Chapter 17:What's your will

Area 2: (continued): Alber and Queen vs. Akainu

The battlefield trembled as Kaido's commanders faced off against the relentless Akainu. Alber, in his hybrid Pteranodon form, soared through the sky, his black wings ablaze with flames, while Queen, in his massive Brachiosaurus form, towered over the landscape like a moving fortress.

Akainu, his body emitting intense heat, continued his assault. "Pirates like you have no place in this world!" he snarled, hurling molten fists of magma toward them, each one exploding with devastating force.

Alber's sharp eyes narrowed, tracking Akainu's attacks from above. With his incredible agility, he darted through the sky, skillfully dodging the magma projectiles. As he swooped low, Alber's flaming wings cut through the air like blades, and he used his long talons to strike at Akainu's exposed sides. His swift attacks created brief openings, but Akainu's brutal counterattacks made it difficult to press the advantage for long.

"Is that all you've got, bird?" Akainu sneered, launching another wave of molten fists toward Alber. But with a graceful spin, Alber twisted in mid-air and countered with a searing flame-infused slash from his sword. The clash of magma and flame sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

While Alber used his speed and aerial prowess to keep Akainu at bay, Queen, in his Brachiosaurus form, moved slower but with unmatched brute force. Queen roared, his colossal body acting like a moving shield, absorbing Akainu's deadly punches. His thick, armored hide, enhanced by Haki, managed to withstand the searing heat, but with every blow, smoke rose from his charred flesh.

Queen growled as he opened his massive jaws, firing Haki-infused gunshots from his mechanical cannons. The rounds burst through the air, aimed directly at Akainu, but the magma admiral blocked them with ease, melting the bullets before they even reached him.

"Just try and stop me, you overgrown lizard!" Akainu bellowed. His fists turned into molten magma once again as he leaped forward with a powerful strike. Queen braced himself, planting his feet firmly into the ground, but Akainu's punch smashed into him like a volcanic eruption. Magma splattered across Queen's chest, burning through his thick skin.

"Aaaargh!" Queen screamed in agony as the searing magma engulfed his massive body. His Haki couldn't fully protect him from the intense heat, and he stumbled backward, the ground shaking beneath his immense weight.

"Queen!" Alber shouted from above as he swooped down in a desperate attempt to help his comrade. He used his speed and agility to launch a flurry of attacks from the air, slashing at Akainu's back with his burning sword. Each hit was precise, aiming for the gaps in Akainu's magma defense.

But no matter how fast Alber struck, Akainu remained unfazed. "You're both fools if you think you can defeat me!" Akainu roared, his voice carrying the weight of absolute justice. With a swift movement, he turned and threw a magma fist toward Alber, barely missing him as the Pteranodon hybrid dodged at the last second.

Despite their efforts, the battle was turning in Akainu's favor. Alber's mobility and speed were starting to wane, and Queen was struggling to stay on his feet. Burned and battered, the two commanders found themselves pushed further and further back by Akainu's relentless assault.

In a desperate move, Akainu charged toward Queen, his fists engulfed in magma. He delivered a devastating punch directly to Queen's chest, the heat so intense that Queen roared in pain as the flames seared through his thick skin.

"Captain, we can't hold on much longer!" Queen shouted, his voice strained as he tried to shake off the pain.

Alber, now flying lower and breathing heavily, glanced at Queen and then at Akainu. They were losing ground, and the magma admiral showed no signs of slowing down.

"I can't hold on any longer!" Queen cried out, flames scorching his skin as he writhed in pain.

Akainu's fist ignited as he prepared to smash Queen's head into the ground. Just before the blow landed, King's eyes filled with determination. He gripped his burning katana with both hands, remembering Kaido's words during their training.

Flashback:

King relentlessly swung his weapon at Kaido, each strike aimed to kill. But Kaido dodged each attack with ease, evading the strikes by mere inches. It wasn't luck-Kaido was reading him, anticipating every move. King grew increasingly frustrated.

"Remember, Alber," Kaido said calmly, dodging another strike. "Haki is the manifestation of willpower. It lets you use your potential to make the impossible, possible. But first, you need to understand your will. Only then will you achieve what you want."

With a swift dodge, Kaido delivered a powerful punch, sending King flying. As King soared through the air, he thought deeply about what he wanted,'What is his will'. 'I want to live my life freely, with Captain Kaido. I won't let anyone control me. If anyone harms me or those I care about, I'll give them hell.'