"Your flames are indeed powerful," one of the Five Elders said calmly, "but they are still far from enough."
With that, he suddenly exerted force, releasing an immense Void Energy Fluctuation from his right arm. Like an invisible wall, it surged toward Ace. Ace's flames were instantly compressed, and he himself was knocked back several meters, crashing into a Mu Jin pillar.
"Ace!" Luffy shouted anxiously, trying to rush forward.
"Focus on completing the connection!" Lin Ye barked. "Ace is buying time for you!"
Luffy clenched his teeth and continued focusing on connecting with the Anchor Stone. Purple Patterns flowed across his arm, resonating with the crystal. Gradually, the Anchor Stone shone brighter and brighter, emitting a faint hum.
Ace struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his gaze remained resolute. He took a deep breath, and the flames within him ignited once more—hotter and more concentrated than before.
"You're right. My flames aren't powerful enough yet." Ace smiled and spread his arms. "Then I'll give it everything I have and unleash all my flames!"
In an instant, Ace's body turned into pure fire, forming an enormous fireball that illuminated the entire temple. The temperature surged sharply. Mu Jin pillars began to melt, and the ground turned scorching hot.
For the first time, one of the Five Elders showed surprise. He immediately released stronger Void Energy Fluctuations to defend himself. The two forces collided again, and this time, the entire temple began shaking violently as huge chunks of the ceiling collapsed.
At that critical moment, Luffy finally completed his connection with the Anchor Stone. The crystal emitted a dazzling seven-colored radiance, forming a protective shield around Luffy, Lin Ye's projection, and the companions nearby.
"We have to leave now!" Lin Ye said urgently. "The