Bang bang bang...
The bombardment and thick black smoke obscured the three people, making it impossible to see their exact situation.
"Don't hold back, keep firing. Fire Fist, even with Seastone Handcuffs, is just a mortal being..."
Although the men had already been hit by the shelling, the lieutenant Vice Admiral in charge still refused to give the order to his men to continue firing at that spot.
"Yes!!"
Bang...
Bang...
Bang...
Dozens of powerful iron cannons continued to bombard the area, creating violent explosions in mid-air and sending debris and shrapnel raining down. Only then did they finally feel somewhat relieved.
"Phew... it finally worked. Even they probably couldn't have completely escaped such an attack..."
The gunner shouted to his comrades beside him.
"Don't let your guard down. Nothing is clear until we see Straw Hat and Fire Fist's bodies..."
As a Vice Admiral, he knew exactly how dangerous it was for those infamous figures on the high seas to survive. So, unlike the others, he didn't relax. His expression remained very serious, and his gaze cautiously swept around, wary that Luffy and Ace might still have a chance to live.
"Impossible, Vice Admiral. Even if such a huge firework didn't kill them, the smoke alone would be enough to suffocate them..."
Upon hearing the Vice Admiral's reminder, the marines gave an awkward smile, then disbelief was written all over their faces as they spoke.
"Idiots, do you think they're just ordinary pirates? Search them thoroughly and find them!"
boom...
However, before the lieutenant Vice Admiral could finish speaking, a path was suddenly blasted open by flames amidst the thick smoke.
"You rascal, I've told you to listen to me all along, but you never do. You always ignore me and just do whatever you want..."
The people they had been worried about and were wary of, Ace and Luffy, appeared before them. Ace grabbed Luffy and threw him to the ground, along with Mr. 3 who had just unlocked the lock for them.
" Ace..."
Seeing that Ace had been rescued safely by Luffy, all the pirates under Whitebeard's command were greatly encouraged and shouted excitedly.
Bang...
Ace threw the two of them from the air. Luffy managed to land safely, but Mr. 3 was unprepared and landed headfirst, getting big bumps all over his body before lying down in a very unseemly manner.
call...
Ace, still engulfed in flames, landed safely beside Luffy and turned to ask him a question.
"Do you still have the stamina to continue fighting, Luffy?"
"Um..."
Luffy demonstrated this to him through his actions, pumping his blood once again and activating Gear Second to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ace.
"Damn it, Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy, are those two really alright? Quickly surround them and capture them..."
"Yes..."
"Also, Fire Fist Ace is Logia, so make sure you have your Seastone weapons and don't let any of them get away..."
Let them know how serious the consequences of provoking the navy can be...
"Yes!!"
The navy had already surrounded the two as soon as they joined forces and assumed a fighting stance, raising their Seastone weapons at them.
"I never imagined I'd be rescued by you one day, thank you Luffy!!"
Ace completely ignored the threatening marines in front of him and instead thanked Luffy.
"Hehehehe... This is all thanks to Uncle Whitebeard and the others..."
After rescuing Ace, Luffy completely relaxed and replied to Ace's thanks with a grin.
Click click...
"Don't move! Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy... You're surrounded! Surrender now!!"
The leading officer shouted at the two men.
"Let's deal with them first!!"
"Um!!"
The two men spoke and responded as if they didn't take them seriously at all, which angered the navy officers who were surrounding them, and they ordered an immediate attack.
Bang bang bang...
"Don't think you'll be saved this way. This will be your Execution Platform. Die..."
After the navy finished speaking, they opened fire on the two men, but they did not expect that the bullets would have no effect on them.
Faced with a barrage of bullets, Ace used his elemental powers to make them pass through his body, creating numerous bullet holes. The flames then quickly healed, and he appeared unharmed before the Navy.
Luffy, on the other hand, used the elasticity of rubber to deflect all the incoming bullets, sending them flying into the midst of the Marines.
"Pfft... Bullets are useless against those two, then let's use knives! Swordsmen, prepare to charge!!"
Ta-da-ta-da...
Swoosh...
"Huh..."
A flash of light swept across Luffy's head, and he immediately sensed the danger, crouching down and letting the back of the blade glide across his head, severing a few strands of hair.
Swoosh...
The first attack failed, but the next strike came straight at Luffy's neck.
" Luffy, crouch down!!"
Swoosh...
In the nick of time, Ace nimbly leaped above Luffy's head and pressed him back down as he was about to get up.
Two blades sliced his arm into three pieces, but this posed no danger to Ace, a Logia user. Bright orange flames erupted from his arm again, quickly repairing the broken parts.
"He's my brother! Could you please leave him alone...?"
Ace smiled calmly and said.
"Damn it... Go!!"
The navy was enraged by his contemptuous attitude and, in a fit of anger, surrounded them.
Ta-da-ta-da...
A huge wave of navy surged in like a tide.
"... Fire Fist!!"
Seeing this, Ace did not panic. He grinned, already prepared to wipe them out in one fell swoop. He aimed his right fist at them, flames spreading across his entire arm, and then swung it powerfully.
boom...
A pillar of fire blasted towards the surging navy, the Burst power and terrifying temperature instantly crushing them, leaving them sprawled on the ground, unable to move.
call out...
" Gum-Gum... Gatling!!"
Bang bang bang...
Immediately following Ace, Luffy also made his move, his fists transforming into afterimages as he Extreme Speed struck the surging Marines, instantly crushing them.
"Hey, these two brothers are working pretty well together... Let's get moving and clear the way for Ace and the others..."
Seeing this, the captains praised the two brothers for their excellent teamwork and then ordered their companions to clear a path for them.
"Oh!!"
The pirate soldiers echoed, and then each did their best to defeat the marines blocking Luffy and his companion's Luffy. Before long, a clear road appeared before them.
"Let's hurry up and go, Luffy..."
Ace that his companions were so kind as to clear a path for him, Ace didn't refuse them. He called out to Luffy and then walked back along the path.
"Oh!!"
Luffy responded and followed closely behind.
"None of you are leaving, Ice Crystal... Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!!"
Behind them, Aokiji's lazy voice came, and then a blue and white ice pheasant, seemingly alive, formed in his hand and rushed towards them.
"Oh no, Luffy... Mirror Flame!!"
Ace's fist erupted with scorching flames as he slammed it down on the charging ice pheasant.
boom...
The collision of ice and fire sent shards of ice and sparks flying, instantly filling the center of both phenomena with ice and fire.
Aside from the scattered sparks and ice shards, the collision generated a violent Impact that blasted outwards, knocking back the marines and pirates standing not far from the two.