Chapter 63 - War of the best: The plan to save Ace had started (9/?)

With Ian and Aokiji.

Ian knew that the guy was not as strong as him. Neither in power, or in speed.

But the stamina of an admiral was, well, one could say immense. Not to mention that their destructive ability is top notch.

However if you can't catch your opponent then your power doesn't matter.

It was this conclusion that Aokiji reached as he kept battling Ian.

He had been shooting ice spears and arrows… trying to freeze him… shooting ice pillars from the ground… but none of his attacks made contact, and the ones that did Ian shattered with a wave of his hand.

The more Aokiji got engaged in the fight the more he felt like he was not suited for this fight. He felt like one of his fellow admirals would be more appropriate.

He turned his eyes to the side briefly as he saw a dust curtain raise giving him a few seconds of breathing space.

The problem with having one of his allies helping however is… his fellow admirals were in a pinch too, just like him. If they were not having it even worse than him.

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Kizaru attempted to fire a light beam at whitebeard, but he put his weapon in the middle of the beam splitting it and blinding the surrounding momentarily. But it didn't deter Whitebeard at all, as he immediately followed with his weapon and hit Kizaru. But he dodged at the last second by reforming a bit of distance away. But one could see a bit of blood on his left arm. It appears that he was not fast enough.

Akainu tried to cover for his friend as he enlarged his fist made from manga and got close thinking to himself of using close combat which he was known for and battle it out. Sadly for him the moment he got close, the old man rushed at him in speeds someone not using 'shave' shouldn't be able to reach.

In a second he was near him, and Akainu reacted immediately as he punched, which was preemptively pushed aside with Whitebeards weapon, then the old man followed by a punch filled with quake power that tried to hit him in the head. His fellow admiral tried helping by shooting multiple beams, but all were dodged by the very much healthier than they were expecting old man. Which resulted in the punch connecting and releasing a shockwave.

Akainu was launched a huge distance away. And Whitebeard didn't stay idle, he jumped at Kizaru soon after as he had a bloodthirsty smile on his face.

'I haven't been able to let loose like this in years…' He thought to himself.

Sengoku who was watching from above with clenched teeth, couldn't help but notice how with each move the old man made he was getting closer and closer to the platform.

He wanted to get the warlords to help stop him, but with one look at them, he saw how they and the rest of the admirals were getting pressed by the commanders and pirates charging. That left only him and Garp that were able to head on take the old man… but Garp was confused for now, and he had to direct the war from above.

The old man, Whitebeard, was using Haki, which was something they expected him to not be able to use due to old age and sickness.

Those same admirals that were known for their strength throughout the world… the aces of the marines… the supposedly counter that are keeping the balance with the four great pirate emperors.. Were now having such a hard time against even one of those four emperors. Granted he had the title of the strongest… but still he made them stay on edge… so much that if Aokiji wasn't entangled with Ian he would go and help them up. But even then he knew that their chances are not looking good.

For the first time in this war, Aokiji knew they f.u.c.k.i.e.d up badly.

"Oi, Oi, what are you spacing out for in the middle of the fight?" A sudden kick to the head greeted Aokiji as he had been sort of in a trance for a while. And Ian took advantage of it as he kicked him and followed him and reached the place he was going to hit before him and kicked him again, this time to the sky.

Ian had been increasing his strength as the fight was going on. After all he didn't want to use all his power from the get go, and result in some gruesome death by explosion or something. Though as time went on, he knew that he was more powerful physically than Aokiji but probably only equal to Akainu.

So it was with this kick that Aokiji finally felt the power contained in Ian. He was thrown to the sky and was falling back down. But he couldn't move for a few seconds from the pain he felt at that moment as he coughed up some blood from his mouth.

When he fell to the ground Ian had been waiting for him with his sword drawn as he released a powerful X shaped flying attack that pushed Aokiji in the direction of Whitebeard. But with the injuries he had sustained he had no way to follow him now that the old man will be on to him.

"OOOHHHHH" There was a cheer from the surrounding pirates as they finally saw how strong Ian was. It gave them the courage to continue fighting.

Ian watched that as soon as Aokiji stood up from the ground he had to dodge a strike made by the old man, his facial features changed to one of irritation. He knew that he now couldn't afford to not pay attention to the old man for even a second or that one brief moment would be exploited.

Ian had been assured by the old man that he can go on with the plan as discussed and this was a vital part of it.

But the most important thing is what happens next. What he had to do in the next few moments.

Ian inhaled a deep breath of air and exhaled, as he mentally prepared to start. He set his gaze onto Sengoku and Garp. Ian was not in the emperor realm like the old man. He was only near that. As such and even if he knew that the combined effort of the three admirals wouldn't be able to overwhelm him, he still wouldn't be able to injure them, and only stay dodging them. And the same could be said about facing Sengoku and Garp, the two legendary marines. But he knew that Garp would let him save Ace, just like he let Luffy in the anime.

He activated his scaly mode, for the boost it gave, and got into position.

In a second he used 'shave' and kicked the ground twenty times instead of the usual 10, leaving the only people capable of seeing him being Sengoku, Garp, and the admirals.

But Garp wasn't really focused. And Sengoku got into position to intercept Ian.

The admirals were pressed to fight, however, and unfortunately for Ian, the addition of Aokiji to the fight, left a certain someone able to breathe a bit easier. Meaning he could chase after Ian.

Kizaru reformed in front of the path of Ian and tried firing in his direction, but all Ian did was smile at him as he, for the first time, went past 20 steps reaching 31 and stepping over the air, which made him pass straight through Kizaru-the only one who was able to see him even with his speed- while in the way he threw as hard as he could with his power and telekinesis his sword covered in a colorless Haki at Kizaru so that he won't follow him.

Kizaru even as fast as he was, was still able to be attacked in surprise. He had even stated in many times how he hated to find opponents who held up their sleeves a surprising move or a powerful trump card. He was also known to be careless in fights, which lead to Ian passing by him, and attacking him after.

The attack hit him as he covered his hands in light conjuring a sword to guard, but the sheer power behind it left his hands open and threw him to the ground.

Meanwhile Ian who had suddenly vanished from everyone's eyes, appeared behind Sengoku with A c.o.c.ked arm that appeared to be black up until the shoulder.

Ian punched Sengoku so hard in the direction of the old man, that Sengoku made a crater in the ground as he landed.

'The plan to save Ace had started' Ian, whitebeard, and all the commanders thought to themselves.

Ian exhaled a breath. As he looked at Garp who was standing there in shock apparently, as he had just noticed how everything was going wrong.