"Infinite Pirates are conducting business here, so outsiders should step aside, or face death!"
Esdeath wielded the Shura Sword, and the chilling aura emanating from her instantly spread out, transforming the previously snow-covered scene into a realm of frozen ice crystals.
The murderous aura she had accumulated over the years was released without reservation, and just the presence of it left Doflamingo and Aramaki in shock. How many people must she have killed to amass such a killing intent?
"Fufufufu, so it's Princess Esdeath. Since Infinite Pirates are at work here, I won't get involved!"
The moment Doflamingo saw Esdeath, he decided not to participate and directly backed down.
After all, even if he could obtain the Op-Op Fruit, he wouldn't have the life to enjoy it. That was something the Infinite Pirates wanted, and they had sent Esdeath to retrieve it. If they failed to get the Op-Op Fruit and found out it was in his possession, he would be as good as dead!
Having said that, before Aramaki could react, Doflamingo turned and ran.
He wouldn't help the World Government or the Infinite Pirates against his own interests; he still needed to cling to the Infinite Pirates for support.
"Damn Heavenly Yaksha!"
Seeing Doflamingo flee in fear of Esdeath, Aramaki was instantly furious.
"Buzz!!!!"
However, before Aramaki could question or scold Doflamingo, an extreme coldness swept in from the ground.
Instinctively, Aramaki jumped up to evade the overwhelming freezing force.
"Swish!!!"
Just as Aramaki leaped, he suddenly saw a massive ice-blue slash hurtling toward him at lightning speed.
"Divine Tree Great Shield!"
The slash was as fast as lightning, and Aramaki had no time to dodge in mid-air. In an instant, his feet transformed into numerous roots that rapidly burrowed into the ground, and two gigantic wooden shields, each a hundred meters tall, rose from the earth.
"Crack!!!"
However, the moment the shields made contact with the massive slash, they were ruthlessly shattered.
"Bang!!!"
As the slash flew past Aramaki, he transformed his hands into giant trees, covered in Armament Haki, just in time to barely block the incoming attack.
"Natural Type · Mori Mori Fruit!"
The moment Esdeath saw Aramaki transform into trees, she immediately recognized his Devil Fruit ability.
The Law Network had gathered a wealth of information about the World Government, including details on Aramaki. Although she didn't know him personally, she had reviewed the relevant materials, and upon seeing Aramaki's Devil Fruit ability, it all came rushing back to her.
"Ten Thousand Miles of Ice!"
Esdeath instantly entered her Human-Beast Form, unleashing an even more terrifying freezing power that transformed the surrounding area into an ice crystal world in an instant. Even Aramaki, who had transformed into a towering tree giant, was frozen solid into an ice sculpture.
Understanding what kind of Devil Fruit her enemy possessed, Esdeath had no intention of holding back any longer. She launched a full-force attack! Seizing the moment Aramaki was frozen, she dashed forward, channeling her Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, sword intent, and icy powers into the Shura Sword.
On this icy island, red lightning erupted from the sword, and as Esdeath swung down, the terrifying might reached its peak.
"Ice Lull · Haki Infusion · Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood!"
With a single strike, the heavens and earth changed color. The soaring slash carried the killing intent of everyone Esdeath had slain over the years. Those with weak willpower who faced the attack would be trapped in a nightmarish illusion of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, possibly even losing their minds! "Crack!!!"
As the frozen Aramaki broke free from the ice, Esdeath had already struck. He had no time to stop it or evade!
"Wood Dragon Descends!!!"
From the massive wooden figure he created, countless tree branches grew, elongating and intertwining to form a gigantic wooden dragon over a hundred meters long, charging fearlessly forward.
"Crack!!!"
However, the enormous wooden dragon was easily shattered by Esdeath's slash. Its hundred-meter-long body merely stalled for a moment before disintegrating into countless wooden splinters scattered on the ground.
"Block it for me!"
As the unstoppable force of the massive slash continued toward Aramaki, he quickly conjured two giant wooden arms to cross in front of him, reinforced with Armament Haki.
"Crack!!!"
Yet, even so, Aramaki's wooden arms were shattered. Although the remaining force of the massive slash couldn't completely destroy Aramaki's entire wooden body, it did obliterate half of it, even striking Aramaki himself, who was hiding inside.
However, under Aramaki's natural powers, the seemingly half-destroyed wooden giant quickly replenished itself. Yet, blood flowed from the giant's mouth, indicating that Aramaki was not unscathed; he was indeed injured!
"How can he be this strong!"
Aramaki exclaimed in disbelief. The opponent was around his age; how could he be so powerful? This was beyond Aramaki's imagination!
If that last attack had been thirty percent stronger, it might have completely destroyed his entire wooden body, leaving him either dead or severely injured.
"With such little strength, you dare to come and steal from my Infinite Pirates? You're truly seeking death!"
Esdeath's gaze turned cold, and her icy aura became even more frigid as she charged forward with her sword once more.
It had been nine years since Esdeath was defeated by Zephyr, and in that time, her strength had grown by leaps and bounds.
Now, she was fully confident that if she faced Zephyr again, she could defeat him—no, she could crush him!
The Five Elders had ordered the retrieval of the Op-Op Fruit. Even if Esdeath stood in the way, no matter how strong she was, Aramaki would not back down.
As Esdeath charged, the ground erupted with numerous tree branches that continuously twisted and wrapped around her.
However, his wooden roots were utterly useless before Esdeath. The Shura Sword in her hand could easily slice through his branches, and no amount of trees could halt her advance.
"Forest Prison Cage!!!"
As Esdeath ventured deeper into the forest Aramaki had created, he shouted, and the ground erupted with numerous wooden spikes, forming a cage that enveloped Esdeath, with spikes from all directions aimed at her.
Esdeath was indeed a swordsman, and her sword was sharp e
nough to easily cut through his trees, but he didn't believe she could instantly sever all of his spikes!