Once the serum's effects wore off, the user would enter an hour-long period of extreme weakness.
During that time, their body would feel as though every trace of vitality had been drained from it, leaving them frighteningly fragile.
The Haki that had once filled their body would scatter like sand slipping through their fingers and vanish without a trace.
Even remaining on their feet would become a tremendous struggle, as though every bone had been removed from their body.
An entire hour in such a weakened state was practically the same as baring one's neck before the enemy's blade, completely helpless and unable to resist.
'I can't use it unless there's absolutely no other choice…'
Aokiji's reason screamed the warning through his mind like the tolling of an enormous bell.
Every word carried immense weight and hammered against his strained nerves. He understood perfectly well that once he opened that forbidden door, the consequences could be disastrous.
Using such a crucial trump card now might allow him to temporarily suppress Bullet and perhaps even defeat him outright.
What followed, however, would be an immensely dangerous one-hour window.
Who could possibly step forward and protect him throughout that time?
Kizaru was currently locked in a fierce struggle with Jozu and had no attention to spare for anyone else.
Magellan, as the master of poison, had been entrusted with holding the center and overseeing the broader battle. He could not abandon his position to assist Aokiji.
As for the Vice Admirals, their strength was simply too limited amid a clash between Emperor-level monsters. None of them could guarantee his safety in a situation this dangerous.
Recklessly using the serum would be no different from drinking poison to quench his thirst. It might solve the immediate problem, but only by pushing him into an even deeper abyss.
Reality, however, was merciless.
The battle before him was deteriorating visibly, like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.
Bullet swung his magma fist once again, smashing it into the ice shield Aokiji had carefully constructed with overwhelming destructive force.
BOOM!
The seemingly solid defense shattered instantly, exploding into countless crystalline fragments.
A scorching wave of air surged through the opening like a savage beast, carrying the scent of destruction straight toward Aokiji's face.
The heat seemed capable of burning everything to ash, bringing with it a sense of death more intense than anything he had felt thus far.
"Ice Saber!"
Aokiji roared and formed an enormous blade of ice in his hand to block the attack.
The impact sent him sliding backward through the air, leaving frozen trails beneath his feet.
His gaze flickered as the balance within his mind swung violently between risking everything and continuing to fight cautiously.
Using the serum might reverse the battle, but the danger afterward would be enormous.
Refusing to use it, however, might leave him unable to maintain even the current stalemate.
The battle had become far more difficult than he had ever imagined.
Aokiji and Bullet continued their breathtaking confrontation, every collision seemingly capable of tearing space apart.
Violent waves of energy spread wildly from their battlefield, sending the ocean roaring upward into towering walls of water that appeared ready to throw the entire world into chaos.
Then, while their struggle raged at its fiercest, a razor-sharp streak of pink sword light suddenly tore across the heavy, oppressive sky like a meteor piercing the darkness.
The brilliant slash had come from the Admiral candidate Momousagi—
Gion.
She moved with the grace of a celestial maiden descending into the mortal world, her presence both cold and noble.
The fighting spirit she had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained. Finally giving in to the urge burning within her, she decisively entered the chaotic battle.
Her objective was perfectly clear.
She was heading straight for the eye of the storm consuming the entire world—
Ron, ruler of the Divine Kingdom.
Gion descended lightly into the center of the battlefield, landing as softly as a drifting feather.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, her delicate features seemingly sculpted with painstaking care by the heavens themselves. Even the smallest movement of her expression carried a captivating charm.
At that moment, however, her face was covered in frost.
Cold killing intent shone within her eyes, revealing the merciless resolve she held toward her enemy.
Yet when her gaze clearly fell upon Ron for the first time and she finally saw his appearance, a faint trace of surprise still flashed through the depths of her eyes.
'So this is Ron, the man who has thrown the entire world into chaos?'
'He's so young…'
Despite standing on opposing sides, Gion had to admit objectively that the man hovering before her possessed an extraordinary presence.
His sharply defined face carried a firm, masculine edge, while the natural authority of a ruler radiated from his eyes and brow.
There was a unique charm about him that even made Gion think he was… kind of handsome.
For the briefest instant, an absurd thought escaped her control and flashed through her mind.
'Had he not chosen to stand against the Marines, perhaps… I might have liked the chance to get to know someone like him.'
The faint ripple had barely appeared before her reason and sense of duty crushed it completely.
'What a shame. Our positions mean we can only ever be enemies.'
Gion's gaze sharpened at once, her already cold eyes becoming even more resolute.
She tightened her grip around the famous blade Konpira.
With a small twist of her wrist, the sword released a clear, melodious hum, seemingly announcing the deadly edge it was about to display.
Gion pointed its tip directly toward Ron and shouted across the battlefield,
"Ron! Your ambitions end here today!"
The final echoes of her voice had yet to fade when her graceful figure transformed into a dazzling streak of pink light.
She moved with both elegance and terrifying speed, seemingly becoming one with the blade in her hands.
Sword and swordswoman advanced together.
Her cutting aura stretched across the sky like a magnificent rainbow, carrying unwavering resolve as she thrust straight toward one of Ron's vital points.
...
But the ruler of the Divine Kingdom was hardly someone an enemy could approach so easily.
A man who stood at such heights naturally possessed strength and authority far beyond ordinary imagination.
"Hmph. A little Marine girl like you thinks she can challenge him? I'm your opponent."
A low, raspy voice rang out as yellow sand suddenly surged into the sky, churning as though stirred by an invisible hand.
Within the sweeping curtain of sand, Crocodile appeared like a ghost directly in Momousagi's path.
A cigar rested casually between his lips. The curling smoke obscured part of his face, but it could not hide the cold disdain in his eyes.
His unmistakable golden hook gleamed beneath the sunlight with a chilling edge, as though ready to claim a life at any moment.
Momousagi's full-powered sword slash tore into the raging sandstorm with unstoppable force.
Yet the seemingly devastating attack disappeared as though swallowed by an endless abyss. Countless grains of sand enveloped and consumed the sword energy layer by layer until it vanished without causing so much as a ripple.
"Crocodile!"
Momousagi's elegant brows drew sharply together, surprise and caution filling her eyes.
She immediately recognized the man before her as one of the former Seven Warlords of the Sea.
This Crocodile, however, had undergone a complete transformation and could no longer be compared to the man he had once been.
He had refined the Sand-Sand Fruit to an extraordinary degree, allowing every grain of sand to obey his will and become a deadly weapon.
More importantly, Ron had generously granted him the terrifying power of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Azure Dragon.
The two mighty abilities had perfectly fused within his body and strengthened one another.
His regenerative power now seemed almost immortal, while his ability to withstand punishment had reached an incomprehensible level. Even under the most violent assault, he could remain as steady as a mountain.
The wind howled, sweeping clouds of sand across the battlefield.
Crocodile's eyes widened, blazing with savage resolve.
"Raging Sand Slash!"
He gripped his strangely glowing golden hook tightly, the muscles in his arm bulging as thick veins rose beneath his skin.
With a powerful swing, he seemed to tear the surrounding air apart.
An enormous slash infused with both the raging force of a sandstorm and the overwhelming authority of a dragon roared forward like a monstrous beast, carrying enough power to destroy everything in its path.
Sand rolled violently wherever it passed, creating a spectacle both magnificent and terrifying.
Then something even more astonishing occurred.
A layer of pitch-black, top-tier Armament Haki slowly spread across Crocodile's body like the descent of night.
It was no ordinary coating.
A brilliant metallic sheen flowed across its surface, making it appear forged from the strongest steel imaginable.
The Haki had been compressed to an extraordinary degree. Every trace of it contained immense power, seemingly capable of piercing any obstacle before it.
Bang!
Momousagi met the tremendous sandstorm slash head-on with Konpira.
The two attacks collided violently, unleashing a powerful shock wave that surged outward like a tsunami and made the nearby ground tremble.
A severe numbness shot through Momousagi's arm, as though countless needles were stabbing into her nerves.
Her brows tightened.
'What powerful Haki! He's far stronger than our intelligence suggested. This is completely beyond my expectations.'
Crocodile, by contrast, remained planted where he stood without moving an inch.
He was tall and unyielding, an arrogant smile appearing across his face.
Even amid the intensity of their clash, he casually exhaled a ring of smoke. It drifted around his features and made him seem even more mysterious and unreadable.
He stared coldly at his opponent.
"I've never known the meaning of fear, even when facing Admirals like you."
His voice overflowed with confidence and arrogance, as though victory were already within his grasp.
What troubled Momousagi even more was the shocking fact detected by her exceptionally sharp senses.
The considerable stamina Crocodile had expended during their violent collision, along with the faint internal damage he had suffered, was already recovering at a speed so unnatural that it was visible to the naked eye.
The miraculous power of the Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon form had granted him an immense reservoir of vitality and astonishing regenerative ability.
It was as though he had been wrapped in another layer of indestructible armor.
In a prolonged battle, that trait gave him an enormous advantage and made him resemble an impassable mountain standing before her.
"Damn it… He's an unbelievably troublesome monster!"
Momousagi gritted her teeth, frustration and determination flashing through her eyes.
She knew she could not afford even the slightest lapse in concentration.
Forcing herself to focus completely, she pushed her Observation Haki to its limit.
Invisible currents seemed to gather around her as her Haki formed a protective field.
She surged forward and engaged Crocodile once again.
Razor-sharp sword light cut through the darkened air like streaks of silver lightning.
Wild sandstorms swept across the battlefield with overwhelming destructive force.
Behind Crocodile, the faint image of an Azure Dragon appeared and disappeared, adding an even more mysterious and intimidating pressure to his attacks.
Sword light, sand, and the shadow of the dragon intertwined and collided, releasing brilliant flashes and deafening explosions.
For the moment, neither side could secure a clear advantage.
The battle fell into a tense stalemate.
Through his unusual combination of abilities and indomitable fighting spirit, Crocodile had successfully stopped one of the Marines' sharpest blades before she could reach Ron.
He stood like a towering fortress before the ruler of the Divine Kingdom, holding his ground and refusing to give Momousagi even the slightest opportunity to break through.
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