The battlefield froze in silence—then cracked under the sudden roar of heat.
The shards of Aokiji's body had barely reformed when the air itself seemed to ignite. A crimson blaze streaked across the sky, wings of fire cutting through the frozen domain like blades.
"Woo-ho-ho…"
The sound was low, resonant, and carried with it a pressure that made even the Admiral's eyes narrow.
The Straw Hats turned upward, their despair momentarily broken.
"Ren…!" Usopp's voice cracked, half in disbelief, half in relief. "He's back!" Nami gasped, tears mixing with hope.
The fiery figure descended, each beat of his Valstrax‑like dragon wings scattering sparks across the ice. The frozen sea hissed and steamed where the heat touched it, melting patches of Aokiji's domain.
Ren landed with a heavy thud, the ground beneath him cracking from the force. His gray hair whipped in the wind, his eyes sharp and unwavering.
Aokiji's gaze hardened, his calm demeanor shifting into something more serious. "Arara… so you've come. I thought you'd be a nuisance, but it seems you're more than that."
Ren's lips curled into a grin, his aura blazing hotter. "Admiral of the Navy Headquarters… I've been wanting to see how strong you really are."
The frozen sea and the blazing wings clashed in atmosphere alone—ice groaning, fire roaring.
Zoro and Sanji stepped back instinctively, the sheer pressure between the two forces making their skin prickle. Robin's trembling eased just slightly, her wide eyes fixed on Ren's back.
There was no need for Ren to boast. Strictly speaking, he wasn't here to save anyone. His purpose was simpler, sharper: to increase Robin's favorability, to pry open the weakest bond in the Straw Hat crew.
Compared to Nami, Zoro, Chopper, and the others, Robin's ties were still fragile. She was the one most likely to be swayed, the one most likely to be abducted into his orbit.
"Ren…"
The name left Robin's lips in a whisper, her pale face lifting as she stared at him.
Ren's blazing wings folded away as he landed on the coast, heat shimmering around him. He glanced back at Nami, who was crying like a little cat in the rain, and his voice softened. "If you cry again, you'll really become a little cat…"
Then his gaze shifted to Robin, who was slumped against the railing of the Merry. His smile was warm, steady, unyielding. "The Robin I know is a knowledgeable, gentle, caring elder sister. She wouldn't look so defeated."
Robin's breath caught. For a moment, her fear dissolved. Strength returned to her trembling body, and she slowly stood, gripping the railing with renewed resolve.
Aokiji's eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor hardening. "Butcher Ren… Sparks Ren. Former vice‑captain of the Straw Hats. You've made quite a name for yourself."
His voice was steady, but edged with recognition. "Logue Town, Whiskey Peak, Alabasta, Drum… wherever you went, chaos followed. Even the G‑8 fortress wasn't spared. And now… killing Vice Admiral Stainless, earning yourself a bounty of 400 million. A bad reputation indeed."
The Admiral's gaze sharpened, frost spreading beneath his feet. "Are you regretting it now? Do you want to return to the Straw Hats?"
Ren's grin widened, his flame aura flaring against the Admiral's cold. "No. Don't get me wrong." His tone was calm, almost indifferent. "We are no longer companions. I just happened to pass by. I didn't come here to save them."
The Straw Hats froze, their hope faltering.
But Ren's eyes never wavered from Aokiji. He knew the truth. The Admiral was Garp's disciple. Killing his mentor's grandson was unthinkable. Aokiji's threats were thunder without rain—tests of strength, not executions.
But for the rest of the crew, Ren's words cut deep. Nami, Sanji, Zoro, Chopper, Usopp—all of them felt their hearts sink. His figure was familiar, yet unfamiliar, a comrade turned stranger.
"Ren, what happened before…" Sanji's voice trembled. His fists clenched, guilt twisting in his chest. He wanted to bow his head, to apologize.
Ren waved his hand dismissively. "You didn't do anything wrong. We simply walk different paths. Nothing more."
There was no anger, no resentment. He had already looked away.
"Rang——"
The cold light of Hongxue Zuowen flashed as it was unsheathed. Ren's grip was firm, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "However… I didn't expect to meet an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters here. It makes my hands itch."
The Straw Hats froze, staring blankly at him.
"Ren…" Robin whispered again, her voice trembling.
Ren's blade pointed toward the frozen figure of Luffy. "Don't get in the way. Take him to thaw. If we hurry, we can still save him."
"What!?"
"Luffy's not dead yet?"
"Really… Luffy…!"
The crew's despair cracked into relief. Zoro and Sanji's eyes widened, Chopper sobbed with joy, Nami and Usopp cried openly.
For a moment, hope returned.
But beneath that fragile hope, Ren's mind remained cold. He wasn't saving them out of friendship. He was testing Robin, manipulating the moment, and preparing to face Aokiji head‑on.
The battlefield erupted in fire and frost.
"Brush—!" Aokiji's frost‑covered hands shot out, two massive icicles tearing through the air. "Ice Ball!"
But Ren's eyes flashed. His right fist ignited, flames pouring out in a torrent that distorted the atmosphere itself. "Fire Punch!"
"Boom—!"
The raging inferno surged forward, condensing into a colossal flaming fist. The heat wave rolled across the frozen sea, evaporating the Admiral's icicles in an instant. The fist slammed into Aokiji, forcing him back, his calm expression flickering with surprise.
"Boom… boom…" The impact echoed, steam rising in thick clouds.
"Crackling…" The flames hissed against the ice, burning the sky crimson.
The Straw Hats gasped, their eyes wide.
"This is…"
"Luffy's brother Ace's move!" "
Ren… Ren actually did it!"
Nami's tears froze mid‑cheek, her face lit by the red glow. Zoro's grip tightened on his swords, awe mixing with disbelief. Chopper and Usopp trembled, their fear momentarily replaced by wonder.
They had seen Ace before, in Alabasta. They had witnessed the legendary "Fire Fist" obliterate ten pirate warships with a single blow. That image had burned into their memories.
And now, Ren—once their vice‑captain, now a figure both familiar and alien—was replicating that same move. Not in his beast form, but in human shape, with precision and control.
The sky itself seemed to burn red, the frozen sea steaming under the clash of extremes.
Aokiji steadied himself, shards of ice reforming around his body. His calm voice carried a rare edge of recognition. "Arara… so you can mimic Ace's Fire Fist. Interesting. But imitation alone won't defeat me."
Ren's grin widened, his flame aura blazing hotter. "Imitation? No. This is evolution. Fire isn't just Ace's—it's mine now."
The Straw Hats stared, torn between awe and confusion. Was Ren fighting for them, or for himself?
Robin's eyes lingered on him, her heart pounding. The warmth of his flames seemed to reach her directly, melting the fear that had frozen her soul.
"Don't stand still… quick, unfreeze Luffy!"
At Zoro's sharp reminder, Sanji snapped back to reality. He scooped up Luffy's frozen body and sprinted toward the Merry, shouting for Chopper to begin emergency thawing.
Meanwhile, Zoro gritted his teeth, Hedao clenched between his jaws, his other blades drawn. His eyes burned with determination. "Next… let me also—"
But before he could move, pain exploded in his abdomen.
"Bang!"
Zoro's body flew backward, crashing against the deck of the Merry. His eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the figure who had struck him. "Ren…!"
Ren stood there, flames surging around him, his expression cold. "Don't get in the way. If you want to attack an Admiral, weigh your strength first."
The coast trembled under the heat waves. The sky and sea glowed crimson, dyed by the inferno radiating from Ren's body. His flame aura was so intense that the air itself warped, the temperature rising to unbearable levels.
"One last word of advice," Ren said, his voice calm but edged with menace. "Drive quickly. Get out of here on the Merry. If I let go, even your ship will be reduced to ashes."
The Straw Hats staggered, sweat pouring down their faces. Nami clutched the railing, her skin burning from the heat. Chopper gasped, his fur damp with sweat. Usopp's knees knocked together, terror mixing with awe. Even Zoro, still recovering from the kick, felt his scalp prickle.
This was not the Ren they remembered. This was something far more dangerous.
"And the Ark Proverbs on Sky Island…" Ren added, his eyes flashing. "Consider it my reward for pulling you out of that siege."
The crew froze, their hearts sinking.
"Ren—" Robin whispered, her voice trembling.
The tall figure bathed in fire stood like a demon against the frozen sea, his flames clashing with Aokiji's cold aura. The Straw Hats could only watch, their bodies trembling, their minds reeling.
Is this… Ren's true strength?
The answer was clear.
No. And it was terrifying.