Symphony of Flames and Blades

Heat waves rolled across the desert.

Lin Feng and Ace stood facing each other, the atmosphere between them taut with tension.

Bart silently retreated to the side, leaving the battlefield to the two brothers.

"Big Brother, I'm coming at you!"

Ace shouted and launched the first attack.

Flames roared over his entire body as he transformed into a streak of fire and charged straight at Lin Feng.

He moved so fast that the naked eye could barely follow him, leaving behind only afterimages.

The corners of Lin Feng's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of excitement.

He neither dodged nor evaded. His right hand gripped Demon God at his waist, and a fierce aura erupted in an instant.

The surrounding air seemed to tear apart under that aura, letting out a hissing sound.

"Flame Fist!"

Ace roared as his right fist, wrapped in scorching flames, smashed viciously toward Lin Feng.

Before his fist even arrived, waves of heat had already surged into Lin Feng's face, as if they intended to burn everything to ashes.

"One Sword Style: Iai Slash!"

Lin Feng's eyes sharpened, and Demon God instantly left its sheath.

A flash of cold light streaked past and collided with Ace's flaming fist.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion rang out as the flames and sword aura collided, unleashing a powerful shock wave.

The surrounding sand was sent flying, forming a sandstorm that blotted out the sky and sun.

Ace was forced back several steps, surprise appearing on his face.

He had not expected Lin Feng's swordsmanship to be so powerful that it could easily block his Flame Fist.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, stood exactly where he was, unmoving.

Demon God in his hand radiated a faint cold light that illuminated his stern features, giving him an unfathomable air.

"Big Brother, you really have gotten much stronger!"

Ace drew a deep breath and steadied himself, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

"But I'm not going to admit defeat just like this!"

"Sun Breathing!"

Ace shouted. The flames around his body grew even hotter, and their color changed from red to golden yellow.

The surrounding temperature rose sharply. Even the air began to distort, crackling loudly.

"Oh? Sun Breathing?"

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, revealing an interested expression.

"Looks like you haven't been slacking off lately, either."

Ace said nothing. Instead, he answered Lin Feng with action.

He pushed off the ground, his body once again transforming into a streak of fire as he charged toward Lin Feng, moving several times faster than before.

"Flame Roar!"

Ace clasped his hands together and spat out a massive pillar of fire.

It swept toward Lin Feng with tremendous momentum, as if it intended to burn everything to ashes.

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, and Demon God in his hand swung once more.

"One Sword Style: Dragon Slash!"

A massive sword aura cut through the air and collided with Ace's pillar of fire.

Another earth-shaking boom erupted, deafening everyone nearby.

Bart watched from the side, secretly marveling at Ace's strength.

At the same time, he felt even greater awe toward Lin Feng's power.

The captain's strength has undergone a tremendous transformation compared with when he fought me a few days ago! If I want to catch up with the captain, I'll have to work even harder.

Ace's pillar of fire and Lin Feng's sword aura remained locked in a stalemate. Their powers constantly collided, producing sizzling sounds.

Suddenly, Lin Feng's expression changed, and Demon God in his hand slashed out once more.

"One Sword Style: Dragon Slash: Flame!"

A flaming sword aura was unleashed and fused with the sword aura from before, multiplying its power.

In an instant, it severed Ace's pillar of fire and continued toward Ace.

"What?!"

Ace paled in shock. He had not expected Lin Feng to have another move like this.

He hurriedly dodged to the side, but the sword aura still grazed him, scorching a section of his clothes.

"Big Brother, that's cheating!"

Ace said somewhat sheepishly, though his face carried an excited smile.

"Hahahaha, all's fair in war."

Lin Feng laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the empty desert.

Ace took a deep breath. The flames around his body grew even hotter, faintly taking on a golden-red hue.

This was the result of infusing Sun Breathing into the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.

"Big Brother, how about this move?"

Ace raised both hands high. Above his head, a massive fireball slowly condensed.

The fireball grew larger and brighter, dazzling like the sun and radiating an aura of destruction.

This was Ace's ultimate move—"Entei"!

Feeling Entei's terrifying might, Lin Feng sensed a trace of pressure as well.

But he did not retreat. Instead, an excited smile appeared on his face.

"Now that's interesting! Armament Haki Coating!"

Lin Feng gave a low shout. Armament Haki instantly wrapped around the Demon Blade: God Slayer in his hand. The blade, originally pitch-black, gradually revealed an eerie purple radiance, flashing with a chilling glint under the sunlight.

The aura throughout his body condensed to its peak. The surrounding air seemed to solidify, and even the wind stopped flowing.

"Entei!"

Ace shouted. The enormous fireball came crashing down toward Lin Feng with the power to destroy everything.

Everything in its path was burned to ashes, leaving a deep charred mark on the ground.

Just as the fireball was about to strike Lin Feng, he suddenly drew his sword.

"One Sword Style: Dragon Slash!"

A scarlet sword aura shot into the sky like a flood dragon emerging from the sea. Carrying an unstoppable momentum, it instantly cleaved the enormous fireball in two.

Boom!

The fireball exploded, transforming into a rain of flames that scattered across the earth.

Ace stared at the fireball split in two, disbelief written across his face.

He had not expected his ultimate move to be broken so easily by Lin Feng.

Bart, who had been watching from the side, also secretly marveled at Ace's strength.

As expected of the captain's younger brother. His strength really is impressive. He's just lacking a little in physical techniques. Once he trains those up, he'll become a major figure in the future.

Lin Feng returned his long blade to its sheath, walked up to Ace, and patted him on the shoulder.

"I lost," Ace said, without any dejection on his face. Instead, he looked faintly excited.

"Big Brother, you're seriously strong!"

"You're not bad yourself. Your Entei is incredibly powerful."

Lin Feng spoke, gaining a new understanding of Ace's strength.

"Right, Ace, take this."

Lin Feng pulled a specially made Vivre Card from his robes and handed it to Ace.

"A Vivre Card?"

Ace accepted the card with its peculiar texture, rubbing his fingertip over its fine patterns. He looked up at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with questions.

Lin Feng returned Demon God to his waist and slipped both hands into his pockets before saying casually, "This is my Vivre Card, but it's specially made."

After a pause, he looked at Ace with a profound gaze. "I hope you can break free from fate."

Lin Feng's gaze made Ace feel a little uneasy. He had a feeling that Lin Feng's words concealed some secret he did not know about. Scratching his head, he pressed further, "Big Brother, what do you mean? What do you mean by fate?"

He held the Vivre Card up before his eyes and examined it carefully. He felt that the tiny card truly seemed to contain a powerful vitality, bringing him an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

"Nothing. I just hope you can stay safe."

Lin Feng reached out and patted Ace on the shoulder, an easy smile appearing on his face, as if the man with the profound gaze just now had not been him.

"All right, Ace. We should go."

After saying that, Lin Feng turned and walked into the distance.

"Big Brother, where are you going?"

Ace hurriedly called after him. He had a feeling that Lin Feng had come to Alabasta this time to do something important.

"To a place I ought to go."

Lin Feng did not look back. He simply raised his right hand above his head and waved it casually, his voice carrying from far away.

"Bart, let's go."

Lin Feng spoke to Bart behind him, his voice filled with resolve.

"All right."

Bart answered and followed behind Lin Feng.

The two gradually disappeared into the vast desert.

Ace watched Lin Feng's departing figure, his heart filled with confusion.

"Big Brother, where exactly are you going?"

Ace murmured to himself.

"And what did you mean by breaking free from fate?"

Ace lowered his head and stared at the Vivre Card in his hand, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

Lin Feng must have his own plans.

Big Brother, I believe in you!

Ace put away the Vivre Card, then turned and walked in another direction.

"Luffy, wait for me. I'll definitely find you!"

Ace's voice echoed in the wind.

The spar between the brothers had come to an end.

Lin Feng and Bart walked side by side toward Alubarna. Amid the endless yellow sand, their figures appeared somewhat lonely.

"Lin Feng, why did you give Ace the Vivre Card?"

Bart broke the silence. His voice was low and powerful, carrying a trace of confusion.

Lin Feng's footsteps paused slightly. He turned and looked at Bart's resolute face, the corners of his mouth lifting faintly as he asked, "Do you think Ace will die?"

"Die?" Bart froze, his brows furrowing tightly as he seemed to consider the question.

"Ace is the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. He's incredibly strong. How could he die so easily?"

"You don't understand."

Lin Feng shook his head, his gaze growing deep as if he had crossed through time and space and witnessed that heartbreaking future.

He drew a deep breath and slowly said, "Some things can't be avoided just by being strong."

"In any case, I can't let him die."

Lin Feng's voice remained calm, but it revealed an unquestionable resolve.

In his mind, those tragic scenes flashed again and again. Akainu's arm, transformed into magma, had mercilessly pierced through Ace's chest. Blood had poured forth, staining the earth of Marineford red.

Luffy's heart-wrenching cries and the old man's grief-stricken roar echoed across the world like the howls of wounded beasts, sending chills through anyone who heard them.

Lin Feng clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deeply into his palms, nearly drawing blood. His eyes were filled with determination, along with a trace of pain that was difficult to detect.