At this moment, it would be strange if people weren't shocked. Supernovas, Rayleigh, countless pirates, and even the Marines…
All eyes were on Elior.
"Captain… What kind of power is that?"
Crocodile and Shiryu felt a chill run down their spines — even Akainu couldn't move.
One could only imagine the terror of that ability.
In their eyes, Elior had become even more mysterious… and terrifying.
Before anyone could react, Elior punched Akainu in the stomach. He didn't use Armament Haki, so the punch simply passed through Akainu's magma body—thanks to his natural Logia elementalization, it caused no physical damage.
For Logia users, elementalization is a passive defense. Like unmoving tofu in space, it exists, but doesn't resist.
But now… even that elemental defense wasn't working. Akainu's body wasn't recovering.
And that was the scary part. Akainu was completely motionless. Had he been an ordinary person, that punch would've been fatal.
But Akainu's face was frozen in place, his body unmoving, his mind completely still. He had no idea what was happening.
"Akainu didn't even fight back!"
"No—he can't move! That monster can kill him just like that!"
"Terrifying! What kind of power is this?!"
People trembled in fear. If Elior ever decided to use that ability on them, they wouldn't even be able to resist.
"My ability is similar to Aokiji's ice fruit" Elior said casually, "But stronger… far beyond the limits of the Ice-Ice Fruit."
He clenched his fists—this time, coating them in Armament Haki—and aimed directly at Akainu's jaw. Though he could use Mahapadma more than once per day, it still consumed a massive amount of stamina and only worked for a brief moment.
Which meant Elior had to end this quickly.
But he didn't plan to kill Akainu—not yet. That would make the upcoming war far less interesting. After all, Akainu was a key piece in the Summit War of Marineford. Without him, it was uncertain whether Whitebeard or Ace would even die.
So instead, Elior focused his strength. This punch wouldn't just carry Armament Haki—it would also contain the hidden technique of the Shigan from the Rokushiki. Elior had already mastered all six techniques and could fully access their secret applications.
Even a basic punch, when imbued with that hidden force, became devastating.
"Danger!" Kizaru shouted, knowing he couldn't just stand by. But before he could intervene, Bullet stepped in, keeping him occupied.
And even if Kizaru tried, he wouldn't catch Elior's speed.
The Shigan secret technique was unleashed!
This was Elior's first time using it on a top-tier enemy—and Akainu, completely frozen, was the perfect target.
With a crack, Akainu's chest caved in, and a shockwave burst out from his back.
In that very moment, time and space resumed. And with it, pain exploded across Akainu's entire nervous system.
He was confused—overwhelmed by agony. His mind nearly went blank.
Akainu coughed up blood!
The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed through the battlefield, making many onlookers go pale with dread.
His ribs had snapped. His organs had been smashed by the internal force of the Shigan strike.
With an explosion that reverberated for hundreds of meters, Akainu's body was hurled backward like a missile. He shot through the air, tearing across the battlefield, and finally slammed into several massive trees—only stopping once they'd been obliterated.
Kizaru's expression twisted in horror.
Nearby, a Marine who had been trying to deliver Sengoku's retreat order froze when he saw Akainu fly past like a broken doll. Looking back at Elior, his body began to tremble violently.
The spatial freeze had ended.
"Admiral Borsalino!" the Marine rushed over, delivering Sengoku's message.
"…Too late." Kizaru gritted his teeth. His golden body burst into light as he teleported to Akainu's side. Bullet began to follow, but Elior raised a hand.
"Wait, Bullet. Let him go."
"What? You're stopping me now?" Bullet looked annoyed. "We're just getting started."
Elior smiled. "It'll be more fun in a few weeks. No need to start a full-scale war yet. First, we need to enter the New World… get warmed up."
Elsewhere, Kizaru reached Akainu, who was struggling to get up. His eyes were bloodshot. His chest was crushed. Blood poured from his mouth.
"Borsalino…" he groaned. "Tell me… what just happened?"
Akainu looked pale. He was still dazed. The last thing he remembered was Elior releasing a strange ice-blue aura… and then nothing. Absolute stillness.
"I'm not sure either," Kizaru muttered. "You were frozen, Sakazuki. In that space, even the dust stopped moving. Everything was halted—including you."
"That's impossible…" Akainu muttered, grimacing.
"You mean… he froze everything? I didn't feel anything… So, you're saying… space was frozen? No—time and space?"
Kizaru's face was unusually serious. "Seems that way."
"I must defeat him… If that's his ability, he's too dangerous…"
Akainu's rage flared again. Despite his injuries, he tried to rise—determined to strike back. As admirals, they couldn't let someone like Elior walk free.
But Kizaru grabbed him. "Sakazuki. We have more important priorities. Sengoku's orders are clear—we're to withdraw. And you're hurt."
The name of Sengoku finally made Akainu stop. Despite his fury, he knew Kizaru was right.
And his body... it hurt. He hadn't suffered an injury this severe in years.
"If he really can freeze time and space… he could wipe us all out without a fight. If we three Admirals were frozen… he could kill us instantly, and we'd never know what hit us!"
Kizaru understood the gravity of the situation.
Akainu's face was grim. "This has to be reported to Marine HQ. Our enemy is beyond anything we imagined. And now, the war with Whitebeard is approaching…"
He wanted to roar—but the pain in his chest made him vomit blood again.