A gentle breeze brushed past, stirring the black hair beside Ace's ears. His expression was stern and cold.
Being caught by the Marines here was undoubtedly troublesome. What surprised him even more was that their battleship had actually managed to keep up with his speed.
But that alone wasn't a big deal. This wasn't the first time he had been pursued, surrounded, or hunted by the Marines.
"Just a little closer!"
A flicker passed through his eyes as Ace muttered softly.
He had already reduced the speed of his Striker. The moment they entered his attack range, he would unleash a thunderous blow and completely shake off this Marine force.
Time passed.
The enemy ship drew closer and closer. The golden staff mounted on its bow became increasingly dazzling.
Vaguely, Ace could make out a tall, powerfully built figure standing at the front of the battleship. The man wore a Marine uniform, and the white Marine coat behind him fluttered in the wind.
Because his head was lowered, his face couldn't be seen clearly.
"To chase me so confidently and boldly, he must be at least a Rear Admiral-level officer. He might even be a Vice Admiral." Ace murmured.
Flames ignited across his body.
With a hiss, the entire right side of his body became engulfed in fire.
Then he slightly bent his knees, a sharp light flashing through his eyes.
The distance between the two ships continued to shrink.
And that meant it was time for him to attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the wind grew stronger, rippling the sea ahead and covering its surface with shimmering waves.
At that very moment, Ace's eyes widened.
His body shot high into the air, charging toward the battleship that had finally entered his attack range.
"No matter who you are! You've got some nerve chasing my ship so openly!"
With a loud shout, Ace reached the peak of his leap and looked down from above.
Flames blazed fiercely around his right arm, rapidly gathering around his fist.
In the next instant, they expanded dramatically, taking the shape of an enormous flaming fist.
"Fire Fist!!"
The gigantic crimson fist of fire was launched with a single punch. A scorching wave of heat crashed downward. The violently burning flames instantly consumed the surrounding oxygen.
At that very moment, the man standing at the bow of the battleship slowly raised his head.
A handsome face came into view.
His eyes were bright, his features sharply defined, and a faint smile rested on his lips.
"Hisashiburi da na (Long time no see)... Ace!"
The sigh that followed caused Ace's pupils to contract violently.
Shock and disbelief filled his eyes.
That face overlapped perfectly with a distant, blurry memory buried deep within his mind. In an instant, the memories fused together, becoming the image of someone he hadn't seen for many years.
"How is that possible?!"
The enormous Fire Fist descended.
In the blink of an eye, it arrived above Kojin's head, covering part of the sky and dyeing the sea below a fiery red.
Crocodile watched calmly.
Smoker's right hand twitched slightly, but after noticing the woman beside him who looked strikingly similar to Tashigi, he relaxed again.
Buggy grinned, a trace of nostalgia appearing in his eyes.
"So it's Ace."
For a moment, it felt as though he had returned nearly twenty years into the past, seeing that toddler who wasn't even two years old.
Swish!
A figure suddenly shot upward.
Everyone looked up. Kuina had drawn the blade at her waist without anyone noticing. Her black hair danced wildly in the wind, while her eyes shone with dazzling sharpness.
Then she swung her sword.
The blade slashed downward directly toward the massive fist of fire.
Buzz!
Even space seemed to tremble.
The crimson flames were split perfectly in half.
The divided fire swept past both sides of the battleship, vaporizing the seawater and creating vast clouds of white mist.
Floating in the air, Ace's gaze remained locked firmly on that figure.
Kuina landed steadily on the deck. She sheathed her sword and stared at the man in the cowboy hat with calm, cold eyes.
Not far away, Tashigi adjusted her black-framed glasses. Her eyes were wide open, filled with admiration as she looked at Kuina.
"What an incredible female swordsman!"
And more importantly… The aura she gave off was simply too cool.
"Do you still remember me, Ace?" Kojin spoke in a deep voice.
At this moment, Ace also landed back on his Striker.
Hearing those words, his pupils contracted.
For a time, he fell silent. Sometimes, having a good memory wasn't a blessing.
Every moment he had spent with the man before him, every detail of those days, remained crystal clear even now.
"Kojin! Of course, I remember you! The man who left a regret in my childhood!"
After a long pause, Ace finally grinned.
Though he was smiling, the coldness in his eyes was unmistakable.
"A regret?" Kojin shook his head and sighed.
He truly felt guilty for failing to fulfill the promise he had made long ago.
He had promised to visit the boy again.
Yet before he knew it, more than ten years had passed.
"So then… As a Marine, are you here specifically to capture me? My dear Uncle Kojin?"
Ace lowered his stance slightly and a trace of vigilance and fighting spirit appeared between his brows.
"I only came to see what kind of person the child who used to cling to my side has become." Kojin sighed softly.
"Then you've already seen it. You can leave now." Ace replied.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." A glint flashed through Kojin's eyes as he spoke quietly.
His gaze settled on Ace.
After a brief pause, he continued.
"I remember that your dream once seemed to be becoming a Marine."
The moment those words left his mouth, Ace's expression changed drastically. Standing atop his Striker, he suddenly shouted angrily.
"Shut up! That was just childish nonsense! Now, I'm a man who will help Whitebeard reach the summit!"
Kojin fell silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"If that's truly what you think, then I'll be very disappointed, Ace."
"What? Should I become a Marine like you?" Ace sneered.
"Old Man Whitebeard is far greater than someone like you!"
"How strong Whitebeard is, and what kind of man he is… I know that better than you do, Ace." Kojin spoke in a deep voice.
"As for helping him reach the summit… I'm afraid there's not much hope left fir that. Age and old injuries have already caused him to fall from his peak."
Each sentence pierced deeply into Ace's heart, and anger quickly surfaced on his face.
"I won't allow you to speak badly about Old Man!"
Kojin paid no attention to his outburst and continued calmly.
"I once fought him. So I naturally understand far better than you what kind of situation he is facing now. The Whitebeard Pirates can no longer avoid the fate of decline and eventual dissolution."
Ace's face turned livid.
He had completely reached the limit of his patience.
"You dare talk about Old Man like that?!"
"You dare talk about the Whitebeard Pirates like that?!"
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
He roared furiously.
Flames erupted from his body as he instantly charged toward the battleship.
"And who are you?"
"How strong do you think you are?"
Kojin sighed softly as he watched Ace arrive before him in an instant.
"The truth is often difficult to accept, but this is Whitebeard's fate, and your fate..."
Ace's eyes seemed to burn with fire.
Years of accumulated emotions, along with the anger provoked by Kojin's words about Whitebeard, erupted all at once and condensed into a blazing fist.
"Fire Fist!"
Kojin raised a hand.
Extending a single finger above his head, he spoke slowly.
"...was also decided long ago."
As his words fell, the crimson Fire Fist collided with that outstretched finger.
Buzz!
The entire battleship trembled slightly as ripples spread outward.
Buggy grinned and let out a mocking laugh. "He actually dared attack him. That's some courage."
"Ace, do you really think your strength is enough to challenge an Admiral?" Smoker also spoke coldly.
Crocodile exhaled a mouthful of smoke and silently observed everything unfolding before him.
At that moment, Ace hovered in midair.
Flames swirled around his fist, but the shock and gravity on his face had completely replaced his earlier rage.
That punch had contained all of his fury.
He hadn't held back at all, and its power was enough to destroy more than a dozen battleships with a single blow.
Yet it had been stopped by one finger.
That casual gesture resembled an insurmountable abyss standing firmly before him.
"How... is this possible?!" Ace was horrified.
The power Kojin displayed so effortlessly was almost on the same level as Old Man himself.
"Every belief and every dream requires strength to protect it, and your strength... still isn't enough, Ace."
Kojin spoke quietly.
His finger withdrew.
Then it bent slightly before flicking outward casually.
Bang!
The flick instantly struck Ace's flaming fist.
A look of horror appeared on Ace's face as his body was forcibly knocked backward.
"You want to attack me. But have you truly prepared yourself for that?"
The calm words echoed beside his ears.
Ace suddenly raised his head and stared fixedly at the tall figure before him. Taking a deep breath, he forced down the shock in his heart.
So many years had passed.
From a two-year-old child, he had grown into the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Naturally, he had heard countless stories and legends about the man before him.
Whether it was Marco, Jozu, or Vista, whenever they mentioned Kojin, their expressions would become serious.
All of them described him as a Marine who must never be made an enemy.
Their words made one thing abundantly clear… This man was terrifyingly powerful.
"You raised your fist. But because of stories you've heard and so-called truths you've never witnessed yourself, you've fallen into hesitation and doubt. Is this what you've become now, Ace?" Kojin's voice rang out once more.
Ace's body trembled.
His fists clenched tightly as flames erupted around him again.
Kojin was right.
Once a fist had been raised, there should be no fear and no hesitation.
"Because of a few negative words about Whitebeard, you became enraged. You attacked someone who was once family. Is this the cold-hearted nature you've developed after becoming a pirate?"
Another question struck him.
The fist Ace had just raised trembled once more.
For a moment, he didn't know what to do. Those eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through every thought hidden within his heart.
"Come on. Let me see how much you've learned under that old man Whitebeard." Kojin smiled faintly.
Ace tightened his fists.
This time, he no longer hesitated.
With a loud roar, he charged forward once again.
(End of Chapter)
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