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--xLOVEx--
"Coby!" the crew shouted in alarm, their voices filled with panic as they saw him frozen by Aokiji's touch.
Luffy, eyes blazing with anger, charged at the Admiral. "You bastard!" he yelled, his fists drawn back for a punch. But Aokiji sidestepped Luffy's attack with ease, his movements smooth and effortless. In a flash, he reached Robin and grabbed her by the arm.
Robin's eyes widened in fear, but before she could react, Aokiji's cold touch spread across her body, freezing her solid in an instant. The ice encased her completely, her figure now a fragile statue.
"Robin!" Luffy screamed, his voice cracking with despair as he lunged forward. But Aokiji, showing no mercy, swung his fist, aiming to shatter the frozen Robin into pieces.
"NO!" Luffy roared, desperation fueling his speed as he rushed to her side. He grabbed the frozen statue, yanking it away from Aokiji just in time.
At the same moment, Nami ran to Coby, her face streaked with tears as she saw him frozen solid. "Coby!" she cried out, her hands trembling as she carefully lifted his icy form, her heart pounding in her chest.
Aokiji turned his cold gaze toward Luffy and Robin, his intent clear. He charged forward, determined to finish what he started and destroy the frozen Robin.
"Luffy! Move!" Usopp shouted as he sprinted toward them. Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Robin from Luffy's arms and took off running as fast as he could, his legs moving faster than they ever had before. "I'll keep her safe!" he called over his shoulder, not daring to look back.
Zoro and Sanji, still partially frozen from Aokiji's earlier attack, struggled to their feet, the frost biting at their skin. They could barely move, but they forced themselves to stand, ready to fight.
Luffy held out a hand to stop them. "No," he said firmly, his voice low but filled with determination. "I want to fight him alone. Let's settle this, you and me. Mano a mano."
Zoro and Sanji exchanged a look, clearly conflicted. They didn't want to leave Luffy to face Aokiji alone, but they knew better than to go against their captain's orders.
Aokiji, unimpressed by Luffy's resolve, simply shrugged. "Cool by me," he said, his voice as cold as the ice he wielded. "But this will be to the death."
Zoro and Sanji hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded and turned to head back to the ship. They needed to trust Luffy to handle this on his own.
Inside Merry's bathroom, others already trying to thaw Coby and Robin with cold water.
"Can't we use hot water?" Usopp asked, his voice trembling with fear as he looked at Robin's frozen form. "I don't think they're breathing."
Chopper shook his head, his expression grim. "No. If we're hasty, they'll shatter. We have to do this slowly."
Zoro and Sanji burst onto the ship, their eyes darting around as they saw the chaotic scene before them. "Chopper, thaw us so we can help Luffy!" Zoro shouted, his tone urgent.
Chopper, busy tending to Robin and Coby, quickly explained, "Just put normal water on the ice! The bathroom is full with Coby and Robin!"
But Zoro and Sanji didn't waste any more time. Without another word, they ran to the edge of the ship and jumped into the sea. The icy water bit at their skin, but they knew they needed to get the frost off their bodies so they could be of any use to Luffy.
Back on the shore, Luffy faced Aokiji alone. Aokiji stood a few paces away, his breath visible in the freezing air as he eyed Luffy with a detached interest.
And just less than a minute into the battle, Luffy was frozen solid. His body locked in a punching posture, teeth gritted as the ice encased him from head to toe. Aokiji, sitting casually on the ground, sighed as he glanced at the frozen captain.
"I was tricked," Aokiji muttered, more to himself than to Luffy. "I agreed to settle this one-on-one and I won. If I were to attack your crew now, I'd break my promise, right, Captain?"
He stared at Luffy, who remained immobile. Aokiji's gaze lingered on the determined expression frozen on Luffy's face. "Or, was it that you actually planned to win?" he mused, his tone carrying a hint of irony.
With a grunt, Aokiji pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his pants as he prepared to leave. "I'll remind you once more," he said, his voice now directed at the frozen Luffy. "Soon enough, you'll be broken apart by the troubles that follow that woman everywhere, and your crew will shatter."
He paused, his eyes narrowing as he added, "The consequences of taking that woman onto your ship… this is what you get." To punctuate his point, Aokiji kicked a small ice shard next to Luffy, shattering it into countless pieces.
Aokiji turned his back on Luffy, his expression indifferent. "It would be easy to shatter you right now and send you to hell," he said quietly, "but I owe you a favor. Your crew helped save Alabasta from Crocodile, so now we're even."
He hesitated for a brief moment, as if considering something, then shook his head. "Also… Never mind. Smoker's message is stupid. Goodbye."
With that, Aokiji casually walked away, leaving the frozen Luffy standing alone in the clearing. The ice still shimmered in the sunlight, casting eerie reflections across the ground.
Moments later, Zoro and Sanji rushed back to the scene, having shaken off the frost from their earlier encounter with Aokiji. Their eyes widened in shock as they found Luffy, frozen solid and standing in place.
"Shit!" Zoro cursed, immediately rushing to his captain's side. He reached out, carefully touching Luffy's frozen form. The ice was cold, almost burning to the touch.
Sanji joined him, his face tight with worry. "We need to get him back to the ship. Chopper might be able to help."
Without wasting time, they carefully lifted Luffy, the ice making him heavier than usual. Zoro and Sanji worked together, carrying him as quickly as they could without risking further damage.
Back on the Merry, the scene was already chaotic. Nami, Usopp, and Chopper had managed to thaw Coby and Robin with cold water, both of whom were lying on the bathroom floor, pale and shivering but alive.
"They're breathing!" Chopper cried out, his voice filled with relief as he checked their pulses. "They're gonna be okay!"
Nami, tears still streaking her face, let out a shaky breath. "They better…"
Just then, Zoro and Sanji burst into the room, carrying Luffy's frozen form. "Chopper! We need you here, now!" Zoro barked, his tone urgent.
Chopper's eyes widened as he saw Luffy's condition. "Get him to the bathroom!" he ordered, quickly placed him the space Robin and Coby left. The others helped lower Luffy under the shower, and Chopper immediately began running cold water over him, repeating the process he had used earlier.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Nami asked, her voice trembling as she watched Chopper work.
Chopper nodded, though his expression remained serious. "He'll be fine, but it's going to take time. Just like with Coby and Robin, we need to be patient."
The crew stood around, tense but hopeful, as they watched Chopper carefully tend to Luffy. After what felt like an eternity, the ice around Luffy began to melt, and his skin gradually returned to its normal color. His breathing, shallow at first, slowly became more steady.
"He's going to make it," Chopper confirmed, his voice filled with relief.
The crew let out a collective sigh of relief, their tense shoulders finally relaxing. They had made it through yet another close call, but the weight of what had just happened still lingered in the air.
Zoro leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he observed the scene. "We need to be more careful," he muttered, his voice low but firm. "That guy was no joke."
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Next time, we need to be ready for someone like him."
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