Akainu glared at Creed, his expression dark as an erupting volcano, his aura surging violently as if it could explode at any moment.
Ssshhhhh~
Magma bubbled from his body, dripping to the ground with sizzling hisses, scorching the earth black and leaving charred craters.
An oppressive wave of heat burst forth, sweeping across the port.
Even Falkor, resting lazily on Creed's shoulder, was startled awake. It let out a soft "ying," then quickly fluttered over to perch on Ain's shoulder, sensing the danger.
Creed slowly drew his blade, Rinne, sword intent flickering faintly around him.
Behind them…
The gathered Marine officers were frozen stiff.
What kind of situation was this?
On one side stood Akainu, one of the Marines' three Admirals—the peak of military might. On the other was Creed, the 15-year-old Rear Admiral who had already defeated a Warlord of the Sea and was known as the grandson of the Hero of the Marines, Garp.
A Marine officer nervously stepped forward. "Admiral Akainu, Rear Admiral Creed… please, restrain yourselves. After all, you're both Marines—"
Boom!
Akainu's aura erupted like a volcanic blast, a shockwave forcing the officer back instantly.
"Undisciplined, tarnishing the Marines' honor… today I'll make sure you learn your lesson!"
Creed's eyes sharpened as he braced against the crushing aura, releasing his own sword intent to clash against it.
Bang!
The air groaned under the collision, the shock of their wills making the surrounding officers stagger backward, faces pale.
Above the port, the sky itself seemed divided—half blazing like a burning sun, the other half shrouded in an abyssal darkness.
The Marines watching shivered, their scalps tingling. Were they really about to witness this clash?
Without warning, Akainu's right arm turned into magma and hurled forward, a molten fist surging like a pillar of fire straight at Creed.
Creed's blade flashed.
One clean stroke shattered the magma torrent into fragments that rained down, scorching the earth with hissing sparks.
In the next instant, Creed's figure vanished, reappearing at Akainu's flank.
Ssshhh!
Akainu swung his magma-coated fist, colliding against Creed's blade.
The impact split the ground beneath them into deep cracks, shockwaves blowing apart the clouds overhead.
"Dai Funka! (Great Eruption!)"
"Ittoryu Mujin Fannōkaze! (One-Sword Style: Endless Troublesome Wind!)"
Their voices roared together as sword and magma collided again and again.
Akainu advanced relentlessly, his molten fists scorching the very air as he hammered down.
Clang!
Creed blocked with Armament Haki, but the sheer power forced him back step after step. The difference in strength was clear.
Suddenly, a sound sliced the air behind him—Akainu had already slipped past, appearing at his back, his fist glowing like molten iron, magma pouring forth.
But Creed smirked faintly. His figure blinked away in an instant.
Akainu's punch struck empty air, detonating against the ground instead. The earth caved in, forming a massive crater as the soil melted into bubbling magma.
Slash!
A cold gleam tore across his arm, blood spraying.
Akainu's expression darkened, staring at the fresh wound. He had reacted quickly, but even so, Creed had managed to cut him.
"Hmph… so you do have some skill."
Gurgle…
More magma erupted violently from Akainu's body—this time, he was serious.
Creed's gaze hardened. This was one of the Marines' ultimate powers; underestimation would mean death.
At that moment, his system's panel flickered to life:
[Attributes]: Strength: SS+, Agility: SS, Defense: SS, Spirit: S+
[Abilities]: SSS-level Armament Haki, SSS-level Rokushiki, SS-level Observation Haki, SS+ Physical Combat
[Devil Fruit]: SSS-level Magma-Magma Fruit
[Overall Power]: SSS
Creed's eyes narrowed. Truly worthy of the title Admiral—his stats were overwhelming. SS+ in strength, SS across the board, and the monstrous SSS-ranked Magma Fruit.
And this wasn't even his peak. The Akainu of the Marineford War years later would be even stronger.
But so what?
"Dai Funka! (Great Eruption!)"
Akainu's arm surged outward, transforming into a colossal molten fist roaring toward Creed.
"Rinne: Shura-dō! (Rinne: Path of Asura!)"
Creed's sword intent erupted like a storm, a black, tyrannical slash cleaving through the sky to meet the magma head-on.
Boom!!
The two forces collided with apocalyptic force, shaking the port to its foundations.
Farther back, the Marine officers watching gasped in horror.
"Th-That's… sword aura?!"
"Already… a top-tier swordsman?!"
Their faces went pale as they watched the 15-year-old unleash a power that rivaled legends.
Even Akainu's eyes narrowed slightly. He had underestimated him. Defeating Crocodile was one thing—but to already grasp sword aura at such an age…
Still, it didn't matter.
"Meigō! (Pluto!)"
Akainu's molten body surged, pressing the attack.
Creed's blade clashed against him again, sparks and fire spraying into the sky as the battle raged on.
But the difference was becoming clear—Creed was being steadily pushed back.
He was strong, his swordsmanship at the SSS level, but Akainu's power overwhelmed him in every other aspect.
"Dai Funka!!"
"Rinne: Ningendō! (Rinne: Path of Humanity!)"
Sword light and magma crashed again and again, tearing the port apart.
The ground blackened and cracked, the very air boiling.
Akainu's magma flared brighter, shifting from blazing red to molten gold.
Creed's gaze sharpened as blood-red light bled into his eyes—within them, strange pinwheel patterns began to turn.
…
(End of Chapter)
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