Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
New One Piece Book Released Guys Check it Out :- One Piece : Cursed Crew
----------------------------------
While the battle raged on, Ace approached Ikki, demanding an explanation.
Ikki immediately launched into his analysis—but, of course, he definitely wasn't about to admit that this all happened because he tried to kill Momonosuke. Instead, he blamed it on a collision with other time travelers.
As Ikki explained, Rouge walked over and asked, "So… we didn't return to the original timeline, did we?"
"Yeah," Ikki nodded. "This is a parallel world—you could even call it a future world."
He glanced at the Straw Hats. "Judging by how Luffy and the others look, this should be two years into the future."
Ace's brows furrowed. "Two years later…?"
Then, he recalled Luffy's reaction upon seeing him. The way Luffy had tackled him, sobbing uncontrollably…
His expression darkened. "Does that mean… in this world, two years from now… I'm supposed to be dead?"
Ace's gaze shifted toward the battlefield, where Luffy was struggling against Shuzo.
Meanwhile, Nami and the others were frantically discussing how to escape.
The surrounding sea had become a chaotic nightmare—massive waterspouts were raging across the surface, twisting violently. This entire area had turned into a death trap.
Ace turned back to Ikki.
"Ikki, is it fine if I do whatever I want in this world?"
Ikki smirked. "Yeah! No problem. This world isn't on the same timeline as ours. Go ahead—make some noise!"
Hearing that, Ace nodded. Without hesitation, his body ignited in flames as he blasted toward Luffy's battlefield.
Shuzo, a direct disciple of Z, was an expert in Rokushiki and possessed Armament Haki and Observation Haki. His strength easily surpassed that of an average Marine Vice Admiral.
Luffy, even in Gear Second, was struggling to gain the upper hand.
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
Realizing that speed alone wouldn't cut it, Luffy coated his fist in Armament Haki and launched a powerful punch.
On the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hats watched closely.
Up until now, they had never encountered a truly formidable Haki master in battle. Seeing Luffy's fist clad in Haki, they assumed victory was near.
But—
Shuzo merely smirked and raised his fist to meet Luffy's attack.
His fist wasn't even covered in Armament Haki—it was simply an Iron Body defense.
And yet, he effortlessly blocked Luffy's punch.
Watching this, Ikki couldn't help but think, "Damn… now that is true Iron Body.
"Hmph! That level of Haki is useless against me!" Shuzo sneered.
But before he could follow up—
BAM!
Another stretched-out fist, coated in Haki and engulfed in flames, slammed into Shuzo's stomach!
"Fire Slime Pistol!"
Ace had copied Luffy's move, but with his own fiery twist!
Shuzo, sensing the sheer force behind it, immediately abandoned his Iron Body defense and coated his stomach in Armament Haki instead.
"Looks like the long-armed guy in front of me is pretty smart."
Shuzo rubbed his stomach where Ace had hit him, his eyes narrowing as he took a proper look at his opponent.
And then—he froze.
This face… he had seen it countless times in newspapers over the past two years.
Ace's execution had been the catalyst for the entire Marineford War. The fall of Whitebeard and the death of his second-in-command had been reported over and over again.
"Fire Fist Ace? Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
On the other side of the battlefield, Vice Admiral Momonga was still fighting Zoro when he heard Shuzo's words. Turning his head, he saw Ace's face clearly for the first time—
And his blood ran cold.
"This… how is this possible?!"
The war at Marineford had been one of the bloodiest battles in history, all to ensure the execution of Roger's son. Even though Whitebeard had fallen, the cost to the Marines had been staggering.
If word got out that Fire Fist Ace was still alive, then the entire Marine operation would become a joke.
Momonga's mind raced. They couldn't let this information spread. No matter what, Ace had to die here.
Making a split-second decision, he abandoned his fight with Zoro and used Moonwalk to propel himself toward Shuzo.
"Shuzo! Let's work together to eliminate this man who claims to be Fire Fist Ace!"
But Shuzo merely curled his lips in annoyance, not even sparing him a glance.
Unlike Momonga, Shuzo had no loyalty to the Marines.
He had always been Z's favorite disciple, witnessing firsthand how the World Government had betrayed his mentor. Shuzo held nothing but disdain for the Marines and their leaders.
This attack on the Giant Pirates wasn't just about wiping out criminals—it was about teaching the Marines a lesson as well.
"Work together? Hah…" Shuzo smirked. "What a joke. I don't need your help to kill Fire Fist Ace."
Momonga's face darkened.
He knew Shuzo had no intention of cooperating. But as a Marine, he had his own sense of justice and duty—and no matter what, that duty demanded that Ace be eliminated.
"Fine. But don't get in my way!"
With that, he charged toward Ace.
However, before he could get close—
CLANG!
Zoro's sword blocked his path once again.
"Hah… Marine, don't think you can just walk away from our fight!" Zoro grinned, locking blades with him.
"Tch… Damn it!" Momonga cursed, realizing he was stuck.
Seeing no other choice, he barked out an order to his men: "Contact headquarters immediately! We need an admiral for support!"
A Marine communications officer hurriedly reached for his Den Den Mushi—
But before he could make the call, the sea itself turned against them.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, massive waterspouts erupted all around them, engulfing several Marine warships in seconds.
The force of the ocean was merciless—entire vessels were lifted into the air and torn apart, leaving the sea littered with wreckage.
But it wasn't just the Marines.
Even the Thousand Sunny was caught in the raging currents, its hull rocking dangerously.
"Nami! What do we do?!" Usopp shouted, gripping the rail in panic.
Despite his two years of training, the sheer destruction unfolding before him was terrifying.
Nami's first instinct was to yell, "We need to leave this area immediately!"
But then she glanced toward the battlefield—Luffy, Zoro, and Ace were still fighting.
They couldn't just abandon them.
At that moment, Ikki, who had been silent up until now, placed a hand on Nami's shoulder.
"Relax. I've got this."
Before anyone could ask what he meant—
WHOOOSH!
A sudden burst of wind magic erupted from Ikki's body, sending shockwaves across the ocean's surface.
Within moments, the sea around the Thousand Sunny surged upward, forming towering spirals of water—
—but instead of attacking, they surrounded the ship like a barrier.
The Straw Hats watched in shock as the waterspouts that had been destroying Marine ships were now protecting them.
Ikki lowered his hand and smirked.
"There. No problem."
For a moment, the entire crew just stared at him in disbelief.
After all—controlling the ocean itself was every Devil Fruit user's worst nightmare.
Sanji whistled. "Oi, oi… Controlling the sea? That's just unfair."
But then Nami, ever the navigator, realized the truth.
"Wait… He's not controlling the seawater itself—he's controlling the wind! He's using it to manipulate the ocean currents!"
Ikki winked at her. "Bingo."
Meanwhile, Momonga watched this display and clenched his fists.
He knew it. This battle was no longer in the Marines' favor.
Luffy, Zoro, Ace, Shuzo, the Giant Pirates, and now this mysterious wind user…
He couldn't win this fight.
His only priority now was to report back to headquarters and inform them that Fire Fist Ace was still alive.