The commotion in Skull Castle quickly subsided.
Under Yamato's overwhelming suppression, the members of the Spade Pirates were left battered and bruised, each one tied up.
"So strong..."
"This... woman's a monster..."
"Captain Ace..."
For the first time, they felt true despair. A seemingly unknown officer had effortlessly crushed them, proving to be on an entirely different level from any enemy they'd faced before.
Even Hanafuda of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea couldn't compare to the terror this girl exuded. If she hadn't held back, they would have died without a doubt.
And yet, such a monstrous powerhouse wasn't the only one on this island.
They had severely underestimated the might of a Four Emperor!
Captain Ace, run!
"Throw these guys into the Dungeon."
Yamato gave the order and immediately dashed toward the back mountain. The remaining Pirates, seeing this, left a few behind to deal with the prisoners while the rest followed her.
"Hurry to the back mountain! Lord Gurd is fighting Fire Fist!"
A swarm of Pirates surged toward the rear of the island. The moment they stepped out of Skull Castle's back gate, they were met with a towering inferno in the distance.
A wave of scorching heat blasted against their faces.
"Hiss—!"
The Pirates gasped in shock.
The flames were so terrifying that even approaching was impossible. It was hard to imagine how Lord Gurd could possibly fight in such conditions.
Truly worthy of being an officer favored by Boss Kaido!
At the center of the battlefield, flames raged everywhere.
Gurd emerged from the fire, relishing the surging power of the flames around him. With a vicious grin, he leaned forward and clapped his hands mockingly at Ace.
"Come on, baby!"
"..."
Ace's expression darkened.
Nothing infuriated him more than being looked down upon.
Every time someone underestimated him, he made them pay dearly—and this time would be no exception!
Ace coldly raised his hands, fingertips glowing with dense green specks of light. Like fireflies, they swiftly scattered and swirled around Gurd.
"Hm?"
Gurd turned his head, scanning the glowing insects around him.
Kinda pretty.
Ace's eyes blazed with fury. With a thought, every single firefly erupted into blinding white light!
"Firefly · Fire Daruma!"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"
A storm of explosions engulfed Gurd in flames!
Ace exhaled sharply, his gaze locked onto the roaring pillar of fire.
While Fire Daruma's explosions weren't individually powerful, the sheer density of blasts created scorching flames capable of melting steel.
There was no way Kaido could walk away unscathed!
Yet, in the next instant—
A flash of red shot out from the raging inferno, appearing right before Ace in the blink of an eye. A massive, mountain-like body slammed into him!
"What?!"
Ace staggered back half a step, fists igniting in retaliation—but before he could strike, agony wracked his body. His vision spun wildly as he was sent flying into the sky!
"CRASH!"
After who-knows-how-many rotations, Ace smashed into the ground, every bone and organ screaming in pain.
It hurt. It hurt so much!
Gritting his teeth, Ace forced himself onto his hands and knees. His cheeks bulged before he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.
No time to recover. In a battle like this, he had to regain his stance immediately—or he wouldn't survive the next attack.
As Ace struggled to his feet, his chest tightened at the sight before him. He nearly vomited another wave of blood.
His eyes instantly flooded with crimson veins.
"That bastard!!!"
Dozens of meters away.
Gurd had returned to his human form, facing his subordinates who had rushed from Skull Castle. He struck one powerful pose after another, showcasing his formidable strength!
Front double biceps pose!
Side chest pose!
Rear lat spread!
Sweat splashed everywhere!
His muscles gleamed with radiance!!!
"Win!"
"Win! Win! Win!"
The Pirates roared fanatically, wave after wave of cheers reverberating across the battlefield as if witnessing a visual feast of physical prowess.
"WIN!!!"
Ace was utterly enraged, flames of fury erupting from his body.
That guy wasn't taking him seriously at all!
Unforgivable!
"AAAAAH!!!"
Ace roared at the sky, the ground beneath him cracking layer by layer. Flames of extreme anger surged from the fissures, converging into his hands.
"Heat Haze!"
A scorching pillar of fire blasted toward Gurd!
Gurd turned around to face the oncoming inferno, taking a deep breath that swelled his chest. Mysterious orange-red patterns lit up across the surface of his muscles.
Right now, he was terrifyingly strong!
As the flames rushed toward him.
Gurd's eyes widened fiercely, and he exhaled a mighty gust of wind!
"WHOOSH!!!"
The scorching Heat Haze scattered helplessly like leaves in a storm!
"He... blew away my Heat Haze?"
Ace stared in shock.
What he was seeing defied comprehension.
"THUD!"
A massive hand suddenly clamped onto his head!
"Daydreaming in battle is fatal, you little firebug!"
Gurd sneered as he exerted force, veins bulging across his arm, and slammed Ace's head into the ground!
Then, he began running forward!
"ORORORORO!!!"
Gurd laughed uproariously as he sprinted around the battlefield, his right hand grinding Ace's face against the rocky earth, plowing a deep trench behind him.
Only when the trench formed a complete circle did Gurd reluctantly stop, tossing Ace's limp body aside like garbage.
"Haah... haah..."
Ace gasped for breath, his entire body covered in wounds without a single unscathed spot. He couldn't even stand up.
He felt death approaching.
"Win! Win! Win!"
Outside the battlefield, the Pirates' fanatical cheers erupted again.
No one had expected Lord Gurd to completely overwhelm Fire Fist Ace—that guy was the super rookie who had defeated one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Gurd raised his massive arms and began circling around Ace, basking in the glory reserved for victors.
Feeling the endless surge of power within him, every cell in his body rejoiced. He'd never experienced such exhilaration before.
Ace's flames resonated perfectly with him—like a charging battery. The longer the fight dragged on and the more flames Ace released, the stronger Gurd became.
It was downright intoxicating!
But the firepower still wasn't enough!
Gurd looked down at Ace and sneered coldly.
"Is that all you've got, brat?"
"I heard you defeated Hanafuda, so I had some interest in you. Never expected you'd be this disappointing."
"My men have arrived. You should understand what's happening inside the castle now. Your subordinates' lives are in your hands."
"I'll give you two choices—join my crew, or die!"
Join, or die!
Ace struggled to roll over, kneeling on the ground as he panted for breath.
Every word from Gurd pierced deeply into his heart, his strong sense of pride fueling both anger and unwillingness.
After taking a moment to steady himself,
Ace finally stood up, his resolute gaze devoid of any hesitation—even a smile appearing on his face.
It was the resolve to face death!
"If I yield to power, then my existence as a man would be meaningless. I refuse to leave regrets in this life!"
"Understand now, Kaido?!"
"Gurararara! Well said!"
Gurd also laughed, his body swelling and transforming once more.
"Ready to face your fate?"
"Of course!"
Flames erupted beneath Ace's feet, rapidly spreading outward in rings before surging upward, swiftly engulfing him.
"Dai Enkai!"
As the flames dispersed, Ace raised a massive fireball in his hands, illuminating the battlefield like the sun.
"Entei!!!"
This was his strongest technique!
Outside the battlefield, Yamato's expression changed drastically, and she immediately gestured with her hand.
"Get out of here!"
"You'll get caught in it!"
"Run!"
The pirates also sensed the danger, scrambling toward Skull Castle for refuge.
At the center of the battlefield,
Ace held the miniature sun aloft, his eyes filled with nothing but pure fighting spirit. If he were to die in battle against a strong opponent, it would be a life well-lived.
"If you can withstand this, then I lose!"
"Gurararara! Bring it on!"
Gurd looked up at the scorching miniature sun and roared with laughter.
This was exactly what he wanted!
"OOOOHHH!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
Flames blotted out the sky!
(End of Chapter)