Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Leno vs. Kuzan
"What's happening?"
"Ah choo, it's inexplicably cold tonight!"
"Why does it feel like winter's back? Damn it!"
It was late at night.
Residents of the Goa Kingdom and Foosha Village woke up shivering, closing their windows and putting on warm coats. It was summer, no storm in sight, yet the cold was unbearable.
"Huh? The glass is frozen?"
"This is too strange!"
"No wonder it's so cold; I'm freezing to death!"
A sudden cold wave had swept across Dawn Island, where the Goa Kingdom is located, covering it with frost overnight.
In the hideout of Dadan, the unusual weather left Luffy and Ace shivering as they wrapped themselves in quilts and headed to the hall. They found everyone huddled around the fireplace, trying to stay warm.
"What the heck? It's so strange; the temperature just dropped out of nowhere..." Luffy rubbed his nose and sneezed.
Dadan made room for Luffy and Ace. "Luffy, don't catch a cold; drink some hot water!" she said, pouring a cup for each of them.
Just as they took the cups, a low rumble shook the ground.
"Is there an earthquake?"
The members of the Dadan Family looked around uneasily. A sudden drop in temperature, the ground trembling—it felt unnatural. This bizarre weather reminded them of the fire at the terminal of the uncertain object a year ago. Not a natural disaster. It was man-made.
Dadan thought for a moment and said, "I'll go out and take a look. Stay put."
"I'm going too!" Ace insisted.
"Me too, me too!" Luffy quickly added.
Dadan shook her head, urging them to stay inside. She stepped out, climbing up the ridge until she reached a clearing at the top of the hill, where she could see most of Dawn Island. The mountain wind was fierce, cutting like a blade as it scattered emerald leaves across the ground.
Dadan scanned the island. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Facing the wind, she squinted and looked further into the distance. Dark clouds covered the moon, leaving only a faint starlight that glimmered on the sea.
Boom!
A sudden flash of light split the darkness, illuminating the sea.
"What is that?"
Dadan's eyes widened in shock. In the distance, the sea had turned into ice, and the rolling waves had become towering ice mountains. The light flashed again, followed by a howling wind that carried the biting cold. Someone was fighting out there!
To the southwest of Dawn Island, about ten nautical miles away, what was once a small reef was now a sheet of ice covering several miles, extending deep into the sea. Leno, Kuro, Kuina, and Luwell stood on the edge, watching the battle unfold.
"Who do you think will win?" Luwell asked nervously, her lips chapped from the freezing cold.
Kuina tightened her grip on her coat. "I believe in Leno!"
"Eh? That's Marine Vice Admiral Kuzan, and he's serious!" Luwell remarked.
"Easy there, frozen sea. I believe in Leno too, but... maybe in a few more years, he'll be ready to win!" she added as they watched Aokiji use his Devil Fruit powers to create an island of ice. Their jaws dropped at the sight of such power—altering landscapes with ease, a force that rivaled the might of nature.
"Kuro, what's your take?" Kuina asked.
Kuro adjusted his glasses. "Devil Fruits are terrifying. If you want a shortcut to power, this is it."
He continued, "Win or lose doesn't matter. Remember, Kuzan is a world-renowned Marine Vice Admiral and could very well become an Admiral. And us? We're just nobodies in East Blue. But after today, win or lose, our names will spread across the seas."
Losing to someone like Kuzan isn't shameful; it's an opportunity. Pirates like Gekko Moria challenged the Emperor Kaido, nearly wiped out, but gained instant fame. Just surviving such a fight can earn you recognition. Challenge an Admiral, a Four Emperors-level figure, and if you survive, your name will be known.
"But if Leno wins... he'll be famous overnight," Luwell said with a hint of excitement.
Kuro nodded. "Exactly. If Leno wins, the Hunter Guild will draw the world's attention."
"But... I feel like we're a step behind," he said, feeling the pressure.
"We'll train harder," Luwell declared with determination.
"Me too," Kuina added seriously.
Kuro glanced at his demon sword, knowing that mastering it could bridge the gap between them and the top-tier fighters. Watching this battle was eye-opening, revealing how far they were from the summit of power.
On the icy battlefield, Leno faced Kuzan.
"Nothing in the world that I can't cut! One-Sword Style: Countercurrent!"
With a flash, the crimson sword wave sliced through the air, shattering an enormous ice ball descending from above. Kuzan emerged, his right arm emanating the frigid power of his Devil Fruit, summoning an ice bird that soared toward Leno.
"Ice: Storm!"
Boom!
Their attacks clashed, a tempest of wind, ice, and snow mixed with Armament Haki tearing through the sky, splitting the clouds as the fierce battle raged on.
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