"Thousand-Year Ice Prison!"
In the sky above, countless massive ice pillars formed in an instant, sealing Aokiji completely within.
"Marine Admiral… rest within this frozen prison."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stared at the faint silhouette trapped inside, a trace of cold finality flashing through his eyes.
In that moment, he had poured all of his Reiatsu into Daiguren Hyorinmaru. When Reiatsu reached a certain density, it became almost tangible—freezing every trace of moisture in that entire region.
Because Aokiji was unfamiliar with Hyorinmaru's true nature, he hadn't been able to react in time—
and was sealed in an instant.
Ice-Ice Fruit vs the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō.
A clash of the same element.
And in the end—
Hitsugaya had won.
Hitsugaya lightly brushed the blade of Hyorinmaru, his expression calm.
Suspended in midair, the prison—formed of thousands of towering ice pillars—cast a massive shadow over the entire sea. It looked like a miracle carved from ice itself.
"With the Admiral sealed… this battle is over."
He exhaled a faint breath of frost. Just as he turned to leave—
he stopped.
From within the ice prison—
a faint sign of life.
"…He's still alive?"
Hitsugaya frowned.
Even after pouring in all his Reiatsu, he had expected the technique to be lethal. But it seemed he had still underestimated the endurance of a Logia user.
Even trapped—
Aokiji was still holding on.
"I underestimated your will."
Hitsugaya turned back, his gaze growing more complex. Inside the prison, a powerful presence was stirring—struggling, attempting to break free.
But that was impossible.
To shatter the prison, one would need Reiatsu greater than Hitsugaya's—
and Aokiji did not possess such power.
Even though the Ice-Ice Fruit continued to surge outward, it was completely suppressed by captain-level Reiatsu.
No matter how strong his will to survive—
he could not escape.
"I may not be able to kill you," Hitsugaya said calmly, "but watching your subordinates fall one by one while you're trapped… that won't feel good, will it?"
In truth, whether Aokiji lived or died no longer mattered.
As long as he was neutralized—
the battle was already decided.
With a step, Hitsugaya vanished from the sky.
Above the frozen sea, the Thousand-Year Ice Prison stood alone—
silent, massive, and absolute.
Soul Society
"Oh? Looks like the shorty finished his fight with the Admiral." Yachiru stood on Ren Kuro's shoulder, shading her eyes as she stared into the sky.
"Yeah," Ren Kuro replied calmly. "Hitsugaya won. Just as expected."
Against ice—
the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō held absolute dominance.
It wasn't that Aokiji was weak.
His opponent was simply too overwhelming.
"…But he didn't die," Yachiru muttered, pouting slightly.
"Isn't that better?"
"Huh? Why? What are you planning now, Ren Kuro?" Yachiru leaned forward, curious.
Ren Kuro's gaze flickered.
"Whether Aokiji lives or dies doesn't change the outcome of this battle."
"But if he lives…"
"…then he becomes a bargaining chip."
He looked out across the frozen sea, eyes glinting.
"Intercepting Marine warships and kidnapping an Admiral—something this serious…"
"With Aokiji's cautious nature, Headquarters will already have been notified."
"Reinforcements will arrive soon."
Ren Kuro smiled faintly.
"Yachiru… how many Devil Fruits do you think the Marines would pay in exchange for an Admiral's life?"
"…Ahhh, so that's what you're after." Yachiru tugged at his collar, grinning. "Poor Marines… running into you is really bad luck."
Just then, Hitsugaya reappeared on deck.
"Yachiru… who were you calling short just now?"
Having released his Bankai, he had returned to his usual form—a young boy with a slightly sharp temper.
"You, obviously! Shorty! Bleh!" Yachiru stuck out her tongue playfully.
"…Tch!" Hitsugaya nearly snapped. His height was a sore spot he absolutely refused to ignore.
"Alright, enough."
Ren Kuro chuckled.
"Looks like the battles on the other ships are wrapping up too. Let's wait for Marine reinforcements."
Compared to the battle—
he cared far more about what came next.
The negotiation.
With Aokiji captured—
and with four captain-level fighters on his side—
Ren Kuro held absolute leverage.
As for how many Devil Fruits he would get in return…
that would depend on just how valuable Aokiji was to the Marines.
But one thing was certain—
the price would be enormous.
"Before that…"
Ren Kuro stepped forward and vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared aboard the warship that had been transporting Tiger.
Descending into the lower deck, he entered a sealed chamber.
There—
he found Fisher Tiger.
His body was covered in wounds, blood streaking across his muscular frame. Shackles bound his limbs tightly.
And yet—
despite such injuries—
his eyes remained sharp and fully conscious.
"Fish-man leader… Fisher Tiger."
Ren Kuro stepped into the room.
"…You're the Shinigami?!" Tiger's pupils contracted. He had seen Ren Kuro's face on bounty posters before—he recognized him instantly.
"This is a Marine warship… why are you here?" His voice rose slightly, already forming a guess in his mind.
"No need to worry."
Ren Kuro drew his Zanpakutō and stepped forward.
"Aokiji is already my hostage."
"I'm here to take you out of here."
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