Kizaru and Aokiji stepped forward to intercept them. As for Akainu, he had just executed a fleeing deserter and was still making his way back.
Koby, along with Helppo, had briefly considered abandoning the battlefield. However, Akainu's ruthless actions during their attempted escape forced them to retreat in fear.
Aether and Rayleigh were quickly halted by the two Admirals. This created an opening for Marco and Diamond Jozu, who imdiately led the pirates in a fierce assault against the Marine defensive line.
Aokiji made the first move.
Sharp ice spears shot toward Rayleigh, but every one of them was cut down by precise sword strikes. Without hesitation, Aokiji followed up by forming a massive ice bird and launching it forward.
"Ice Block, Pheasant Peck."
Everything in its path froze instantly.
Rayleigh's expression turned serious. At this level, holding back was no longer an option.
His blade darkened, taking on a deep red hue as Conqueror's Haki surged through it. He stepped forward and t the attack head-on. The ice bird was split cleanly in half, and his blade continued forward, already closing in on Aokiji.
Aokiji's pupils shrank.
Ice poured from his palms as his body shifted into its elental state ahead of the impact.
A thunderous strike followed.
Rayleigh's sword, infused with Advanced Conqueror's Haki, tore through everything in its path. The ice shattered, and Aokiji's body broke apart into scattered fragnts that were sent flying.
Monts later, Aokiji reford at a distance. Aside from slightly disheveled clothing, he appeared unhard.
Rayleigh's gaze hardened.
That strike had been delivered with full force, yet it had achieved nothing. Aokiji had used Observation Haki to foresee the attack and elentalized in advance, minimizing the damage to nearly nothing.
Years ago, when Aokiji followed Garp in pursuit, Rayleigh had already recognized his potential. Now, after more than two decades, that potential had fully matured.
"So Garp's student has reached this level."
Aokiji responded calmly.
"I should be the one saying that. Dark King Rayleigh, even at your age, you're still this formidable. It's impressive."
Rayleigh exhaled slowly as the red hue faded from his blade, returning it to black. A quick victory was impossible. He would have to rely on experience and endurance to find an opening. At his age, even maintaining Conqueror's Haki infusion ca at a cost.
The two engaged again, ice and sword slashes colliding violently, forcing everyone else to keep their distance.
At the sa ti, Aether faced Kizaru.
Despite Kizaru's advantage in mobility with the Glint-Glint Fruit, the fight was far from one-sided.
Beams of light shot across the battlefield, but Aether avoided them effortlessly. Even Kizaru's wide-range attack, Yasakani no Magatama, was deflected back using Conqueror's Haki, nearly striking Kizaru himself.
Left with no better option, Kizaru attempted close combat.
Aether did not allow it.
With Ace in hand, coated in Conqueror's Haki, he forced Kizaru back through sheer pressure. The overflow of Haki alone sent weaker fighters collapsing or retreating.
Without slowing down, Aether continued advancing toward the execution platform, his intent clear.
Kizaru felt the pressure building.
He was not a power-based fighter. Against Aether's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, he could only defend carefully, avoiding direct clashes while looking for an opportunity.
Aether pushed past the outer defenses and entered the inner bay.
Kizaru narrowed his eyes.
"This is troubleso… you could at least pay attention to ."
After firing several laser shots to slow Aether, Kizaru used Yasakani no Magatama to instantly reposition himself, appearing beside his opponent and launching a light-speed kick.
At that mont, Aether turned his head.
There was a faint smile in his eyes.
Kizaru felt a sudden sense of danger.
A chain appeared from nowhere and wrapped around his waist, tightening instantly and coiling around his body. His elentalization slowed under the restraint.
Kizaru reacted imdiately, struggling to break free.
The chain tightened further, producing a sharp tallic sound before snapping apart. Less than a second had passed, but it was enough.
Aether moved.
Conqueror's Haki flared, his pupils shifting to a dark red as he swung Ace in a clean, horizontal arc. Lightning crackled along the blade.
"Goodbye, Kizaru."
"Divine Departure."
The slash cut through the air.
Sengoku, watching from afar, imdiately sensed the danger, but he had no ti to intervene.
The attack struck.
Kizaru was sent flying, crashing through multiple structures before being embedded into the hardened wall of the bay.
When he erged again, his condition had clearly worsened.
A deep wound stretched across his chest. Blood stained his clothes, and though he used Life Return to control the bleeding, the injury was undeniable.
"I was careless… he was waiting for that mont."
If he had not rushed to intercept so aggressively, even being caught by the chain again would not have led to such a damaging hit.
The wound was not fatal, but it was far from minor.
Shock spread across the battlefield.
"Admiral Kizaru… was injured?"
The Marines wavered.
Their morale, already strained, began to falter as the Whitebeard Pirates pressed forward.
An Admiral being wounded was sothing they had never expected to witness.
The scene was broadcast across the world through the Den Den Mushi, leaving audiences stunned.
[S-Class and SS-Class individuals developed minor to moderate surprise and hostility toward the Host. Experience gained: 67,398]
[A-Class and B-Class individuals developed minor to moderate surprise and hostility toward the Host. Experience gained: 243,797]
[C-Class and D-Class individuals developed minor to moderate surprise and hostility toward the Host. Experience gained: 493,231]
[Level Up: Level 72 (379,742/500,000) 20]
Every action on the battlefield influenced the emotions of those watching.
[Physique: Peak, Admiral Level, Buff in Progress]
With the level increase, Aether's physique reached true Admiral level. His remaining attributes were close behind. Once all three reached that standard, his physical capabilities alone would place him among the strongest of the Admirals.
Even the current three Admirals were not perfectly balanced in all attributes.
From Aether's observation, Kizaru's physical strength had not yet reached that level.
___
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