Ace Erupts, Undercurrents on the Battlefield!
Deserted Island: Edge Battlefield
"Boom--!"
Flames roared, and the Scorched Earth cracked.
Ace was engulfed in flames, his eyes blazing like torches, and intense white flames surged from his feet, making him resemble a Flame King emerging from Purgatory!
He was covered in wounds, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his right arm trembling slightly, but he still stood proudly, his domineering Haki and flames surging wildly around him!
Opposite them, four core commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates — Blamenco, Rakuyo, Blenheim, Namur— surrounded them, their momentum fierce!
Blamenco roared and slammed his giant hammer down like a mountain collapsing, cracking the ground and sending shockwaves surging through it!
Ace clashed his fists together, gritting his teeth and roaring, "Flame Ring - Fire Pillar!!"
"Boom!!"
Flames shot skyward, and despite its immense weight, the giant hammer was forced to a halt by the intense heat. The flames clung to the hammer's body, turning it a deep red!
Blamenco's eyes narrowed. "This kid..."
"Call--!"
Rakuyo's Meteor Hammer came hurtling towards him with an incredibly fast spin!
The hammer's shadow spun like a top, hurtling towards Ace's throat!
Ace instantly lowered his body, compressing the flames into his palm!
"Bang--!"
The fist, accompanied by a burst of blazing white light, precisely pierced through the trajectory of the hammer strike!
The Meteor Hammer rebounded instantly, causing Rakuyo's hand to split open, bleeding profusely!
"Wow!! How did this kid suddenly unleash such a powerful burst of energy?!"
A murderous intent emanated from behind!
Blenheim moved closer like a ghost, his longsword flashing coldly, already locked onto Ace's back!
"Whoosh--!"
Ace unleashed a burst of flames, his figure vanishing abruptly, leaving only a distorted afterimage of fire!
"What?!" Blenheim's pupils contracted!
Flames converged in mid-air--
"Great Flame Commandment - Flame Emperor!!"
A massive, blazing white fireball crashed down!
"Boom--!"
Blenheim frantically parried with his sword, but was still thrown several meters away, landing and rolling, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth!
Just then, in the shattered region caused by the battle between Whitebeard and Roy, the sea suddenly shattered!
Namur roared and leaped out, his palms crossed, one of which smashed into Ace's abdomen!
"Fish-Man Karate - Ocean Current Collapse Fist!!"
Giant waves, accompanied by a waterspout, Impact forth with the force of a flash flood!
Ace roared and threw a punch!
"Flame Updraft!!"
"Sizzle--!"
The flames transformed into a scorching barrier, evaporating the Impact water waves into a vast expanse of white mist!
A wave of heat washed over him, Namur exclaimed in horror, "The seawater... it's evaporated?!"
At this moment, the expressions of the four captains all changed.
They finally realized: this boy was growing stronger rapidly!!
"He was clearly nearing his limit..."
"How can each punch be heavier than the last... and the flames be even hotter than before?!"
Ace's breathing was erratic and labored, and the Scorched Earth beneath his feet continued to melt.
But his gaze was more resolute than ever.
He recalled Roy's words, "Are you going to follow behind me, or—"
"Stand beside me?"
"I will not back down!!"
"I'm going to... catch up with them!!"
The next moment--
"Boom!!"
Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted!!
Dark lightning surged forth from Ace's body, flames and Haki mingling together, like the wrath of the sun!
The expressions of Blamenco and the other three changed drastically!
"This brat... he's actually Conqueror's Haki user?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"What the Navy is trying to do?! Where did all these monsters come from?! Are they trying to destroy the sky?!"
Ace took a step, the Scorched Earth exploded, and his figure was like a fiery meteor, rushing straight towards Blamenco!
"Fire Fist: Hundred-Blow Burst!!"
The Fire Fists attacked like a series of sudden strikes, so dense they were suffocating!
Blamenco hastily engaged in combat and was struck five times in a row, coughing up blood!
Seeing Rakuyo tried to help, but was blasted into the sand by a blazing elbow strike!
Blenheim swung his sword again, but was engulfed in flames and knocked away by Ace's close-range "Flame Kick"!
Namur managed to break free, he was struck squarely in the chest by a "Flame Pillar Piercer" and fell heavily to the ground!
"Huff... huff..."
Ace knelt on the ground, panting, his hands supporting him, smoke rising from his back.
But all four captains collapsed to the ground and couldn't get up!
He gritted his teeth and stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. The fire in his eyes burned even hotter than the fire of battle!
The Conqueror's Haki erupted once more, the flames turning from orange-red to incandescent white, the intense heat distorting the air!
"Again--!"
"Boom--!"
The aftershocks of the explosion had not yet dissipated in the distance. On the scorched earth, four mid-level captains of the Whitebeard Pirates lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies covered in scorch marks and their breathing disordered.
The Whitebeard's eyes caught that corner of his eye, and his pupils suddenly contracted!
"Rakuyo, Blenheim, Blamenco, Namur... were actually defeated by a brat?!"
He was shocked. He never imagined that a newcomer could overcome the odds and even defeat several captains who were surrounded by them!
Roy glanced at the burning figure out of the corner of his eye, a slow smile spreading across his lips, his eyes revealing an barely suppressed pride and satisfaction.
"Well done, Ace."
"This battle has far exceeded my expectations..."
"The four captains' attack was the ultimate test they could give you... Instead of retreating, you broke the deadlock."
"It seems you already possess—"
"The right to stand beside me."
Just then!
On the edge of the Battlefield, Kingdew, Atmos, and Spido Gil witnessed their comrades' defeat and could no longer contain themselves!
Kingdew roared, his muscles bulged, and his iron arms were enveloped in Armament Haki!
"We can't wait any longer!!"
"Attack together!!"
"Water Buffalo" Atmos roared in response, gripping his greatsword with both hands and unleashing a thunderous cross-slash!
With Spido Gil's shield in front and the Knight's Lance charging up, the three of them unleashed their power simultaneously, charging towards Ace!
"Bang--!"
The sonic boom unleashed a triple wave of energy, carrying an overwhelming momentum like a mountain crashing down!
Despite being surrounded by three captains, Ace grinned.
"Finally couldn't hold back anymore?"
"Then let's go!"
Conqueror's Haki erupted once more, flames covering his entire body like armor!
He suddenly spread his arms wide!
"Great Flame Commandment - Ring Burst!!"
"Boom!!"
A ring of blazing white flames exploded out from him!
The three captains were caught off guard and were slightly staggered by the Impact of the flames!
The scorching air seemed to pierce through the entire space. For a moment, they even doubted that the "Fire Fist" in front of them was no longer "fire" but "sun"!
Ace did not press his advantage, but instead used the recoil from the explosion to leap backward!
Flames erupted from beneath his feet as he streaked through the air like a shooting star!
Silently recite in your heart--
"It's time."
"Roy's words..."
On the other side of the Battlefield, Thatch was helping the heavily wounded Teach retreat when he suddenly felt a wave of heat coming from behind him!
"Um?!"
He turned around abruptly and saw Ace's fiery figure crashing down like a meteor!
"Fire Fist!!"
"Bang--!"
Thatch hastily raised his knife to parry, but was knocked back several steps by the force of the Impact!
Teach slumped to the ground, a flicker of panic in his eyes—
"This brat... is he coming for me?!"
"Damn it!!" Thatch gritted his teeth and stomped the ground. "Teach is my brother!!"
"I want to mess with him--"
"Get past me first!!"
He roared and stood in front of Teach, raising his twin swords, ready to fight to the death!
(PS: This is the fifth update of the day. Updates will gradually return to normal. Thank you for your continued support, dear readers! Free gifts are the best encouragement for the author!)