The battle between Ace and Vice Admiral Dolo had not erupted without warning.
Just a few minutes earlier, Vice Admiral Dolo had arrived at the amusement park with an official Navy document and found Ace stuffing himself with food.
He had conveyed the World Government's invitation for him to become one of the Shichibukai.
To Dolo, it was an utterly absurd offer of amnesty, a stain upon the Navy's justice!
Ace's response made Vice Admiral Dolo even more furious.
"Shichibukai? Ahahahaha!"
Ace laughed so hard he nearly choked on the grilled meat in his mouth.
"What kind of joke is that? I'm someone who wants to live freely on the seas! Why would I become the World Government's watchdog?"
"No way, no way! Tell those old geezers that my goal is Whitebeard! I'm going to the New World to knock Whitebeard flat!"
Ace rejected the offer cleanly and showed complete disdain for the title of Shichibukai.
His refusal actually made Vice Admiral Dolo breathe a sigh of relief.
Vice Admiral Dolo had always despised pirates, believing every pirate should be wiped out. The Shichibukai system was an embarrassment born of the Navy's compromise.
After Ace refused, Vice Admiral Dolo tore up the Navy document and drew his saber.
"Heh, I was actually afraid you'd agree!"
At last, he could strike openly and eliminate this young pirate with tremendous potential!
And so, the battle began without warning.
Vice Admiral Dolo was no weakling. His Armament Haki was solid, and he possessed ample combat experience.
However, he had encountered a bug.
Ace, a Logia Flame-Flame Fruit user.
Ace did not know Haki, but he had developed his Devil Fruit ability to an exceptional degree.
His stamina also seemed inexhaustible, and his fighting style was broad and aggressive.
The Armament Haki Vice Admiral