Luffy was drifting slowly in the New World.
However, a major event that would determine the fate of the Marine organization occurred!
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku resigned, taking responsibility for the tragic outcome of the Marineford War.
The vacant position of Fleet Admiral was like a lit fuse, instantly igniting a power struggle within the Marine organization.
The leader of the Dove Faction, Aokiji Kuzan, earned the strong support of Sengoku and the high-ranking elders due to his calm and tolerant style of conduct; they firmly believed that only gentle governance could maintain the balance of the seas.
Meanwhile, the core of the Hawk Faction, Akainu Sakazuki, garnered the support of the vast majority of lower-ranking officers with his iron-blooded philosophy of Absolute Justice, and even received explicit endorsement from the world's highest authority, the Gorosei.
The compromise of the Dove Faction and the radicalism of the Hawk Faction clashed, creating blinding sparks.
Every corridor and every warship at Marineford was filled with opposing arguments and hidden hostility.
The conflict between the two major factions had already intensified to an irreconcilable point.
Finally, the Gorosei issued a decisive order, ending the dispute in the most direct and cruel way:
They commanded Aokiji and Akainu to engage in a death match, and the victor would become the new Marine Fleet Admiral!
...New World, Punk Hazard!
This was once a Marine research base, where Vegapunk conducted various studies.
But two years ago, Caesar's experiments caused the release of a large amount of poison gas, turning the island into a dead island.
On the island at this moment,
Akainu's face was stern, his eyes sharp as quenched steel, wearing the Admiral's Cloak of Justice, his figure robust and imposing, radiating an aura of iron-blooded severity.
Aokiji was tall and slender, with curly hair and thick lips, often wearing an eye mask, dressed in a white suit vest and a dark blue shirt, draped in a Marine cloak, exuding lazy dominance.
"Ararara, I never thought, Sakazuki, that there would be a day when you and I would cross swords!!"
At this moment, Aokiji was no longer lazy; his eyes held bone-deep chill.
The aura around him changed abruptly in that instant.
Centered around him, pale frost surged out like a tide, freezing everything in its path, even condensing the air into fine ice crystals.
"Enough talk! Between you and me, there is only a fight to the death!"
With a sneer from Akainu, his military boot stomped down hard—
—Boom!
The ground for ten miles instantly cracked like a spiderweb, and crimson magma erupted from the fissures like an enraged dragon; the scorching heat wave threatened to incinerate everything.
In just one breath, the entire island was enveloped in a desperate duality of ice and fire—one half frozen for a thousand miles, the other half steaming with intense flames, as if a natural disaster had struck. This was the terrifying pressure of a Logia Awakener!
A strange red glow flashed in Aokiji's eyes, he lightly tapped the ground with his toe, and his body retreated violently like a phantom.
At the same time, he shouted coldly: "Ice Block: Partisan!"
The moisture in the air was instantly drawn out and condensed, and dozens of incomparably sharp ice spears materialized out of thin air.
The spear tips shimmered with chilling, bone-piercing light, shooting toward Akainu like meteors chasing the moon, moving fast enough to tear the air!
However, Akainu's eyes were impassive. His right hand clenched abruptly, and a streak of crimson magma, symbolizing hellish destruction and carrying terrifying high temperatures, condensed.
"Meigo!"
The scorching punch wind vaporized all the incoming ice spears into a sky full of white mist.
But Aokiji did not stop; he suddenly raised his left hand.
Extreme cold spread wildly along his arm, instantly transforming into a giant ice bird that blotted out the sky.
As its transparent wings flapped, the space it passed through seemed ready to freeze, and it swooped down toward Akainu with overwhelming force!
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
The ultimate low temperature rushed forward, as if an entire iceberg had collapsed, freezing even the light until it became sluggish.
Yet, in Akainu's cold eyes, defiant fierce light ignited, and his lips curved into a bloodthirsty arc as his giant magma fist, carrying the might of a volcanic eruption, violently met the attack!
The crimson magma instantly crushed the ice bird, but Aokiji's extreme cold did not dissipate; instead, it clung firmly to Akainu's body like maggots attached to bone... "Kuzan, are you only capable of hiding and dodging? Have the guts to face me head-on!"
Akainu roared, pressing forward relentlessly, the magma causing the ground to crackle and burn.
Aokiji's mouth twitched, cursing inwardly:
A control-type fighter engaging a burst-type fighter in close combat?
Aside from Kaido, that monster, who would dare take a Meigo punch head-on?
"Ararara, reverse psychology doesn't work on me. I have my own way of fighting."
He exhaled a puff of white mist, his expression growing more solemn, and the cold air around him intensified.
"Is that so?"
Akainu suddenly lowered his center of gravity, and the magma power within him completely erupted; the magma surging from the ground fissures was like a caged beast set free.
Carrying world-destroying high temperatures, the giant magma fist glowed fiercely as it blasted toward Aokiji.
The crimson streak symbolizing destruction rapidly grew larger in Aokiji's pupils!
Aokiji reluctantly gritted his teeth, clenched his right hand into a fist, and frost instantly condensed into a thick, heavy gauntlet, wrapped in incomparably powerful Armament Haki, which he smashed against the giant magma fist.
"Ice Fist!"
The fists of blue-white extreme cold and crimson intense flame violently collided in mid-air—
—Boom!
A terrifying air current swept in all directions, and white mist steamed up everywhere, enveloping the entire island.
"Heh heh, Kuzan, is this all Garp taught you?"
Akainu suddenly increased his force, the magma power erupted, and the powerful impact instantly sent Aokiji flying.
In mid-air, Aokiji forcefully suppressed the surging blood within him, and with a thought, countless ice spears condensed again, raining down upon Akainu.
"Insignificant trick!"
Akainu waved his giant magma fist, and the punch wind, carrying high temperatures, incinerated all the ice spears.
But in that instant, Aokiji's gaze suddenly sharpened—
—"A weakness!"
The sky-high white mist instantly gathered in front of him. Aokiji stomped heavily on the ground and said with a chilling voice: "Ice Age: Spiked Dragon Crash!"
Bone-chilling ice spikes erupted from the ground like a giant dragon, instantly wrapping around Akainu's limbs with sharp cracking sounds.
The ice crystals spread at a visible speed, freezing him into a crystal-clear ice sculpture in the blink of an eye!
Aokiji raised his hand without hesitation, and another lifelike ice bird condensed, shooting out with a sharp shriek that tore through the air.
But his own figure retreated frantically, pushing the cold aura around him to the extreme.
—He deeply understood Akainu's terror!
Sure enough, a streak of crimson light suddenly flared inside the ice sculpture, and the extreme high temperature instantly melted the solid ice!
"Crack—Boom!"
Akainu burst out of the ice, his entire right arm completely transformed into boiling magma, bubbling and gurgling. The dripping magma burned deep, charred pits into the ground as he sneered and closed in:
"Kuzan, if you used this effort and energy to purge the seas, would there still be so much trash in the world?"
"Sakazuki, you are too extreme!"
Aokiji's eyes were cold, but the anger in them burned ever hotter.
"If you become Fleet Admiral, comrades, subordinates, and even innocent civilians will all become bargaining chips in your purge of the seas!"
"As long as the goal can be achieved, anyone can be a bargaining chip!"
Akainu's steps did not falter, and his magma power grew increasingly violent. "This is Justice!"
"You damn bastard!"
Even though he already knew Akainu's philosophy, the fury in Aokiji's eyes completely erupted.
What surged around him was no longer just cold air, but killing intent so powerful it was almost tangible.
The intertwining of extreme cold and rage made the temperature of this Ice Fire Island even more bizarre!
—He absolutely would not allow Akainu to turn the Marine organization into a machine that only knew slaughter!!
Two streams of red and blue energy solidified, surging violently from around the two men, transforming into distinct torrents of energy in mid-air that fiercely collided, tore, and crushed each other!
The cold air was like a raging wave formed from ten thousand years of profound ice, carrying a frigidity that could freeze everything.
The magma resembled a fire dragon erupting from the Earth's core, burning with an intensity that could incinerate all things.
Where the two forces clashed, steaming white mist and flying sparks intertwined, causing space itself to tremble slightly.
The cloaks behind them were violently whipped up by the chaotic airflow, flapping loudly like battle flags dancing wildly.
This was the ultimate showdown between cold and magma, and even more, a life-and-death clash between two philosophies of Justice—
One side held fast to his bottom line, using ice to protect the order in his heart.
The other was paranoid and extreme, using magma to burn away all "obstacles."
There was no retreat, only battle!
...Marineford, Marineford.
The silence of the Fleet Admirals Office was broken by a crisp "crunching" sound. The rich aroma of senbei spread from the source, adding a touch of everyday life to the solemn hall.
Sengoku sat opposite him, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, but ultimately saying nothing.
After all, it was Garp; that old fellow could always find enjoyment in the most inappropriate situations.
"Do you think Kuzan can handle it?"
He finally spoke, his gaze resting on the proposal for the Fleet Admiral successor on the desk, his tone cautious.
Garp, whose cheeks were puffed out from chewing, casually picked his nose upon hearing the question, laughing heartily and confidently:
"Relax, relax! Are you underestimating my direct disciple?"
Sengoku shot him a look, muttering inwardly.
That old guy's teaching method was purely misleading the youth.
On normal days, he either greeted his disciples' heads with the "Iron Fist of Love" or leisurely watched them punch warships and smash mountains.
Kuzan was able to reach his current height entirely due to his exceptional natural talent, coupled with a mindset so pure it was almost stubborn.
"Honestly, I thought you would recommend Sakazuki."
Garp suddenly put his arm around Sengoku's shoulder and grinned.
"Among the Three Admirals, only Akainu is the one you can command as you please, right?"
He wasn't wrong. In his early years, Sengoku was a genuine Hawk Faction member, acting decisively and ruthlessly.
"It's different."
Sengoku rubbed his temples, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
"Sakazuki is a pure soldier. If Kuzan is elected, even if Sakazuki is unhappy, he will follow military orders."
"Soldiers don't need excessive thought; they only need absolute execution."
He paused, his tone becoming graver:
"But if Sakazuki takes the position of Fleet Admiral, Kuzan, who cannot tolerate his 'Absolute Justice,' will almost certainly leave the Marine organization."
The aroma of senbei still lingered, but the air inside the Fleet Admirals Office had unconsciously grown heavier.