The battlefield was still locked in brutal chaos as Marines and pirates clashed without pause. Casualties fell on both sides, one after another. Yet at this moment, almost no one was paying attention to the wider war anymore.
All eyes were fixed on a single place.
On Ezra D. Vale, and on Ace.
Everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see whether Ace could create a miracle.
"Fire Fist!"
Ace showed no hesitation. He raised his arm and unleashed an enormous flame fist, blazing like a falling sun.
Ezra D. Vale's expression did not change in the slightest. He slowly lifted his right hand.
"I do not want to discourage you," he said calmly, "but playing with fire in front of me… you are still far from qualified."
As his words fell, terrifying heat erupted from his palm. The massive fire fist that had already reached him vanished in an instant, erased as if it had never existed.
"What…?"
Ace's pupils shrank in disbelief.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Did you forget my title?"
Ace froze, realization crashing down on him.
Residual Flame.
But Ace steadied himself quickly. If ordinary flames were useless, then he would use something else.
He stomped the ground hard, his body launching high into the air. The flames in his hands stretched and reshaped, turning into blazing spears.
"Sacred Fire. Flame Lance."
With a sharp motion, Ace hurled the twin fire spears downward.
Ezra shifted casually, avoiding the attack with ease.
But it was not over.
At some point, clusters of glowing embers had appeared around Ezra, floating like fireflies. A faint smile crossed Ace's face.
"Detonate."
A violent hum rang out, followed by a thunderous explosion. The glowing fire orbs clung to Ezra's body and detonated all at once, smoke and flame surging skyward.
Ace did not linger. He turned and ran, aiming to escape.
Behind him, Ezra's voice rang out, calm and cold.
"Ace. Are you really trying to run?"
The heat pressure swept away the smoke. Ezra stood unharmed behind him.
Flash Step.
In a blink, Ezra appeared in front of Ace and drove a brutal side kick into his abdomen.
Ace slammed into the ground with a heavy crash.
Blood burst from his mouth.
"Ace!"
"Damn you, Ezra D. Vale!"
Whitebeard roared in fury as he charged forward. He was close now, almost there.
Ezra's crimson eyes swept over the figures rushing toward him.
"Please refrain from interrupting," he said evenly. "I will deal with you all shortly."
With a wave of his hand, barriers of spiritual force rose from the ground, sealing Ezra and Ace inside.
No matter how hard Luffy pounded on the barrier outside, it would not even tremble.
"Ace! Ace!"
Luffy could only scream his brother's name.
Inside the barrier, Ezra flicked his wrist and looked down at Ace, who was kneeling on one knee.
"I told you before. Do not become a pirate. But you chose this path anyway," Ezra said quietly. "You hated your father, I know. But in the end, you disappointed Rouge."
Ace stiffened.
"From this moment on," Ezra continued, "I will no longer turn a blind eye to you or to the Whitebeard Pirates."
Ace trembled and looked up. The killing intent in Ezra's scarlet eyes crushed his will to speak.
Step by step, Ezra approached.
Ace forced himself upright, flames spiraling wildly from beneath his feet. It was a final, desperate struggle.
Whitebeard and Garp had fought their way to the barrier and stopped together, their fists lowered as they stared inside.
"Ace! You have to live!" Whitebeard roared. "If you die here, even if it costs me my life, I will destroy Marineford!"
Above Ace's head, a massive fireball formed.
"Uncle Ezra, this is the end," Ace said hoarsely. "Great Flame Commandment. Flame Emperor."
He hurled the fireball forward.
Ezra responded by snapping his fingers.
The sound was crisp and soft.
The enormous fireball scattered into the air like drifting ash, disappearing completely.
"How… is that possible…?"
Ace collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
Ezra stepped in front of him and raised a finger.
"Six-Pillar Light Prison."
Six blades of light descended, locking Ace in place.
"Ezra D. Vale! You dare!" Whitebeard shouted, slamming his fist against the barrier.
Garp stood beside him in silence, eyes heavy. He had known this would happen.
All across the battlefield, Marines and pirates alike had stopped fighting. Everyone was watching.
Inside the barrier, Ace gave a weak, bitter smile.
"Uncle Ezra… could you let me die a little slower? I still have something I want to say to Luffy."
Ezra paused, then nodded slightly.
"Your journey ends here."
He drew Ryujin Jakka from his waist.
"Cherish these last few minutes."
Without hesitation, he thrust the blade into Ace's abdomen. True to his word, he left Ace a little time, then released the barrier.
Luffy crawled to Ace's side, tears streaming down his face.
"Ace! Ace! Do not die!"
"I am sorry, Luffy… I was not saved by you in the end," Ace whispered. "I am sorry."
He smiled faintly.
"Listen, Luffy. If it were not for Sabo, and for you, my troublesome little brother, I would never have wanted to live at all."
"If you ever see Dadan again, tell her I said hello. Only now do I realize how much I miss her."
"There is just one regret I have. I will not get to see the day you achieve your dream."
"But I know you will. Because you are my brother."
"Just like we swore back then. My life had no regrets."
"I never wanted fame. What I truly wanted was to feel that being born was a good thing."
"My voice is fading now. Luffy, please tell everyone what I say next."
"Dad. Everyone. And you, Luffy. Thank you for loving someone like me."
"Grandpa… was it good that I was born?"
Ace smiled, eyes slowly closing.
Portgas D. Ace passed away.
The battlefield fell into dead silence.