One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

CHAPTER 30: GOKU'S DESPERATION

Goku stood between Zoro and Sanji, holding Nami's frozen form gently. The tension in the air was palpable as they faced the overwhelming power of Admiral Aokiji. "We need to find a way to defeat him," Goku said, his voice steady despite the dire situation.

Sanji and Zoro exchanged glances, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them. "After seeing his abilities, it seems almost impossible," Sanji admitted. "He can shatter into pieces and reform at will. How do we fight that?"

Zoro nodded in agreement. "Physical attacks don't seem to have any effect on him. My sword is useless if I can't cut him, and Sanji can't touch him without getting frozen."

Goku thought hard, his mind racing through memories of watching "Dragon Ball Z." In the show, they never had a clear way to fight such opponents, other than destroying every single piece. He also realized that just touching Aokiji could mean getting frozen. There was a way to counter that, though: using his Ki to protect himself. While the Goku he inhabited didn't know how to do that yet, his knowledge from the original Goku, combined with what he saw future Goku could do, made it possible to use the technique.

"We need a new strategy," Goku muttered. "Sanji, at your current level, you can't touch Aokiji without getting frozen. Zoro, your sword are our best bet, but physical attacks alone won't cut it. I've seen Mihawk use projection attacks, so I know it's possible, but you're not strong enough yet."

"What are you suggesting?" Zoro asked, his eyes narrowing.

Goku took a deep breath. "Sanji, you need to stay out of this fight. One touch, and it's over for you. Zoro, same for you. Take Nami and Usopp to the villagers and find a doctor. They're alive, but we need to thaw them out properly."

"Are you going to take him on your own?" Zoro demanded, disbelief in his voice.

"I'll try," Goku replied, determination in his eyes. "If my plan fails, I can get out of here fast enough that he won't chase me. But I'll need your sword for this." He handed Nami to Sanji and grabbed the Wado Ichimonji from Zoro.

"You think I'll let you get away for free, brat?" Aokiji's voice cut through the air as he suddenly appeared between them. His long arms reached for Sanji and Zoro, but Goku was ready. Concentrating, he sensed Aokiji's presence and fired another Ki blast, destroying Aokiji's upper half completely.

"Move now!" Goku ordered. Zoro and Sanji did as they were told, retreating with Nami and Usopp. Goku was left alone with the admiral amidst the destroyed ruins of Arlong Park.

Aokiji's body reformed quickly. "Interesting technique," the admiral admitted. "But it doesn't seem to be working against me."

"It won't be that easy," Goku replied, unsheathing the Wado Ichimonji and taking a fighting stance, his mastery of the weapon evident.

Aokiji smiled. "I ate the Hie Hie no Mi, turning me into an Ice Human. My powers allow me to control ice and snow at will. Let's see how you handle that."

Goku admitted to himself that dealing with these devil fruit powers would prove difficult with his limited knowledge of this world. For now, he didn't need to worry about that. He focused on his current task, preparing for the battle ahead.

Goku lunged forward with the Wado Ichimonji, his movements swift and precise. He aimed for Aokiji's torso, hoping to cut him down before he could reform. But Aokiji countered effortlessly, his body turning into ice and shattering upon impact. The shards reformed behind Goku, and Aokiji struck with an ice-covered fist. Goku barely managed to block with his sword, feeling the cold seeping through his defenses.

Goku decided to try a different approach. Using his Ki, he projected a series of sword slashes from a distance, aiming to overwhelm Aokiji with sheer force. The air buzzed with energy as the projected attacks flew towards the admiral. But Aokiji merely smirked, freezing the air around him and creating an icy barrier that deflected the attacks. He retaliated with a barrage of ice spikes, forcing Goku to dodge and weave through the deadly projectiles.

Switching to hand-to-hand combat, Goku attempted to close the distance. He used his Ki to coat his body, protecting himself from Aokiji's freezing touch. Their fists and kicks collided in a flurry of motion, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Despite Goku's best efforts, Aokiji's ice-based attacks always seemed to have the upper hand. He slipped past Goku's defenses, landing a freezing punch that sent Goku sprawling.

Desperate to gain an advantage, Goku combined his sword techniques with Ki blasts. He launched a powerful slash imbued with Ki, aiming to cut through Aokiji's icy form and hit him with a blast simultaneously. The attack connected, and for a moment, it seemed like it might work. But Aokiji simply reformed around the energy, his body absorbing the impact without harm. He counterattacked with a wave of ice, freezing Goku's legs and immobilizing him partially.

Goku, now using every ounce of his strength and skill, unleashed a final desperate assault. He channeled all his Ki into the Wado Ichimonji, creating a blindingly bright aura around the blade. He charged at Aokiji, swinging the sword with all his might. The clash of elements was intense, the air crackling with energy and frost. But Aokiji's control over his ice powers was too great. He enveloped Goku in a storm of ice and snow, freezing him in some places. The protective layer ki working only half as efficient.

Goku stood in the center of the battlefield, his body covered in ice, snow, sweat, and blood. His breathing was ragged, each breath a struggle as he forced himself to remain upright. The once vibrant Arlong Park had transformed into a frozen wasteland, the aftermath of the fierce battle with Admiral Aokiji. The ground was littered with shattered ice, remnants of Aokiji's powers, and patches of blood-stained snow.

Aokiji approached Goku, his demeanor calm and collected. "You're strong, kid. I'll give you that," he said, his voice carrying a hint of respect. "This world, however, has monsters lurking around. Be careful not to overestimate your abilities. If I actually wanted to kill you and your little crew now, there wouldn't be a damn thing you could do about it. But the Marines owe you for defeating Arlong, and I do owe your grandfather. For now, though, I have to clean up the mess left by Nezumi."

Goku, barely conscious, watched as Aokiji turned and walked away. His vision blurred, and he struggled to keep his eyes open. As Aokiji approached the crowd of villagers and pirates, he glanced back at Sanji and Zoro. "Get your captain. He's exhausted," he ordered. "We'll take care of Arlong and his crew. Everything else will be left for the villagers to do with as they please."

Sanji and Zoro exchanged a look before rushing over to Goku. Aokiji's words echoed in their minds as they saw the state of their friend. The Marines, meanwhile, rounded up Arlong and his crew, shackling them and preparing them for transport.

Aokiji addressed the villagers with an air of solemnity. "My apologies for the trouble," he said, his tone sincere. "We'll take Arlong and his crew. The rest is up to you." The villagers, still in shock from the recent events, nodded in acknowledgment.

Sanji and Zoro reached Goku, who was lying on the frozen ground, barely conscious. "I guess he left, huh?" Goku asked weakly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Yes, he did," Zoro confirmed. "He even apologized to the villagers."

"What about Nami and Usopp?" Goku asked, his concern evident despite his exhaustion.

"We found a doctor," Sanji replied. "He said we should be able to thaw them out safely."

"Good," Goku murmured, relief washing over him. With that, his mind went blank, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

---

Goku awoke in a small, warm room, a blanket draped over him. His body ached, and he felt the sting of numerous injuries. As he blinked his eyes open, he saw the worried faces of Sanji, Zoro, and a few villagers standing around him.

"You're awake," Zoro said, a hint of relief in his voice.

"Yeah," Goku replied, his voice hoarse. "How long was I out?"

"Just a few hours," Sanji answered. "We managed to get you here and patched up. The doctor is working on thawing out Nami and Usopp."

Goku nodded, his mind still processing the events of the battle. "Aokiji... he didn't kill us."

"No, he didn't," Zoro confirmed. "He left after taking Arlong and his crew. The villagers are handling the rest."

Goku let out a sigh of relief. "We got lucky."

Sanji crossed his arms, his expression serious. "Lucky or not, we need to get stronger. Aokiji showed us that there are enemies out there far beyond our current abilities."

"Agreed," Zoro said. "We can't rely on luck alone. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."

Goku nodded, determination filling his eyes. "We'll get stronger. We have to, for each other and for everyone we've promised to protect."

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the village, the doctor worked diligently to thaw out Nami and Usopp. The process was slow and meticulous, ensuring that they were brought back to normal temperature safely without causing any harm. Nojiko, Johnny, and Yosaku stood by, watching anxiously as the doctor applied his knowledge and skills.

"It's going to take time," the doctor explained. "But they'll be fine. Just need to be patient."

The villagers who had gathered to help also kept a watchful eye, their gratitude towards the Straw Hat Pirates evident in their actions. They had been under Arlong's tyranny for so long, and now, thanks to these pirates, they were free.

[A/N: Read 10 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]