You can read ahead up to 90 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
''Boom!''
''Sizzle… Sizzle…''
Scalding magma intertwined with frigid ice, hissing and steaming as it melted, the white mist spiraling upward into the sky.
On Thunder God Island, half of the battlefield was encased in ice, while the other half burned in flames. Lightning bolts occasionally rained down from the stormy skies above, creating a battlefield straight out of a doomsday nightmare.
"Raving Pheasant Beak!"
"Meigo - Nether Hound!"
Churning magma once again collided with massive icebergs, shattering the frozen mass into countless fragments.
"Not good!"
Aokiji's pupils contracted as he stumbled, caught off guard by the ferocity of Akainu's punch.
''Whoosh!''
Naturally, Akainu didn't miss the opportunity. With a sharp stomp of Geppo, he launched himself forward like a black streak and landed a devastating punch to Aokiji's abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Aokiji coughed up a mouthful of blood. The terrifying heat from the blow shattered his icy defensive armor, leaving scorch marks and the scent of cooked flesh wafting from his body.
"What's wrong? Huh? Is this the extent of your resolve, Aokiji?!" Akainu roared furiously, raising his foot before slamming it down.
''Boom!''
The airborne Aokiji was smashed into the ground like a cannonball, leaving a spiderweb-like crater dozens of meters in diameter.
Although their Devil Fruits countered each other, Akainu's raw power was clearly superior!
By this point in the battle, Aokiji was visibly struggling, his movements slowing with fatigue. In contrast, Akainu only grew fiercer, his attacks increasingly relentless and ferocious.
Despite not having shown his skills much in recent years— aside from his standout solo clash with Kaido during the New World War— Akainu's strength was undeniable.
Even Kizaru had admitted in private that if the three Admirals ever fought to the death, he would not be able to defeat Akainu.
The only thing Kizaru could do was rely on his speed to evade and avoid being hit altogether.
After slamming Aokiji into the ground, Akainu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and roared again:
"Ryusei Kazan - Meteor Volcano!"
''Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!''
Massive magma fists shot into the sky before plummeting down, mercilessly targeting the crater where Aokiji lay.
The size of the molten fists compressed the air around them, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread.
Just as the attack was about to land, Aokiji's eyes snapped open from within the crater. He raised his right hand and unleashed his counterattack.
"Ice Age!"
''Shuā!''
A freezing gale roared across the battlefield, extinguishing the fiery magma and transforming it into massive icy fists that fell more slowly.
Standing up, Aokiji effortlessly evaded the descending ice masses. With resolve in his eyes, he looked skyward and leaped upward as the shattered ice around him exploded.
"0° Aurora!"
''Buzz!''
Bringing his fingers together, Aokiji released a dazzling white beam of light from his fingertips. The chilling energy froze everything it touched, blanketing the sea in ice.
Even spectators stationed kilometers away noticed a thin layer of frost forming beneath their ships.
Breathing out even a single breath produced visible clouds of white mist in the frigid air.
"What terrifying cold!"
The onlookers' faces turned pale with fear as they ordered their ships to retreat, desperate to avoid being caught in the devastating clash.
''Boom, Rumble!''
High above, the two Admirals exchanged powerful blows, their duel shaking the heavens and the earth.
---
In the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford, Sengoku watched the broadcast via a Den Den Mushi, letting out a weary sigh.
"Rowen made all the preparations he could, but…"
But seeing these two, who had once entrusted their lives to each other while standing united against Whitebeard, now tearing each other apart was still hard to stomach.
''Retirement.''
Sengoku's mind was made up. He couldn't wait to retire.
"This position," He muttered under his breath, "Is not one meant for human beings."
''Boom, Boom, Boom…''
At that moment, a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in!"
"Fleet Admiral, here's the report from the last mission."
Smoker, chewing on two cigars, walked in and placed the report on Sengoku's desk. Noticing the Den Den Mushi projection, he asked, "They're… still not done fighting?"
In the sky, bursts of thunderous light added to the drama of the battle. Under the glaring flashes, two figures plummeted in an "X" shape, crashing into the ground and raising massive mushroom clouds of dust.
"Probably soon!" Sengoku replied, shaking his head as he casually flipped through the report. "Ten days. They're both nearing their limits. Whoever lets go of their resolve first will fall."
After a pause, Sengoku continued, "Rowen is about to be promoted to Admiral, and Garp will take on the role of Chief Instructor at the recruit camp. With two Vice Admiral positions opening, I'm considering promoting you, Smoker."
The unexpected news left Smoker momentarily stunned.
Once, Smoker had been an ambitious, idealistic soldier. But witnessing the corruption and infighting within the higher ranks, he had chosen a path of self-imposed exile, addressing everything with blunt force and a cold detachment.
Though Rowen had brought him back to Headquarters, Smoker hadn't been confident about rising further in the ranks.
But now…
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Smoker asked, "Shouldn't the new Fleet Admiral be deciding this?"
"When I tell you to go, you go! Stop asking so many questions!" Sengoku rolled his eyes impatiently. After a moment of silence, he added, "The new Fleet Admiral will have plenty on his plate. This old man can at least take care of some loose ends before retiring."
"Oh, by the way, how about the position of Base Head at G-11? Interested in applying?"
"…Yes!"
Smoker removed his cigar, extinguished it in his palm, and saluted Sengoku with resolute determination.
Seeing this, Sengoku's wrinkled face broke into a satisfied smile. "You've all changed, haven't you?!"
"This is good. Very good!"
''Boom! Crack!''
Their conversation was interrupted by a thunderous roar from the live broadcast. Even through the Den Den Mushi's volume-dampening projection, the sheer destructive force was palpable.
Sengoku's gaze locked onto the brilliant divine thunderbolt piercing the sky, and he murmured a name: "Rowen?"
Of course, Rowen wasn't physically present on Thunder God Island. This was merely an extraordinarily rare lightning storm amidst the island's extreme weather patterns.
Ordinarily, such phenomena on an uninhabited island wouldn't attract much attention. But now, with the two combatants acting as perfect lightning conductors on a scorched wasteland, the pillar of thunder drew the eyes of millions.
The thunderbolt struck perilously close to Aokiji, instantly dissipating the ice mass he had been preparing.
Meanwhile, Akainu, completely unfazed, raised a magma ball the size of a battleship and hurled it down at him.
"Damn it!!"
''Boom…''
''Crash! Rumble!!''
The office fell silent.
After a long pause, Smoker broke the silence, his expression peculiar. "Why do I have this feeling that Rowen is the mastermind behind all of this?"
After all, it was well known that Rowen had visited Akainu recently.
If he chose to favor Akainu, it naturally meant putting Aokiji at a disadvantage.
Sengoku flinched at Smoker's remark, initially thinking he had uncovered something, only to chuckle at his own overreaction.
But…
What if I actually told you that Rowen 'was' the mastermind? Sengoku thought to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the possibility.
With twenty years of burdens about to be lifted from his shoulders, it seemed he was finally letting loose.
(End of chapter)