Capítulo 21: Cold I

[Marineford Town]

After spending 2 years in training, Ray had finally decided to relax for once. He was at a local bar by himself, despite his dislike for alcohol, Ray figured he would drink today for a change.

At this point, he was progressing slowly as he had made a breakthrough a year ago. Garp had beat him like a dog for an entire year, it was brutal but Ray efforts came into fruition.

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Flashback

"BWA HAH HAH HAH, what's the matter, this all you got?" said Garp as he raised his fist, seemingly getting ready to pounce onto Ray again.

Opposite him Ray was kneeling as he was bleeding from his head, his body battered and bruised. His vision going hazy as he could be unconscious at any moment.

'I still haven't grasped it, even after a year' thought Ray as he was getting frustrated, slowly impatience was immerging within him. However, Ray knew his mindset wouldn't lead him to results, Haki could only bloom if the user was calm.

Taking a deep breath, Ray calmed himself down, focused back on his spar with Garp. He got up and stood tall while raising his guard.

Garp smirked, rushing straight for Ray, time slowed down as his Observation Haki worked in overdrive. Ray raised his fists, focusing and pouring all his Haki into it. His hardened fist soon meet another as Garp arrived exactly where Ray had perceived, unlike the other clashes, this one was different.

ZzzZt

Black and red sparks of lightning emerged from his fist as Ray had finally grasped it, in a last ditch attempt, he had finally put Advanced Conqueror's Haki to use.

'About damn time' thought Ray before his vision went black, ultimately knocked out due to sheer exhaustion.

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Since then, Garp taught him everything he knew, mostly his techniques even though Ray refused. However, Garp was adamant saying he had to continue his legacy.

'Sorry Koby, I guess I stole your limelight' thought Ray before someone walked into the bar.

"Arara... look who it is" said a voice behind Ray, turning around Ray's eyes widened slightly as he realised who it was.

"My my, if it isn't Admiral Aokiji himself" said Ray as he sipped on his drink.

Kuzan was an incredibly tall, slim, yet muscular man, att 298 cm tall. He had black, curly hair cut to chin length that fans out at the tips, tanned skin, and an altogether lean, long build.

His wore a white buttoned-up vest with standing collar over a long-sleeved navy-blue shirt, with matching white trousers and black dress shoes. He also wears a yellow tie divided geometrically by black lines and a sleep mask on his forehead.

Sitting down on barstool next to Ray, Kuzan asked Ray in curiosity.

"What are you doing here? It's unusual for you to not be training"

"Ah, just taking a break Kuzan" replied Ray with a smirk.

After ordering his drink, Kuzan turned his head towards Ray before asking him a question.

"Ray, what's your true goal?" asked Kuzan in curiosity.

"Oh, getting serious now are we?" said Ray jokingly

"Just satisfy my curiosity, bro"

"Hmm... to cleanse this world, Kuzan" replied Ray, he didn't bother lying to Kuzan as he had powerful Observation Haki, he'd be able to figure out if Ray was lying.

"To... cleanse?"

"Get rid of all the filth and scum alike, pirates, nobles... and even marines Kuzan" said Ray bluntly.

The atmosphere suddenly got cold as the breath Ray exhaled started to condense, but that feeling shortly vanished.

"Quite the ambitious dream, I have to say"

"Indeed, but that's what dreams are for" concluded Ray.

Shortly after they finished drinking, both the Marines exited the bar.

"How about a spar, Kuzan? It's been a while" asked Ray, as he was feeling bored.

"Fine with me" responded Kuzan as he chuckled slightly.

Excluding Garp and Sengoku, Ray had formed quite the friendship with Kuzan. Mainly due to both of them studying under Garp, however Ray quite like that Kuzan held compassion towards those close to him.

His relaxed demeanour and the fact that they also shared similar views on the world government. Kuzan had come to realize the depths to which the World Government would sink to accomplish their goals, like the Ohara incident where he froze Jaguar D. Saul and let Robin go.

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[Training grounds, Marineford]

"Arara... shame we can't go all out here" stated Kuzan as their full power would devastate Marineford.

"Hah hah, you're right about that, let's keep the damage minimal shall we" Ray responded as he dashed towards Kuzan, aiming a roundhouse kick at Kuzan's torso.

Kuzan responded in similar fashion, mimicking Ray's kick as their legs collided despite not making direct contact.

Admirals were feared for their powerful logia fruit abilities but they also held extreme mastery over Haki, from what Ray knew. All three Admirals could utilise advanced Armament Haki as well as advanced Observation Haki efficiently.

Both of them retracted their leg before aiming a fist toward one another. Ray's fist went through Kuzan as he dematerialized a part of his body into ice, evading the attack. Whilst Ray simply dodged Kuzan's punch with a slight tilt of his head.

Suddenly, the training grounds turned into ice as temperature significantly dropped.

Ice Ball

Despite maintaining his distance, Ray's body froze as his body turned into a giant sphere of ice. After a brief moment of silence, an immense wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Ray, completely shattering the ice that held him.

ZzzZt

"Arara, it's gotten even stronger..." commented Kuzan as even now he could feel the effects of Ray's Conqueror's Haki. The sheer pressure of his Haki cracked the objects littered near the training grounds, however, no one else was effected highlighting Ray's control over it.

Wasting no time, Ray flashed in front of Kuzan as he hardened his right fist with Armament Haki, Kuzan responded by doing same around his ice coated fist.

Sharp gusts of wind blew everywhere the instant they swung their fists at each other. As both fists clashed with one another, a large shockwave was heard all over Marineford, showcasing their physical might.

They were locked in a stalemate as their fists pushed at one another before Ray gave Kuzan a little smirk, "Too... late"

Rokuogan

Kuzan's eyes widened slightly, despite his precise Observation Haki, he wasn't able to dodge the deadly shockwave released from Ray's fist.

Kuzan was blasted into the distance as his icy figure could be seen directly smashed through the walls of buildings nearby.

'Shit, Sengoku is going use my salary to repair the damages' thought Ray, dreading the complaints that he would receive later on.

In the distance, Kuzan could be seen emerging from the buildings, no major damage could be seen on his body as both him and Ray were holding back.

Ice Block: Partisan

Gathering ice around his arms, Kuzan created several spears of ice and then quickly launched them towards Ray at rapid speeds.

Ray simply hardened Haki into his fist before punching outwards, releasing a large shockwave that halted the spears and ultimately destroyed them all.