Fate Was Sealed Long Ago (Continued)

Just then, the man standing at the bow of the warship slowly raised his head.

A faint smile touched his sharply defined face, and his bright eyes met Ace's.

"Long time no see!"

"Ace!"

The voice carried a sigh. Ace's pupils contracted as he hung in midair, shock and disbelief flashing through his eyes.

That face suddenly merged with a blurred memory, becoming someone he had not seen in years.

How is this possible?!

The enormous Fire Fist plunged toward Xia Le. In the blink of an eye, it was above his head, blotting out a swath of sky and turning the sea crimson.

Crocodile watched impassively. Smoker's right hand twitched, but when he saw the woman beside him who looked so much like Tashigi, he settled down again.

Buggy grinned, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. "So it's Ace!"

For a moment, he was back nearly twenty years ago, looking at a child not yet two.

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly shot upward, and everyone looked up.

Kuina's long blade was already out of its sheath. Her black hair whipped freely, and her eyes shone with a fierce light.

Then she swung her blade down at the enormous fist of flame.

Hum!

The air shuddered. The crimson flames split cleanly in two and swept past either side of the warship, leaving clouds of white steam.

Ace hovered in the air, his gaze locked on her.

Kuina landed steadily and sheathed her blade. She fixed the man in the cowboy hat with a cool, calm stare.

Not far away, Tashigi's eyes widened behind her black-rimmed glasses. She gazed at Kuina in open admiration.

What a powerful swordswoman!!

And more than that, she looked impossibly cool!

"Do you remember me?"

"Ace!"

Xia Le's voice was low.

Ace descended too, landing on