Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 33: The Contest of Fire and Wind
East Blue, 16th Branch of the Marines base.
In a messy office, the rat-faced Marine Captain, "Nezumi," was hunched over a greasy desk, a giant suitcase wide open. Inside were neat stacks of brand-new Beri!
"Heheh... hehehehe..."
Captain Nezumi let out a deeply unsettling laugh. He reached out a scrawny hand, caressing the bills over and over as if they were a lover. He even grabbed a stack, put it under his nose, and took a deep breath, his face showing a sick intoxication.
"Ah... this smell!"
"The smell of money! It's so f*cking fragrant!"
Just then, Outlook's old butler stood quietly at the office door.
He wore a meticulous tuxedo, completely out of place in this filthy environment. He frowned slightly, holding a handkerchief to his nose, his eyes filled with unconcealed contempt.
"Captain."
The butler spoke coldly.
"It seems the payment is correct."
"Correct! Of course it's correct!"
Nezumi snapped his head up, his small eyes glittering with greed. He looked at the butler, his face wrinkled with a smile.
"Five million Beri! Not one short! Send my regards to Lord Outlook! He's truly a generous man! Hehehe!"
The butler completely ignored his enthusiasm. His voice was still flat, but it carried an undeniable pressure.
"My master wishes to hear the news he wants to hear within a week."
"I know, I know! What's the rush!"
Nezumi waved his hand impatiently. He snapped the money-filled suitcase shut with a Pak!, hugged it tightly, kicked his chair back, and propped his legs on the desk.
He dug in his ear with his pinky and said nonchalantly, "Who do you think I am? I'm a Marine Captain. I catch guys like that by the dozen every day."
The butler finally nodded, satisfied, but the contempt in his eyes didn't lessen. "Very good."
He turned to leave, tossing a light remark behind him.
"I look forward to your good news, Captain Nezumi."
Mt. Colubo, cliff summit.
Whoosh! The wind howled, sweeping up a cloud of leaves.
"Here I coooome!"
Luffy's signature goofy laugh cut through the air. He spread his arms and leaped from the cliff's edge without hesitation!
Behind him, a pair of dark red Wings of Gliding shwhii! snapped open! He shot like an arrow toward the dense forest below!
"That idiot!"
Ace pouted. He cursed, but his body honestly followed, jumping off.
A pair of brighter, flame-like red Wings of Gliding unfurled behind him. His glide was much more stable and swift than Luffy's.
Last was Sabo.
He wore his goggles, glanced at his brothers who were now two small black dots below, and a helpless smile touched his lips.
Pale cyan Wings of Gliding spread, and like an elegant bird, he followed in the most stable glide.
These past few days, the three brothers had basically treated the nearby pirates as mobile ATMs! They'd catch them, send them to the Marine branch, and trade the Beri for a chance to enter the dungeon, not keeping a single coin.
That guy Blake had gotten smart, too. The first time was a grand opening special: one million Beri for all three. Now? The price was clearly marked, no deception: one million Beri per head! Want in? Fine, three million Beri on the table.
This directly led to the brothers' hunting becoming even crazier. It got to the point where pirates in the nearby waters paled at the words "Mt. Colubo." They would rather take a long detour than approach this demonic mountain forest.
Deep in the forest at the foot of the mountain, in a clearing. The atmosphere was tense!
Ace and Sabo faced each other, their auras rising steadily.
Luffy was squatting on a large rock nearby, holding a huge, freshly roasted Sea King leg. His mouth was stuffed full as he mumbled, "Go! Ace! Sabo! Whoever wins, I'll give him half my meat!"
"Shut up! Keep your meat!"
Ace growled. He took a hard step forward, clenched his right fist, and twisted his waist!
Boom! A scorching, violent flame instantly exploded from his fist! It wasn't a Devil Fruit power. It was the purer, more condensed elemental power from his Vision!
"Fire Fist!"
Ace roared, throwing the punch!
The pillar of flame, like a roaring dragon, tore through the air with unstoppable power, shooting straight at Sabo's face!
Facing this violent strike, Sabo's eyes were sharp, but he showed no panic. He slammed his hands together in front of him!
"Wind Vortex!"
Cyan Anemo power gathered in his palms, forming a high-speed, spinning, verdant orb!
He pushed it forward! The orb expanded in the wind, turning into a raging tornado that slammed into Ace's Fire Fist!
BOOM! The collision of fire and wind set off a violent roar!
Scorching sparks and wild currents of air spread out, plowing charred trenches in the ground!
Luffy was blown back by the shockwave, nearly losing his meat. He quickly shielded it with his body, his eyes shining with excitement. "Whoa! So cool!"
A figure shot out of the smoke! It was Sabo!
He was stepping on the wind, moving like a phantom to Ace's side. A longsword condensed from pure Anemo had appeared in his hand.
"Your fire is too direct, Ace!"
Sabo's voice was calm. The wind blade in his hand slashed mercilessly at Ace's neck.
"Less crap!"
Ace roared, his reaction shockingly fast! He ducked, narrowly avoiding the wind blade, while simultaneously wrapping his left elbow in flames and jabbing it backward!
Bang!
Sabo raised his arm to block. He was sent flying by the force, but did a perfect flip in the air and landed steadily.
The air between them distorted from the high heat and fast-moving currents.
Their chests heaved as they panted, but the fighting spirit in their eyes burned even hotter.
"Again!"
Ace growled, flames rising from his fists!
"Suits me fine!"
Sabo grinned. A gale howled around him, sweeping all the leaves off the ground and into the air!
The standoff between them made the air feel thick!
Luffy stared from the side, forgetting to even chew the meat in his mouth. He mumbled, "It's coming... it's coming..."
"Warm-up's over, Sabo!"
Ace stomped his foot, cracking the ground. He gave an arrogant grin.
"Next, I'll show you!"
"The fighting style of a Knight that I just learned!"
Sabo adjusted his goggles, his lips curling up.
"I'd like to see you try!"
"I'll also show you what real elemental control is! Your brutish method is a total waste!"
"So much crap!"
Ace roared, leaning forward and shooting off like a cannonball!
He didn't attack directly with his fist. While charging, he swung his right hand!
"Searing Onslaught!"
Hisss! A blade of pure fire, several meters long, appeared from nothing!
It carried a scorching heat as it swept toward Sabo's waist!
This was the Knights of Favonius combat skill he had learned from clearing the dungeon again! Condensing elemental power into a weapon!
"Nice!"
Sabo advanced instead of retreating. His hands formed a complex seal as he shouted:
"Astable Anemohypostasis Creation - 6308!"
Whoosh! A small, verdant tornado formed in front of him, precisely blocking the fire blade!
Wind fuels fire! The fire blade was sucked into the tornado. Instead of being extinguished, it turned the entire vortex into a spinning firestorm!
"Your moves only make me stronger!" Ace laughed wildly, already on his second step, swinging his left hand. "Second slash!"
Another, even more solid, fire blade!
Sabo's eyes narrowed. Wind gusted at his feet, and he drifted back a dozen meters, narrowly avoiding the attack!
Boom! The fire blade struck the empty ground, splitting it open with a deep, charred trench!
"Not done!"
Ace pressed his advantage, leaping high, clasping his fists together, and smashing down at Sabo!
"Third slash! Incinerate!"
Two fire blades crossed into an 'X', like a giant net of fire, falling from above! It sealed all of Sabo's escape routes!
"You think you've won?"
Facing this, Sabo showed no panic. He even smiled, as if his plan had worked.
He slammed his right hand on the ground!
"Skyward Sonnet!"
BOOM! A massive pillar of cyan wind erupted from where Sabo stood!
The violent updraft shattered Ace's fire-cross, and sent Ace himself flying dozens of meters into the air!
"What?!"
Ace was in mid-air with no leverage, his body out of control!
"Ace! A fight isn't just about brute force!"
Sabo's voice came from below. He looked up at Ace, as if looking at a caged beast.
"In my wind, you're just a target!"
He spread his arms, and more Anemo power gathered.
"Damn it!"
Ace roared in the air. He twisted his body, and flames shot from his feet!
He actually used the propulsion from the flames to stabilize himself in mid-air! "Don't underestimate me, Sabo!"
Ace slammed his fists together, creating a blinding shower of sparks!
"The Knight's ultimate!"
"Dawn!"
SCREEE! A clear phoenix cry echoed through the sky!
A giant firebird, made of pure flame with a wingspan over ten meters, formed behind Ace!
It flapped its burning wings, diving at Sabo with an aura that would incinerate everything!
The temperature of the entire forest rose sharply!
"Is that your real power, Ace!"
Sabo's eyes burned with fighting spirit, and he laughed.
"Then let me show you!"
"The power of the Anemo Archon!"
He threw his hands up!
"Wind's Grand Ode!"
A howling gale converged above him, forming a massive, spinning, verdant wind vortex that pulled at everything!
Inside the vortex, countless cyan wind blades sliced madly, creating a domain of absolute destruction!
The next second. The burning firebird and the verdant wind vortex slammed into each other!