Chapter 166 – Fierce Fight: The Collision of Fire and Magma
Boom!
"As you wish!" The white flames vanished, replaced by a deep violet glow. A wave of scorching heat erupted from Ace's body, his entire form wrapped in terrifying flames. Staring coldly at Akainu, Ace declared:
"I'll defeat you first—seriously this time. Then I'll go save Sabo!"
"Just what I wanted!" Akainu's lips curled into a grim smile.
In their earlier clash, Ace had been distracted, focused solely on breaking through Akainu's blockade to reach Sabo. Now, he was finally intent on a head-on battle. This was exactly what Akainu had been waiting for.
"Meigō! (Hellhound!)"
Akainu unleashed a massive magma hound, a volcanic eruption condensed into a monstrous fist of molten rock, tearing through the air toward Ace.
Boom!!
The destructive power shook the battlefield like a natural disaster.
"Akanu, let me show you the fire that can burn even magma!" Ace's fists clenched, purple flames surging outward. With a roar, he hurled his strike forward.
"Haoen · Fire Fist!"
Boom!
The violet inferno collided with Akainu's magma. Though the explosive force of the magma initially overwhelmed Ace's flames, the terrifyingly high temperature of the Purple Flame—surpassing 100,000 degrees—burned through the magma itself.
In mere seconds, Akainu's attack was consumed, erased as though it had never existed.
"H-How could this be…?!"
"Admiral Akainu's magma… was burned away?!"
Both Marines and pirates stared in disbelief. Magma, the most destructive of the Logia flames, being incinerated by fire—it defied all logic.
"Impossible!" Akainu roared, eyes wide with fury. "A mere flame… cannot burn magma!"
He charged again, slamming forward with another strike.
"Meigō!"
The lava beast lunged at Ace with snapping jaws of molten rock.
"Can't believe it? Then I'll make you see it clearly!" Ace spread his arms, purple flames gathering and compressing into a concentrated sphere of searing light. With a punch, he unleashed it forward.
"Haoen · Rising Sun Fist!"
The compressed Purple Flame exploded like a newborn sun, its brilliance swallowing the magma hound. The Hellhound disintegrated instantly, like snow under summer heat.
The flames continued forward, smashing straight into Akainu's chest and knocking him from the sky.
"Admiral!!"
"General Akainu!!"
Marines cried out in panic as their strongest fighter was sent crashing to the ground. Even if uninjured, to see an Admiral knocked down in front of everyone was a devastating blow to morale.
Bang!
Akainu slammed into the plaza, but before impact he had already elementalized, transforming his body into living magma. The ground erupted in molten fire, glowing red-hot.
A cold voice echoed from the smoke.
"Don't relax… or you'll hand the pirates their chance."
Akainu stepped from the molten crater, expressionless, body seemingly unscathed. The Marines sighed in relief.
"As expected of an Admiral…!"
"He can't be taken down so easily!"
Akainu ignored their words. In truth, the Purple Flames had seared even his elemental form—yet he would never admit weakness in front of his men.
Raising his gaze, he rocketed skyward again, legs dissolving into magma as he flew straight at Ace.
"Purple Flame · Crossfire!"
Ace crossed his index fingers, firing a blazing X-shaped blast of violet fire.
Akainu blocked with his molten arm, magma exploding outward as he counterpunched.
Ace met him fist-to-fist.
Boom!!
Flames and magma collided, shockwaves ripping through the air. Ace was knocked back slightly, Akainu's volcanic force overpowering him at close range. But part of Akainu's arm was still burned away by the Purple Flame before reforming.
"Tch… you avoided the full burn by elementalizing in advance." Ace frowned.
It was true—the Purple Flame was devastating to matter. But against a Logia user who could elementalize before contact, it became difficult to land a decisive blow. In contrast, Akainu's sheer explosive power and durability gave him the edge in close-quarters combat.
Sure enough, Ace thought grimly, against a Logia, no matter how high the damage output, as long as they're pure element before impact, the Purple Flame won't bite. And unlike Haki, Purple Flame doesn't coat weapons. This… is troublesome.
Akainu had realized the same. Though his magma could not match Ace's temperature, his destructive impact was superior. If he kept forcing close-range clashes, Ace's flames alone wouldn't be enough.
"Meigō!"
Once again Akainu lunged, a magma hound bursting toward Ace.
But this time, Ace didn't meet it head-on. He darted aside, evading the attack.
"What's wrong? Back to running away?" Akainu sneered. "You'll never defeat me hiding like a coward!"
Ace exhaled slowly, his expression hardening. "Originally, I didn't want to use this move… because I can't fully control it yet."
He glared down at Akainu, flames spiraling wildly around him.
"But you've pissed me off, Sakazuki."
"Now… I'll show you the ultimate technique I've been developing!"
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