"Ice Kill: Mocha Bottemo!!"
However, just as the entire cage was about to close, completely trapping Esdeath within, the whole sky was frozen by an extreme cold.
All the moisture in the air was frozen, and the surrounding trees, including the tree giant transformed by Aramaki, were instantly immobilized by the frost.
Not only that, but even Aramaki's own soul and will showed signs of being frozen. The most obvious indication was that Aramaki felt his thoughts slowing down significantly. He watched helplessly as Esdeath dashed through the gaps of the cage he had meticulously crafted. He wanted to stop her, but he was powerless to do so!
In an instant, Esdeath reached the side of the tree giant, and with the Shura Sword, she unleashed a full-powered strike.
The moment the sword struck the tree giant, the ice crystals covering it shattered instantly, followed by the entire tree giant being engulfed and destroyed by the sword's aura.
"Ah!!!!"
Aramaki's entire body was sent flying hundreds of meters like a broken kite, blood spewing from his mouth, forming a trail of crimson in the air. His body was riddled with numerous sword wounds, and he looked utterly tragic, drenched in blood.
If he hadn't transformed into the tree giant, preventing Esdeath from reaching his true form, and if she hadn't turned her strongest attack into an area damage effect, Aramaki would have been severely injured.
"Flying Tree Transformation!"
As he was sent flying, a propeller-like device suddenly appeared on Aramaki's body, spinning rapidly. Using the force of his flight, he shot directly into the sky to escape.
Forget about the orders from the Five Elders or the Op-Op Fruit; after witnessing Esdeath's terrifying power, Aramaki cast all of that aside.
The most important thing now was to leave this cursed place. If he stayed any longer, he felt he would be cut to pieces.
That extreme freezing power and that powerful swordsmanship completely countered him. If he didn't run now, he felt he might not be able to escape at all.
"Are all the World Government people this decisive?"
Esdeath, who had initially wanted to continue fighting, was momentarily stunned as she watched Aramaki flee. She hadn't even inflicted that much damage on him, so how could he run away so quickly? She had clearly sensed how proud Aramaki was before; now he was turning tail and fleeing, which caught her off guard! "Forget it, it's fine if he runs. After all, the goal this time is the Op-Op Fruit."
Seeing Aramaki escape, Esdeath had no intention of pursuing him. After all, she lacked the ability to fly. Techniques like Moon Walk couldn't catch up to him.
Immediately, Esdeath turned and ran toward the center of the island; after all, she still hadn't obtained the Op-Op Fruit.
On the other side: Doflamingo, who had been scared off by Esdeath, sensed the battle between Esdeath and Aramaki and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He quickly circled around, avoiding Esdeath's position, and then rushed toward the center of the island at full speed.
"Fufufufu, as long as I hurry, the Op-Op Fruit will still be mine!"
Doflamingo saw an opportunity. As long as he was fast enough to obtain the Op-Op Fruit without anyone knowing, he would have a chance to claim it for himself.
Even if the Infinite Pirates discovered it later, he could just offer the Op-Op Fruit to them. As long as he had the chance to get it, he wouldn't give up.
"Damn it, who killed them? Where's the Op-Op Fruit?!"
However, when Doflamingo arrived at the center of the island, all he found was the corpse of Barrels.
He recognized Barrels as the lucky one who had found the Op-Op Fruit. His death meant that the Op-Op Fruit had been taken by someone else.
"Doflamingo, where's the Op-Op Fruit?"
Just as Doflamingo was puzzled, Esdeath arrived, her face cold and filled with murderous intent, staring at him. If she hadn't found the Op-Op Fruit on Doflamingo, she would have already drawn her sword.
"..."
Upon hearing Esdeath's voice, Doflamingo felt a chill run down his spine. He turned slowly to look at Esdeath, who was not far from him.
"Damn it, how did she get here so quickly?!"
"That guy looks strong; how could he be defeated so quickly?!"
"If I had known, I wouldn't have come. Which bastard dares to steal something under the World Government and Infinite Pirates' noses?"
"..."
At that moment, Doflamingo was cursing inwardly. He had acted impulsively and taken a risk to come here, only to find that someone had beaten him to it, and now he was caught by Esdeath.
From Esdeath's tone, it was clear that it didn't seem like the Infinite Pirates had obtained the Op-Op Fruit!
"Princess Esdeath, I just arrived here. I was planning to get the Op-Op Fruit and hand it over to you, but when I got here, the Op-Op Fruit was already gone, and Barrels, the one who originally held it, is dead. It seems someone took the Op-Op Fruit before me. They shouldn't have escaped far; we can split up to search. There might still be a chance to find them."
Doflamingo said cautiously, fearing that Esdeath might draw her sword and attack him at any moment.
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing Doflamingo's words, Esdeath's aura suddenly turned icy, and the bone-chilling cold made Doflamingo shiver.
"Bru Bru!!!"
However, just as Esdeath was about to take action, her Den Den Mushi rang.
As Doflamingo looked for an opportunity to escape, Esdeath picked up the Den Den Mushi and held it to her ear.
"The item is secured; we can leave now!"
Nepal's voice came from the Den Den Mushi, instantly relieving Esdeath.
Although she knew Nepal would eventually take action, she was still very suspicious of Doflamingo until she saw the Op-Op Fruit. Now, it seemed unnecessary to deal with him.
"Doflamingo, I hope you can be smarter next time. Some things are not for you to touch. If the Op-Op Fruit really is gone, then the person you meet next won't be me, but my father!"
Esdeath snorted coldly, hung up the phone, warned Doflamingo, and then left the place directly.
"Fufufufu, that world's strongest man, Li Yuan? He must know the secret of the Op-Op Fruit; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Esdeath personally to retrieve this Devil Fruit!"
"Fufufufu, those high and mighty old fools, I will watch you fall from grace!"
Hearing Esdeath's parting words, Doflamingo burst into wild laughter. His greatest ambition was to destroy the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
And the person most likely to achieve that goal was Li Yuan, the Infinite Pirates!
Thus, he placed his hopes on the Infinite Pirates, wishing they could fulfill his ambitions.
Although Esdeath's warning had made him very dissatisfied and angry, the thought of Li Yuan obtaining the immortality surgery and being able to overthrow the World Government and the Celestial Dragons made all his discontent and anger dissipate!