Divine Fire's Blessing, Severing the Shackles

"Good grief, this fat pig is roasted until it's dripping grease."

Buggy leaned in to take a look, unable to help but click his tongue in wonder, "Though the heat was a bit too high; it looks unappetizing."

"Captain, the small fry on the perimeter have been cleared out."

Sabo walked up to Ace, glanced at the surrounding destruction that looked as if it had been scoured by a meteor, and adjusted the top hat on his head.

Ace nodded and turned around. There wasn't a single speck of blood on him, and even his breathing was as steady as usual, as if the act of taking down a powerhouse of the Paradise had truly been nothing more than a trivial warm-up.

He paid no more mind to Truv in the pit, instead looking toward a spot not far away.

There, the red-haired female chef Leona was leaning powerlessly against the feet of the severely wounded Ancient Kong.

This tribal guardian, which had lived for hundreds of years, was riddled with barbed heavy harpoons. The high-concentration poison gas bombs launched by Truv's subordinates had already seeped into its blood through its torn wounds. Its massive body heaved with labored breaths, and every inhalation was accompanied by the coughing up of large mouthfuls of black blood.

The surviving natives nearby knelt on the ground, watching their guardian's life force continuously drain away, emitting sounds of desperate and sorrowful weeping.

Leona bit her lower lip hard, bracing her hands against the ground as she tried to stand up to pull the harpoons out for the Kong. But she had just taken a direct Armament Haki headbutt from Truv, and the bones in her arms had suffered severe fractures; the moment she exerted force, she collapsed back into the dirt, powerless.

"It's over. But the price was steep."

Ace strode through the ruins and walked up to Leona and the Ancient Kong.

The Ancient Kong's massive eyes, which were gradually losing focus, looked warily at this dangerous-smelling human, a weak growl rumbling in its throat as it tried to shield Leona behind its giant palm.

"Big monkey, don't be nervous."

Ace looked up, meeting the Ancient Kong's gaze, his tone indifferent, "If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be lying in that pit just like that wild boar."

Leona looked up, watching Ace standing in the sunlight, her expression complex.

"Thank you, Ace. The trouble on this island is resolved."

She struggled to pull at the corners of her mouth, revealing a bitter smile, "Unfortunately, this poison has already invaded the Mountain God's internal organs. It seems I won't have the chance to board your ship and cook that barbecue for you."

"The chef I've set my sights on is someone I'm definitely taking with me."

Ace interrupted her.

He slowly crouched down and extended his right hand.

A cluster of crimson-gold flames ignited quietly in Ace's palm.

There was no scorching heat, nor the explosive sensation of burning everything to ash. The moment this divine crimson-gold fire appeared, the poison gas and the stench of blood permeating the surrounding air seemed to encounter a natural predator and were rapidly dispersed. A vast, ancient, and warm life force brushed across this devastated basin.

Carina and Buggy stood in the back, feeling this strange warm current, and couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"What kind of fire is that?"

Leona was stunned.

Ace didn't explain. He pressed his palm, burning with the crimson-gold divine fire, directly onto Leona's blood-soaked, bone-fractured arms.

"Sss—"

The divine fire spread instantly, enveloping Leona's entire upper body.

Leona instinctively closed her eyes, expecting the searing pain of being consumed by flames. But the next second, she snapped her eyes open.

No pain.

That crimson-gold flame seemed to possess life, seeping into her skin and flesh. She could clearly feel her fractured bones knitting together at a speed that defied logic, and the torn muscle fibers being rewoven under the nourishment of the divine fire, becoming even tougher than before.

In less than ten seconds.

When Ace withdrew his hand, the wounds on Leona's arms had completely vanished, leaving not even a scar. If not for the blood still staining her clothes, she would have suspected that the severe injury from moments ago was merely a hallucination.

"How is this possible?"

Leona clenched her fists in disbelief, feeling the power surging within her, more abundant than before.

"Don't just sit there."

Ace stood up, his gaze shifting to the dying Ancient Kong and the poisoned, injured natives nearby.

"Since I've seen what she is guarding, I won't let the Grim Reaper take it away so easily."

Ace spread his arms.

Accompanied by the cry of a divine bird piercing the clouds, two massive crimson-gold wings unfurled from his back with a boom.

"Vermilion Bird: Nirvana."

Ace let out a low shout, and the crimson-gold wings behind him flapped violently.

A rain of crimson-gold fire fell from the sky like meteors, landing precisely on the Ancient Kong's massive body, and on every native in the basin who still had a breath of life.

A miracle descended in this moment.

The instant the divine fire touched them, the lethal toxins within the Ancient Kong were purged and expelled by the overbearing high temperature. Those deep, bone-exposing wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the heavy harpoons embedded in its flesh were pushed out bit by bit by the newly regenerated muscle, clattering to the ground.

The tribesmen who had fallen in pools of blood, not yet dead, opened their eyes one by one. They touched their fully restored bodies and stared blankly at the black-haired man with the unfolded fire wings, their eyes filled with disbelief.

ROAR!

The Ancient Kong stood up abruptly, beating its broad chest and letting out a roar that was full of vigor and echoed throughout the entire Primordial Island.

Not only were its injuries healed, but under the baptism of the divine fire, its fur became even glossier, and a hidden power surged within its muscles.

The Ancient Kong lowered its massive head, gazing down at Portgas D. Ace standing upon the earth.

This psychic behemoth, having lived for hundreds of years, actually dropped to one knee, pressed its gargantuan fist against its chest, and bowed its proud head to this human, expressing the most solemn of respects.

All the indigenous people also knelt and prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping with joy.

The wings behind Portgas D. Ace slowly retracted, returning him to his calm state.

An elderly tribal Great Elder walked over, supported by his clansmen.

He first bowed deeply to Portgas D. Ace, then turned to look at Leona, who stood to the side, still unable to recover from the shock.

"Leona."

The Great Elder's voice trembled, his eyes brimming with tears, "You have suffered all these years. To protect us and the Mountain God, you locked away the best years of your life in this forest."

"Elder, I..."

Leona opened her mouth.

"That baron who plagued this island has been defeated, and our benefactor has granted us a new beginning."

The Great Elder smiled, looking at her with kind eyes, "This island is safe now, and the Mountain God has regained its strength. You no longer need to treat the tribe as your shackles."

The Great Elder pointed toward Portgas D. Ace, who stood not far away.

"Go, child."

"Go and pursue the sea you have always longed for. That man is a captain worth following."

The Ancient Kong also extended a massive finger, gently nudging Leona's back, and let out a soft, low rumble, as if bidding her farewell.

Leona looked at the tribe where she had grown up, at her healthy clansmen and the Mountain God.

Finally, her gaze settled on the black-haired man not far away who was watching her.

This man had crushed the enemy that threatened her in the most direct way, and with flames that were nearly miraculous, he had severed the shackles that had trapped her dreams.

Leona took a deep breath.

She suddenly drew the Black Steel Bone-Cleaving Blade and the Silver Bone-Trimming Blade from her waist, walked up to Portgas D. Ace, and without a moment's hesitation, knelt heavily on one knee.

The two famous blades, which had been stained with the blood of countless beasts, were crossed and solemnly pressed into the soil at her feet.

"I, Leona, have only ever worshipped two things in my life."

"The ultimate ingredients, and the power sufficient to conquer those ingredients."

Leona looked up, her wild, slit-pupiled eyes still holding traces of shock, yet devoid of any retreat.

"Portgas D. Ace."

"From today on, my blades, my culinary arts, and this life of mine are all staked on the Eclipse."

Portgas D. Ace looked at her and chuckled.

He reached out a broad palm and pulled Leona up from the ground.

"I don't need your life."

Portgas D. Ace turned around, looking at the scarred yet reborn basin, his voice echoing through the forest.

"I only need you to cook the most top-tier, full-course feast on this sea for the Eclipse Pirates."

"Buggy! Sabo! Carina! And all of you."

"Notify everyone in the tribe."

"Tonight, we feast!"