Evergreen Island
Their blows collided, erupting in a massive blaze that engulfed everything, blinding the arena. Even Kiri and Ms. K, far back, felt the scorching heat. The crowd gasped, some cheering louder in awe.
"Ace's Fire Fist explodes! Is Mr. S alive!? This heat's insane from up here—no way anyone survives!"
A crack echoed. Vivi glanced away from the island.
"Ah… Luffy-san, your plate. And the meat…"
Luffy, snacking on meat, had dropped it. Vivi knelt, spotting the shards, then noticed his face—smile gone, staring blankly. She'd never seen him like this.
"Sabo…?"
Ace's shout had hit him. Unsure what to do, Vivi ignored the mess and watched.
Flames roared, grass and houses burning, the area eerily quiet amid the crackle. The fire hid all life, worrying onlookers. But both survived.
Ace waved, extinguishing the blaze effortlessly—total control.
With flames gone, Mr. S was visible. His black cloak burned away; his mask shattered, fragments falling.
A young man knelt there, face exposed: golden hair, burn scar near his left eye, sharp features. He stared at Ace in confusion and shock. Ace gazed back nostalgically; Mr. S—Sabo—wore a complex expression.
"Finally showing your face."
Ace felt certainty but unexpected calm. Grown, but unmistakably his brother.
They locked eyes in silence, time seeming to freeze.
Ms. K—Koala—was more panicked than Sabo, still masked. Her worry hinted at reasons for hiding. She started forward unconsciously.
"Not yet," Kiri said flatly.
Unfazed by the blast, he lounged on the chest, cheek on knee, smiling softly. Koala froze, staring.
"Someone matching Ace like that, here? Too unknown for a pirate." "Why not a pirate?" "I memorize wanted posters—faces, names, fast."
He smiled innocently, yet suspiciously.
"Never seen yours. Not pirates, then." "You haven't seen my face." "True. But fish-man karate users are rare."
Koala swallowed a retort, sensing a probe. She clammed up. Kiri continued.
"This island draws all sorts. Rumors of Cipher Pol hunting someone specific—like—"
He trailed off, eyeing the fight.
"Wait. They'll settle it." "Threatening me?" "Nah, just chatting. Sorry, I'll watch my words."
Koala felt outmaneuvered without a fight. His info-weaponizing was chilling.
Sabo stood, facing Ace. Headache lingered but eased. He exhaled, steadying.
"You even know my name… Guess you're the real deal." "Obviously." "Then…"
He spun his pipe, readying.
"There's a way to stop this headache."
Unmasked, his intensity surged. Ace tensed, sensing greater threat.
"Here we go." "Come on."
Sabo charged straight, fast and unwavering. Ace met him fearlessly.
Ace struck first, flaming whip lashing to keep distance. Sabo dodged expertly, weaving through flames to close in.
Pipe raised, blackening mid-swing. Ace's arm matched, blocking with a clang. Ace kicked, flames bursting inward. Sabo countered with hardened "dragon claw" to the gut.
Both flew back, landing and charging again.
Their fight ravaged the island—flames incinerating, claws gouging earth. Under a minute, yet spectators felt chaos and despair. No longer human; the festive mood vanished.
Each blow inflicted unbearable pain, yet they fought on, almost joyfully. Luffy watched silently.
"Wow, incredible," Kiri said suddenly.
Koala glanced.
"I'd die facing that. No chance."
Sabo blocked Ace's fist; spiraling flames hurled him back. Clothes ignited, but he spun mid-air, extinguishing with wind, landing calm.
Sabo attacked, slipping through to claw Ace's shoulder, tearing flesh—blood evaporated instantly.
They clashed relentlessly, no time to think, just overwhelming each other.
"Ace's Haki is top-tier—Whitebeard commander, Luffy's brother, makes sense. But surprise: he's not awakened yet."
Flames painted the sky red. Sabo endured; ground crumbled from both. They remained equals amid destruction. Kiri smiled unchangingly.
"Let's move farther. Or we die. Can't leave the area, but to the edge." "You're… not shocked." "I am. No strategy beats them."
Kiri lifted the chest lightly, heading to the safe harbor. Koala hesitated.
"Liar. Even I, knowing Sabo, tremble watching this. You haven't flinched." "Maybe I don't show it." "Who are you?" "Just a pirate. Straw Hats' vice-captain now."
Pausing mid-descent, he glanced back smiling.
"I can't beat Ace—skill gap, not compatibility."
Clear voice: "But I've seen strength like that."
Cracks sounded; mutual punches to cheeks. They tumbled, rose, and resumed.
Battered, bleeding, exhausted—yet Ace smiled nostalgically. Sabo's pain eased with each hit, memories of mountains flashing.
"Ooooh—!"
Sabo roared, charging. Ace readied a massive flaming fist.
"Ace!" "Hah…! Getting like yourself, Sabo!"
"Dragon Claw" met "Fire Fist," exploding in flames. Sabo flew, tumbling; Ace slid back, arm numb. Near equals, but Ace's Devil Fruit tipped it—Sabo took the brunt.
Sabo leaped up, closing for brutal close-quarters. No finesse—just raw power, Haki, relentless strikes. Like kids brawling, destructive yet nostalgic.
Sabo grinned mid-punch: "Haa, what was our final win record…?" "Huh!?" "Forgot that too—"
Ace crashed through a wall, unharmed as fire, landing. Sabo had moved, hands plunged into hardened ground.
"Everything has a core. Here, in this land… Now I see…" "That stance!? The move that wrecked D-Block's ring, eliminating most! Settling time!" "Tch…!" "Don't die, Ace. Dragon Claw Fist—"
Cracks spiderwebbed.
"Dragon's Breath!"
The arena exploded—most ground vaporized, debris flying skyward in a roar. Ace jumped high, unscathed by projectiles against his fire body.
Sabo stood on the sole remaining platform.
Ace dashed as fire. Final confirmation: Sabo committed to one last blow. Ace agreed.
Fire loomed, forming Ace, fist raised. Eyes met, all power poured in.
"Dragon Claw Fist—" "Armament Haki—"
"Dragon King!" "Fire Fist!"
Impact rippled air to sea, waves rocking ships. Explosion swallowed them. Wind battered evacuees; flash blinded monitors. Silence followed the boom.
Flames cleared: cratered wasteland, island dead-like.
At center, both sprawled, staring skyward, chatting.
"I was saved by the Revolutionary Army."
Ace listened.
"Celestial Dragon cannon sank my ship. Sinking, I thought of you two—didn't want to die, couldn't grasp anything else. Picked up just in time."
No more headache; clear speech. Ace knew from their fight: he's okay. Relief lifted his burden.
"Always felt off. Lost memories, gained comrades, a place—but something missing. Who am I? Heart incomplete. New bonds never filled it." "Didn't want to forget what mattered." "Yeah… Can't replace it. Finally remembered."
Ace smiled, eyes closed. Sabo followed, relieved.
Clouds parted above, blue sky freedom incarnate.
"Thanks, Ace. I reclaimed what's precious." "Idiot. No thanks."
Gentle: "We're not crew—brothers. No need for thanks. It's natural." "True… So I promise."
Calm: "Won't lose it again. I'm your and Luffy's brother." "Yeah." "If anything happens, I'll save you. Brotherly duty—no thanks?" "Heh, got it."
Silence. Fight over, match not. Announcer screamed:
"Match end!"
"Winners: Ace & Kiri pair!"
Crowd erupted.
(Note: Set 2 years prior; Sabo not yet bountied. Ace didn't recognize earlier. This reveals him publicly.)
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