"So this is all you've got, Ace? That's honestly disappointing."
Yunan looked at Ace with indifference, his voice calm and flat.
"You forced my hand."
A cold gleam flashed through Ace's eyes as his body gradually transformed into roaring flames.
The air around him visibly warped, scorched and distorted by the terrifying heat.
"So you've finally decided to use your ability?"
"Come on—let me see what the Flame-Flame Fruit can really do."
Yunan curled his lips into a smile and crooked a finger at Ace.
"You'll regret provoking me, brat!"
"Fire Fist!"
The moment the words fell, Ace leapt high into the air.
Both arms transformed into massive, blazing flames as he swung a devastating punch downward toward Yunan!
A violent wave of fire—carrying thunderous force—howled through the air as it shot straight at him.
Everything in its path seemed to burn and twist, the air itself scorched into distortion.
"Playing with fire isn't something only you can do."
Facing the raging flames charging toward him like a mad beast, Yunan remained rooted in place, making no attempt to dodge.
Only when the flames were about to descend did he speak calmly:
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The instant he finished speaking, an equally violent surge of flames erupted from Yunan's mouth!
The blazing torrent condensed midair into a massive fireball, surging upward to collide head-on with Ace's attack!
"BOOOOM!!!"
The two infernos slammed into each other violently in the sky.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, sweeping across the island in every direction.
Trees were ripped from the ground by their roots, sand and stones hurled high into the air under the overwhelming force!
"How is this possible?! Why can he use fire too?!"
"Don't tell me there's a second Flame-Flame Fruit?!"
Ace's pupils shrank violently, his mouth hanging open as if he had seen a ghost.
What was happening before him had completely shattered his understanding.
After several breaths, the sky slowly returned to calm—the Fire Fist and the Great Fireball both dissipated into nothingness.
"What kind of ability user are you?!"
Ace stared at Yunan, his voice filled with shock.
"What kind of ability user am I?"
"Hm… if I had to say, you could call it a Ninjutsu Fruit, I guess."
Yunan rested his chin on his hand, thinking for a moment before answering.
"Ninjutsu Fruit? What kind of thing is that? I've never heard of it."
Ace frowned deeply, searching his memory in vain.
"Forget it. I'm done fighting."
"You're not my opponent."
Yunan waved his hand dismissively and turned as if to leave.
"Stop right there!"
"If you don't tell me where Blackbeard is today, you're not going anywhere!"
Ace roared.
Flames erupted violently around him, surging and raging outward from his body.
"You're really stubborn, Fire Fist…"
Yunan sighed helplessly.
"There's no way I'm losing to some guy on a nameless island like this!"
"If you've got the guts, take this head-on!"
In the next instant, massive spiraling rings of fire erupted around Ace.
The flames expanded rapidly before converging upward, gathering high in the sky.
Moments later, a colossal fireball brimming with terrifying destructive power formed above him.
"So you're going all out now, huh."
Yunan lifted his eyelids slightly, a trace of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
"Anyone who stands in the way of me finding Blackbeard"
"will not be forgiven!"
"Great Flame Ring · Flame Emperor!"
Ace roared as he hurled the massive fireball straight down at Yunan!
The overwhelming power carried by the Flame Emperor churned the sky into violent turbulence, relentlessly pressing down upon him.
As the fireball descended, trees and grass around Yunan were instantly incinerated by the extreme heat.
"That's some serious power."
"But it's still not enough to defeat me."
Facing the incoming Flame Emperor, Yunan took a deep breath and calmly spoke:
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The moment the words fell, a terrifying high-pressure storm blasted from Yunan's mouth!
In an instant, everything around him—towering trees several meters thick, massive boulders weighing tens of thousands of pounds—was swept violently into the sky!
The roaring storm surged forward and smashed head-on into the descending Flame Emperor!!
"RUMBLE—ROOOAR!!!"
The high-pressure shockwave pierced straight through the massive fireball!
The flames were ripped apart and dragged into chaotic turbulence, completely losing control.
In mere moments, the once-condensed Flame Emperor collapsed, its fire scattering like a routed army.
Under the relentless storm, the flames were swallowed and erased entirely!
Moments later, the fearsome Great Flame Ring · Flame Emperor was completely annihilated.
The entire island was left in utter devastation—nearly half of its forests reduced to ashes and rubble from the clash.
...
"My Flame Emperor… lost…"
Watching his strongest attack be utterly destroyed, Ace stood frozen in place.
The man before him had brought him far too many shocks to comprehend.
"Damn it… I refuse to accept this…"
Exhausted beyond his limits, Ace finally collapsed backward, slamming into the ground.