A biting frost suddenly swept across the entire sea.
Winter arrived, and the endless waters instantly crystallized into towering ice prisms!
Even the warships spiraling out of control in the whirlpool immediately quieted.
Under the sudden cold, the gaping Gate of Justice was instantly sealed by a skyward-rising wall of ice.
Onboard the Going Merry, Luffy let out a light laugh, then turned to Robin and Brook, saying:
"Today's really special… an old friend is coming to visit~"
Robin and Brook shared a smile, and Brook even chimed in:
"Yohohoho~ It really has been a long time, hasn't it…"
They remembered how brutally they had been beaten back then—it really had been ages ago.
…
The others on the Going Merry looked puzzled.
Although they didn't understand what Luffy, Robin, and Brook were referring to, through Observation Haki, they could sense a formidable presence nearby.
From the ice that sealed the Gate of Justice, a figure gradually emerged, dropping onto the frozen surface below.
Tall and imposing, Aokiji's feet touched the ice like a slow-motion scene, his gaze immediately fixed on the Going Merry, trapped and immobile in the ice.
Even in his perception, a faint sense of danger lingered, making him hesitate to focus on Luffy and the others.
Yet as a Marine Admiral, how could he allow pirates to freely pass through the Gate of Justice?
His normally lazy expression hardened as he said:
"Ah… this is troublesome indeed…"
Onboard, Luffy leapt onto the ice, landing gracefully.
He tapped the brittle surface with his foot, sending shards of ice scattering.
Looking up at Aokiji, he smiled and teased:
"Long time no see, Admiral Kuzan!"
The last time they met, Aokiji was a Marine Vice Admiral, rescuing Warlord Hancock from the Thriller Bark.
That encounter also involved Robin, who had once escaped his capture…
Luffy had fought with all his strength, and only stopped when Aokiji decided to end the battle.
Had the fight continued, Luffy couldn't guarantee who would have won.
Not long after that encounter, Aokiji, Akainu, and Kizaru were all promoted to Admirals, further raising the Marine's power.
Years had passed in the blink of an eye.
But today's Luffy was no longer the boy from that day.
…
Hoo…
Aokiji exhaled slowly. If he could, he truly did not want to fight Luffy.
Winning meant capturing… and he couldn't do that.
Garp's grandson could be captured by anyone—but not by him.
The favor he owed Garp could never be repaid, and if he were to imprison his grandson…
With the World Government's attitude toward ancient weapons and historical records, it could easily end like Marco, with a public execution.
Losing?
No way!
He was a Marine Admiral, one of the world's top fighters. Could he lose to a teenage kid?!
…
"You really know how to make trouble for Vice Admiral Garp…"
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
Thinking of Garp's recent frowning face—so tense he barely touched his senbei, eating less than a hundred packets a week—Aokiji couldn't help but sigh.
No one in the Monkey family could ever stay out of trouble.
"Uh…"
Hearing Aokiji mention his grandfather, Luffy felt a little embarrassed.
He could imagine Garp's face when the bounty news went out—half happy, half angry.
And even now…
Luffy didn't think he could beat his grandfather.
He wasn't sure if it was his emotions playing tricks, or if his intuition was warning him.
But facing a single Admiral, he felt no fear.
Luffy shook his head and pointed toward the Gate of Justice behind Aokiji:
"Admiral Aokiji, since we're all friends here, let's not make things complicated.
"We just want to go to the Underwater Prison to find someone.
"Look at it as doing me a favor for my grandfather…"
"Ha!?"
Aokiji's low exhalation carried a note of surprise:
"So your target is the Underwater Prison? Then I absolutely cannot let you pass!
"Looking out for Vice Admiral Garp's honor, it's better that I arrest you first—before you cause any more trouble."
Though he said "arrest," in truth, he merely intended to give Luffy a taste of top-tier Marine power, and drive them away.
A visible chill began emanating from Aokiji, spreading through the area like a frigid wind.
Hah…
Luffy exhaled lightly, heat radiating off him. His eyes sharpened as he stared at Aokiji:
"So you don't want to do me the favor for my grandfather…"
"Arresting you is the best way to honor Vice Admiral Garp!"
Aokiji's body suddenly radiated extreme cold.
The chill spread outward, and his hands glowed ice-blue.
In an instant, the cold coalesced in his chest, forming four massive ice spears aimed at Luffy.
WHOOSH!
The four spears shot forward, leaving only a slicing sound in the air.
The ice spears were terrifyingly fast, streaking like blue lightning, reaching Luffy in the blink of an eye.
CLAP!
Luffy's black gauntlets clashed with the ice spears, shattering them instantly.
He lifted his head, eyes serious, and said:
"Don't waste childish tricks on me, Admiral Aokiji."
"Oh~"
Aokiji's voice was as cold and calm as his powers.
"But… aren't you just a… kid?"
BOOM!!!
Without warning, Luffy raised his hand. A blazing surge of Heat Haki erupted!
The ice beneath him instantly melted under the pressure of his flames.
Standing atop a melting ice slab, Luffy swung his other hand down.
A mysterious burst of ice spread from his feet, different from Aokiji's blue ice.
Sunlight caught it, and the ice reflected rainbow-like colors, rippling like delicate silk across the frozen surface.
"Admiral Aokiji, is this your idea of a 'kid'…?"
Under the blazing heat, half of Aokiji's body had already melted. He struggled to reform ice over his remaining body.
Cold sweat, remarkably not frozen by his powers, slid down his face.
He stared at Luffy in disbelief.
That attack… was way too strong!
"You… you…"
Startled by Luffy's sudden move, he could barely speak.
Hey!
Standing atop the breakthrough ice, Luffy's lips curled in a mischievous, childlike grin.
"Go ahead…"
"Use your strongest technique. Maybe… you can hurt this little kid."
"Oh! By the way!"
"Don't worry—out of respect for my grandfather, I'm not…"
"…going to kill you!"
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Completed version available on P@treon(.)com/Veltoria