Shirogai's cold words echoed ominously in Ace's mind.
"Everyone you love... will be dragged into the Reaper's feast."
"The Whitebeard Pirates will fall because of you."
Ace stared at Shirogai, unsure how to respond.
A heavy silence hung between them.
That look on Shirogai's face... it was like he knew more than he was letting on.
Could he know the truth about ... about my birth?
But before Ace could probe deeper—
"Enough talk. Let's keep playing."
Shirogai's body once again ignited in raging black flas.
With a grin, he raised one burning fist, the Eternal Fla swirling around his knuckles. He mimicked a punch so familiar that Ace instantly recognized it.
"Demonic Fla Punch."
Ace's eyes narrowed.
"He's... copying ?"
Flas exploded around Ace's arm in response. He drew back his fist and launched forward.
"Fire Fist!"
The black flas launched first, growing larger mid-flight. Crimson flas t them head-on in a devastating clash.
WHOOSH!
The explosion was blinding. Heatwaves surged, tearing through the desert, sending rocks flying. Trees on the outskirts of town burst into flas from sheer temperature alone.
BOOM!!
Black and red flas devoured one another, erupting in twin mushroom clouds that spiraled into the sky.
The shockwave rippled across the sand, rocking the ground beneath them like a quake.
"Ahhhh! It exploded!"
"There are pirates fighting! Everyone run!"
"Sobody call Crocodile-sama! There's chaos in the city!"
Panic spread through Alabasta like wildfire. Civilians scread, scattering in every direction.
"Hey! You two are going too far!" Smoker's voice rang out. "Reel it in! Innocent people are nearby!"
He transford into a massive smoke cloud, trying to separate them.
Despite everything, Smoker didn't move to ambush Shirogai. A part of him still admired the pirate—though he'd never admit it.
This could've been my shot to take him down, Smoker thought.
But it didn't feel right. Not like this. Not two against one.
That wasn't the kind of justice he believed in.
But Shirogai sneered, clearly disappointed.
"Smoker, you really are a letdown. For 'justice,' you'd rather not work with a pirate?"
He shot into the sky. In his hands, a pitch-black fireball began forming—growing rapidly in size and intensity.
It pulsed with ominous power.
Below him, Ace and Smoker tensed.
"You still want to act proud?" Shirogai called out coldly. "Arrogance belongs to the strong. The weak have nothing."
The black fireball expanded.
Five ters.
Seven.
Ten.
Its gravity was palpable.
"This is bad," Smoker muttered, staring upward. "You wouldn't... you wouldn't really destroy an entire town?!"
"You've lost your mind!" he shouted. "I misjudged you!"
Smoker turned into a pillar of smoke, trying to reach the fireball.
But he already knew—it was too late.
Ace also stared up, crimson flas rising around him.
He didn't need to be told what was coming. He'd played with fire long enough to know.
If that fireball hits, the entire town is gone.
Buildings would be reduced to rubble. Civilians who hadn't escaped in ti—burned alive.
He clenched his fists.
This can't happen.
Ace had never considered himself a hero. He wasn't soft. Not like Luffy.
But he had his own rules.
Maybe it was the influence of his grandfather, Garp. Maybe it was just who he was.
But when ordinary people were in danger, Ace didn't hesitate.
His crew used to joke about it—called him "The Marine who joined the wrong ship."
Now, he and Smoker exchanged a glance.
There was no need for words.
They both knew they had to stop it.
Shirogai smirked from above and hurled the fireball.
"Die, insects."
[Great Fla Commandnt: Fla Emperor]
[Modified Technique: Demonic Fla – Dark Prison Fla Emperor]
The black mass descended like a curse from the heavens.
The ground beneath it cracked. Cals and livestock, tied nearby, were roasted in seconds.
"MOVE!"
Smoker roared.
"I'll slow it down! You launch it into the sea!"
The two had never coordinated before, but their timing was perfect.
"Fire Blast!"
Ace launched upward, flas jetting from his body as he flew.
He caught the fireball mid-air, releasing an intense stream of flas to try and contain it.
"Not working!" he gritted his teeth. "It's absorbing my fire!"
Then—Ace made a decision.
He dropped all defense.
"Full-body Fla Form! BURN!!"
His entire body transford into a living inferno, wrapping himself completely around the fireball.
He scread in pain—but didn't let go.
The fireball slowed.
Below, Smoker spread his smoke wide, stretching his control beyond his limit.
He gritted his teeth.
"Co on..."
White smoke ford two massive hands.
A thin coating of Armant Haki spread over them—barely visible, but there.
Smoker clenched his jaw.
"Got it... now THROW IT!"
"On it!"
Ace, gasping for air, jetted backward.
Smoker's smoke-hands caught the fireball.
"Ugh... too heavy...!"
"Then I'll help!"
Ace rocketed below the hands, his fists igniting, Haki covering his arms.
Together, they heaved upward.
Smoker roared:
"White: Twin-Hand Throw!"
With a final scream, the Demonic Fla – Dark Prison Fla Emperor was hurled toward the distant sea.
SSSSSSHHHHHH—!!
The black teor tore through the sky.
Far ahead, a fleet of Baroque Works ships was chasing the Going rry.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
"It's gonna hit us!"
"Abandon ship! JUMP!"
The agents scread as the fireball grew closer.
BOOOOOM!!
A deafening blast erupted across the ocean.
The sea trembled. A huge vortex exploded outward, tossing ships like toys.
The sea boiled.
The entire Baroque Works fleet was vaporized—reduced to nothing but smoke, ash, and scattered debris.
The sky turned white with steam.
A hemisphere of ocean had been erased.
...
Minutes passed.
Eventually, the clouds parted, revealing the vacuud space slowly filling back in with water.
Back on the Going rry, the Straw Hats were stunned into silence.
Behind them, the sea was still hissing.
Usopp leaned against the railing, trembling.
"Ahaha... just so you know... I... I summoned that teor."
Chopper blinked. "Whoa! That was you?! You're amazing, Usopp!"
"Of course! Those small fry didn't even need to step in, usually!"
Usopp started to believe it himself.
Chopper nodded, completely sold. "So you're the strongest on the crew?"
"Damn right!"
The others rolled their eyes.
Nobody believed Usopp's nonsense—except Chopper.
If anyone had summoned that "teor," it was Shirogai.
And as if on cue—
A calm voice echoed above them.
"Yo... I'm back."
---
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters.
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