"Hey, Ace, hold it steady. Don't let that thing drop."
Shirogai looked up at the massive [Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor] hovering in Ace's hand. He smiled calmly.
"I'm the Vice-Captain of your brother Luffy's crew.
Are you really planning to kill me under the guise of a spar?
Aren't you worried Luffy would be heartbroken?"
Ace held the enormous flame sphere in one hand, eyes burning with conviction.
"Your actions remind me of someone I once trusted.
A companion I thought was family.
But for his own ambition, he murdered another crewmate.
I swore then—I won't let something like that happen again.
Not on Luffy's ship."
Shirogai tilted his head, eyes curious.
"I didn't do anything like what Teach did—killing Thatch for the [Dark-Dark Fruit]."
"You… know about that?" Ace frowned, surprised.
"Pirates killing over Devil Fruits, for Berries… that's expected," Shirogai replied casually. "But me? I'm not interested in treasure or murder."
Ace's eyes narrowed. His voice was low, sharp.
"You're not doing this for money. You act on impulse, disregard life, and carry ambition without limits.
I can't rest easy with someone like you near Luffy.
You'll betray him—just like Teach betrayed us."
Ace's mind flickered with memories.
Thatch, cheerful and welcoming:
"Yo! I'm Thatch, Fourth Division Commander. Since we're crewmates now, let's get along!"
"Hey, Ace, slow down. No one's gonna steal your food! You're the guest of honor tonight!"
But then… Thatch lying cold on the deck.
Blood crusted beneath him.
His smile gone.
Ace clenched his fists.
Teach.
You broke the one rule we had.
You killed a brother-in-arms.
And now… Shirogai's grin reminded Ace of that same gap-toothed smirk.
"You killed your own comrade! Someone who fought by your side!"
Rage overwhelmed him.
"Shirogai!"
He raised the blazing [Flame Emperor], his voice thundering across the sea.
"Do you know how precious life is?!
Some people are born into this world only through the sacrifice of others!
And yet you treat life like a game!"
Shirogai smirked wider, arms outstretched.
"Hahahahaha! Then come on! Kill me if you can, Ace!"
Black flames ignited beneath Shirogai. The [Eternal Flames, Amaterasu] scattered across the sea swirled toward him.
Behind him, a massive vortex of black fire took shape, flooding into his body.
His form grew rapidly.
Five meters.
Seven meters.
A flame giant stood over the ocean.
Ace's eyes narrowed. He couldn't wait any longer.
"Repent… in hell!"
Ace hurled the [Flame Emperor] with all his might.
The colossal fireball split in midair, multiplying into blazing suns crashing down toward the flame giant.
"Hmph."
Shirogai's giant form reached out, catching one of the incoming fireballs.
The impact forced him back, feet sinking into the ocean as [Eternal Demonic Flames] scorched the waves beneath him.
The sea evaporated, releasing thick white mist.
But the mist didn't last—black flames clung to it, igniting it like oil.
The entire sea burned.
Still retreating, Shirogai absorbed the incoming flames into his body. The more they struck, the larger he became.
In mere seconds, he stood nearly the same size as the [Flame Emperor].
Ace, compared to this towering inferno, looked like a candle beside a bonfire.
[Flame Flame Fruit: Demon-Modified Fourth Form — Flame Domain Monarch]
Within this unquenchable domain of fire, Shirogai reigned as the sole monarch.
All flames belonged to him. All heat, all destruction—his to command.
When his size surpassed the [Flame Emperor], he didn't dodge.
He embraced it.
The massive fireball was absorbed straight into his chest.
Boom!
Crimson fire exploded outward, only to be devoured again by the Eternal Burning Flames.
Shirogai grew further—over fifty meters tall now.
A black infernal giant.
He looked down at the stunned Ace, voice deep and rumbling.
"Hahaha! Ace! I'll give you a chance. Kneel before me!"
Ace clenched his fists, flames bursting around him.
Even now, even faced with overwhelming power, he didn't flinch.
"Surrender? If I give in to evil, I don't deserve to live!
I'll never stain my name, even if it costs me everything!"
He laughed boldly.
"Come at me, Shirogai!"
Shirogai's massive body rumbled with a low laugh.
"In this world, victory is life.
Are you ready to face reality, Ace?"
He raised his fist, black flames swirling and Armament Haki crackling over it.
It descended like a meteor, aiming to crush Ace completely.
But Ace… flew straight at it.
Flames engulfed him, his body cutting through the air like a comet, aiming for the falling punch.
He didn't dodge.
He didn't hesitate.
Inside his heart, he whispered silent farewells.
Captain… I'm sorry. Looks like this is it for me.
Thatch, I failed. I couldn't avenge you.
Luffy, maybe my death will open your eyes to what this man truly is.
Gramps… Dadan… Otama… Yamato…
Oddly, he felt no fear.
Only peace.
His life had always felt wrong.
A burden since birth.
His mother, Portgas D. Rouge, gave her life just so he could be born.
When he discovered he was Gol D. Roger's son, he believed the world would be better without him.
But then…
Sabo.
Luffy.
Whitebeard.
His crew. His family.
For the first time, he had purpose.
He wasn't a mistake.
He was born to help his Captain reach the Pirate King's throne.
Captain… sorry I won't be there to see it.
He smiled as flames consumed him.
A final burst of crimson-white flame exploded in the sky.
Ace vanished—like a bird whose wings had burned away.
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