Chapter 134: The Fist of Haki, Facing One's True Self.

 On the Going Merry,

Because the Going Merry was docked on the other side of the island, it wasn't affected by Aokiji's ice wave. In the ship's bathroom:"Is this okay?"

"I don't know, I've never seen a case of someone being instantly frozen..."

"But you're the ship's doctor!"

"I know, just be quiet!!"

Usopp and Chopper, in a flurry, placed the ice sculpture Robin in the bathtub, constantly heating it with warm water to melt the ice. Outside, Nami faced the returning Zoro and Sanji.

"What are you..."

"Don't talk, help us thaw her out!"

"We need to melt the frozen parts with water immediately, then massage the muscles or they'll die. —Where are Luffy and Roman?"

"Luffy is fighting him one-on-one, Roman..."

"I'll go check!"

The only uninjured Nami jumped off the ship and rushed to the battlefield.

————————Back on the 'battlefield',"Gear Second!"

In Gear Second, Luffy left afterimages, darting around the battlefield.

Luffy's speed was now worlds apart from before! But the tall man opposite him could still narrowly dodge every attack, whether it was punches or kicks, as if he knew every move Luffy made.

"Nice move, but it seems to put a lot of strain on your body."

Of course, artificially accelerating blood flow to achieve superhuman speed is like playing with your heart, blood vessels, and life. If it weren't for Luffy's rubber body, he would have already killed himself.

Previously on Skypiea, the thin air minimized the aftereffects of this move, but now, if used for a long time...Facing Luffy, who was charging at high speed again, Kuzan lazily extended his right hand.

"Let me—"

Flash!

Smack,The scene in front of Luffy 'shook,' and the enemy standing ahead disappeared instantly! Before he could react, a cold hand covered his face. Along with the bone-chilling cold came the darkness that instantly engulfed his consciousness.

"Calm down."

Crack.

The ice sculpture of Luffy, frozen in a punching stance, solidified in place.

——————"Next is you,"

Facing the approaching Aokiji, Roman sensibly raised his hands.

"I'll pass, Mr. Kuzan."

"Even if you stood there with Seastone handcuffs, I couldn't break through your Armament Haki."

..."How do you know if you don't try?"

Hey, aren't you supposed to be the lazy justice? There's no one else around, do you have to be like Uncle Kizaru and kick everyone to be 'fair'?

"Alright, I'll accept your challenge."

Since the Marine Admiral had time to 'instruct,' Roman couldn't be so tactless as to refuse.

"Please guide me!"

————————Huff, huff, huff~~Running to the battlefield, Nami didn't have any 'dueling is sacred' thoughts. In her place, she believed the Marines wouldn't honor a ridiculous verbal 'agreement' with pirates.

Because it's a duel, you can't attack others after defeating your opponent?

Ridiculous!

It's only natural for Marines to capture pirates.

No country or ordinary person would think it's dishonorable for Marines not to honor a 'duel' with pirates. As long as they can kill pirates, kill more pirates, to most people, they are 'heroes'!

Roman... Luffy...

You two better not—?!

However, contrary to her wishes, as Nami climbed over a small hill, she saw an ice field. Luffy was frozen into an ice sculpture, and Roman was kneeling on one knee, blood everywhere, clutching a wound on his waist.

——————That was close, that was close~~Almost hit the internal organs.

Rustle,Sheets of white paper flew out, wrapping around the wound. Roman stood up with lingering fear, looking resentfully at the Marine Admiral opposite him.

Brother, if you're acting, just act. Why suddenly hit so hard? If I had dodged a bit slower... no, thinking carefully, with Aokiji's skills, even if I dodged quickly, I'd still be cut in half, right?

So, is this also the result of him holding back...

"You seem,"

The tall man opposite tilted his head, scrutinizing Roman.

"Very sure that I won't kill you?"

"I... Mr. Kuzan,"

Roman scratched his head helplessly, "You didn't come here just to beat us up, did you?"

You've played the bad guy, given us a warning. Shouldn't you be heading to Water 7 to prepare the next 'test' for the Straw Hat crew?

And maybe give Enies Lobby a knock, a bunch of weak spies daring to be on par with the Marines..."There's no point in continuing this fight, right?"

Roman had tried using the newly acquired 'Slow Page' in battle to catch Aokiji off guard, but it only proved the sharpness of high-level Observation Haki.

Even though Aokiji didn't know what the 'Slow Page' mixed in with Roman's regular paper was for, his almost divine high-level Observation Haki still made him instinctively dodge, not giving Roman a chance for a 'first strike kill'.

Makes sense.

If not for high-level Observation Haki's premonition of all dangers, wouldn't Doflamingo's Sugar be invincible? Catching a chance to slap a Yonko or an Admiral.

Unless a lot of attention is focused elsewhere or the mind is in a severely unstable state. —Like Whitebeard hit by Squard's sword.

"The gap between us is so large that there's not even a one percent, no, a one-thousandth chance of winning. So..."

"I see,"

Aokiji nodded.

"You knew my information in advance, and you know my temperament. That's why you never had any fighting spirit or killing intent facing me."

What is this? A cognitive barrier?

Because Roman was sure Aokiji wouldn't kill them, all of Aokiji's attacks seemed 'non-lethal' to Roman. So no matter how hard they fought, Roman would never be in a 'fight with all his might' situation..."But," facing an opponent who believed 'you won't kill', the tall Marine Admiral's face darkened.

"This makes me lose face."

...Brother, I know you're here to act. I've been actively cooperating with your 'acting', what more do you want? Your Observation Haki can read my emotions, is that my fault?

"It's not your fault."

Facing Roman, who had 'helplessness' written all over his face, Aokiji just glanced slightly behind him.

"Then I'll just 'kill' one or two pirates, so I can report back."

?!

"Roman, Luffy he—"

Behind him came Nami's panting voice and footsteps, bringing Roman back to his senses. But before he could turn around, Aokiji had already clenched his fist at his waist, then twisted and punched! A white fist shot out instantly, aiming straight at—Nami behind him!

Damn—

Instinctively, Roman dodged to the side, blocking the white fist energy, or Devil Fruit ability, or whatever attack in front of him. Then:Death!!!!!!

In an instant, the white energy in Roman's eyes roared like an extreme cold storm! Like a glacier collapsing! Overwhelmingly trying to engulf him, this was no illusion or hallucination, but a real attack.

Because Roman could even feel countless cells on his face and chest starting to crack, die, and wither under this fist!

This punch contained unwavering confidence, a chilling, merciless killing intent to annihilate everything! There was none of the so-called 'Lazy Justice' from the other party's mouth, only 'Resolute Justice'!

As the punch's wind hit him, Roman felt an extreme coldness all over his body, penetrating to the bone, as real as it could be! — Even before the punch touched him, the water in Roman's muscles and blood began to freeze.

Dodge—Can't dodge!

In an instant, Roman had a clear realization. This punch not only targeted his body but also his mind and soul! Even if he used 'pseudo-elementalization' to turn into paper and dodge the punch, each piece of paper would be completely frozen by the opponent's aura...He could only take it head-on!

So this is Armament Haki?

Compared to this life-extinguishing Haki, Crocodile's Armament Haki, which only made him feel 'excruciating pain,' was nothing.

Go for it!

In a flash, Roman instinctively swung his fist to meet the attack.

He knew he couldn't be a match for Aokiji, but Nami was right behind him. He couldn't dodge! He wouldn't dodge!

In an instant, cold, lonely killing intent, like a lone wolf, erupted fiercely in Roman's heart!

This killing intent surged into Roman's fist, wrapped in a gentle will! It was Luffy's cheerfulness, Zoro's determination, Nami's playfulness, Usopp's courage, Sanji's...Fiery emotions wrapped around the cold killing intent, meeting Aokiji's fist head-on without hesitation!

This punch, never retreat!

Then:

Crack, crack—Spreading ice occupied Roman's vision, along with a faint sound at the last moment.

"Good."

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