Ace's eyes closed, triggering his transcendent ability—Heaven-Defying Understanding. When he reopened them, a shattered landscape stretched before him.
On the fractured ground, Luffy, Kid, Trafalgar Law and Zoro gazed in horror at the scene unfolding.
"Come on, give it your best shot, Kaido," taunted Big Mom, gripping a Sword in her right hand as black and purple lightning crackled to life.
"Hahaha! Still spry as ever, you old hag!" Kaido bellowed, wielding his own menacing mace.
"Who do you think you're talking to, kid?" Big Mom retorted with a booming laugh, her terrifying Haoshoku Haki surging through her weapon.
"Hahaha!"
With a sudden swing of their formidable weapons, the combined Conqueror's Haki of the two Emperors shook the entire island.
Above, the clouds churned violently, crackling with countless bolts of black and purple lightning.
"Watch out! Here it comes!" Luffy warned, his expression grave as he observed the gathering onslaught.
Zoro, Kid, and Trafalgar Law watched with sweat beading on their brows, bracing for the imminent cataclysm of energy.
"Hakai!"
The mace and sword homie clashed ferociously, the collision unleashing a thunderous shockwave of Conqueror's Haki empowered by both Emperors—a force of primal devastation that laid waste to everything in its path.
"Call!"
Abruptly, Ace snapped back to reality, his eyes blazing with newfound insight.
"Your understanding is truly beyond mortal bounds," A Etheral voice muttered, as Ace envisioned the combined techniques of Kaido and Big Mom dominating the seas.
"Analyze and comprehend unique abilities!"
"Left fist as spear, right fist as sword!"
"Hakoku, Great Flame Ring—perfected from the ocean's depths!"
"Ultimate Conqueror's Haki, unrestrained physical energy, and the Mera-Mera Fruit!"
"Unique technique—Great Flame Ring: Hakai!"
Ace roared fiercely, smashing his fists together.
His left fist, embodying Elbaf's mightiest spear, poised.
His right fist, channeling the blazing power of the Mera-Mera Fruit, infused with Conqueror's Haki and the ironclad resolve inherited from Garp.
In that climactic moment, two fearsome attacks merged into one.
"Hakai!!!"
"Boom! Boom!!!"
A sheath of black-purple lightning enveloped the furious flames, their combined might unleashing a shockwave that epitomized the pinnacle of power.
Conqueror's Haki, physical energy, and the ultimate release of the Mera-Mera Fruit—melded seamlessly into one.
Unique technique—Great Flame Ring: Hakai!!!
"Damn it!"
Aokiji's expression twisted in shock as he witnessed the terrifying shockwave unfolding before him. To his disbelief, the two formidable attacks had merged once more.
Without hesitation, Aokiji unleashed everything—Frozen Fruit, Armament Haki—summoning a cataclysmic force with a sweep of his hand.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
A colossal ice crystal phoenix, spanning the sky and earth, unfurled its wings with an air so freezing it threatened to solidify the atmosphere, encased in layers of dense black ice.
In an instant, Aokiji's right arm commanded the elemental avian.
The towering ice phoenix, suffused with chilling air, clashed head-on with the onrushing torrent of red, purple, and black energy.
"Boom!"
The collision unleashed a cataclysmic burst of energy—the ultimate clash between two overlord-level powers of the sea.
"Boom!!!"
Red, black, and purple hues of Conqueror's Haki symbolizing flames, and the deep blue and black of freezing air and Armament Haki, collided like opposing poles of the world, erupting into the shattered atmosphere.
The entire island and surrounding seas were plunged into utter devastation—a realm of annihilation where no jungle or marine life could withstand the ferocity of this collision.
Even from afar, the Merry, with Nojiko at the helm and aided by the spirit of the ship, struggled against the tumultuous seas stirred by the violent clash of energies.
"Such terrifying power..."
Nojiko murmured, her eyes fixed on the distant spectacle as the energy gradually subsided.
Yet, where the uninhabited island once stood, only emptiness remained—a stark testament to the overwhelming forces at play.
"Ace... Ace!"
The girls watched in stunned silence as the island vanished, their hearts gripped with a mix of awe and worry.
Then, a crimson figure descended from the heavens.
The girls gasped in disbelief, tears welling in their eyes.
"Ace!"
Aboard the Merry, a warm yellow light enveloped Ace, soothing the extensive frostbite covering his body. Kaya, her red lips pursed, watched with teary eyes as Ace grimaced in discomfort.
"Ugh! Gulu! Gulu!"
Ace stuffed himself with food provided by Laki, channeling every bit of strength into replenishing his body's energy. Each morsel seemed to fuel a voracious hunger within him, rapidly restoring his vitality and fortitude.
"The food you make keeps getting better, Laki," Ace managed between bites, offering praise amidst his consuming hunger.
Laki silently continued serving him, placing plate after plate of delicious dishes before Ace.
Meanwhile, Nami, Vivi, and Nokigao tended to Ace's frostbite with worried expressions, their beautiful eyes clouded with concern. This was the first time they had seen Ace so severely injured, a stark contrast to his usual invincible demeanor.
Even Tashigi, silent and contemplative, observed the frostbitten patches on Ace's skin with a bitten lip, while Conis, normally playful, could only gaze at him in stunned silence.
Robin, ever composed, hid her worry behind a mask of maturity, though her eyes betrayed a hint of both concern and self-blame. The atmosphere aboard the Merry grew heavy, weighed down by the gravity of Ace's injuries.
Earlier, when Ace returned to the Merry wreathed in flames, the girls had initially moved to embrace him as usual. Yet, upon closer inspection, they were shocked to see the extensive frostbite covering his body, their eyes instantly welling with tears.
Kaya immediately utilized her healing fruit's abilities, while Laki continued to provide sustenance for Ace's recovery. Following Kaya's instructions, Nami and Vivi applied medication to his frostbitten areas, their actions a blend of concern and care.
Sensing the girls' distress, Ace paused his frenzied eating and looked at them with a helpless smile. "Why are you all looking like you've seen a ghost?"
"Ace, you're hurt," Kaya said, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke through tears.
"Injuries are part of the game," Ace replied with a grin. "This battle with Aokiji was quite enjoyable, and besides, I have all of you as my ship's caretakers."
His words brought a small sense of relief amidst the tension. It was inevitable that facing Aokiji, one of the ocean's strongest, would result in injuries—especially from his final devastating blow.
As Ace felt the healing fruit's warmth enveloping his frostbitten body, memories of the battle with Aokiji flooded his mind. It had been an intense clash, surpassing any previous encounter in its ferocity and consequence.
"This is what a real battle feels like," Ace thought to himself, reflecting on the trauma and bloodshed. Even in his bouts with Garp, he hadn't experienced such a visceral confrontation.
"The Combat Turtle Breath Technique might even see its greatest improvement yet," Ace mused, a faint smirk playing on his lips. The experience had been enlightening, offering valuable lessons in combat and resilience.
"Um!" Kaya interjected, her expression turning serious. "The awakening of my Frozen Fruit's abilities is on par with the healing fruit's ultimate power. But even with your understanding, Ace, I can only heal you to this extent."
She bit her lip, her concern palpable. "You'll need to apply frostbite medication daily, and it may take about a week to fully heal."
"Haha, looks like I'll have to follow the doctor's orders for a while," Ace chuckled softly, reaching out to touch Kaya's long, golden hair affectionately.
"Ace, I..." Kaya began, her voice wavering as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You're being silly," Ace interrupted gently, his smile warm and reassuring. "Aokiji's an Admiral—a blow from him at full strength would take more than a week to recover from. You're doing great, my ship's doctor."
"I will, I'll become stronger!" Kaya declared, wiping away her tears and clenching her fists determinedly.
As the conversation shifted, Robin hesitated before asking a question that weighed heavily on her mind. "Ace, between you and Aokiji—who won?"
The girls' eyes turned expectantly to Ace, awaiting his response. Ace's gaze flickered briefly as he recalled the decisive moments of their battle.
"In the end, I'd call it a draw," Ace finally replied with a faint smile.
Reflecting on the clash with Aokiji, Ace recognized the Admiral's formidable strength. Although his overall abilities fell short compared to Aokiji's, the fight had reached a standstill—both combatants choosing, perhaps tacitly, to halt the conflict.
"I'll need to be stronger next time we meet," Ace thought to himself, his resolve firm. "But I've still got my most powerful trump card, Itto-Kaso."
He knew that pushing someone of Aokiji's caliber to their absolute limits came with a cost—one that even his own Observation Haki couldn't foresee.
"I'll never underestimate an opponent who can challenge the Four Emperors," Ace concluded silently. "But next time, I won't be at a disadvantage, Aokiji."
With a slight quirk of his lips, Ace settled back, a sense of quiet determination settling over him.
"For now, let's rest and recover," he suggested, his tone gentle yet firm.