Caesar surrendered to Adrian without any resistance. However, a look of deep trouble appeared on his face when Adrian ordered him to stop the giant experiment.
"Lord, I'm afraid that won't work. The Gigantification Experiment is a research project funded by one of the Yonko, Big Mom. If it's interrupted so rashly..."
Boom!
Without a single word from Adrian, Shiryu whipped Caesar away with his scabbard.
"Don't you understand human language? The Captain told you to stop, and you'll do it immediately! Or I'll kill you!"
Even Shiryu, a notorious killer, was disgusted by the inhumane experiment. Adrian felt the same. While he didn't consider himself a kind-hearted or decent person, he had a bottom line. He didn't care what other people did, but he wouldn't allow his own subordinates to be so cruel.
"If that fat woman has any opinions, tell her to come to me directly!" Adrian said, delivering the final word on the matter.
Blue, blue, blue...
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Adrian's arms suddenly rang. It was Violet, the scout.
"My lord, I've found a fleet that has just completed its assembly at the Marine G-5 branch, three thousand nautical miles from Punk Hazard," she reported in a brisk voice. "The person leading the team is a strong old man with a white, mountain-shaped hairstyle. The people with him are all top-tier combatants from Marine Headquarters, and the Marine hero Garp is among them. I suspect they've sensed your intentions and are coming to support Kuzan and Akainu."
"The...the Marines are coming?" Caesar screamed in terror and begged, "Lord, please take me out of here quickly! I don't want to be caught by them again..."
"Is even Kong coming?" Adrian ignored Caesar, unsurprised by this development. The presence of the Fleet Admiral, Kong, however, showed the severity of the situation. Someone at Marine Headquarters must have guessed his plan and has taken precautions. Adrian suspected that the brilliant Great Staff Officer Tsuru was the one.
But Adrian was prepared. He had sent Violet out for long-range reconnaissance in advance. To ensure her safety, he had also sent Death Song with her.
"My lord, the Marines are making a big move this time. I'm afraid your plan can't go forward. Why not..." Violet hesitated for a moment before boldly continuing, "Why not retreat early? If you wait another day for Marine reinforcements to arrive, you may be in a very dangerous situation, my lord."
Violet's worries were not unfounded. With so many high-level combatants—Kong, Garp, and three Marine Admirals—gathered together, they were a force Adrian and his crew couldn't handle. But missing such a prime opportunity was too much of a pity.
"Fortune favors the bold. It seems the plan can only be carried out ahead of time!" Adrian gave a decisive order. "You and Death Song, come to Punk Hazard immediately. We will leave together after the sneak attack is completed."
Boom!
The terrifying explosions were almost non-stop. Ice cones and hot, acrid magma crashed between Kuzan and Akainu. Their battle had created a huge crater in the center of the island, and the seawater that poured in was instantly frozen by Kuzan's powers.
"Great Eruption!"
"Ice Ball!"
Five icicles directly sealed the giant magma fist before it shattered into countless pieces. In the next second, the two figures collided with a low, thunderous roar that cracked people's eardrums.
"Dark Hound!" Akainu's right arm suddenly lunged forward.
Zila!
Kuzan was caught off guard and a bloody burn mark immediately appeared on his chest.
"Puff!" Kuzan spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning slightly pale.
"What's wrong, Kuzan? Is this your limit?" Akainu mocked with a ferocious expression, launching a new, deadly attack.
Boom!
A punch wrapped in Armament Haki struck Kuzan hard, sending him flying backward and crashing into the distant sea of flames. But in the next second, the flames instantly went out, and Kuzan jumped out again.
"Stop shouting, Sakazuki... Frozen Time Capsule!"
In the blink of an eye, the cold air froze a proud Akainu. Hot magma surged from Akainu's body, quickly melting all the ice.
It was clear that in this battle, Akainu prevailed in both his devil fruit ability and body strength. When Kuzan fought, he often used a layer of Armament Haki along with his fruit ability, but even so, his left leg was badly burned. The pain was still unbearable, even after using his Hie Hie no Mi powers to cool it down.
"... Kuzan, let's burn this abandoned island to the ground together. Meteor Volcano!"
Shhhhhhh!
Giant magma fists, far bigger than those from the Summit War, fell from the sky like a meteor shower. In an instant, Kuzan's location was turned into an endless sea of fire and magma. The temperature soared, exuding a terrifying, scorching heat.
"Ice Age!"
Swish!
In an instant, Kuzan's body erupted with an extremely cold air that could freeze the sea by hundred miles. A white glow passed by, and the surrounding area turned into a vast ice field once again. Even the giant magma fists falling from the sky were frozen into huge ice cubes.
Boom!
The fists of the two men collided again.
"Stop it, stop it quickly, don't fight anymore, don't fight anymore~~" A dazzling golden light flashed, and Kizaru's figure stood between them.
"Porusalino, do you also want to compete with me for the Fleet Admiral position?" Akainu roared in a low voice.
Even Kuzan gave the bumbling Kizaru a hostile look. The two were now seeing red. If Kizaru dared to nod, they would probably join forces to kill him first and then continue their fight to the death.
"Yes... ah, no, no..." Kizaru was startled by their fierce gazes. He quickly waved his hands and said, "I'm here to tell you something extremely important. According to Mr. Garp's speculation, Adrian is likely to..."
"What? Garp guessed it?" Before Kizaru could finish, Adrian's unbelievable voice came from not far away.
That old guy Garp—since when did he get so smart?!