Chapter 178: Blackbeard's Ambush
Center of the Deserted Island - Battlefield
"CLANG—!!!"
The blazing Fire Fist collided in mid-air with the serrated heavy blade coated in Armament Haki. The air vibrated violently as flames and black Haki entangled, twisted, and disintegrated!
Red gritted his teeth and roared, muscles bulging all over his body. His right hand gripped the longsword tightly, Armament Haki covering his entire arm like black armor, as if cast from steel!
"Brat! Don't get too arrogant!!"
He slashed horizontally with all his might, the heavy blade carving out a black arc!
"Blood Blade: Riptide!"
"SWISH!"
Blade energy exploded along the ground, tearing through the scorched earth like hell itself opening its maw, rushing straight for Ace's throat!
Ace took half a step back. Simultaneously, he clenched his right fist. Blazing flames condensed into a blinding point of light, compressed violently!
"Flame Burst: Armor Piercer!!!"
"BOOM—!!!"
The scorching Fire Fist collided head-on with the wave of blade energy, blasting out a massive shockwave. Scorching energy tore through the battle circle, the explosion whipping up surrounding debris!
Red was knocked back several steps, the web of his hand numb with shock. A trace of horror flashed in his eyes; the hilt nearly slipped from his grasp!
"This brat... can actually take my slash head-on?!"
Ace shook his wrist and grinned. "Not bad. A bit stronger than those small fry just now."
"Don't you dare look down on me!!" Red raged. His Armament Haki hardened further, his skin taking on a metallic sheen. "I am 'Blood Rage' Red!!!"
Red raised his right arm high. His Haki surged, turning the entire heavy blade pitch-black as ink!
"Blood Blade: Wild Dance!!!"
"SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH—!!!"
His figure flashed explosively, unleashing over a dozen Haki-infused blade waves around Ace, sealing off all avenues of escape—up, down, left, and right!
Ace's gaze sharpened. Observation Haki spread out, fully focused on capturing every blade trajectory!
The next moment, blazing flames erupted!
Using flames to accelerate his footwork, he passed through the net of blade energy, seemingly vanishing from everyone's sight!
"BOOM—!!!"
"What? Where is he?!"
Ace's figure broke through the blade net instantly, punching toward Red's face!
"BANG—!!!"
Red hurriedly blocked with his blade, but the impact of the punch sent him plowing backward, his feet digging furrows into the ground!
"Not done yet!" Ace pressed the attack. Jets of fire propelled him as he skimmed low over the ground, both fists wreathed in flames—
"Flame Burst: Chain Star!!!"
"BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!!!"
Every punch landed precisely on the weak points of Red's defense. Cracks began to appear in his Armament Haki armor!
"Guh—!"
Blood trickled from the corner of Red's mouth. He stumbled, his consciousness blurring!
"Damn it...!"
Ace suddenly retracted his fists. "Warm-up is over."
He stomped forward violently. The scorched earth beneath his feet cracked. Flames on his right arm retracted, compressing highly into what looked like a ball of white-hot energy about to explode!
Taking a deep breath, his figure flashed instantly, rushing toward Red like a streak of light!
"What?!" Red was shocked, but years of combat muscle memory still made him roar and swing his blade to intercept immediately—
"Blood Blade: Fang Breaker!!"
Gripping the pitch-black heavy blade with both hands, he extended his Armament Haki to the limit and slashed down viciously!
"CLANG!!!"
Fire Fist and blade edge met head-on, but Red instantly felt something was wrong—
Ace's fist was no longer a ball of hot fire, but a high-energy explosion point compressed to the limit like white light!
"Flame Burst: Blazing Assault!"
"WHAM—!!!"
A muffled thud!
Not an explosion, but the sound of air being ignited and torn apart instantly!
The moment Red's heavy blade made contact, it was warped by the high heat, and his Armament Haki cracked and disintegrated!
The moment the flame fist touched his chest—
"BOOM!!!"
Violent explosive pressure erupted from the ignited core, piercing through Red's entire body like a cone-shaped shockwave!
His body flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing through three stone pillars before crashing heavily into the ground, which collapsed into a charred crater!
"Cough... cough cough... d-damn it..."
Red coughed up a mouthful of black blood. His entire body was contorted, chest smoking, his Armament Haki armor shattered long ago.
He struggled to stand, only to find his leg bones broken and his blade snapped in two. He had no strength left to fight!
The fierce light in his eyes was gone, replaced by horror.
Ace walked over slowly, the flames automatically fading from his body. He looked down coldly at Red.
"The fruit."
Red's trembling hands pulled a black lacquered wooden box from his coat. The hand offering it dripped blood, his voice hoarse. "P-Please... let me go..."
Ace took the box, his gaze icy. "The moment you attacked me—"
"A perfectly good trade turned into... my extermination mission."
"You... you... you really are a Marine?! Fire Fist Ace?!!"
Hearing this, Red was terrified beyond belief, pupils dilating as he roared with trembling lips, "Tesoro... he actually... actually cooperated with the Marines?!!"
Ace didn't respond further. He simply turned around and snapped his fingers.
"BOOM!!!"
Flames rose instantly around them, burning away all remaining resistance and screams!
A ring of blazing fire rose like a judgment of flames, scorching away all malice!
The air returned to dead silence, with only charred blackness and residual heat echoing.
The flames gradually died down, black smoke curling upward. The air still smelled of charcoal and gunpowder.
Ace stood alone in the devastated ruins, his expression calm.
He looked down at the black wooden box in his hand and gently lifted the lid.
Inside lay a strange Devil Fruit—
Its surface was covered in spiraling patterns, shaped like a cross between a snail and a pineapple. It was pale purple throughout, with several almost imperceptible ink-black veins flowing on its skin, as if it were slowly "breathing."
As if... it were alive itself.
Ace raised an eyebrow slightly, examining it for a moment, then curled his lip disdainfully. "This is the fruit Big Bro Roy was looking for?"
"Looks weird and purple... not even as good-looking as my Flame-Flame Fruit."
As he spoke, he casually closed the box, stuffed it into his coat, and turned to walk toward the small boat.
"HUM—!!!"
The next second—
A violent wind rose behind him. His Observation Haki rang like an alarm bell, and his nerves went taut instantly!
"!!!"
Ace's expression changed. Flames erupted beneath his feet, and his body flashed like a flame afterimage, moving dozens of meters away in an instant!
"BOOM—!!!"
Almost the moment he left, a massive figure, pitch-black as ink, descended from the sky like a falling meteorite!
"Five Claws: Crash!!"
"CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!!!"
The ground within a dozen meters shattered instantly, dust and crushed rock surging up. The entire deserted island seemed to tremble from this single blow!
Ace steadied himself, flames circling his shoulders. Standing at the edge of the ruins, his expression was unprecedentedly grave.
He looked up at the deep crater billowing with thick smoke, his voice low. "Who are you?"
Moments later—
From amidst the dust and smoke, a grating, rough laugh slowly emerged. "Ze—hahahaha!!!"
A thick, dark hand reached out from the rubble.
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a burly, obese dark figure slowly stood up, an indescribable fluctuation radiating from his body.
His hair was messy, mouth split open to reveal missing teeth. His entire face was written with greed, excitement, and madness.
"That fruit... that power... I've waited too long!!!"
He threw his head back, his eyes staring fixedly at the wooden box in Ace's coat. His voice sounded like an echo from the abyss.
"That fruit—is MINE!!!"
Ace's pupils contracted slightly, and he whispered, "...Are you talking in your sleep?"
The smile on Blackbeard's face cooled instantly.
"Hand it over, brat."
"You can't stop the destiny of this thing. It was prepared for me. Fate decided it long ago. It—"
"Is the Dark-Dark Fruit!!!"
"It belongs to Marshall D. Teach!!!"
"Oh? Yours?"
Ace extended his right hand. Flames transformed into a red dragon roaming his arm, white-hot light igniting on his knuckles.
He sneered. "If you have the ability, come and take it."
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