The snake's head suddenly snapped off at the neck and flew up!
Its jaws opened as it lunged for Ace's neck!
Kurazakura Paiko's presence had already vanished completely from Ace's Observation Haki.
Ace had let down his guard entirely.
And the snake's head was incredibly fast!
The snake's head bit Ace's head clean off!
Only a headless body remained standing there!
"Ace!!!" Luffy could not help crying out at the sight.
Garp, facing him, also turned to look toward Ace.
His face was full of worry.
"Ace!" Marco cried out as well.
For a moment, everyone's eyes fell on that headless body.
Lott shook his head slightly and muttered, "Do you people really not know what Observation Haki is for?"
Hiss, hiss, hiss~
An teeth-grating sound rang out.
Streams of golden liquid seeped through the gaps in the snake's mouth and flowed toward the headless body.
Gradually, they formed a golden head with Ace's features.
"That scared me to death!"
The golden head spoke.
"Haha, Ace, you're okay! That's great!"
Seeing Ace reappear completely unharmed, Luffy could not help patting his chest over his racing heart.
The other pirates also let out long sighs of relief at the sight.
Ace raised his hand toward the snake's body.
"Golden Hellfire!"
As his words fell, a jet of golden flame burst from his palm.
It landed directly on the snake's body.
In an instant, the entire snake turned to ash.
The intense heat even melted the stones on the ground and the walls into lava!
Only after dealing with all of this did he look up at Luffy and say, "Luffy, I haven't helped Pops become the Pirate King yet. How could I die?"
At those words, Luffy raised his fist high. "I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King!"