Flashy Flash's speed was absolutely exaggerated.
If he hadn't been maintaining his Observation Haki, Aokiji wasn't sure if he could have blocked that strike with just his physical reflexes.
Not that it would have mattered much even if he were hit.
"Wind Blade Kick—"
Seeing shunsatsumaru intercepted, Flash instantly shifted his attack!
A high-speed kick whipped up sharp air!
Aokiji leaned back slightly to dodge it.
Then, Flash adjusted his body posture with an almost impossible movement, and a succession of attacks followed immediately!
Observation Haki—
Without seeing or hearing, one senses danger and avoids it.
Aokiji dodged with small movements, precisely evading each strike at the very last second.
The attacks turned into beams of light, yet they could never land on Aokiji.
Flash skated across the ground for over ten meters to create distance.
To think someone could react to his speed; it was the first time since leaving the village.
However, my full speed is far beyond this!
Flash pointed his blade forward, assuming a charging stance for a Move.
His handsome face was serious, yet tinged with an excited Battle Intent:
"Flashy Slash..."
"I'm not from the Assassination Alliance," Aokiji's words interrupted his charge. "You really don't give people any time to talk, do you?"
The previous exchange had all happened in a split second.
If the aokiji template hadn't given him experience sparring with speedsters, he might have reflexively elementalized.
Flash's body stiffened.
It made sense; how could such a powerhouse be willing to lurk within the forces of the underworld?
Meeting someone who could react to his speed, he had unconsciously become a bit excited.
"Are you with those two outside?"
"You know the Hero Association, right? We're all professional heroes."
Flash had been dealing with the underworld forces that had targeted him these past few days.
He really hadn't paid much attention to what was happening in the outside world.
However, he had vaguely heard a thing or two about the Hero Association.
"I see..."
Aokiji had dodged all the previous attacks with ease, making Flash still want to prove himself, but now was clearly not the time.
"I am Flashy Flash. These guys tried to assassinate me, so I came to deal with them."
"Aokiji. My reason is about the same as yours."
After the brief dialogue, the atmosphere became somewhat silent.
Sheathing his beloved sword, Flash said:
"Since our goals are the same, there's no need to waste each other's time here... though I am a bit interested in you."
"Those movements predicting and dodging my attacks—I'll remember you, Aokiji."
"Next time, I'll show you my full speed."
Having said that, he elegantly flicked his cape and vanished.
Flash left so quickly that Aokiji didn't even have time to warn him.
You're going the wrong way; that's the path leading outside.
Forget it, I'll just finish this quickly myself.
Ice shards began to freeze and spread, centered from beneath his feet.
Translucent blue ice crystals rapidly swallowed the underground base.
Aokiji walked straight toward the location he sensed with his Observation Haki.
He ignored all obstacles in between; walls and floors were pierced through by surging ice spikes, forming a direct path forward.
Knock, knock, knock—
Aokiji lazily knocked on the alloy door of the safe room:
"Hero inspection. Please cooperate proactively."
Inside the safe room, a feeling of despair that he hadn't felt in a long time rose in the old man's heart.
He and several of his subordinates had their lower bodies encased in solid ice, leaving them with no room to even struggle.
He didn't think this safe room could stop the opponent.
The knocking and the announcement were nothing more than the victor's mockery.
Can the people from Tsukuyomi really catch a monster like this?!
The old man no longer held any hope.
His gaze turned decisive, a hint of ruthlessness flashing through.
He heavily keyed in the final command!
————
Flash looked up at the sun in confusion.
How did I end up outside?
Can I still make it if I go back now?
Thinking about Aokiji's performance, Flash estimated that the other party had already finished everything.
He looked again at the two people who had been fighting earlier.
Not a single assassin at the white-haired old man's feet could Move.
The man in the strange mascot suit sat perched on a twisted metal ball, seemingly having crumpled the torn-off weapons together.
The enemies outside had also been dealt with.
A wasted trip... only taking out a bunch of mindless humanoid beasts... No, my goal was to deal with the Assassination Alliance.
The process didn't matter; as long as the result was the same, it was enough.
Besides, this is only a part of the Assassination Alliance; I'll still need to handle the subsequent clean-up.
"Hmm, doesn't look like a new enemy." Bang was also sizing him up.
"The scent is different," Watchdog Man said, twitching his nose.
Just as Bang was about to step forward to communicate and Flash was preparing to dash away.
A violent roar suddenly erupted!
They couldn't help but all look toward the direction of the explosion.
It was the crater!
Thick smoke and dust shot into the sky!
The previous explosion was like a fuse, followed by an even deeper and more terrifying roar and tremor!!
Not knowing the specific method,
in short, the people from the Assassination Alliance had activated this volcano!
The erupting magma, like meteors, burst through the smoke-filled sky and fell in a blazing fire!
Scalding, heavy volcanic ash mixed with countless sparks surged out, toppling down like a tsunami!
"This is going to be troublesome."
Bang frowned, wondering if it would affect City J.
Smashing a falling chunk of magma with a paw, Watchdog Man fanned away the sulfurous smell filling the air.
Flash wasn't worried at all; mere magma couldn't possibly keep up with his speed.
But could that hero named Aokiji make it out?
Maybe I should go and bring him out... Sizzle—
The air groaned.
Water vapor condensed into a solid state.
Ice shards swept through with incredible speed!!
The tsunami of volcanic ash that could bury everything was instantly frozen into a giant, bizarre ice sculpture that could never exist in nature!
The erupting magma, containing immense energy, was also forcefully sealed in ice!
The volcanic eruption, one of the most terrifying natural disasters, ended before it could even announce nature's terror.
Aokiji hummed a little tune as he walked out, dragging a block of ice that encased several people.
He was met with the gazes of the others.
Bang's tone was complex:
"I've realized that no matter what, I always end up underestimating you..."
"It's just freezing a volcano; practice makes perfect," Aokiji said modestly.
Can you even practice something like this until you're proficient?!
Bang shook his head helplessly, taking it as just another joke.
Flash even showed a rare expression of astonishment:
"So the glacier on the sea was also your doing. For an esper ability to reach this level..."
"If we were to have a serious battle,"
"could I win against this guy?"
Flash began to simulate it in his mind, his hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of shunsatsumaru.
Watchdog Man, appearing the most calm, walked on all fours to the ice block freezing the several people:
"Are the people inside the masterminds?"
"Part of them."
Aokiji patted the ice above the haggard-looking old man.
This senior executive of the Assassination Alliance, the one with the most seniority, now had cloudy and lifeless eyes.
A monster who can even freeze a volcano... for Tsukuyomi to actually dare issue a request to capture him, what a joke.
What's even more ridiculous is that I actually accepted the request!
Regretting his past actions... Aokiji continued:
"He's already confessed. The one who commissioned their actions is an esper research organization called Tsukuyomi."
"In other words, they're coming specifically for me."
"Furthermore, Tsukuyomi has already dispatched people who are heading this way."
Aokiji looked up at the sky.
A few small black dots were approaching.
"See? They've come right to us."
...
(Throw some stones)