Flame-Flame Fruit vs. Magma-Magma Fruit

"Flame-Flame Fruit (boosted by Wax-Wax Fruit and Venom-Venom Fruit) loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."

Crimson flames erupted from Jiang Lin's body. With the Wax-Wax Fruit's help, the fire already blazing around him rolled outward like an endless wildfire.

His flames were unlike ordinary fire. A thin layer of pale purple mist wrapped around them, corroding anything it touched with a harsh hiss.

"Poison gas?"

Akainu frowned at the pain spreading through his arm after he thrust it into the mist.

"Fire Fist!"

An enormous fist of flame formed around Jiang Lin's right hand. Without hesitation, he punched the oncoming arm of magma.

Boom!

The crash and the roar of burning air rang out beyond the Bay.

Two masses of red fire met in midair, blazing like an artificial sun and pouring light and heat in every direction.

The pirates under the Whitebeard Pirates scattered in terror. Even some of their captains struggled to stay on their feet in the searing heat.

Squard glanced up at Jiang Lin, then turned and charged into the Bay. Fury filled his face. Something had clearly happened during his encounter with Akainu.

"Brat! Can you really afford to waste time here? Haven't you heard the execution's been moved up?"

Akainu clearly had no wish to get entangled with Jiang Lin. He had achieved his goal and had more important things to do.

"Heh. Akainu, your scheme will come to nothing!"

Jiang Lin landed from midair, wreathed in fire. He had already warned Whitebeard. If Squard approached him, Whitebeard would be on his guard.

Akainu's plan to use Squard would fail.

"Will it? Brat, your powers are impressive, but that doesn't give you the right to act so cocky in front of me!"

Magma began to boil across Akainu's body. At the same time, a large number of Marine warships sailed into the Bay.

"Attack! Everyone, attack D!"

The Marine fleet spotted Jiang Lin on the shore and swung its cannons toward him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A barrage of black cannonballs shot from the barrels and hurtled straight at Jiang Lin.

As the cannonballs approached, scorching magma churned before him. Akainu turned his right hand to molten rock and struck at Jiang Lin.

"Dog Biting Crimson Lotus!"

A ferocious hound of lava lunged at Jiang Lin, its huge jaws wide open.

Attacked from two directions at once, Jiang Lin was trapped. Whichever attack he dealt with first, the other would hit him.

"Now this is interesting, Akainu! Let's fight!"

Battle lust surged from Jiang Lin. Scorching flames shot from his body into the sky, and the heat seemed to drain the air from all around him. The sight left everyone breathless with fear.

"Fire Fist!"

A massive fist of flame shot from Jiang Lin's hand toward Akainu. The two huge attacks collided in midair, mingled, then exploded.

Boom!

Explosions thundered beyond the Bay. At the heart of the battlefield, members of the Whitebeard Pirates flinched at the violent tremors.

"Pops, I heard the Marines received word to execute Ace ahead of schedule!"

Blue flames burning across his body, Marco rushed to Whitebeard's side and dropped to one knee to report.

"Yeah, I heard. What about Squard and the others? Are they all right?"

Concern edged Whitebeard's voice. The explosions had come from beyond the Bay, where Squard and the others were.

"They're locked in a hard fight with a Vice Admiral at the mouth of the Bay. Jiang Lin is fighting Admiral Akainu there too. Their clash caused those explosions. I'm going to fly over and help them."

Marco rose and relayed the rest of the battlefield reports to Whitebeard.

"No. Wait. Throwing us into confusion with leaked information is part of his plan. That man wouldn't make a mistake like letting us overhear his battle communications."

Whitebeard smiled as he looked toward Sengoku in the distance. Since Jiang Lin had left the battlefield, Sengoku had kept his eyes on Whitebeard. Their gazes met, as though a silent battle were unfolding between them.

"Charge!"

The Whitebeard Pirates fought harder than ever. They had reached Little Oars Jr.'s body, with the Square just one step away.

Whoosh!

Just as the pirates prepared to cross over Little Oars Jr.'s body and surge into the Square, a dazzling yellow light streaked in from afar. It struck the ice before them, unleashing a violent gust.

"Light-Speed Kick?"

Amid startled cries, Kizaru appeared in the smoke and blocked the pirates' path.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves. You didn't think I'd let you through that easily, did you?"

Kizaru gave a faint smirk and calmly regarded the pirates before him.

"It's Admiral Kizaru!"

The pirates' faces changed. No one there was a match for an Admiral. As long as he guarded Little Oars Jr.'s body, none of them could get through.

While they stood at a loss, a figure came rushing in from afar.

"You're the one from the Sabaody Archipelago..."

Luffy stared at Kizaru as he ran, his eyes burning with resentment.

If Kizaru hadn't suddenly stopped them at the Sabaody Archipelago, Bartholomew Kuma would never have sent the Straw Hat Pirates flying.

"If I don't catch you, the Celestial Dragons will all come bother me." Yellow light blazed from Kizaru's right foot. He looked down at Luffy as if ready to finish him off. "Straw Hat Luffy!"

"He's... he's going to get himself killed!"

The prisoners traveling with Luffy stared in horror as he charged straight toward Kizaru and the blazing light.

"Death Wink!"

Just as the light flared and struck toward Luffy, Ivankov blinked hard, blasting him out of Kizaru's attack range.

Whoosh... Boom!

Moments after Ivankov saved Luffy, a dazzling beam shot in from afar, heading straight for him.

"Bartholomew Kuma!"

Ivankov turned toward the source of the attack. Not far away, Bartholomew Kuma and the other Shichibukai were advancing with a crowd of Marine Soldiers, coming straight at them with murderous intent.