Blake and Ace had managed to slip out of the Admirals' immediate range, but the battlefield was far from safe. Every step forward was a struggle through the chaos of clashing powers and roaring Marines. Blake kept his senses on high alert, his enhanced vision scanning for threats as he darted between the debris, carrying Ace as they bolted through the war-torn landscape.
Ace was still weak from his imprisonment, and though his will to fight burned fiercely, his body had not fully recovered from the chains that had held him for so long. Thanks to his enormous stamina and clever use of his abilities, Blake held up without injury. His speed, enhanced vision, and future sight allowed him to avoid taking any major hits throughout the battle.
However, the strain of constantly using his abilities had begun to wear on him. His muscles ached, and his stamina was vast, but it wasn't limitless. He needed a moment to recover.
Blake's eyes flicked to the system interface in his mind.
The Mikoto Misaka card had served him well, boosting his speed and electromagnetism, but right now, he needed something else—something that would help him recover the stamina he had burned through so quickly.
With a thought, he swapped out Mikoto's card for Hanataro's. The moment the card activated, Blake felt a soothing warmth wash over him. Hanataro's healing ability wasn't instant, but it began working immediately, easing the tension in his muscles and helping him recover from the fatigue of his continuous battles.
"That's better," Blake muttered, feeling the muscle ache fade.
Blake's mind worked fast as he moved through the battlefield with Ace still under his arm. Despite being deep in one of the most dangerous battles of his life, he hadn't sustained a single injury. His sharp instincts, future sight, and Aetherian eyes had kept him out of harm's way. The more he fought, the more he adapted, his mind constantly analyzing the battlefield, pinpointing weaknesses in his opponents' movements.
But as much as Blake had avoided injury, things were about to get more complicated.
Blake's eyes narrowed as he sensed multiple Vice Admirals closing on them. Their strength wasn't to be underestimated. Though they didn't have the raw elemental power of the Admirals, they were still incredibly skilled fighters, converging on Blake and Ace.
Blake adjusted his grip on Ace and readied himself for the coming fight. There was no running from this.
The Vice Admirals closed the distance rapidly, launching a coordinated attack. Blake's enhanced vision and future sight allowed him to see every move before it happened. Blake dodged with incredible agility with each strike, weaving through the attacks with ease. His body moved like water, flowing around the Vice Admirals' attacks, adapting to their speed and strength.
But close combat was a different game. While his enhanced reaction speed allowed him to avoid hits, he soon realized something else—his body's strength was adapting, too. Every block, every parry, every strike he made increased his confidence. It wasn't just about avoiding damage; Blake began to read his opponents' movements more clearly, spotting the most minor weaknesses in their defenses.
One of the Vice Admirals lunged at him with a mighty sword strike. Blake sidestepped, his eyes locking onto the slightest hesitation in the man's stance. In a fluid motion, Blake spun and delivered a crushing counterstrike to the Vice Admiral's side, sending him flying backward.
Another Vice Admiral rushed him from behind, aiming for a decisive blow, but Blake's future sight had already warned him. He dropped low, dodging the attack and sweeping the man's legs from under him.
Blake kept moving, but the Vice Admirals were relentless. He fought them off with calculated precision, his strength growing as he fought. He hadn't realized it before, but his Aetherian heritage was increasingly showing itself in battle. His ability to analyze his opponents and his enhanced vision allowed him to grow stronger with every encounter. His movements became more fluid and refined as the fight continued.
However, the constant attacks were starting to wear him down. As skilled as he was, facing multiple Vice Admirals alone was taking its toll. he couldn't help getting several injuries, but nothing handicapping yet.
Just as the situation worsened, a group of Whitebeard Pirates joined the fray. Blake recognized them as some of the commanders, powerful fighters in their own right. They quickly provided backup, helping to drive back the Vice Admirals and allowing Blake to catch his breath.
Still under Blake's arm, Ace looked up at him, his voice weak but determined.
"I can fight, but these shackles are draining my power."
Blake frowned, glancing down at the chains.
"What do you mean? How are they draining you?" Blake did not know Ace's abilities.
Ace coughed, managing a small smile despite his exhaustion.
"I ate a Logia Devil Fruit... it lets me turn into fire. But these shackles are made of sea stone—they cancel out my powers. As long as I wear them, I'm just a regular guy."
Blake's eyes narrowed, processing the information. This was not new to him because he had some in his pouch, and it explained why Ace seemed so weak. Without his powers, Ace couldn't fight at full strength, and with enemies like Akainu and Kizaru on the battlefield, Ace would need every advantage he could get.
Blake looked back toward the chaos.
"So, we need to get these shackles off you. Fast."
Blake quickly scanned the battlefield, his eyes locking onto Luffy in the distance. The kid was fighting hard, approaching them, but he was still too far away.
"The key's with Luffy," Blake murmured, watching as Luffy battled through the chaos, still some distance away. Blake needed to free Ace now—waiting for Luffy wasn't an option.
As Blake's mind raced, his sharp eyes caught sight of Buggy and his ragtag group scurrying about with a Visio Den Den Mushi.
Blake didn't know what it was at first, but the more he observed, the quicker he understood the function of the snail—it was broadcasting the entire battle.
A slight smirk crossed Blake's face. Buggy was always in strange situations, but this time, the clownish pirate had inadvertently placed himself in the perfect spot.
Blake's eyes narrowed as he spotted Mr. 3 among Buggy's group. That's it.
"Hey, Candle man!" Blake called out, his voice calm but firm as he approached the group. Buggy flinched at the sudden call, but Mr. 3 looked up, recognizing Blake immediately.
"You still got your wax powers, right?"
Mr. 3 nodded, a little confused but wary.
Blake glanced at Ace, still bound by the seastone shackles, and then back at Mr. 3.
"Make a key. We need to get these shackles off him now."
Mr. 3 blinked, caught off guard by the request.
"A key? For seastone shackles? I mean, I can try, but it won't be easy. I can't touch them, too."
Blake gave him a sharp look, his gaze intense.
"You've got one minute. I'll handle the rest."
Mr. 3, sensing the seriousness in Blake's tone, hurried to work, his wax powers flaring to life as he began crafting a makeshift key.