Chapter 8: Hot Hell
"Vergo, welcome to my world—the world of fire!"
At that moment, Ace's entire body began to merge with the surrounding flames. His voice, ethereal and resonant, seemed to echo from every corner of the inferno.
BOOM!
As soon as Ace's voice fell, a massive explosion erupted, and roaring flames engulfed the entire island. The once-barren desert island now resembled a blazing torch on the sea. Ace's figure had completely disappeared—he had become one with the fire.
To clarify, there's a major difference between elementalization and integration into a natural environment for Logia-type Devil Fruit users.
The ability to transform into an element, especially highly destructive ones like fire or magma, is a massive advantage in battle. When developed to a certain level, such powers can cause devastation rivaling nuclear explosions.
However, elementalization—though nearly untouchable in some cases—loses its advantage when facing an opponent proficient in Haki. Against such foes, becoming elemental only makes it easier to be struck.
That's why Ace didn't directly elementalize and attack Vergo. Instead, he ignited pre-placed fuel to create a flame battlefield. Against a Haki master like Vergo, turning into flames wouldn't help—it would only make Ace a bigger target.
In developing his powers, Ace discovered a key ability: once the surrounding flames are large and continuous, he can shuttle through them at extreme speed, almost like teleportation. Within any connected stretch of fire, he can appear instantly at any point. What's more, he can compress his body within the flames, making it almost impossible to hit him.
This is how the environment enhances the combat effectiveness of natural Devil Fruit users. In the right terrain, the phrase "invincible Logia" isn't an exaggeration.
Although the island was rocky and lacked natural fuel, Ace had prepared for this. When developing his powers, he ordered his crew to stockpile and bury various kinds of fuel throughout the island.
It's no exaggeration to say that the fuel he buried could keep the island burning for a full day and night. That's why Ace chose this isolated island for battle—it was the perfect place for him to unleash his full power.
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"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
In the searing inferno, fist-shaped bursts of fire launched from all directions, hammering Vergo's body with dull, thunderous thuds.
"He's fast—too fast. Did he completely merge with the flames? I didn't expect a Logia user to fight like this!"
Vergo gritted his teeth, fending off attacks like rain from all sides. He activated his Observation Haki, attempting to pinpoint Ace's true form—but failed.
Or rather, he did detect Ace—but his brain and nerves couldn't react fast enough to his movements within the fire. It only seemed like Ace was untraceable.
Frustrated and increasingly cornered, Vergo's expression darkened. While Ace's individual attacks couldn't break through his Armament Haki defenses, the environment itself had become the real threat.
The flames consumed oxygen rapidly, making it harder to breathe. The intense heat was drying out Vergo's body. At this rate, even if Ace didn't land a single blow, the environment would kill Vergo within five minutes.
"Moonwalk!"
Sensing the danger, Vergo kicked off the ground and launched into the air, trying to escape the flame zone.
But Ace wasn't about to let him go.
"Fire Fist!"
BOOM!
As Vergo ascended, a massive flaming fist formed in the sky and slammed down, blasting him back to the ground.
"Trying to run? Keep dreaming, Vergo. The moment you stepped onto this island, you were already finished."
Ace's voice rang out from within the blaze.
"It's just a Devil Fruit power. You think you control nature? Don't get cocky, boy!"
Vergo growled, eyes sharp behind his sunglasses. He raised his right arm—and punched the ground.
BOOM!
The force of the strike opened a crater, and the shockwave scattered the surrounding flames.
"Hah!"
Taking a deep breath, Vergo raised both fists—and pounded the ground with all his might.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Like a storm, his fists rained down on the earth. The ground cracked and split beneath the onslaught, and soon, the entire island trembled under the sheer force of his blows.
This was Vergo's counterattack. Since Ace had turned the battlefield into a flaming inferno, he would simply destroy the battlefield—sink the island, and erase Ace's advantage entirely.
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"Damn it! This level of environmental control isn't enough to take down someone like Vergo!"
Hidden within the flames, Ace realized Vergo's intent and frowned.
His original plan was to use the terrain to wear Vergo down. In close quarters, if he was ever separated from the flames—even for a second—he risked being hit. And Ace hated pain. He wanted to win by attrition, not brute force.
But he had underestimated Vergo's raw power.
The island was too small. With Vergo's strength, he could destroy it entirely—and then Ace would lose his only advantage.
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"Fire Fist!"
Ace conjured a colossal fire fist and sent it barreling toward Vergo.
"Hmph!"
Vergo snorted coldly and raised his signature Ghost Bamboo, now coated in Armament Haki, to meet the attack.
BOOM!
Bamboo and fire collided in an explosive clash. Waves of pressure scattered the flames—but they quickly surged back.
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"Flowing Fire: Flame Thorns!"
Ace erupted from the firestorm, his hands reaching into the inferno. Flames coiled around his arms like living serpents. With a powerful pull, he drew streams of fire toward himself and hurled them like spears straight at Vergo.
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To be continued…
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