บท 123: Chapter 121: Severely Injuring Aokiji
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Kizaru faced off against three of Noir's strongest crew members alone, while Aokiji, true to his word, engaged in a one-on-one battle with Noir.
Aokiji, his body encased in ice, relentlessly attacked Noir with his ice blade.
Noir, relying on his Amaterasu flames, fearlessly countered Aokiji's every move.
In truth, Aokiji's elemental attacks barely scratched Noir. The only thing that could harm him was the Busoshoku Haki imbued in the ice blade.
Aokiji's wounds deepened, and his ice-formed body weakened under the relentless heat of Amaterasu.
Noir wasn't unscathed, but his injuries were far less severe than Aokiji's.
Noir's current power level was unique. He could be considered Warlord level, but against specialists like Mihawk or Crocodile, he'd likely be at a 50/50 stalemate.
However, against Admirals, Noir could hold his own in a one-on-one fight, and he even had an advantage against Logia users like Aokiji and Akainu.
But battles were unpredictable. Even Emperors could be caught off guard by Warlords, and Warlords could be defeated by rookies. There was no such thing as a guaranteed victory.
It was all about who had the higher chance of winning. Even with overwhelming strength, there was always a sliver of a chance for defeat.
This was the case with Noir's fight against Aokiji. Without Amaterasu and his copying ability, he would have struggled to face Aokiji head-on.
Aokiji, increasingly disheveled, dodged Noir's fiery blade, retreating step by step.
Amaterasu's power against ice was overwhelming, severely limiting Aokiji's options. He could only rely on his physical strength and swordsmanship.
But Noir possessed a dark gold talent in swordsmanship. His skills had grown exponentially through countless battles and rigorous training.
Now, few in the world, except for the likes of Mihawk and Shanks, could match Noir's swordsmanship in a direct confrontation.
Noir swung Devil Blade, shattering Aokiji's ice shield. His eyes blazed with intensity as he roared, "Take this, Aokiji!"
He slowly sheathed his crimson Devil blade, closing his eyes. His mind and the sword in his hand reached a perfect harmony, their auras merging as sword energy surged around him.
Seeing Noir assume the stance for a Iaido draw, Aokiji quickly conjured a giant bird of ice in the air!
According to classified Marine files, Devil Noir, during his early days at sea, was particularly skilled in an ultra-high-speed Iaido technique, which had made him virtually invincible in his travels.
It was rumored that he'd even clashed with Mihawk in secret. No one knew the outcome, but Noir had emerged unscathed!
This was the ultimate testament to Noir's swordsmanship!
From that point on, no one in the Marine higher-ups dared to underestimate Noir.
Recognizing Noir's unusual stance as a prelude to a deadly attack, Aokiji reacted instantly, channeling his freezing power into his right arm, preparing to unleash his strongest offensive move.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Aokiji bellowed as a massive bird with ice wings launched from his arm, soaring towards Noir's head.
Facing the incoming ice bird, Noir finally gripped his sword hilt, speaking calmly, "Originally, I was going to call this move 'Sky Dragon Flash'..."
His long fingers tightened around the hilt. He bent his knees and lowered his body, channeling all his strength into a single, upward-slashing draw.
Even more astonishing, amidst the demonic blade's flash, a brief but intense burst of black flames erupted!
Amaterasu, fueled by the wind pressure generated by the high-speed Iaido slash, could be momentarily released from the blade in a short-range burst.
Hmm... let's call this 'Amaterasu Dragon Flash'...
Noir, a terrible name-giver, thought proudly.
The incoming ice bird was cleanly bisected by the fiery slash, but the attack's momentum remained undiminished!
Faced with mortal danger, Aokiji's years of battle experience kicked in. He instantly transformed into ice, attempting to evade the attack through his Logia intangibility.
But Aokiji's speed was no match for Kizaru's. Despite his swift reaction, a touch of black flame grazed his leg.
Aokiji's normally stoic face contorted in pain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
The scorching Amaterasu flames rapidly spread across his lower leg. Aokiji, his knee buckling, collapsed to the ground in agony.
Seeing Aokiji hit by Amaterasu, Noir instantly closed the distance, ready to follow up with a combo attack.
Though he admired Aokiji and was grateful that the Admiral hadn't taken advantage of his previous vulnerability, Aokiji was still an enemy. They stood on opposite sides.
Both had their duties to fulfill. No matter who held the upper hand, they had to be ruthless!
Aokiji gasped for breath, the flames on his leg searing his flesh. He watched helplessly as Noir's blade descended.
But even a weakened Admiral was a formidable opponent. Despite his Devil Fruit being countered, Aokiji's ice powers remained potent.
A wave of frost swept outwards, coating the deck in a chilling layer of blue and white.
In the blink of an eye, Aokiji's ice froze Noir, who had been moving at near-light speed!
Even with Amaterasu's protection, Noir was trapped in the ice for a few precious seconds.
But he quickly broke free, melting the ice around him.
Those few seconds were all Aokiji needed to retreat to safety.
Aokiji struggled to his feet, his expression grim as he watched the black flames spread uncontrollably.
For some reason, these black flames weren't just incredibly hot, they were also inextinguishable! Neither ice nor water could put them out!
Relying on his physical resilience and the minimal protection offered by his ice powers, Aokiji could still move his right leg.
But it was only a matter of time before the flames climbed up his leg and engulfed his entire body, spelling his doom.
Amaterasu could be blocked by Busoshoku Haki, but even Aokiji wouldn't have imagined the existence of flames that couldn't be extinguished.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, Aokiji raised his ice blade and, with a resolute expression, sliced through his own leg!
Noir watched in stunned silence as Aokiji severed his burning left leg, the limb falling to the deck.
Aokiji's decisiveness was beyond anything Noir had anticipated.
Was this truly the same laid-back Admiral?
Severing a limb to survive was a method anyone could think of, but few dared to attempt it. It required immense willpower.
If Noir had to cut off his own leg, even to save his life, he'd need some serious time to consider it.
Cold air emanated from the severed part of Aokiji's leg. Solid ice formed, quickly replacing the missing limb.
Aokiji gently lowered his new ice leg, his face pale but calm. "Impressive ability. But I've found a way to deal with it."
Noir was taken aback. What way?
Amaterasu burned hotter than magma, making it a natural counter to both the Ice-Ice Fruit and the Magma-Magma Fruit. What could Aokiji possibly do?
Noir charged again, his body ablaze with black flames, the tip of his black blade aimed at Aokiji's heart.
But at that moment, a flash of light appeared between them. The golden light forced Noir to halt his attack once more.
Kizaru, having finally disengaged from his battle with the trio, casually placed a hand on Aokiji's shoulder, supporting him. "Still want to fight?"
"You know, you could have just blown up the ship to defeat Noir."
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