.
Astolfo didn't overthink it. He tugged the reins, Hippogriff spread its wings, and they rose into the sky.
"That woman is far too cunning," Hancock said, stomping her foot as she watched Hippogriff shrink rapidly to a speck in the distance.
"Don't be angry, Hancock," Nojiko said. She glanced at Aokiji with a look of mild amusement, then smiled at Hancock. "This is Marine Headquarters, and Gion is with Captain Ikki. Her presence actually makes things smoother and keeps them out of trouble. Otherwise, that ice admiral over there might have had reason to get difficult. We still have time. Why don't we talk?"
Hancock was arrogant by nature, but she was someone Ikki cared for and admired. Nojiko was perfectly willing to spend that time with her. Hancock turned and looked at her.
"Very well. I'll accept your invitation."
It was consistent with how things had always been. Hancock kept a genuinely warm attitude toward Nojiko, who had sailed with Ikki's crew far longer than she had. Since Nojiko was the one extending the invitation, refusing didn't cross her mind. Beyond that, she wanted to learn more about Ikki through Nojiko and the others.
Aokiji watched Hancock, Nojiko, Nami, and Vivi disappear down the corridor and shook his head slowly.
"The Empress is getting along with people so pleasantly now." He exhaled a breath of cold air. "I wonder what kind of spell Ikki put on her. Could it be that red sword of his?"
He couldn't make sense of it. He turned and made his way toward Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
With Gion at Ikki's side, Aokiji wasn't concerned about him wandering around. But Astolfo was a new element entirely. Sengoku needed to know.
"You're saying that spear in Astolfo's hand made you fall to the ground involuntarily, even in your elemental form?"
Sengoku set down his work and looked at Aokiji with undisguised surprise. Across the room, Kizaru and Akainu, who had been going over war preparations with Sengoku, both looked up.
"That's right," Aokiji said. "Even after fully converting to elemental form, my lower calf was still out of my control for a moment. It was like that part of me had simply stopped existing. If I hadn't recovered as quickly as I did, it honestly felt like Astolfo could have just walked off with my leg."