103 Clash of Elements #103

Cedric had followed Saint Charlos to Sabaody Park, a bustling area adorned by the iconic Ferris wheel. The air teemed with laughter and excitement as people enjoyed their time in this vibrant space. Cedric's had a blank expression, his mind focused on his mission, but his behavior had taken on an eerie quality that went unnoticed by the oblivious Charlos.

Surrounded by his entourage, Charlos strutted through the crowd, basking in the attention that his status as a celestial dragon brought him. His extravagant attire and haughty demeanor marked him as a man who believed the world revolved around him. Cedric walked alongside him, a mask of stoicism hiding the murderous intent boiling within him.

Cedric's strange silence and his lack of reaction did not go unnoticed by Charlos's entourage. The members of his entourage, well-versed in reading their master's moods and observing even the slightest shifts in his surroundings, exchanged worried glances as they walked behind Cedric and their oblivious master.

One of the more discerning members, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, leaned in closer to Charlos, his voice low but urgent. "Master Charlos, there is something off about that marine. His demeanor, his aura... It's not normal. We should proceed with caution."

Charlos, however, dismissed the man's words with a wave, his arrogance and celestial dragon status clouding his judgment. "Nonsense!" he exclaimed, a condescending smirk tugging on his lips. "I am invincible, surrounded by my loyal entourage. No one dares defy me."

The scarred man persisted, his tone insistent. "Master, I understand your power and influence, but this marine... he gives off an unsettling presence. It would be wise to consider the potential risks."

Charlos's eyes narrowed as he looked at his entourage member, irritation flaring in his gaze. "You dare question my judgment?" Saint Charlos bellowed, retrieving his pistol and shooting the man in the chest without waiting for a reply.

Meanwhile, Cedric maintained his stoic facade, concealing the burning rage and turmoil in his heart. He remained focused on the task, pushing aside his inner conflict. Though his actions appeared detached and mechanical, his mind raced with dark fantasies.

Charlos, his arrogance undeterred by the wreathing body of his subordinate, glanced around the bustling crowd of Sabaody Park. His gaze landed on a woman, her beauty captivating him. A devious smile crept across his face as he pointed towards her, his voice commanding. "Oi Marine! Bring that woman to me. I've decided she will be my 55th wife."

Cedric's patience wore thin, and his anger reached its boiling point as Charlos arrogantly ordered him to bring the woman who had caught his attention in the crowd. In a split second, Cedric decided he couldn't take it any longer.

With a deceptive calmness, Cedric stepped forward as if complying with Charlos' order. The crowd around them watched, unaware of the impending storm. And in one swift motion, Cedric unleashed his spear, aiming for Charlos' head.

The crack of impact echoed through the park as Cedric's spear struck with devastating force, followed by the sickening crunch of bones. Charlos, caught off guard by Cedric's sudden assault, crumpled to the ground. The blow had caused severe damage, leaving Charlos wounded and writhing in pain.

Time froze. Gasps and whispers spread through the crowd as they stopped whatever they were doing and watched in shock and disbelief upon witnessing the horrifying turn of events. Cedric's actions defied the power and invincibility that Charlos had arrogantly displayed.

Charlos' entourage, shocked and uncertain, rushed to their fallen master's side, tending to his injuries. The scarred man who had warned Charlos earlier stared at Cedric, a mixture of disbelief and apprehension in his eyes.

Cedric stood over Saint Charlos, his face a mask of determination and defiance. The rage that had fueled him was still present. It turned into a wave of flames, blowing away the celestial dragon's entourage as Cedric transformed into his hybrid form.

With his Heavenly Ape Fruit powers fully unleashed, Cedric's body radiated intense heat and power. Flames danced around him as he turned his gaze towards the wounded Charlos, fully intent on turning him to dust, slowly and deliberately.

However, the flames barely touched the celestial, causing him to squeal like a pig before a sudden change engulfed Sabaody Park. The air turned frigid, and frost crawled across the ground and the surrounding structures. Confusion spread through the crowd as their breath misted in the icy air.

Cedric's flames flickered and faltered as the freezing cold penetrated his being. His body stiffened, and his flames faded. Ice crept up his limbs, instantly encasing him in a frozen shell, rendering him immobile.

Charlos, weak and injured, struggled to rise to crawl away. Despite the pain coursing through his body, a twisted smile formed on his lips. His celestial dragon status had inadvertently brought forth a power capable of countering Cedric's fiery rage.

But Charlos' smugness was short-lived. As he glanced over his shoulder, a surge of terror jolted through his veins. Behind him, a blinding, incandescent light pierced through the ice that encased Cedric. With a thunderous explosion, the ice crumbled and shattered, giving birth to an awe-inspiring spectacle.

A colossal pillar of flames erupted from Cedric's core, reaching skyward with an unquenchable ferocity. Its brilliance outshone the midday sun, casting a fiery glow that bathed the entire park in an otherworldly radiance. The heat it emitted was nothing short of an inferno, searing the air and causing even Charlos, the self-proclaimed invincible celestial dragon, to crawl away in a frenzy.

The flames danced and writhed, their mesmerizing display capturing the attention of everyone present. They roared with an intensity that resonated deep within the souls of onlookers, igniting a primal fear and awe that stirred the dormant spirits of even the most jaded hearts.

The pillar of flames slowly faded, revealing Cedric's transformed figure in all its glory. He stood in his giant Heavenly Ape form, towering over even the Ferris wheel nearby. The ground beneath him crackled with residual heat, and the air around him shimmered with power.

As the crowd gazed upon Cedric's gigantic form, astonishment and trepidation washed over them. His immense stature commanded respect, a true force of nature standing amidst the remnants of ice and fire.

With a thunderous roar that resonated through the park, Cedric turned to the Ferris Wheel, prying it off its base and lifting it up high. The ground beneath him trembled, echoing the raw power surging within him. His eyes, glowing with an otherworldly intensity, locked onto Charlos, who froze in horror.

But just as Cedric prepared to throw the Ferris wheel, intent on crushing Saint Charlos, a figure materialized before the celestial dragon, his appearance emanating an icy chill. He was Admiral Kuzan, also known as Aokiji. Standing tall and composed, Kuzan raised his hand, forming a barrier of freezing mist to shield Charlos from Cedric's fury.

Kuzan extended his hand and a wave of freezing mist that billowed toward Cedric. The fog rapidly transformed into solid ice, encasing everything it touched. But Cedric was prepared. He stomped his foot onto the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth that shattered the ice, allowing him to evade the encasement.

Roaring with rage, Cedric unleashed a wave of scorching flames from his outstretched palms, the heat pushing back the encroaching ice. The fire surged toward Kuzan, creating a blazing inferno that threatened to engulf him. Yet Kuzan, his body shrouded in an aura of coldness, raised his hand.

A barrier of ice materialized before Kuzan, intercepting the oncoming flames. The clash of elements resulted in an explosion of steam that temporarily obscured the fighters from view. As the mist cleared, Cedric's towering form emerged, unscathed by the ice that had attempted to quell his flames.

But something stirred within Cedric. He felt the restrained power emanating from Kuzan, the sense that the Admiral was holding back considerably. It infuriated Cedric, adding fuel to the fire that burned within him.

Cedric's voice rumbled with a mix of frustration and anger. "What's the point of half-assing everything like this, Kuzan?" he growled. "I know you're holding back! Either do your job properly or get out of my way, you lazy bastard!"

Kuzan maintained his composed demeanor, his icy gaze meeting Cedric's fiery one. "I'm afraid I can't do that, young man... this whole situation is a pain in the ass, but if I take you down or let you do as you please, it'll be an even bigger pain in the ass..."

"Why don't you you do me and yourself a favor and get out of here?" Kuzan asked.

Stubborn as he was, Cedric ignored Kuzan's words and prepared to continue fighting, but the situation took an unexpected turn as a defeaning boom erupted, and Kuzan's torso exploded into countless ice shards.

The frozen fragments scattered across the ground, glimmering in the sunlight. The atmosphere grew tense as the crowd recoiled in horror, and even Cedric felt a wave of confusion washing over him. Still, He instinctively moved towards Charlos, but before he could reach him, a figure emerged from the smoke and debris.