The Battle of Amigasa Village
Just as Jack's massive hoof was about to crush Tama--
"Fire Fist!!"
The roar was like a thunderclap!
Amidst roaring flames, a gigantic, blazing white fist of fire, like a meteor streaking across the sky, slammed into Jack's face with overwhelming force!
"Boom--!"
Flames soared into the sky, and waves of heat swept across the land, like raging waves crashing against the earth!
Dust and rubble were blown away, and the village entrance seemed to have been rebuilt by flames.
Jack's massive, towering body was blasted back dozens of steps, the ground beneath his feet cracked, his face was charred, his fangs were broken, and thick smoke continued to rise from his body!
"Lord Jack!!"
The Beasts Pirates' underlings were terrified, screaming and scattering in all directions, their faces ashen, as if they had seen a demon.
Amidst the chaos, Tama opened her eyes, trembling.
In her line of sight, the tall, fiery figure stood firmly in front of her, like an unshakeable barrier.
Ace slowly turned around, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes held only tenderness and determination. "It's alright, Tama."
His voice was steady, like the most reassuring light in a blazing fire.
"Big Brother is here!"
Tama's tears instantly burst forth, streaming down her face, and she choked out the name she longed for most in her heart:
"Brother Ace!!"
This cry seemed to release all the pain and longing that had been suppressed for two years.
Jack shook his head, letting out a low growl, his eyes bloodshot.
He recognized the man, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly followed with a savage grin, his fangs bared. "Fire Fist Ace... you damned Marines!! How dare you trespass into Wano Country!!"
Although Jack was always reckless, he wasn't so clueless about the situation that he immediately pulled out a signal flare from his waist and blasted it into the sky!
"Whoosh--Bang!!"
A crimson beam of light tore through the night sky, exploding above the pitch-black Amigasa Village, illuminating the villagers' pale faces.
That splash of red seemed to herald impending disaster.
Jack threw his head back and laughed wildly, a deafening, cruel, and insane laugh, "Haha!! You're dead!!"
"Jhin and Queen will be here soon! Once they arrive, you won't even be left with ashes!!"
His words instantly boosted the morale of the remaining Beasts Pirates, who grinned maliciously and advanced towards the villagers with their swords raised.
Ace did not back down. He slowly raised his hand, and flames gradually gathered in his palm. The raging flames surged like a storm that devoured the heavens and the earth!
"Roy once said... no matter who the enemy is, as long as they stand in front of you—"
"Boom!!"
A sudden burst of flames erupted, and a sea of fire instantly engulfed the entire Beasts Pirates' battle line!
Hordes of henchmen were engulfed by flames, their screams tearing through the night sky!
Ace emerged step by step from the sea of flames, his eyes burning with crimson light, his voice roaring like fire, "I will burn them to ashes as I have!!"
Ace roared and charged at Jack, his arms erupting in flames, the blazing heat gathering in his palms like two setting suns!
"Flame Emperor - Yangyan Collapse!!"
"Boom--!"
A raging torrent of flames shot into the sky, engulfing heaven and earth! The firelight illuminated the night sky, and the entire village entrance seemed to instantly transform into a blazing white Purgatory!
Jack, mountain-like body took the hit head-on, and the flames completely engulfed him!
A deep, furious roar, like that of a Beast, echoed from the sea of fire, chilling the villagers to the bone.
"Roar--!"
The next instant, flames exploded violently!
A ferocious beast's hoof suddenly stomped out from the flames, and the earth instantly cracked!
Jack burst through the flames, his body charred and his flesh torn, but his muscles, as strong as a fortress, remained bulging, veins popping, and his eyes bloodshot!
"Fire Fist Ace!!"
"Don't think I've wasted these past two years, I'm going to tear you to shreds!!"
With a deafening roar, he suddenly transformed into Mammoth Human-Beast Form, his tusks gleaming coldly, like a living, breathing Battlefield behemoth, roaring and rampaging!
"Looks like you weren't beaten enough last time, huh?!"
Ace stomped his feet hard, and flames spun beneath his feet, instantly coalescing into blazing Fire Pillar that intertwined and swirled, rising up like an iron cage of Purgatory!
"Flame Updraft!!"
In an instant, the Fiery Cage descended like a fiery inferno, engulfing Jack and the remnants of the Beasts Pirates!
Countless Pirate minions screamed and struggled amidst the terrifying flames!
"Ahhh--!"
"This fire won't go out!! Help!!"
They frantically pounded the ground and even plunged into the mud, but the flames, like maggots clinging to bones, burned them to ashes in an instant!
"You bastard! Open it!!"
Jack roared in fury, his arms sweeping like Giant Axes, his overwhelming beastly strength tearing cracks in the fiery cage!
"Click--!"
Flames scattered, heat waves Sky Splitter, as if even the sky itself was being ripped apart!
However, the flames regrouped amidst Jack's roar, as if they were alive, sealing the crack once more and trapping Jack inside!
The flames roared, burning like a furious rage.
Ace raised his hands high, flames surging from his arms, the crimson light making him appear like God of War of fire.
"Don't even think about hurting anyone again!!"
Behind her, Tama staggered to her feet, tears streaming down her face. She tried to rush over but was held tightly by the villagers.
"Tama, no!! Don't come any closer!!"
Tama struggled desperately, clutching her chest, her cries trembling yet stubborn. "Brother Ace... you must win!!"
The villagers stared in terror at the blazing cage, but as Tama cried out, their eyes gradually shifted from panic to fervor.
For the first time, they felt that the darkness that had oppressed them for years might actually be torn apart by flames!
--At the village entrance, flames and the roars of Beasts shook the heavens and earth!
Ace's fiery cage contracted rapidly, the scorching sound like the drums of hell!
Jack roared and rampaged through it, his fangs sweeping across, tearing the flames apart only to have them reborn!
A clash of flames and brute force, and the remnants of the Beasts Pirates howled and screamed in agony!
Meanwhile -- Wano Country, Flower Capital
As night fell, the streets were filled with the sounds of music and revelry, and the brothels remained as decadent and extravagant as ever.
Zoro and Kuina, cloaked and blending into the crowd, quietly made their way into the city's dark alleyways.
Suddenly, in the distance of the night sky, a scarlet signal flare burst into bloom, accompanied by faint flashes of light and a deafening roar.
"That's... a signal flare?" Kuina's eyes narrowed.
Zoro looked up, a sake flask in his hand, but his gaze was colder than the sake. "Hmm... it must have been Ace who made the move."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and although they were worried, they nodded in understanding.
Kuina whispered, "We have a mission. We need to find Kozuki Hiyori first."
Zoro tightened his bandana, his smile turning cold, "Don't worry, that guy can't possibly lose."
The two of them vanished into the night of the Flower Capital in Flash.
--
Onigashima
Amidst the clamor and revelry of food and drink, Jhin and Queen were discussing the distribution of power within the new alliance.
Suddenly, a crimson light burst forth in the night sky over the open sea, piercing through the clouds and shining directly into their eyes.
Queen was taken aback for a moment, then roared with laughter, "Damn it! That idiot Jack! He can make such a fuss over collecting protection money from Wano Country?! Haha--"
Jin's gaze, however, was as cold and sharp as a blade. He stared at the burning night sky and murmured in a low voice, "Something's not right."
"Jack may be a reckless man, but he would never fire a signal flare indiscriminately."
Queen waved his hand dismissively. "Tch, don't make a fuss. Who cares about him? I'm going to integrate those newly recruited Pirates first!"
Jin stood up, his jet-black wings unfurling, flames burning behind him, his eyes icy. "You stay and handle this; I want to go see for myself."
Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into Pteranodon, flapping his fiery wings and soaring straight into the sky!