The neutralizing of Whitebeard's devastating initial attack sent a clear message: Kenji 'Apex' Tanaka was not a passive spectator. He was a force of absolute defense.
Sengoku, seeing his main strategy of using the terrain against Whitebeard fail, roared orders for the Admirals to engage.
"Admirals! Neutralize the Warlord 'Apex' first! He is the greatest threat to our strategy!"
Aokiji (Kuzan), moving first, blurred across the icy field created by his previous abilities, aiming his attack at Kenji.
"I warned you to stay out of the Navy's way, Apex," Aokiji stated, launching a massive, crystalline spear of ice: Ice Saber.
Kenji, master of Apex: Absolute Thermal Manipulation, didn't even flinch. He let the spear strike his shoulder.
The instant the ice contacted Kenji's Apex: Adamantium Body, the thermal energy of the ice was violently reversed. The ice didn't melt; it instantly superheated itself into a plume of high-pressure steam, vaporizing upon contact.
"I control the temperature, Kuzan," Kenji said calmly. "Your absolute zero is merely a starting point for my thermal spectrum."
Kenji retaliated with a terrifying, non-lethal demonstration. He focused a small, intensely cold pocket of air—actual absolute zero—around Aokiji's logia body.
Aokiji instantly shuddered, retreating rapidly. While the cold couldn't harm his Logia form, the absolute negation of all thermal energy was an existential horror. It was a cold beyond cold, paralyzing his ability to freely manipulate his element.
"He's neutralized!" Robin shouted from the platform, identifying the shift.
Kenji had temporarily taken the strongest form of cold off the board, earning a deep, cold respect from Aokiji.