Boom!
A sudden explosion of heatwaves erupted, surging outward in all directions, filling the sky with thick steam that billowed upward.
Below, in the deep crater carved out by Ace's fierce strike, Marco was panting heavily. His entire body was engulfed in the Phoenix's Resurrection Flames.
His injuries, almost shattered to pieces moments before, were rapidly healing under the terrifying regenerative power of the Phoenix fruit.
Soon enough, Marco stood up again from the crater, his clothes tattered but his body otherwise intact, brushing off the dust.
Only his heavy breaths revealed that he was far from relaxed or unscathed.
"Terrifying power, Ace," Marco said step by step, emerging fully from the pit, his eyes fixed on the still steaming Ace.
"Tch."
Ace bit his teeth hard. He had given everything in that last attack.
Seeing Marco unharmed sparked an unexpected worry deep in his heart:
"At my current strength, I can't even scratch Marco's limits..."
"Damn it!"
Focusing again on the exact spot he had hit, Ace muttered in frustration:
"Such an unreasonable Devil Fruit ability..."
Without the driving pain of Sabo's death and with a stronger Luffy always ahead of him, Ace had spent almost all his time training before setting sail, unlike in the original story, where he learned etiquette from Makino.
That had made his personality far more lively and carefree.
Having seen Luffy's strength since childhood, Ace held a subtle disdain toward the world and a fearless, bold attitude.
After two smooth years at sea, he finally set his sights on the ultimate prize: the throne of the strongest in the world, the Four Emperors.
But without a protagonist's fate or divine protection, Ace was quickly crushed by Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, without even a chance to awaken his true potential.
For the safety of his comrades, Ace agreed, and was forcibly kept aboard the Moby Dick by Whitebeard.
Months of living among the crew had made him grow fond of the familial atmosphere and warmth.
Yet…
Ace's eyes flickered with a fiery glow as they locked on the First Division Captain, Marco.
His ambition had never ceased, despite the warmth.
His two younger brothers were no pushovers.
Just being a captain under a Four Emperor's flag was not enough.
Ace believed such a rank was unworthy of being called a brother to Sabo and Luffy.
So…
He wanted more! He wanted the crown!
To become the greatest king in the world!
Rumble!
A deafening roar suddenly echoed from the sky.
It resonated deeply with the blood surging inside Ace's body.
The clear sky cracked open with thunder, deafening all ears.
Following that came a turbulent force, erupting from Ace with unmatched intensity, pressing down on the entire island.
The pirates aboard the Moby Dick instantly panicked.
Some weaker crew members fainted beneath the overwhelming pressure of Ace's Conqueror's Haki.
Even other division captains felt sickened by the force.
On the ship, only two remained unaffected by Ace's overwhelming aura:
The world's strongest man, Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, and the future Emperor, Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard.
─────────🏴☠️────────
"Is this… the kingly presence just like Pops'?" Marco's eyes trembled slightly as he stared at Ace's relentless mental pressure.
He'd seen countless Conqueror's Haki users in the New World, having defeated many himself.
But besides Whitebeard, only one person had ever made him truly feel pressured,
The Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors alongside Whitebeard.
Today, once again, Marco felt that undefeatable aura radiating from Ace.
Though not yet as strong, it was enough to keep Marco from relaxing even for a moment.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
Yet his gaze grew more determined.
Because he knew: those with this kind of talent always fight with everything to make their words come true.
Ace was no joke.
He truly wanted to take over the Whitebeard Pirates and help his father ascend the throne.
─────────🏴☠️────────
"Ace!"
Despite the mental strain, Marco's body remained unaffected.
Staring at Ace as his overwhelming aura continued to swell, Marco's eyes narrowed sharply.
In an instant, he reverted to beast form and soared high into the air, his sharp beak aimed straight at Ace.
Diving at high speed, he shouted:
"Don't waste your strength, Ace!"
"At your current level of Haki, it won't affect our battle at all!"
Engulfed in blue flames, the phoenix streaked through the sky like lightning, tearing the air as it charged at Ace.
─────────🏴☠️────────
Yet, Ace remained still, as if unaware.
His head bowed, his blood surged even more violently than during Second Gear.
From his heart, a mysterious force continuously burst outward.
This power was overwhelmingly dominant yet seemed to merge with everything, flooding his body, Mental Power, Haki, and senses.
Each part it touched was strengthened anew.
Ace hadn't deliberately activated Conqueror's Haki.
Instead, fueled by frustration and rage, his bloodline power suddenly awakened.
The power in his blood surged uncontrollably, forcing him to display everything he had.
Though his eyes never looked at Marco, Ace perfectly tracked his opponent's location, movements, and next step.
Marco, diving down from the sky, resolved to defeat Ace no matter what.
He transformed into a fiery streak and launched a precise strike at Ace's body.
─────────🏴☠️────────
Ace's muscles swelled instantly.
Black and red veins appeared, swirling like flames around him.
"Fourth Gear!"
Ace whispered softly.
His bare feet were coated in black-red Haki; his bulging fists dyed the same.
His once agile and light frame instantly transformed into a towering muscular figure, at least five times larger than before.
Yet, to Ace, it was as if nothing had changed.
His eyes remained calm and unreadable.
Had Marco not sensed danger, he might have thought Ace was ready to give up.
The mysterious blood power continuously swept through Ace's body, simultaneously burning away all but his pure fighting instinct.
─────────🏴☠️────────
Ace suddenly pulled back sharply to the right and behind.
His right arm cocked back, giant fist drawn in,
The compressed fist exploded forth, emitting a dark, ominous glow that obscured Ace's deep eyes.
All that remained was boundless power!
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