Akainu advanced toward Luffy step by step. The suffocating pressure he exuded made Ivankov's face turn pale. Facing a Marine Admiral alone was far beyond his limits.
Akainu spoke as he closed the distance, his voice cold and steady. Luffy, the son of Monkey D. Dragon, was one of his primary targets. As for Garp, Akainu had no concern for his feelings.
"Ivankov, hand over Dragon's son. Do that, and I will let you leave safely. I will not report anything either. No one will know about you or Monkey D. Luffy."
Ivankov forced a conflicted expression, pretending to hesitate as he tried to buy ti.
Akainu had no intention of waiting for an answer.
"Hound Blaze."
A massive magma hound surged forward. Ivankov barely had ti to react before it struck him head-on. The extre heat scorched his face, steam rising as if his flesh were being cooked. He crashed to the ground, rolling in pain before going still.
Luffy struggled to his feet, panic in his voice.
"Iva-chan, are you okay?"
"Do not waste your breath, Monkey D. Luffy. Worry about yourself instead. First your brother drew Whitebeard into a trap, and now you will serve as bait for Dragon. The two of you have done quite a service for the Marines."
Akainu continued forward. Luffy, exhausted and injured, had nowhere to escape.
Suddenly, Ivankov sprang up again.
"Newkama Kenpo, Face Growth, Wink!"
A thick, burned layer peeled from his face as he lunged forward. His sharpened nails slashed toward Akainu, but against a magma body, they were useless. The heat destroyed most of his nails on contact.
Even so, the attack forced Akainu to shift his attention.
"Ivankov, you should have stayed down. These tricks will not save you."
Ivankov swallowed hard, feeling the crushing pressure head-on.
"Luffy-boy, run. I cannot hold him for long."
"Iva-chan…"
Before Luffy could respond further, a torrent of flas surged across the battlefield, swallowing Akainu entirely.
"Fire Fist!"
A figure shot forward, propelled by flas. Ace arrived in a rush, placing himself between Luffy and danger.
"Luffy, are you alright?"
"I am fine… I just need food."
Ace let out a brief, helpless smile.
"You never change."
The flas gradually faded.
Akainu stepped out from within them, completely unhard. He had not even bothered to defend or use Haki.
Ace's expression shifted instantly.
"That was my full power… and you are untouched?"
Akainu remained composed, his voice filled with quiet contempt.
"Fire Fist Ace, you are too ignorant. My Magu Magu no Mi surpasses your ra ra no Mi. Your flas will always be inferior. No matter how hard you try, you cannot harm ."
The words struck deeply.
If that were true, then avenging Whitebeard would be impossible.
Ace clenched his fist, refusing to accept it. Flas gathered again, his arm glowing red-hot as he charged forward.
Akainu watched with a faint smile. Whether his claim was entirely true or not did not matter. Ace was already shaken, and a shaken opponent made mistakes.
Their fists collided.
Magma overwheld fire in an instant.
Ace was blasted backward, completely outmatched. Before he could recover, another magma fist ca crashing down. He barely managed to block, but the impact burned his arms severely. They trembled violently as pain shot through them.
A user of the Fla-Fla Fruit, burned by magma.
The reality shattered Ace's confidence.
Akainu lood before him, his shadow cutting off the light.
"So this is the son of Gol D. Roger. Disappointing. It seems Roger's legend was nothing more than exaggeration. Let teach you one final lesson, Portgas D. Ace."
Luffy forced out a hoarse shout.
"Ace, watch out!"
Ivankov unleashed a series of Death Wink attacks, but the shockwaves barely affected Akainu, only stirring the magma around him.
Akainu raised his fist again, aiming directly for Ace's head. This ti, he intended to end it.
A hand suddenly caught his arm mid-strike.
The magma burned intensely, yet it failed to damage the one who stopped it.
Aether stood there.
"Akainu, Ace does not need your guidance. Whether he is capable or not is none of your concern."
Akainu's pupils shrank. He had not even noticed Aether's approach. Whether it was a lapse in his focus or Aether's overwhelming presence, the result was the sa.
He slowly turned his head, eting Aether's gaze.
"Gol D. Roger, you belong to the past. Do you still think this era bends to your will?"
Aether smiled faintly, his tone light, almost mocking.
"Whether it does or not, you can find out yourself, Akainu."
The air grew heavy.
Despite being shorter, Aether's presence pressed down on Akainu.
===
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