At that moment, it was noon.
Aokiji and Caelan stood facing each other, the battle about to begin.
Right now, aside from Caelan and Aokiji, there wasn't another soul on the island.
Nami and Robin had returned to the Wind Rider, watching the battlefield through telescopes. Though they now possessed strength at the level of Marine commodores, they still couldn't get close to a battle of this caliber.
But they had absolute faith in Caelan.
"You trust him that much?" Kalifa glanced at the girls' expressions, visibly confused.
Even Robin, who had been so terrified just moments ago, now appeared calm—almost as if she was certain Caelan would defeat Aokiji.
"There's no reason to doubt." Robin answered evenly, without turning her head.
This was the man who sided with and sheltered her. Of course, she trusted him.
The other girls nodded in agreement with Robin's words.
From Arlong in the East Blue, to Crocodile in Alabasta, to Enel in Skypiea.
No enemy had ever been able to stop Caelan's advance.
Kalifa couldn't understand their blind faith and decided to enlighten them.
"Maybe you don't understand what it means to be an admiral."
"That's the highest combat power of the World Government. Only three such men exist in each generation. Especially this generation—the strongest in history. Each one is capable of fighting the Four Emperors!"
After saying that, Kalifa looked to the girls, expecting to see panic on their faces.
"Yes, he's strong. But Caelan will beat him."
Robin replied indifferently, eyes still fixed on the battlefield.
The other girls were even more extreme. They didn't react at all.
"Sigh…"
Kalifa sighed and fell silent.
Once the battle was over, they'd understand just how absurd their confidence had been.
These top-tier fighters were the kind of monsters even the Four Emperors had to take seriously. How could Caelan possibly defeat one?
…
Doflamingo arrived late, floating high above the uninhabited island.
He had originally come to teach Caelan a lesson, but now, from up in the sky, he had lost all interest in stepping in.
"Well, well. He actually picked a fight with Aokiji. Poor Caelan." Looking down at the two figures facing off below, Doflamingo laughed mockingly.
Even someone as arrogant as him would never consider going against an admiral.
Any one of the three admirals could kill him instantly.
Even with his status as a former Celestial Dragon, he dared not act rashly in front of them.
He didn't know how Caelan had provoked Aokiji, but the outcome was obvious—Caelan was finished.
"Alright then, let me enjoy the end of this little bounty hunter." Doflamingo fastened dozens of threads to the clouds and wove them into a hammock.
He lay sideways on it, gazing down at the battlefield.
His rage toward Caelan had completely cooled. Now he just wanted to see Aokiji beat him into the ground.
…
"Brace yourself."
Aokiji looked at Caelan and gave a calm warning.
Before showing leniency, he would go all out.
He needed to teach this arrogant kid just how wide the gap was between him and the top of the world.
"No need for words. Just come at me!"
Caelan's fighting spirit surged. His eyes glowed with excitement.
"Hmph."
Aokiji exhaled deeply, and an overwhelming wave of cold began to spread.
The ground started to freeze.
Rocks turned into icebergs radiating chill.
The trees and animals across the island froze solid in an instant, becoming deep blue ice sculptures.
In a matter of seconds, the entire island had turned into a silent, frozen wasteland.
Even the sea surrounding the island formed patches of ice flowers.
Back on the Wind Rider, the girls felt the frigid air and shivered.
"This is the strength of an admiral… the power to change the world in an instant."
Robin stared at the frozen island, her voice serious.
Twenty years ago in Ohara, she had seen Aokiji freeze Saul.
That scene had left a scar in her memory.
But this—this was a hundred times more terrifying.
It also meant Aokiji was taking this battle seriously.
"Now… do you still believe Caelan can win?"
Kalifa felt a strange sense of satisfaction as she spoke.
Since boarding the ship, she'd been subjected to constant training from Caelan.
Now that she had the chance to see him suffer a setback, she couldn't help but feel a little pleased.
There was no way Caelan could beat a monster with the power of a natural disaster!
"Of course. I've always believed in him."
Nami and Vivi responded firmly, without hesitation.
"You're so annoying." Robin, clearly fed up with Kalifa, activated her Flower-Flower Fruit.
Several arms sprouted from the deck, pinning Kalifa down and covering her mouth.
Kalifa struggled, eyes wide.
"If Caelan really loses, we can't be sure of your loyalty."
"When the time comes, you can quietly sink to the bottom of the sea." Nami glared at Kalifa and warned coldly.
Kalifa instantly quieted down. The thought of mocking Caelan vanished.
This woman didn't look like she was bluffing at all!
Tears welled up in Kalifa's eyes. She could already imagine her own corpse drifting at sea.
Caelan, no matter what happens, please win!
Kalifa cried out in her heart.
Above the island, Doflamingo sat upright in his hammock.
He tightened his pink feathered coat, shivering slightly.
"Ice-Ice Fruit… awakened?"
Doflamingo stared at the frozen world below, visibly unsettled.
He had awakened the String-String Fruit himself and immediately recognized the telltale signs.
Changing the environment, turning everything into his domain—this was a disaster-class ability!
"Isn't this a bit much… just for a guy like Caelan?"
Doflamingo was puzzled.
This level of power should be reserved for facing the Four Emperors.
Even he didn't think he was worth Aokiji using such force.
Caelan had clearly violated some natural law of the world.
"Well, no matter. Just witnessing this scene makes the trip worth it."
Doflamingo stared intently at the battlefield, not wanting to miss a thing.
It was rare to see an admiral unleash his full power. Even rarer to witness a battle comparable to those of the Four Emperors.
To miss any part of it would be a sin.
As for Caelan, Doflamingo already considered him a dead man. No need to keep watching him.
…
On the uninhabited island now transformed into a frozen realm, Caelan stood across from Aokiji, enduring the extreme cold.
"It's… very refreshing."
Caelan smiled as he felt the chill swirling around him.
"You really are something, Caelan."
Aokiji looked at Caelan, who seemed completely unaffected, and let out a sigh.
From his Observation Haki, he could sense that Caelan's blood and energy were like a blazing sun. His fighting spirit was soaring.
Aokiji no longer held the casual attitude from before. He became serious.
Caelan… was not on the same level as Crocodile.
(To be continued.)