Akainu's anger surged the mont she saw Aether, one of the people she despised most. Strands of her hair turned into flowing magma, dripping down from her forehead.
Despite her intense reaction, she restrained herself. She was no longer the woman who had lost control when her body first changed. Her reason remained intact, even as her fury burned beneath the surface.
In contrast, Buggy, still pinned under her foot, was overwheld with emotion. Tears and mucus ran freely down his face. What he had thought was certain death had suddenly taken a different turn. It seed he might escape being sent back to Impel Down.
"Captain Roger, this woman Akainu is trying to use to threaten you."
Akainu brushed aside the strand of hair near her eyes. Her sharp gaze locked onto Aether as she spoke in a cold, controlled voice.
"Roger, I will not release Clown Buggy. If you dare take a step closer, I will kill him imdiately."
Silence followed for a brief mont.
Hearing that his life was on the line, Buggy imdiately changed his tone.
"Captain Roger, you do not need to worry about . What is the problem with going to Impel Down again? I believe you can break in one more ti."
Aether glanced at him.
"Buggy, if you are taken away, you will most likely be executed directly. You are not going back to Impel Down, you are a wanted fugitive."
Buggy's intentions were obvious. He was practically begging Aether to stage another prison break for him.
The three of them stood in a tense standoff, each with their own thoughts. What surprised Aether most was the transformation in Akainu. The woman before him was completely different from what he rembered.
In just one month, her entire deanor had changed. Every movent carried a refined and dangerous elegance. He had received reports about her condition, but seeing it in person made it even more striking.
He had originally assud she would fall into despair and eventually lose her position, allowing Aokiji to take over as Fleet Admiral. Instead, she stood here stronger than expected, making that outco uncertain.
Akainu was the first to break the silence.
"Roger, hand over your weapon, and I will release Buggy. As the Pirate King, are you going to ignore the life of your forr crew mber? I have already beco like this. Even without a weapon, I am no match for you."
It was a straightforward provocation.
Aether did not even hesitate.
"Akainu, stop wasting your breath. Without my weapon, I would not be your opponent. I refuse. You can kill Buggy if you want, he asked for it himself."
Buggy's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was not what he ant at all.
If not for the last shred of dignity he clung to, he would have already shouted for help.
Captain Roger, I can still be saved.
Akainu narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You really intend to abandon Clown Buggy?"
For a brief mont, she hesitated. Killing Buggy would remove her leverage. However, another thought quickly followed.
Aether was clearly heading north, most likely toward Kaido's territory. If she could delay him here, Buggy's death might still serve a purpose. It could even be used as propaganda against him.
Just as she was considering her options, Aether suddenly spoke.
"Rayleigh, move."
The na caused Akainu's expression to shift instantly. Her Observation Haki spread outward in response.
At that exact mont, a chain shot forward, binding Buggy and pulling him rapidly toward Aether.
Realizing she had been deceived, Akainu reacted imdiately. A blazing magma fist shot toward the retreating Buggy, intent on finishing him in one strike.
"You are not escaping. He is my prey. igo!"
Clang.
Aether stepped in without hesitation. His blade, Ace, intercepted the descending magma fist. The clash sent heat and force rippling outward.
With steady pressure, Aether pushed Akainu back, making the difference in strength clear.
He smiled lightly as he looked at her tense expression, then shifted his grip and slashed across her lava ford arm, scattering molten fragnts in all directions.
Akainu withdrew her arm. After deactivating her elental state, a shallow wound appeared on her skin. At the sa ti, her other arm transford into a massive magma hound.
"Inugami Guren."
"Divine Departure."
The enormous lava hound lunged forward, only to be split apart by a powerful slash. The resulting explosion of magma forced even Akainu herself to retreat.
She slid back several ters, her heels digging into the scorched ground. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as she raised her arm again.
"Ryusei Kazan."
The scattered magma suddenly gathered in mid air, forming multiple blazing projectiles that surged toward Aether from all directions.
Aether moved swiftly, his blade cutting through the incoming attacks while retreating. Each swing dispersed the molten strikes, avoiding being overwheld.
His expression turned more serious.
He had underestimated her.
Although her physical strength had not fully recovered, her control over her Devil Fruit had improved significantly. Both the temperature and precision of her magma had increased.
Akainu pressed forward relentlessly. Both her arms erupted into flowing magma.
"igo."
Massive fists of molten rock surged forward in rapid succession, each one capable of piercing steel. Aether t every strike with precise swordsmanship, blocking and deflecting without hesitation.
The battle intensified.
Ten minutes later, the battlefield had been completely transford.
The pier and nearby buildings had lted into ruin. The ground was scarred with craters filled with bubbling magma, and the air itself shimred from the heat.
Both Aether and Akainu bore minor injuries, shallow burns and cuts that barely affected them. With their powerful physiques, such wounds would heal quickly.
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