"I really didn't expect to meet again so soon, Sean."
It had only been a few days, hadn't it? This kid made progress as easily as drinking water; it was simply too monstrous.
Every time they met, he was shocked. Aokiji felt numb. He turned the handlebars—Screech—and braked to a halt!
"I don't want to either." On the Sunny, Sean shrugged helplessly. "Every time, I silently tell myself in my heart to slow down, slow down, and slow down some more, to avoid taking steps so big that I pull a muscle."
"But who knew my body wouldn't listen to reason and insisted on improving? It's really... quite a headache."
Aokiji: "..."
Please give him a dozen of such "headaches," thank you very much... Damn it. If he had possessed this level of talent, would he have had his leg broken while fighting Akainu for the position of Fleet Admiral?
It was truly infuriating!
The Ice Admiral's mouth twitched violently. He looked deeply at Sean and said, "Arara~ I really have to hand it to you..."
"Sean, I admit you're right. Surpassing me... might really not be that difficult for you."
"At least, after today, I have nothing left to teach you!"
He pointed a finger at Sean's forehead. A familiar white light surged into his mind. The Admiral seemed to have completed his mission, or perhaps he was just "pissed off." He kicked the bike stand and sped away ten times faster than he arrived... departing in a rush without even leaving a goodbye for Sean.
This "laziness"... was indeed very Aokiji.
"Farewell, Mr. Kuzan. Let's get together again when you have time."
"You better never call me again."
Sean: "..."
He shook his head and smiled, watching Aokiji disappear completely into the sea of clouds. He immediately gathered his focus and began to comprehend the Fruit Awakening. Gradually, as time passed second by second, a trace of enlightenment welled up in his heart.
A cold aura radiated outward from Sean as the center.
'Water is liquid Ice, Ice is solid Water. Just like Doflamingo can turn the surrounding environment into "strings" at will...'
'The Ice-Ice Fruit Awakening allows one to merge with all things, transforming everything into Ice, achieving ultimate utilization and control.'
Splash~
The calm sea rose without wind. A wave surged forward, causing the Sunny to rock unsteadily. Ging was standing right next to Sean, intently watching the screen, when he suddenly realized that the status of Number 2 on the screen was wrong. He hurriedly glanced at Sean beside him. That single glance... nearly froze him solid!
"Hiss—so cold!"
"Where is this cold air coming from on such a hot day?!"
The Boar was shocked. Indeed, where was this cold air coming from?
Gunkan Island was located in the subtropics. It could only encounter storms, never be covered by ice and snow!
On Gunkan Island, the couple Ginna and Banna, who were carefully accompanying Number 2, shivered for no reason. When they opened their mouths, they strangely breathed out a puff of white mist.
They sensed something was wrong immediately.
Clang~
The golden cup fished up by Number 2 rolled along the ground.
The old couple looked at each other, then simultaneously looked toward Number 2—
Immersed in realization, Number 2, following the main body, comprehended the Ice-Ice Fruit. A pair of large, fan-like hands gestured in the air. Layers of white frost danced at his fingertips like spirits. As if alive, whatever they touched turned into glacial ice!
"Old man, your eyebrows!"
"What's wrong?!"
"They're frozen!"
"Ah... I was wondering why it felt so cold... Wait, old woman, don't just look at me, look at your clothes, they're frosting over too!"
"Hell! It's Mr. Sean's ability... Sir, wake up! Sir..."
Crack~ Crack~ Crack.
Before Ginna's outstretched right hand could touch Number 2's shoulder, it was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture!
"Old man..." Banna's dim old eyes contracted sharply. Just as she opened her mouth wide, she saw the dancing white frost instantly become agitated, condensing into a pale torrent that pressed against her face and swallowed her up.
Instantly, Banna's presence vanished.
Then—
The world seemed to fall silent at this moment!
Number 2 suddenly opened his eyes. His black pupils were dyed with wind and frost, and he muttered in a low voice: "I understand... I am ice, ice is me."
He scanned the surroundings aimlessly.
Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, Hisoka, Illumi, Hanzo, and the other candidates, who were collecting treasures to raise accommodation fees, all shivered in unison.
They felt a cold breeze blow past. Looking again... Sean remained in his original position, as if he had never moved. But the examiners, in the blink of an eye, had turned from living people into ice sculptures. It was like seeing a ghost!
"Uh... am I seeing things... why have the uncle's eyes turned completely white?"
Gon rubbed his eyes, somewhat uncertain.
"Seems so," Leorio adjusted his sunglasses, his expression also a bit dazed. In that moment just now, his attention had been completely attracted by the sunken ship on the seabed. He hadn't noticed what happened at all, only feeling as if a faint sea breeze had blown past him... it was a bit cold.
Unfortunately, a guy whose aura nodes weren't open was destined to have bad "eyesight." Whether compared to Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes, or Hisoka and Illumi who could use "Gyo"... Leorio and Gon were still "too green."
"Idiots, look at the examiners! Two huge ice sculptures are standing right there, are you blind?" A spark ignited in Kurapika's amber pupils. The blonde youth clearly sensed the air temperature dropping with the flow of cold air, and his heart sank!
"Oh ho ho ho... My unripe fruit seems to have gotten stronger again~"
"If I'm not mistaken... he was the one who made the move to freeze those two old apples."
Subarashii~ Subarashii... Damn it. How can you become more and more captivating~
A familiar perverted laughter rang out. Hisoka didn't dive into the crowd; he wrapped his arms around himself, terrified he wouldn't be able to resist harvesting this "most delicious" apple, Sean, prematurely. Fortunately, Illumi was by his side, occasionally sticking him with a needle. Only then was the "madness" stabilized.
"You again, always you... What is it this time?! Ice?" Illumi, disguised as "Gittarackur," looked at Sean calmly. The pins all over his face shook slightly. Obviously, even if he was used to it, or even numb to it, witnessing such a scene still made it hard to remain calm deep down.
Ice!
"Ho ho ho... If this old man remembers correctly, the technique this Sean kid is using now is somewhat similar to that Navy Admiral..."
"Let me think... what was his name again?"
"Kuzan!"
Netero narrowed his eyes: "Capable of elementalization, and instantly freezing Ginna and Banna into ice sculptures. Aside from him, there is no one else."
"Hmph." Maha sat up from the sofa, staring at Sean on the screen, secretly becoming unsettled.
What ice sculptures... what Kuzan... he didn't care at all. He was just afraid of Sean closing his eyes!
"Once the brat closes his eyes, he's either having an epiphany or has already had one."
"He might even be trying to attempt the Fourth Limit Break!"
As they say, the one who understands you better than yourself is always your opponent!
Netero glanced at Maha and chuckled, "That would be a good show to watch. A body with the Third Limit Break paired with a Nen ability of the Fourth Limit Break... Old man..."
"Watch out or you'll be beaten to tears later~"
"Shoo, shoo, shoo... Piss off!" Maha cursed loudly. "Instead of worrying about this old man, you should worry about your mistress!"
"They've been frozen into popsicles, yet you still have the leisure to drink tea. Someone looks even more cold-blooded than this old man!"
"Ho ho~ This old man isn't being cold-blooded." Netero curled his lip and looked faintly at Number 2 on the screen. "I just trust Sean. This child has good character and wouldn't attack others without reason."
"Tch~ Making it sound like you know him well~ I'm warning you, kid, Sean is my grandson, the grandson of Maha Zoldyck!"
The two old men, whose combined age was nearly five hundred years, glared at each other, turned their faces away, and snorted coldly at the same time. The Vice Chairman's office, separated by a single floor, could almost hear it.
The Rat lost his mood for drinking. He rarely washed his face, then stood in front of the screen.
Witnessing the big toy vaguely transitioning into a Gundam rhythm, the corners of his mouth grinned, hooking into a deep V-shape. "Did I still underestimate you? Sean Zoldyck."
A blade wrapped in red-gold Conqueror's Haki, plus the current "frost." Pariston became more confused the more he looked, and more excited the more he looked. It felt as if Sean was wrapped in a mysterious mist; peel back one layer, and there was another, never knowing where his limit was.
"Uh ho ho ho... Interesting, too interesting. I must think of a way to destroy it... But it seems very difficult... So, what should I do? Let me think... think carefully."
Step step~ Footsteps gradually echoed in the room. The Rat paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He looked up.
The cold current swallowed Ginna and Banna and had no intention of stopping, spreading out along the deck.