Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Aokiji tried to stabilize himself, the ice cube transformed by Bai Ye's technique wobbled, turning unexpectedly soft and unstable. The air hummed with the energy of another of Bai Ye's spells.
"Wind Trigram - Blade Tornado!" Bai Ye announced, his voice echoing across the battlefield. In an instant, numerous wind blades whirled into existence, slicing through the air with fierce precision. They struck the weakened ice, which quickly became peppered with holes, losing any capability to protect Aokiji from the impending assaults.
Just as Zoro's sharp slash and Sanji's fiery kick were about to connect with Aokiji, the admiral considered using his elemental transformation to evade the attacks. However, even if he managed to become intangible, he would merely delay the inevitable.
At that critical moment, Aokiji thought to use the Navy's Six Styles technique, Shave, to escape. But Bai Ye seemed to read his mind perfectly.
"Do you want to use Shave? Unfortunately, it is not allowed here," Bai Ye stated calmly.
"Earth Hexagram – Ground Tremors!" With those words, the ground beneath Aokiji's feet suddenly cracked wide open. The admiral, caught off guard and unable to find a solid foothold, lost his chance to execute the swift movement technique.
Caught in a vulnerable position, Aokiji could only brace as Zoro and Sanji's combined attack thundered towards him.
Boom!
This time, Aokiji had no way to dodge! Within just ten seconds—from the moment Sanji launched his attack to the present—Bai Ye was intensely busy. He wasn't just randomly selecting elements to enhance the abilities of his teammates; he was also meticulously adjusting the position of the formation in response to everyone's movements. This dynamic adjustment allowed him to attach two different elements to Aokiji's body, significantly impacting the admiral's defenses.
Though it might seem like Bai Ye made only a few tweaks, the reality was that he had made thousands of calculations and adjustments in that brief span of time. Each adjustment required precision and quick thinking, making Bai Ye's brain work overtime. The complexity of managing such a formation in real combat was immense, but Bai Ye was well-prepared for this challenge. His mastery over the formation was not just about practice with Luffy; it was also augmented by the deep comprehension he had gained from his inner training within the Daoist scripture, Taomen Jilu.
This wasn't just exhausting—it was a colossal drain on his energy. Yet, the results were spectacular. Within those few seconds, Bai Ye felt almost omniscient within the confines of the formation. He could perceive every movement, predict every action, and optimize every attack from his teammates. This insight allowed him to time his support perfectly, enhancing their abilities just as they struck and predicting Aokiji's reactions to foil them.
At that moment, Bai Ye's consciousness was buzzing with activity. He glanced at his three teammates, giving them a slight nod—a silent message that was loud and clear in the heat of battle. Seeing Bai Ye's confident nod, Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy's eyes sparkled with determination. They understood exactly what Bai Ye was signaling: "Hit him hard!" The synergy between them was palpable, turning their coordinated assault into a formidable force that even an admiral of Aokiji's caliber would struggle to withstand.
In the next moment, the scene erupted into chaos as the four crew members launched a furious assault on Aokiji. Bai Ye, in particular, was the linchpin of the operation, his actions both frantic and thrilling. He amplified Sanji's speed with wind elements, turning his kicks into blurs that cut through the air. For Zoro, he infused his slashes with the power of light, making each strike gleam like a bolt of lightning across the sky.
Luffy, empowered with the resilience of the marsh element, met Aokiji's icy attacks head-on, unphased by the sharp chill of his opponent's blade. Bai Ye himself joined the fray directly, conjuring a staff of golden light, imbued with the solid force of earth, and aimed a formidable blow at the back of Aokiji's head.
Aokiji, seasoned though he was, found himself struggling under the relentless barrage. Not only did he have to parry the physical attacks, but he also had to constantly anticipate Bai Ye's cunning stratagems. Whenever Aokiji tried to execute a Shave maneuver, Bai Ye would disrupt the ground beneath him. If Aokiji attempted to escape using Moon Walk, suddenly his body would become inexplicably heavy.
This surreal battle unfolded on the island, a spectacle where four young pirates were overwhelming a forty-seven-year-old admiral with their fierce and coordinated attacks.
-----
Meanwhile, not far from the island, on the Golden Merry:
Robin, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Merry had made their way back to the ship. They hadn't fled the scene; rather, they had a plan, something they had prepared in advance.
This plan dated back to when they left the G8 fortress and before they arrived at Long Ring Long Land. Nami, with a hint of worry on her face, had jokingly remarked to Bai Ye, "Hey, Bai Ye, please stop joking around. We just encountered a vice admiral; what are the odds we'll run into an actual admiral so soon?"
Bai Ye, seizing the moment, called everyone together to outline a strategy—a contingency plan for encountering the world's top powers, be they admirals or the notorious Four Emperors.
As Bai Ye scribbled the excessively long name of the project on the blackboard, Robin's mouth twitched slightly. She thought her deputy captain was peculiar yet strangely reliable. Bai Ye always seemed to bring a sense of stability, especially in uncertain times.
Bai Ye responded to Nami with his usual calm smile, "You mentioned we 'won the lottery' before, which could mean we're quite lucky, right? So, it's not entirely impossible we could 'win' again."
"You should say UNLUCKY!" Usopp interjected, unable to hide his exasperation.
Bai Ye reassured them, "Don't worry, it's just a precaution. Hopefully, we won't even need to use it..."
-----
Nami, resting her chin on one hand while leaning on the ship's railing, wore a look of exasperation. "I can't believe we had to use that plan so soon," she muttered, then, unable to contain her frustration, she shook her fist in the air. "That Bai Ye, he must have jinxed us."
Beside her, Robin gazed towards the island, her face lined with concern. "Jinx or not, Bai Ye did give us a workable strategy," she pointed out, her voice tinged with gratitude yet heavy with worry.
At the bow of the ship, Chopper clung to Usopp's leg, his voice tinged with anxiety. "Usopp, what's happening with Luffy and the others now?"
Usopp, equipped with a telescope and squinting as he tried to make sense of the chaos, was momentarily overwhelmed. As the crew's sharpshooter, he normally had excellent vision, which made him the natural choice to keep watch. Yet, the scene unfolding on the island baffled even him.
"Well..." Usopp paused, struggling to find the right words. "It's all a blur, Chopper. I can't make out much, but one thing's for sure," he said, finally managing to piece together his observations. "The battle seems to be reaching its climax."
-----
On the island:
The battle had reached a critical point when Aokiji, tired of being on the defensive, decided it was time to unleash his most formidable technique—Ice Age! In mere moments, a chilling wave burst forth, blanketing the entire island. Under Usopp's awed gaze from afar, the landscape transformed into a vast expanse of ice.
As the cold air surged around them, Aokiji saw the four defiant figures before him, encircled by flames, their resolve unbroken. A flicker of disappointment crossed his features. "Ah la la, is that really all?" he murmured, almost to himself.
Bai Ye, quick to react, dispelled the encircling flames and gathered his comrades close. With a knowing smile, he addressed Aokiji, "In the face of such a powerful move, scattering would only give you the openings you seek, General."
Foreseeing Aokiji's strategy through the intricate setup of his formation, Bai Ye had preemptively maneuvered his friends to safety. His actions disrupted Aokiji's plan to isolate and conquer.
"Ah la la, don't say that, priest," Aokiji replied, his voice carrying a hint of resignation as he slumped back into his characteristic languor. He realized that capturing this formidable group alive would require him to sustain serious injuries—a risk he deemed too high and ultimately unnecessary.
Relaxing his stance, Aokiji conceded the moment, understanding that the battle, for now, was beyond his grasp without greater cost than he was willing to pay.