Aether's appearance allowed the three people present to finally breathe again.
Ace stared at the man in front of him, his expression blank as a strange emotion rose in his chest. With this man here, they were safe.
No matter how much Ace had once hated the na of Gol D. Roger, he had still co to understand the man over the years. Both the Old Man and Pops would occasionally speak about Roger when recalling the past.
All of that built a fixed image in Ace's heart. Roger was strong, so strong that even Monkey D. Garp and Edward Newgate never claid they could defeat him.
Now that Pops was gone, a strange sense of security took root in Ace's heart.
Akainu felt the five fingers gripping his arm tighten. The man before him could ignore his magma body and seize his true form directly. That level of Haki was even interfering with his ability to transform.
He could not hesitate.
"igo."
His entire body erupted into magma as he launched a counterattack.
Facing the incoming blow, Aether reacted as if he had already seen it. The mont the magma fist surged forward, he tilted his head slightly and avoided it with precision. Only a few strands of his hair curled from the heat.
Under Akainu's gaze, Aether's pupils turned dark red. His other hand drew the dark-red blade, Ace. Lightning flickered, and a slash of crimson sword energy burst forward.
"God's Evasion."
A violent explosion followed.
Akainu's body was sent flying, crashing through a reinforced turret. When the dust settled, a deep wound stretched across his chest. Blood soaked through his uniform, making the red of his suit appear even darker.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The damage he had taken from Whitebeard's final monts had already been severe. Now, after taking that attack head-on, his body felt heavy.
Even so, Sakazuki stood back up.
Step by step, he advanced again.
As long as he still lived, retreat was not an option.
[SS-rank character Akainu has generated negative emotions toward the Host, High Hostility; Reward: 50,000 EXP]
[SS-rank character Ace has generated positive emotions toward the Host, High Friendliness; Reward: 50,000 EXP]
[Significantly altered the fate of SS-rank character Ace; Reward: 50,000 Points]
[Level Up: Level 76 (13369/700000) 19]
The system notifications made Aether glance at Ace.
SS-rank.
Considering the situation, it made sense. Although Ace's strength was only around the upper-middle level of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, not quite on the level of Donquixote Doflamingo, the circumstances had changed.
He had escaped execution, and Whitebeard had fallen.
If nothing disrupted his growth, it was only a matter of ti before Ace beca the strongest mber of the Whitebeard Pirates. His reputation across the seas might even surpass that of Marco.
After all, Marco was already past his pri growth years.
More importantly, the na of the Pirate King had resurfaced. As Roger's only bloodline, Ace's fa would rise rapidly.
System Attribute Template
[Host: Augustus D. Aether]
[Age: 26]
[Level: 76 (13369/700000) 19]
[Strength: Peak Admiral Level, Buff Active]
[Constitution: Peak Admiral Level, Buff Active]
[Agility: Peak Admiral Level, Buff Active]
[Devil Fruit: None]
[Technique: Top-tier]
[Armant Haki: Peak, Buff Active]
[Observation Haki: Peak, Voice of All Things]
[Conqueror's Haki: Peak]
[Weapon: Ace]
[Points: 151368]
Aether felt the change imdiately.
His Armant Haki had reached a new level. Even for him, the improvent was noticeable. This was a height very few had ever reached.
In the past, Roger had relied heavily on his Conqueror's Haki, which led him to neglect further refinent of his Armant Haki. Because of that, he never fully stepped into this level.
Those who reached the peak of Armant Haki were rare. At that level, it could even withstand clashes against advanced Conqueror's Haki without collapsing.
One example was Zephyr, the forr Marine Admiral known as Black Arm. With only his physical strength and peak Armant Haki, he had reached Admiral-level combat power.
Aether flexed his arm slightly as Haki flickered across it. His gaze settled on Akainu.
His aura was unstable, and his injuries were serious. Whitebeard's final attacks had done more damage than expected.
At that mont, Emporio Ivankov stepped closer, and a thought ford in Aether's mind.
He imdiately called out.
"Fire Fist Ace, why are you still standing here? Take your brother and leave. Do you plan to keep fighting?"
"I... you..."
Ace hesitated, clearly unsettled. Sothing about Aether's presence made it difficult for him to respond naturally.
In the end, he grabbed Monkey D. Luffy and rushed toward the ship.
From a distance, the battlefield had shifted. Silvers Rayleigh had already destroyed the Pacifistas and joined forces with others to force back Kuzan. The tide was turning.
As Ace was leaving, Aether spoke again.
"That supre grade blade, Ace, was originally ant for you. It seems you were not destined to wield it."
Ace paused.
He did not fully understand the aning behind those words, but he did not dwell on it.
"I don't need a weapon. Keep it."
Aether let out a light laugh.
"Stubborn as expected."
The two brothers continued on without looking back.
Now, only Ivankov remained.
Aether stepped closer and made a suggestion that imdiately made Ivankov shake his head.
"No, absolutely not. If I do that, Akainu will hunt for the rest of my life. Being targeted by a Marine Admiral is not sothing I can handle."
Aether tilted his head slightly, his tone almost playful.
"Don't you want to make him pay?"
Ivankov hesitated.
"That... still feels like a bad idea."
Aether's voice softened, almost like a whisper drawing him in.
"It was my plan. If he wants revenge, he will co for first. You will be fine. Besides, do you not want your na to spread across the world? The Revolutionary Army officer, the Okama King, Ivankov."
Ivankov swallowed.
Looking at Akainu's injured state, the possibility no longer seed impossible.
"…Alright."
Before they could say more, Akainu had already reached them. Both of his arms transford into flowing magma.
"Great Eruption."
A massive fist of magma, nearly ten ters wide, surged forward.
Aether raised his blade and blocked it directly. The weapon held firm, stopping the attack in place as magma burst outward in all directions.
The battlefield trembled as two top-tier forces collided.
Even in his injured state, Akainu was still overwhelming. The difference in their condition only placed him at a slight disadvantage.
Nearby, Ivankov did not interfere.
He watched carefully, waiting.
He only needed one opportunity.
User Comments
0 comments from readers