Arriving onto the battlefield, the trio immediately split up, each seeking worthy opponents. Across the icy expanse, marines and pirates clashed fiercely, their shouts and weapons creating a symphony of chaos.
Amidst the fray, iconic figures made their presence known. Shanks, Big Mom, Mihawk, and Boa Hancock had descended onto the battlefield, their mere presence radiating authority. The marines, undeterred, responded with their own titans: Akainu, Kizaru, Fujitora, and Admiral Diane.
"You're not escaping us this time," Kizaru announced, standing beside Fujitora with a cold smile.
Imai chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Seriously? Didn't the two of you learn your lesson last time?"
"This will end differently," Fujitora said, his blade sliding smoothly from its sheath, his resolve palpable.
Their exchange was interrupted by a sudden shout. "I'LL KILL HER FIRST!"
A pirate lunged at Imai, sword raised. She sighed, almost bored, before her blade flashed. The pirate's head separated cleanly from his body. She flicked her sword, scattering crimson droplets into the frozen air.
"Weaklings shouldn't interfere," she muttered, disdain in her voice.
Fujitora frowned. "You kill pirates too? Aren't they supposed to be your allies?"
"Pirates, marines—those labels are meaningless to me," Imai replied, her eyes narrowing. "I only care if they're enemies or not. Don't mistake me for one of them. I am no ordinary pirate. I'm an Emperor—no, wasn't the term 'Empress' you gave me?" She smirked. "Now enough talking. Let's see if you can give me the challenge I've been craving."
Imai wasted no time, lunging toward Fujitora. He barely blocked her strike, the impact forcing him back several steps. Just as he began to counterattack, she vanished. Gusts of wind and the sharp crackle of electricity signaled her sudden reappearance beside Kizaru.
"It seems that devil fruit is in the wrong hands," Fujitora muttered, his grip tightening on his sword.
Imai grinned, her movements becoming a blur as she alternated between her physical form and flashes of lightning. Kizaru, renowned for his light-speed abilities, found himself hard-pressed to keep up. Her dual blades struck with precision, their arcs guided by her mastery of both Haki and her devil fruit powers.
Kizaru flinched as a sharp pain erupted in his abdomen. Looking down, he saw blood blooming from a deep wound. For the first time, his usual aloof demeanor faltered.
Imai relished the look of surprise on his face. "Caught up, have I?"
She followed with a series of relentless attacks, keeping Kizaru on the defensive while monitoring Fujitora's movements out of the corner of her eye.
"Tsk. Two against one—how tedious," she muttered, blocking a sudden strike from Fujitora's blade.
"This is between you and me," Fujitora declared. "A battle of blades and honor."
"Fine," Imai said, her grin widening. "I'll respect that."
The clash of their swords resonated across the battlefield, each strike faster and more ferocious than the last. The ice beneath them cracked under the pressure of their attacks, their blurred movements leaving the onlookers in awe.
Despite sustaining several cuts, Fujitora held his ground. Gritting his teeth, he channeled every ounce of his strength and experience into his blade, launching a counterattack that grazed Imai's cheek.
The two separated momentarily, their breaths visible in the cold air.
Fujitora's heart thundered in his chest as he waited for Imai's reaction. Her fingers brushed the blood trickling from her cheek, and she smiled.
"Impressive," she said. "You're right—they say you only grow stronger in a real fight."
Fujitora narrowed his focus. That's all she felt? Amusement?
"You underestimate me," he replied. "This is far from my limit."
"Good," Imai said, her eyes gleaming. "Let's take this to the next level."
The air between them grew tense, the weight of their auras pressing down on the battlefield. Neither moved, each waiting for the other to slip.
CLING!
The sound of their swords clashing shattered the stillness. Imai's relentless assault forced Fujitora to retreat, cracks forming in the ice beneath him. He leaped into the air, only to realize too late the trap he'd fallen into.
As he hung vulnerable, Imai struck with blinding speed. A massive gash appeared across his chest—or so it seemed. Fujitora staggered but found no wound.
"You've reached that level…" he murmured, realization dawning.
"Of course," Imai said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "I've mastered battles of the mind and brought them into reality. The crack you saw led to your defeat before you even moved."
Fujitora smirked despite himself. "But there's one thing you didn't account for. This was never a one-on-one—it's two against one."
A beam of light shot toward Imai as Kizaru emerged, his leg glowing with deadly force.
"Do you think I didn't anticipate this?" Imai asked, catching his leg mid-kick. With a powerful throw, she sent Kizaru hurtling into Fujitora.
"Unlike me, neither of you can counter future sight. Your moves were predictable before you even made them."
Fujitora caught Kizaru but stumbled, the ice beneath them cracking under their combined weight. Seizing the opportunity, Imai dashed forward, her blades striking true. Both marines collapsed to their knees, clutching their wounds.
Imai stood over them, her smile triumphant. "That's more like it. The superior looking down on her inferiors—exactly as it should be."
And with that, the first battle ended, even as chaos continued to escalate across the battlefield.