Luffy and his crew drifted and floated all the way into the Whitebeard Pirates ' territory.
Although the Whitebeard Pirates controlled a large territory, they didn't actually use many islands as their bases.
Led by Marco, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed smoothly into the core sea area.
When the Thousand Sunny docked, Ace was already waiting at the port.
" Luffy--!" Ace opened his arms.
" Ace--!"
Luffy jumped off the bow of the ship and pounced like a cannonball, wrapping his rubber arms around Ace's neck. The two collided and rolled several times.
"What's wrong with your hair, kid?!" Ace laughed and tugged at Luffy's white hair.
"That's called Gear Fifth! It's really powerful!" Luffy gestured excitedly.
"Don't brag yet, let's talk about it once we're on the island. There'll be wine and meat."
Ace patted him on the shoulder and greeted the Straw Hat Pirates members one by one.
The Whitebeard Pirates ' territory is much more desolate than it was back then, but the smoke from their cooking fires still rises, and their popularity remains.
Marco, Vista, Jozu, and other veteran captains were all there, their faces bearing more scars and signs of hardship than two years ago, but their spirits were good.
The batch of Devil Fruits that Roy had sent to the Whitebeard Pirates six months ago were divided up by Ace and the other captains.
He was originally Devil Fruit User, and later he acquired the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit —the latter being a Pops of Whitebeard, which was copied using Vegapunk's technology and given to him.
With the addition of three Devil Fruits, Ace's strength far surpasses that of two years ago.
Marco's Phoenix Fruit, combined with the Flame-Flame Fruit and the Heal-Heal Fruit, has significantly enhanced his recovery and healing abilities.
Vista was already a master of Two-Sword Style, and he also chose to eat a three-element fruit. However, with the blessing of the Mythical Zoan, his Two-Sword Style swordsmanship was greatly amplified.
Jozu's Diamond-Diamond Fruit has been enhanced with the Strong-Strong Fruit and Kaido's Azure Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, allowing him to smash a small mountain into ruins with a single punch.
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Wow, that's amazing! I want to eat a few more!"
Ace chuckled and patted his head.
"Stop fooling around."
"This isn't something you can just eat casually. Our ability to achieve multiple Devil Fruit powers is all thanks to the technology from Hachinosu!"
The campfire crackled, and the sea breeze sent sparks flying into the air.
The two brothers leaned against each other, bickering and playing around as they always had.
Marco was drinking with Zoro nearby, while Vista and Sanji chatted about ingredients from the New World; the atmosphere was warm and boisterous.
Luffy lay sprawled on the sand, gazing at the starry sky.
" Ace, I haven't settled my score with Kaido yet."
"Know."
Ace tossed him a jug of wine.
"But everything depends on yourselves. After all, we are only able to be safe and secure because of Hachinosu."
You know about the relationship between Kaido and Roy.
"The most I can offer you is psychological support!"
"Is that so?!"
"Hehe, it's okay! I'll do it myself!"
Luffy grinned, took the flask, and took a big gulp, choking and coughing.
In the latter half of the night, the campfire gradually died down.
Luffy and Ace sat back to back on the beach, chatting casually.
" Ace, you spent some time on Hachinosu, didn't you?"
"Stay."
What exactly is Roy trying to do?
Ace remained silent for a moment.
I can't explain it either.
That guy is too cunning.
He tilted his head back and took a sip of wine.
"But my Pops has always had a good relationship with them, so I'm willing to trust him."
"Is that so?" Luffy replied softly.
Don't overthink it. Your task now is to become stronger.
Ace nudged Luffy's shoulder with his sake jug.
"I'm waiting for you to take the throne of Pirate King."
"Um!"
As soon as Luffy finished speaking, Ace suddenly stood up.
His Observation Haki triggered a frantic warning at the same time, and his muscles tensed up instantly.
Luffy sensed it too.
He raised his head, his pupils slightly contracting.
In the very center of the night sky, which was originally filled with stars, a huge magic circle was slowly unfolding.
Golden patterns spread like living things, drawing dazzling light across the night sky.
A terrifying aura poured down from the center of the formation.
Five figures emerged from the light, like gods descending from the heavens.
" Ace." Luffy's voice also turned somber.
"I know."
Ace was engulfed in flames, unleashing the full power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.
"The visitor is ill-intentioned."
Everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates became alert at the same time.
Marco transforms into Phoenix and soars into the air, Vista draws his twin swords, and Jozu's skin turns into diamond.
The Straw Hat Pirates also entered battle mode.
Zoro and Sanji stood to Luffy's left and right respectively, their swords and legs poised for attack. Robin shielded Nami and Chopper behind her.
But the Five Elders ' first attack came too quickly.
Saint Nusjuro gripped the Kitetsu, which was over two meters long, with both hands and slashed down from mid-air.
The blade's momentum carried boundless pressure, as if the sky were collapsing.
Zoro and Ace attacked simultaneously.
The Three-Sword Style and the Tatsumaki intertwined above Luffy's head, forcefully blocking the attack.
"When--!"
The shockwave exploded from the point of impact, lifting the beach more than three meters high, and seawater rushed in.
" Nika."
Saint Nusjuro's voice was as cold as if it came from hell.
"By order of Lord Imu, I shall take your life."
"I won't just let you cut me down!" Luffy gritted his teeth, his white hair instantly standing on end as he activated Gear Fifth.
His body swelled into a white giant, with black and red Conqueror's Haki Inazuma wildly around him.
The straw Straw Hat was pushed up by the white hair, and the eyes under the brim were frighteningly bright.
" Moon Head! I'll handle this guy." Luffy's voice carried a hint of laughter, yet it was chillingly cold.
Saint Garling landed slowly from the air, each step carrying an undeniable aura of power.
" Straw Hat Luffy, just surrender!"
Luffy grinned, his laughter booming. "Haha! You don't get to decide that."
boom--!
Luffy and Saint Garling disappeared at the same time, leaving behind two deep craters.
The next second, the two collided in mid-air, Conqueror's Haki Inazuma flashed everywhere, and the shockwave overturned all the surrounding coconut trees.
Ace awakened all three of his Devil Fruit powers.
The Flame-Flame Fruit envelops his entire body, forming a fiery armor; the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon transforms his limbs into dragon claws; and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit concentrates in his fist, unleashing a punch at Saint Warcury.
Space shattered under that punch, and the cracks unique to the Tremor-Tremor Fruit spread in all directions, completely sealing off Saint Warcury's retreat.
Saint Warcury neither dodged nor evaded, his body rapidly transforming into a gigantic being, taking the full force of Ace's punch.
On the battlefield, Marco fought against Saint Mars, Vista and Jozu joined forces to hold off Saint Shepherd Ju Peter.
The other members of the Straw Hat Pirates worked together with the ordinary members of the Whitebeard Pirates on the perimeter to hold back Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, one of the Five Elders.
The sword duel between Zoro and Saint Nusjuro was the most dazzling moment on the entire battlefield.
Every clash between the Kitetsu and the Three-Sword Style produced a deafening metallic clang, the clashing of blade and sword energy cutting deep gashes into the sand.
Zoro's Demonic Aura Nine-Sword Style has reached its limit.
But each of Saint Nusjuro seemed to carry the sword intent of hundreds of years, pressing down on him so much that he could hardly breathe.
Zoro gritted his teeth, unleashing a triple burst of Ryuo and Conqueror's Haki Coating, his three swords withstanding the suppression of Kitetsu.
But the gap in strength cannot be bridged by willpower alone.
The Five Elders are, after all, the Five Elders.
The battle lasted less than twenty minutes before the Whitebeard Pirates began to show signs of exhaustion.