"Ace, are you really alright?"
Even though Ace himself said he was fine, Garp could not help worrying.
He had never seen a situation like this before. Normally, Devil Fruit users only complained that their fruit tasted like absolute garbage when they first ate it, but they did not suffer the kind of intense pain Ace had just gone through.
Since Ace insisted he was alright, Garp truly did not know what to do except hope that the boy would get through the pain as quickly as possible.
"Mr. Garp, please rest assured. I feel a good connection with Ace. I would never harm him."
Seeing how tense Garp was, Amon nodded to him, making it clear he had no intention of hurting Ace.
"Hmph. This old man will trust you for now."
Since both Amon and Ace had said the same thing, Garp reluctantly lowered his fist.
However, he stayed on high alert. If Amon made even the slightest wrong move, Garp was ready to strike at once.
While the two of them spoke, Makino had her hands clasped tightly together, silently praying for Ace.
She really was a gentle and kind-hearted girl.
Chief Woop Slap stood next to her, staring at Ace with a tense expression, as if afraid something terrible might happen at any second.
Sabo and Luffy were just as worried about Ace's condition, though Luffy clearly handled it better than Sabo.
First, Luffy's nerves were simply thicker. Second, he trusted Amon. Since Amon had said Ace would be fine, then in Luffy's heart, Ace would definitely be fine.
Time ticked slowly by.
Just as Garp was about to lose patience and ask again, the red glow surrounding Ace finally faded. The twisted pain on his face relaxed, the sweat on his skin dried up and vanished, and at last, he opened the eyes he had kept tightly shut.
"Ace!"
The moment he woke, everyone surged toward him in concern.
"Ace, how do you feel?"
"Hehe, I feel great."
Ace's gaze was sharp when he first opened his eyes. But when he saw everyone's worried faces, his expression softened.
"Mr. Amon, I will never forget your kindness."
He bowed to Amon once more, showing his respect with real sincerity.
"Hahaha, I already told you, I am just a merchant who sells jars. What comes out of them is entirely up to fate. I am happy you managed to draw such good items. As long as you are fine, that is what matters. Otherwise, your grandpa here really would take my life."
Amon patted Ace's shoulder.
The truth was, he had been a little scared himself just now. If Ace had suddenly dropped dead, Garp would never have let him go.
Even if the ship made him invincible while on board, he could not stay on it for the rest of his life.
And even if Garp could not kill him outright, there were plenty of other ways to make someone miserable.
"Ahem, I behaved rudely earlier."
Hearing Amon say that, Garp realized how he had acted and felt somewhat embarrassed. He coughed lightly, then apologized.
"Hehe, as long as Ace is alright, it is fine."
Amon had not been happy with Garp's attitude earlier, but he also understood that everything was for Ace's sake.
Besides, once someone had apologized, it would be petty not to give them face.
"Hahahaha, I really did not misjudge you."
Garp, seeing Amon accept his apology, laughed happily and slapped him on the shoulder again.
He was, by nature, a very straightforward and hearty person. Luffy's personality had clearly been influenced by him.
But that slap hurt like hell.
Amon was still just an ordinary person. Being hit like that left him feeling more than a little sore.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing Amon's awkward expression, Garp only laughed louder.
The cloud that had been hanging over his mood because of Ace evaporated instantly.
'You old fossil, you are really something. Just you wait, I am writing this down in my little notebook. I will get you back for this.'
Realizing Garp had done it on purpose, Amon could not help cursing him in his heart.
"Right, Ace, you have already fused with that strange flame, right? Can you show us its power?"
Now that Ace was clearly fine, Sabo finally relaxed and could not help asking to see the flame in action.
"Yeah, Ace, I want to see it too!"
Luffy was just as excited, bouncing on his feet. He could not wait to see what Ace's new ability looked like.
"Alright."
Ace's eyes flashed. He wanted to test the power of the Magic Flame just as much as they did.
"Try it below the ship."
Seeing Ace ready to unleash his new strength, Amon hurriedly suggested they move away.
Even if his ship had superb defense, the Magic Flame was too dangerous. If it accidentally set the ship on fire, that would be a disaster.
"Got it."
Ace now held Amon in high regard. Hearing his suggestion, he did not hesitate and immediately jumped off the ship.
Luffy and Sabo followed him down, while the others remained on deck to watch.
"Alright, I am starting."
Ace ran to a spot far from the ship, then focused. His eyes sharpened, and an instant later, blue-green flames erupted over the surface of his body.
The moment the fire appeared, everyone felt a wave of heat wash over them.
Even from this distance, the temperature was terrifying. If they were to face it up close, they would probably be burned alive.
"So cool. That is amazing!"
As a rubber man, Luffy's resistance to heat was better than most people's. Coupled with his excitement, he did not feel oppressed by the heat at all.
Instead, his eyes glittered like stars, full of awe and admiration.
"Hah!"
With a low shout, Ace gathered all the flames around his body into one of his fists, compressing the Magic Flame into a blazing mass.
Then, he launched a punch toward the distant sea.
Boom!
A deafening explosion split the air.
Under the blow of the fiery fist, the distant surface of the sea shook violently, as if struck by a massive bomb.
Under the erosion of the Magic Flame's absurd temperature, a huge circular hole appeared in the sea, more than ten meters wide.
The seawater in that area had been burned away.
Everyone stared, completely stunned by the destruction caused by Ace's punch.
Their eyes were wide, their mouths half open, as if they had forgotten how to speak.