The battle had entered its most intense phase.
The black-purple marks on Ace's body began to spread.
Starting from the scar on his chest, they spread outward like a spiderweb.
Strange Void Patterns writhed beneath his skin.
Purple-black veins appeared across his neck, arms, and cheeks.
"Ace! Your body..." Lin Ye stared at the changes in his friend in shock.
Ace lowered his head and looked at his hands.
The backs of his hands were covered in black-purple patterns that squirmed like living things.
"Looks like there is less time than expected." He gave a bitter smile.
"The erosion of Void Energy is accelerating."
The moment he finished speaking, a trace of confusion flashed through Ace's eyes.
It was as if something was fighting for control of his consciousness.
"Slaughter... destroy everything..." he muttered.
"No!" Ace shook his head hard and regained his clarity.
"I am Ace, not a slave of the Void!"
But that moment of rational clarity only lasted a few seconds.
Soon, his expression became vacant again.
Lin Ye keenly noticed something was wrong with his friend.
"Ace, hold on!" he shouted.
"You are Ace, Luffy's brother, my best friend!"
"Don't let Void Energy control you!"
Hearing Lin Ye's voice, awareness returned to Ace's eyes.
"Lin Ye... thank you." He gritted his teeth.
"But I can feel it. The Void Consciousness is eroding my mind."
"There isn't much time. We have to end this quickly."
Seeing Ace's condition, Azazel revealed a smug smile.
"Do you see? The power of the Void is not so easily controlled."
"Very soon, you will completely lose yourself."
"And become a loyal servant of the Void Emperor."
"Shut up!" Ace roared as he unleashed Void Karmic Fire.
The black-purple flames were more violent than before.
But they were also more unstable.
The