The Straw Hat Pirates Sure Came in Handy

The marines' readiness to die and Ace's resolve cast a strange mood over G-10. Ace looked toward Luffy, who lay motionless on the ground, his fate unknown. He struggled to keep himself from losing control again and took a deep breath.

"I'm beyond saving, Sabo. I can feel it."

"I'm leaving Luffy in your hands... You've skipped out for so many years. It's time you paid for it, don't you think?"

Ace managed a bleak joke.

"Looking after that idiot won't be easy."

"Why can't it be me?"

Sabo didn't burst into tears like a child. He only stared back with frighteningly red eyes and demanded in a hoarse voice:

"Weren't you going to make Whitebeard the Pirate King?"

"What happened to your dream?!"

"Pops never cared about that in the first place!"

"You're the one who has a reason you have to live."

Ace smiled and shook his head. After all their time together, how could he not know what Whitebeard truly wanted?

He had kept saying it because he wanted to do his part to protect the Whitebeard Pirates—the place he had come to call home.

Pops, please forgive me for being selfish.

Ace kept the thought to himself.

They're my little brothers!!

With that, Ace turned around. Flames surged across his body as if he might launch himself forward at any moment.

"Blue Dragon! If I stay as your prisoner, will that be enough?"

Ron nodded.

"Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander? Yes, that's enough."

To say otherwise would make a mockery of his own standing. Unless he could trounce Whitebeard, dismissing Ace would just be the bitter barking of a loser.

Ron wasn't that foolish.

"Then..."

Ace clenched his fists, held back the urge to run wild, and turned to Sabo. "Take Luffy and get out of