Boom!
The sea erupted in a cascade of towering fire.
To the left surged eerie black flames that refused to die, even beneath the sea.
To the right, blazing crimson fire scorched the air, evaporating seawater in its wake.
"[Demonic Flame Fist]!"
"[Fire Fist]!"
Two devastating flames, unleashed by their masters, clashed in midair.
The twin blazes rapidly expanded, roaring like beasts as they collided, black and red twisting together in a violent dance of destruction.
Bang!
Like warring monsters, the flames bit and tore into each other with primal fury.
Ace gritted his teeth, his stance steady on the rocket ship. His right fist burned brightly, feeding his assault.
"These Eternal Flames… they latch onto mine, but mine can't burn them back."
While both men wielded fire, their flames couldn't have been more different.
Ace's were explosive and fast—pure offense.
Shirogai Yamikuro's black flames were strange, devouring, relentless.
Ace's left hand clenched, swelling with fire before he hurled it forward.
"[Fire Fist x2]!"
Twin torrents of flame exploded from Ace's hands, swirling into a giant inferno that took the shape of a snarling leopard.
"[Flame Fusion: Flame Leopard]!"
The leopard let out a thunderous roar, its flaming fangs gleaming crimson-white, and lunged at Shirogai's black fire.
The beast swallowed the Eternal Burning Flames whole, then charged for Shirogai himself.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Ace's flames grew fiercer, shifting from crimson to an intense crimson-white.
He roared, wild-eyed:
"Devour him!"
Shirogai smirked calmly as the massive flame leopard closed in.
He didn't move.
The beast engulfed him completely.
Far off, Usopp trembled behind a telescope, screaming:
"No way! Shirogai's gonna be burned alive! Zoro! Sanji! Someone help him!"
Chopper panicked beside him, running in frantic circles.
"Luffy! Quick! He's in trouble! Is there a doctor?! We need medical help!"
But Zoro and Sanji remained composed.
Zoro stood with arms crossed, eyes locked on the burning inferno.
"Shirogai won't lose."
Sanji exhaled a stream of smoke and muttered:
"A chef doesn't lose to fire."
Luffy grinned from atop the Going Merry's mast, shading his eyes.
"Whoa! Ace is crazy strong! But Shirogai's no pushover!"
"The Plunderer…"
Ace stood tall, watching the flame leopard consume his opponent. He smirked.
"Feels different when you're on the receiving end, huh?"
Pshhh!
Suddenly, a claw of black fire tore through the flame leopard's belly.
Ace froze.
The beast split open from the inside, ripped apart by a monstrous black claw.
Boom!
An explosive shockwave blew the flames apart. The sea surged wildly as waves rippled across the horizon.
From the wreckage emerged a black-flamed tiger, towering in the air, its eyes burning with dominance.
It looked down upon everything—especially Ace—and let out a chilling roar:
"ROARRRR!!!"
The tiger burst from the flaming carcass like a beast reclaiming its throne.
It was a declaration:
Among flames… only one king stands.
"[Flame Ring: Flame Pillar]!"
A thick column of crimson fire pierced the demonic tiger from below.
Ace had moved in close, flames erupting from his body.
"[Strangulation]!"
The pillar widened, slicing the tiger in half. Black fire rained onto the sea, burning across the surface like an eerie blaze.
Ace steadied himself midair, panting slightly as he stared at Shirogai standing untouched over the sea, black flames swirling gently around him.
He took a deep breath.
"Shirogai, I acknowledge your strength. But…"
Ace's voice grew cold.
"…someone as powerful as you, attacking innocent civilians? That's how you use your strength?"
Shirogai lightly clapped, smiling.
"Ace, you're more admirable in person than in the stories. Who would've thought the son of the Pirate King would be so righteous?"
Ace's expression darkened.
"I only have one father—Whitebeard! I'll give everything to help him become the King of the Sea! I'm no one else's son!"
Shirogai shook his head.
"Ace… I misjudged you. You can't even face your own blood. You're just running from it."
"Shut up!" Ace snapped. "You think you know me?! [God Fire: Unknown Flame]!"
He hurled twin orbs of crimson fire. They twisted midair into lances, shooting at Shirogai with deadly precision.
But Shirogai's body dissolved into black flames, dodging the attacks effortlessly.
He stood still, expression calm.
"Struck a nerve?"
"Shut up! I don't need your lectures! Pops said everyone's a child of the sea—it doesn't matter who birthed them!"
Ace's voice broke into a furious roar.
"[Cross Fire]!"
"[Black Flame Wall]."
Shirogai didn't budge.
A surge of Eternal Flames erupted around him, meeting the Cross Fire head-on.
Ace's attack sizzled and died out against the black inferno, falling away like embers in the wind.
But it had been a distraction.
Ace used the moment, gathering power between his arms as flame sigils spiraled beneath him.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM!
Columns of fire erupted skyward, converging above Ace into a colossal fireball—burning like a second sun.
He raised it high with one hand, eyes locked on Shirogai.
"[Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor]!"
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