HTP: Ch. 64

"Watch out for that Itachi!"

Kizaru, who was in the middle of a clash with Rayleigh, noticed the situation unfolding on the execution platform and couldn't help but shout over with some concern. Having dealt with that man-bird combo before, he knew better than anyone how troublesome they could be.

Last time, the crazy warning from his Observation Haki had left him shaken, just what kind of attack could pose a deadly threat even to someone with his light-speed body?

Sakazuki, don't slip up in such a stupid way.

"Getting distracted in the middle of battle isn't good." Rayleigh seized the opportunity to launch a horizontal slash.

Kizaru was a split-second late in dodging.

Rayleigh narrowed his eyes and said with some surprise, "You're that worried?"

The Sword of Light swept aside Rayleigh's assault as Kizaru said, "You have no idea how much trouble that duo is."

The light blade followed through with a slash.

"Then again, you're quite the pain too."

---

"Come be my son!"

Whitebeard's hearty laughter echoed through the frozen bay as a casual swing of his Murakumogiri shattered the ice spears formed by Aokiji into countless sparkling shards.

His eyes swept toward the distant clash of black flames and lava, his crescent-shaped mustache rising proudly with his grin.

Aokiji frowned. "Still saying nonsense at a time like this."

He placed both hands on the ice. Countless Armament-Haki-hardened ice spears launched through the air, yet within three meters of Whitebeard, they were crushed by an invisible shockwave.

Whitebeard didn't even glance at the attacks, his full attention was locked onto the distant battle between Ace and Akainu.

"What a shame." His smile faded. His right fist gathered a milky-white aura. "Looks like you're not ready to welcome the new era."

CRACK!

He punched the air, and the space shattered like glass. A terrifying shockwave spread out in a fan shape, instantly destroying the ice wall Aokiji had hastily erected.

The Admiral was sent flying like a broken kite.

---

Mihawk's black blade Yoru sliced through the air in a perfect arc, forcing Vista back a few steps. He did not press the advantage but instead sheathed his sword and stood calmly.

He was clearly at ease in this duel, turning to look at the battle unfolding atop the execution platform.

He asked with a hint of surprise. "How did he get captured?"

Vista, already under immense pressure, took the chance to catch his breath and replied, "Blackbeard."

Mihawk nodded slightly, clearly taking note of the name of this powerful man.

To be able to capture a Logia user who had mastered Advanced Armament Haki... just how strong must he be?

I'll have to test him myself someday.

With that thought, he resumed his sword duel with Vista.

---

Akainu's magma-powered heavy punch sent Ace flying over ten meters. As he moved in to finish the job, the Totsuka Sword slashed down from above, leaving faint cracks in space itself wherever the blade passed.

Right behind it came the sharp talon strike of the phoenix.

He was forced to retreat, his magma-formed right arm sliced at the edge, molten lava sizzling as it dripped to the ground.

What a pain.

Even he was starting to look a little battered under the combined assault.

He spat a glob of lava and scanned the battlefield like a hawk.

Ace used the opening to recover, his flames surging once again as a ring of fire roared toward Akainu, forcing him to divide his attention to deal with the threat.

Even more troublesome was the resurgence of the black flames behind him. He gritted his teeth, tearing away the magma infected by the inextinguishable fire. At this rate, his Admiral's uniform would be completely burned away.

But at this critical moment, he keenly noticed a vital detail, whenever his enemy launched a powerful slash or the black flames flared up, Marco's blue healing flames would fluctuate violently; and Itachi's face would flash with a pale expression, his movements briefly delayed.

So that's it... His lips curled into a savage grin. He had found the key to break the stalemate.

Itachi wasn't particularly strong on his own. The trouble came from him teaming up with Marco. Which meant the solution was simple: stop targeting the cursed bloodline for now.

His magma body suddenly erupted, using the force of taking a Fire Fist from Ace head-on to propel himself backward.

Then he leapt into the air, unleashing the full power of his Haki and magma. All of it concentrated into one colossal magma fist.

If he could separate Marco and Itachi, then he could swiftly kill the physically weakened Itachi, then eliminate Ace and Marco one by one.

The advantage was still his. His raw power exceeded theirs.

Akainu and Itachi locked eyes, and in that moment, he could clearly see panic in Itachi's expression slowly sharpening into a calm intensity.

Panic turning into sharpness?

The strange triple-bladed pinwheel of the Sharingan began to spin.

Something's wrong!

His Observation Haki screamed a frantic warning. But it was already too late.

---

To Akainu's horror, he found himself inside a blood-red world. Those eerie eyes were just inches away from him.

What was this ability?

In the real world, Akainu's massive magma fist froze mid-air. His face shifted from ferocity to shock, and finally, to complete blankness.

But as one of the Marine's most powerful forces, his Haki and willpower were extraordinarily firm, in just a brief moment, he began to break free of Tsukuyomi's control.

But that brief moment… was enough.

The healing blue flames blazed to their fullest, rapidly easing Itachi's aftereffects. Susanoo evolved instantly, now armored. Most striking of all: in its right hand was an enormous gourd.

Susanoo raised the gourd, and a red beam shot out from its mouth, merging into a massive sword in midair.

The Totsuka Sword!

In the reflection of Akainu's just-cleared eyes, the sword was already piercing his chest. He tried to shift into magma form to escape, but his body wouldn't respond. He tried to harden with Armament Haki, but again, no response.

The Totsuka Sword ran through his chest. No blood came out, only a warm, glowing light erupted from the wound.

"What... is this..." He looked down at the sword impaling him, feeling his body grow light and weightless.

"The sealing technique of the Totsuka Sword."

Standing atop the blue phoenix, Itachi explained calmly, "Your soul will now be sealed within an illusionary world of eternal dreams."

"So this is what Borsalino kept warning me about… Tch..."

Akainu's body gradually turned into glowing particles and was drawn into the Totsuka Sword. His expression shifted from rage to serenity, and finally, to a faint smile, as if remembering something from the past… perhaps even feeling relief.