With the opportunity Bubu Wang had bought him, Jinbe charged forward in a few strides and drove a straight punch at Akainu—the Shark Brick Fist from Fish-Man Karate.
Akainu had no intention of dodging. His magma-transformed fist met it head-on.
With a rumble, the ground around them cracked. Magma erupted along Akainu's arm, forming a secondary impact force.
Jinbe's entire right arm went numb. His wooden sandals plowed across the ground as he slid backward. Only after steadying himself did he feel the scorching pain across his knuckles. If this had been at sea, he was confident he could fight Akainu—but this was land, where he couldn't bring out a fish-man's advantages.
The moment Jinbe steadied himself, a wave of heat appeared behind him. His prison life in Impel Down had left his body somewhat sluggish.
With a bang, Akainu's fist slammed into Jinbe's back. There was no visible injury there, yet Jinbe's chest began turning red, like a piece of iron in a forge.
Scalding magma erupted from Jinbe's chest. The burning sensation in his organs nearly knocked him unconscious.
After several rolls, Jinbe crashed to the ground with Luffy cradled in his arms.
"You've wasted several minutes of my time."
Akainu didn't even look at Jinbe again. Instead, he turned his gaze toward A' Mu, who was struggling to rise from the ground.
"Put me down. Dying for someone like me... isn't worth it."
Ace's weak voice reached A' Mu's ears. A' Mu smacked him with one large hand, making Ace grunt.
"A' Mu, no. Not for you."
Cold air spilled from A' Mu's mouth. As long as the order had come from Su Xiao, it would never stop before death.
"Sorry."
Ace regretted it deeply—regretted his recklessness in going alone to kill Blackbeard. He also hated his