Chapter 107: Aokiji's True Strength – The Power at the Top of the World
After hearing Kuzan's offer, Sol fell silent for a moment before turning to give orders: "Luffy, Sanji—help Uncle Tōgīt dismantle his tent. Usopp, Chopper—pack the luggage onto the cart."
"Huh? We're really trusting this Navy guy?" Usopp whispered nervously, voice low.
Sol didn't turn around: "With his ability, it really is the fastest way."
Everyone got to work. Soon Tōgīt's entire belongings were loaded onto an old cart. In the glow of the setting sun, the group followed Tōgīt to the shoreline.
"This is the spot," Tōgīt pointed at the shimmering sea ahead. "Every year during low tide, a path appears here leading to the third island. But right now…"
Kuzan walked slowly to the water's edge with both hands in his pockets. Luffy followed curiously: "Hey, you're not planning to jump in and swim while dragging the luggage, are you?"
"Idiot," Sol yanked Luffy back by the collar. "Just watch."
Kuzan crouched and lightly touched the sea surface with his long fingers. In that instant, the water violently churned. A sea king beast the size of the Merry burst out, its gaping maw large enough to swallow an entire ship!
"Watch out!" Vivi cried in alarm.
Chopper shrieked and hid behind Sol: "Waaah! It's huge!"
Kuzan didn't even look up. He simply murmured: "Ice Age."
In a heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze. Starting from Kuzan's fingertip, crystalline ice spread across the sea like lightning. In the blink of an eye the entire area was locked in solid ice. The ferocious sea king was frozen mid-attack, forever trapped in the ice along with the splashing droplets turned to sculptures.
"Phew…" Kuzan slowly stood, pulling his now-frostbitten hand from the ice. "This should hold for about a week. Stay warm on the way—don't catch a cold."
The entire Straw Hat crew stood dumbfounded. Luffy's jaw nearly hit the ground; Usopp's eyes bulged; even the usually calm Robin slightly opened her mouth in shock.
"This… this is…" Nami's voice trembled.
"The highest combat power of the Navy," Sol finished for her, staring at the boundless ice field ahead. "The strength of a Natural-type Ice-Ice Fruit user."
Kuzan returned to the grassy shore and casually sat cross-legged. Sol patted Tōgīt on the shoulder: "Uncle, we'll see you off here."
Tōgīt's eyes brimmed with tears: "Thank you so much! Navy gentleman—and everyone!"
They watched Tōgīt slowly push his cart onto the ice. Sol turned toward Kuzan; the rest of the crew instinctively moved to stand beside him.
"Now," Sol looked straight into Kuzan's eyes, voice low and serious, "tell us your real purpose for coming here."
Sea wind swept across the ice field, carrying fine ice crystals. Kuzan slowly began: "Looks like you've decided to protect her, Sol."
Robin's body trembled violently; her nails unconsciously dug into her palms. Sol silently shifted half a step, placing himself between her and Kuzan. The air temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
"That's right. Robin is someone I invited onto this ship. In exchange, her safety is our responsibility!" Sol stared directly at Kuzan, tone unwavering.
Kuzan slowly shook his head: "Then you should understand—Nico Robin was born a dangerous beast. Her life has been nothing but betrayal. She has been betrayed countless times, and she has betrayed others just as often. All these years, that's exactly how she's survived—escaping the Navy and bounty hunters. If you insist on sheltering her, you'll only be dragged into an abyss from which there is no return."
"Enough, Kuzan." Sol cut him off cleanly. "Stop testing us with these words. Luffy and the rest of us have long considered Robin an irreplaceable nakama. What you're worried about will never happen."
"That's right! Who cares about the past!" Luffy pressed down his straw hat and shouted loudly: "Robin is our nakama now—that's all that matters!"
"No—this time it's different." Robin firmly stepped forward, eyes blazing as she stared straight at Kuzan. "I've finally found nakama I'm willing to entrust my life to—and a goal worth fighting for. Kuzan—I'm not running anymore!"
"Pretty words are easy to say." Kuzan rose slowly. Frost instantly formed on the grass beneath his feet; cold air spread outward from him in a chilling wave. "Why don't I just keep all of you here forever—and let your strength prove your words?"
"Looks like we're gonna have to fight!" Sanji lit a cigarette; Zoro bit down on Wado Ichimonji; Luffy pulled his hat lower. All three assumed battle stances simultaneously.
"With just the three of you?" Kuzan scoffed and shook his head. "Unless Sol himself steps in, it might be worth watching."
"Shut up!" Luffy's fists were instantly coated in pitch-black Armament Haki. "I don't care if you're a Logia—first I'm gonna punch you flying!"
"Armament Haki?" Surprise flashed in Kuzan's eyes. "Taught by Sol, I assume. You really do have the same reckless spirit as your grandfather Garp, Monkey D. Luffy."
Before the words finished, three figures shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow. Kuzan didn't dodge or block—letting the attacks pass straight through his body as it shattered into countless ice shards across the ground.
"Did we get him?!"
"Something's wrong…"
"Watch out!"
The moment the three pulled back warily, the scattered ice shards suddenly floated and recombined. Kuzan re-formed completely unharmed.
"How?!" Usopp's eyes nearly popped out. "Luffy and the others clearly used Armament Haki!"
"Ara ara…" Kuzan lazily rolled his neck. "Didn't Sol teach you? If you predict the attack and elementalize beforehand, Armament Haki can't touch you." His right arm suddenly condensed with bone-chilling frost. "And my Observation Haki… is pretty decent, if I do say so myself."
"Ice Pheasant Beak!"
A massive ice phoenix flapped its wings into existence. Wherever it passed, everything froze solid. Luffy and the others hastily met it head-on:
"Gum-Gum – Siege Cannon!"
"Three Sword Style – One Hundred and Eight Agonizing Phoenix!"
"Tempest Kick – Meat Slicer SHOOT!"
Amid the exploding ice mist came three cries of pain. Luffy's arms were covered in white frost; both Zoro and Sanji had one leg frozen into an ice pillar.
"Just one move and…!" Chopper clung desperately to Sol's cape. "Hurry and help them!"
Sol pressed down on Chopper's hat: "Don't rush. Let them experience it firsthand… what it means to stand at the top of the world."
"Can't… move…" Luffy's teeth chattered as he looked at his purple arms.
The next instant, Kuzan's figure appeared ghost-like in their midst. "Losing focus in battle…" Both hands slammed toward the ground. "…can get you killed."
"Ice Time!"
A bone-chilling cold wave swept outward. Three ice statues bearing expressions of shock froze in the morning light, refracting an eerie, chilling glow.
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