Chapter 41: Fire and Ice! The Demon Maid vs. The Absolute Zero!
The moment the name "Aokiji" echoed across the frozen expanse, a chilling silence fell over the ice field, heavier and colder than the air itself.
Rem's heart felt heavy, as if a stone had been placed in her chest. Suzaku had briefed the crew extensively on the power structure of this world. The "Three Admirals" weren't just strong; they were the monsters at the very top of the food chain—living natural disasters capable of erasing islands from the map with a wave of their hand.
To face one was a death sentence for any rookie pirate.
However, retreat was not in her vocabulary. Not when she had orders from her Lord.
"Hmph!"
Seeing her meteor hammer's fierce blow—an attack that could shatter boulders—blocked effortlessly by a single arm coated in Haki, Rem's visible blue eye hardened with a terrifying resolve.
She knew standard attacks wouldn't work. She needed to tap into her bloodline immediately.
Without any hesitation, the skin at her temple cracked open with a sickening sound. A small, sharp white horn emerged, glowing with an eerie, pulsating pink mana.
Oni Form: Activated.
A power far more violent and primal than her usual strength surged through her veins. It felt like magma replacing her blood. Her aura spiked, becoming ferocious and wild, causing the air around her to vibrate with a low hum.
"If I cannot defeat you..." Rem whispered, her voice distorted by the demonic energy. "I will at least buy time for my Master!"
CRACK!
The ice beneath her feet shattered under the sudden pressure. Her figure blurred into a blue afterimage, flickering in and out of existence faster than the eye could track.
She didn't run; she vanished.
In a millisecond, she circled behind Aokiji, her speed doubled by her demonic transformation. The wind pressure from her movement whipped Aokiji's coat.
"Die!"
Her right fist clenched, coated in pitch-black Armament Haki combined with her overflowing mana. It carried the full weight of her Oni strength, striking fiercely at Aokiji's exposed back, aiming to shatter his spine.
But Aokiji didn't even turn his head. He stood there, hands in his pockets, looking as bored as a man waiting for a bus.
Under the cover of his advanced Observation Haki, Rem's movements—lightning-fast to a normal human—were as clear as a slow-motion film to him. He had predicted her trajectory, her speed, and her intent before she even moved a muscle.
Just as her fist was about to make contact with his white suit—
Sizzle—
A thick, translucent wall of ice condensed from thin air behind Aokiji's back. It appeared instantly, freezing the moisture in the air to create a barrier harder than steel.
BANG!
Rem's fist collided with the ice wall. The impact created a shockwave that blew away the snow for ten meters. The ice wall shattered into a million shards, flying like diamonds in the sun.
But it had done its job; it stopped her momentum dead.
"Oh no!"
Rem's heart tightened. Her pupils dilated.
The moment the ice dust cleared, she saw Aokiji had leisurely turned around. His expression was still bored, almost sleepy, but his eyes were cold.
"You're fast for a maid," Aokiji drawled. "But speed means nothing if you're frozen."
In his hand, moisture gathered and solidified in a nanosecond. A long, serrated spear of ice—Ice Saber—formed in his grip. It was crystal clear and radiated a deadly cold that burned the skin just by being near it.
Its tip was already aimed at her chest.
No warning. No hesitation. No mercy.
SWISH!
The ice spear struck down like the scythe of the Reaper. It moved at a speed far exceeding Rem's reaction time. She couldn't dodge. She couldn't block.
"Rem~~~!"
Nami screamed in terror from behind, watching the deadly weapon descend toward her friend. Her voice cracked, filled with helplessness.
Rem gritted her teeth, preparing for the pain, preparing to die for her Lord.
I'm sorry, sister... I'm sorry, Suzaku-sama...
Just at this critical moment!
BOOM!
A crisp explosion echoed across the frozen sea!
The ice spear, imbued with the chill of the Antarctic, stopped inches from Rem's heart. It didn't stop on its own—it was grabbed.
A hand, wreathed in golden flames, had intercepted the blade.
HISSSSSS!
Steam erupted violently where the hand touched the ice. The extreme heat battled the extreme cold in a sizzling war of elements.
CRACK!
With a simple squeeze, the ice spear shattered into a thousand sparkling fragments. They clinked as they fell onto the endless ice plain, melting instantly into puddles.
"Hey..."
A casual, yet undeniable voice cut through the cold wind. It was warm, confident, and filled with a suppressed rage.
Suzaku stood like a bulwark in front of Rem. His back was broad, shielding her completely from the Admiral's gaze. Steam rose from his hand where the fire met the ice, curling around his fingers.
He slowly released his grip, letting the melted water drip through his fingers onto the ice.
"My maid is not someone you can bully casually," Suzaku said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you want to fight someone, pick someone your own size, Kuzan."
He raised his head, his gaze locking directly with Aokiji's.
Fire met Ice.
Amber eyes met Golden eyes.
"Are you that 'Vermillion Bird' Suzaku...?"
Aokiji narrowed his eyes slightly behind his sleeping mask. He sized up the man who had suddenly intervened.
That face was too delicate, too clean. He looked more like a pampered noble than a pirate with a bounty that threatened the World Government. But the power that crushed his ice spear was real. The heat radiating from him was melting the permafrost beneath their feet.
"Tsk, he's indeed a bit dangerous," Aokiji muttered to himself, scratching his fluffy hair. "A newcomer who just debuted already has this level of Haki... and flames that can contend with my ice? Are monsters nowadays all so unreasonable?"
He sighed, his breath forming a cloud of frost.
"However..."
Aokiji straightened his posture. The lazy atmosphere around him vanished instantly, replaced by the crushing pressure of a veteran warrior who had survived the Ohara Incident and countless wars.
"No matter how special, you're still just a rookie. You haven't seen the true terror of the Grand Line."
The temperature plummeted further. The ice beneath their feet groaned and thickened.
"I'll... just get a little serious. It's regrettable, but your voyage ends here."
"Admiral Kuzan! I've brought men for support!"
A shout interrupted the standoff.
Vice Admiral Ferguson's voice shouted from the distance. He was leading hundreds of Marine soldiers across the ice, running to encircle the pirates. They were panting, weapons drawn, their morale boosted by the presence of the strongest force.
"Excellent!" Ferguson roared, his face twisted with vindictive glee. "Surround them! Don't let them escape! We have two Admirals! Today is the day the Suzaku Pirates fall!"
But before they could even set up their formation, Suzaku glanced over his shoulder. His expression was one of pure annoyance.
"What are you babbling about?"
He scoffed.
"Don't let the small fry interrupt the main event."
Before he finished speaking, Suzaku's eyes sharpened. The air around him distorted.
Almost at the same moment, on the damaged Saint Noros floating in the sky above, Albedo's eyes glowed gold.
It was as if they had communicated telepathically. Master and Servant, King and Overseer.
BOOOOM!
Two completely different, yet equally terrifying waves of Conqueror's Haki erupted simultaneously!
Suzaku's Haki was like a blazing sun—majestic, domineering, and fiery. It commanded submission.
Albedo's Haki was like a black hole—cold, despairing, and terrifying. It promised eternal torment.
The two waves swept across the entire ice plain from left and right, sandwiching the Marines in a pincer attack of pure will.
"Ugh!" "Wh-what is this...?"
Plop! Plop! Plop!
The Marine soldiers didn't even have time to scream. They were hit by an invisible sledgehammer. Their eyes rolled back, foam appearing at their mouths as they collapsed onto the ice in droves. Weapons clattered onto the frozen surface.
In an instant, the army was gone. Only a handful of elite officers remained standing, knees shaking violently, struggling to breathe.
Even Vice Admiral Ferguson let out a muffled grunt, dropping to one knee. Veins bulged on his forehead as he fought to stay conscious against the crushing pressure.
"Two..." Ferguson wheezed, staring at Suzaku with horror. "In the same pirate crew... there are actually two Conqueror's Haki users...?! That's impossible! That's the potential of a Yonko crew!"
Above the ice plain, the cold wind howled, but it could not disperse the soul-shaking pressure.
Even Aokiji's expression changed slightly. The lazy look was gone. His eyes were focused and serious.
"Two Kings," Aokiji murmured. "This is getting complicated. Sakazuki is going to be furious."
"Rem, proceed according to the original plan," Suzaku's voice was calm and clear, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Although two Admirals showing up is an unexpected turn, it's perfect. I'll test my hand with this Ice Block. Kizaru can be left for Albedo to play with."
"Yes, Suzaku-sama!"
Rem responded instantly. She flashed to Nami's side, grabbing the stunned Navigator by the collar.
Whoosh!
Rem tapped her foot, using Geppo to shoot into the sky, landing steadily on the Vermillion Wing's deck.
At the same time, Suzaku raised his hand. His index finger pointed at the hull of his ship, which was still frozen solid to the ocean surface by Aokiji's initial attack.
"Burn."
TSK—!
A concentrated beam of golden fire shot from his finger. It hit the ice locking the ship's keel with surgical precision.
HISSSSSS!
Extreme heat erupted. The magical ice of the Hie Hie no Mi, which could stay frozen for weeks, melted instantly. It vaporized into a massive cloud of white steam, hissing like a dying beast.
The ship was free.
"Now, Rem!"
On the deck, Rem pressed her palms downward. Her Devil Fruit ability activated.
Float-Float Fruit: Levitation!
The entire Vermillion Wing trembled slightly. Then, defying gravity, the massive galleon lifted off the water. It rose steadily and swiftly into the sky, carrying the civilians, Nami, and Rem away from the battlefield.
In just a few breaths, it disappeared into the thick clouds, vanishing from sight. The hostages were safe. The leverage was gone.
With his crew safe, Suzaku slowly turned around. He cracked his knuckles, golden flames dancing along his arms like eager serpents.
He locked eyes with Aokiji. A wild, excited smile played on his lips.
"Alright, it's quiet now."
The heat radiating from Suzaku began to melt the ice around his boots, creating a pool of water. The steam rose around him, creating an arena of fog.
"Come on, Kuzan. Let me properly witness the weight of the Marine's highest combat power!"
"Ice Age vs. The Vermillion Bird," Suzaku laughed, his flames roaring to life. "Let's see which element bows first!"
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