"What?!" Ace's pupils shrank sharply. "You actually blew apart my Fire Fist head-on? That level of Armament Haki…"
"It's not over yet, Ace!"
Luffy's figure darted across the ground, rebounding at incredible speed. Using his rubber arm, he launched himself skyward in an instant—so fast that even Ace's Observation Haki struggled to keep up.
"Gomu Gomu no—Axe!!"
From a thousand meters in the air, Luffy descended.
His right leg—
Like a divine axe splitting heaven and earth—
Coated in pitch-black Haki, crashed down.
At that moment—
Ace felt as if the sky itself was collapsing.
The sheer pressure made every hair on his body stand on end. Without hesitation, his body exploded into blazing flames, dispersing instantly.
BOOM—!!!
Luffy's kick struck the ground.
The entire Alubarna plaza trembled like an earthquake.
Buildings within dozens of meters were reduced to dust.
The shockwave alone nearly knocked every survivor off their feet.
A hundred meters away—
Ace reformed his body.
He looked at Luffy—
Standing in the crater like a war god.
And finally—
A wide, exhilarated smile spread across his face.
"HAHAHAHA!! Luffy!! You really… really shocked me!"
He steadied his hat, pride surging in his chest.
"With strength like this—"
"Even in the 'graveyard of pirates'… the New World…"
"You'll be able to run wild!"
The battlefield still radiated heat.
The aftermath of their brief but earth-shaking clash lingered in the air.
Ronan leaned on his ebony staff, eyes scanning the surroundings.
Within a hundred meters—
The red desert sand had been melted into shattered green glass.
A result of Ace's flames.
At the center—
Deep footprints remained.
Marks left by Luffy's explosive movements—
Each step crushing the earth under his immense weight.
"So… this is a Logia user?"
Zoro rested his hand on his sword, eyes sharp.
It was his first time witnessing power that could reshape the terrain itself.
Nami, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes at Ronan.
"You've been way too calm since earlier."
"This Ace guy… who exactly is he to Luffy?"
"You clearly know something."
Ronan smiled faintly, glancing at the two standing side by side.
"He's Luffy's sworn brother from Foosha Village."
"No blood relation—but their bond is stronger than most real brothers."
"Luffy… has a brother like that?" Sanji muttered, exhaling smoke, clearly stunned.
"Amazing… someone who can use fire… he's so cool!" Chopper whispered, peeking from behind Usopp.
Ace extinguished his flames and adjusted his orange hat.
Sweat glistened across his muscular upper body.
"Luffy… you've really grown."
He walked forward, smiling warmly.
Then—
He turned to the crew.
And bowed slightly.
Sincere.
Polite.
"My little brother has been in your care."
"He's never had much discipline… and he's pretty thick-headed."
"I'm sure he's caused you a lot of trouble."
"…Huh?!"
Everyone—except Ronan—reacted at once.
"This polite, big-brother-type guy… is Luffy's brother?!"
Nami stared in disbelief.
"He's such a good guy…" Chopper was already tearing up.
Zoro awkwardly looked away.
"…Brotherhood, huh."
Sanji held his forehead.
"The sea really is full of strange things…"
"How does someone like Luffy have a brother like this?"
Ronan sighed, rubbing his temples.
He glanced at Luffy—still grinning like an idiot—
Then at Ace—earnestly thanking everyone.
"Hey… maybe don't start roasting Luffy right in front of his brother?"
Luffy, however, didn't care at all.
He grabbed Ace proudly and laughed.
"Shishishi! My crew's fun, right?!"
"Yeah… they're great people."
Suddenly—
Ace's expression turned serious.
"Luffy… and all of you."
"Have you ever thought about joining the Whitebeard Pirates?"
There was pride in his voice.
"There's the greatest man in the world there."
"And a place that feels like home."
"If you're willing… Pops would definitely welcome you."
"No."
Luffy answered instantly.
Without even thinking.
"Hahaha! I figured!"
Ace burst out laughing.
"Just asking."
"Because to me…"
"The Whitebeard Pirates are the best place on this sea."
"I want that man—Whitebeard—to sit on the throne."
"Not you, Luffy."
Luffy didn't get angry.
He simply met Ace's gaze—
Eyes shining like stars.
"That's fine."
"If it comes down to it…"
"We'll just fight for it."
Ace's smile slowly faded.
A shadow flickered in his eyes.
"Luffy… the reason I came to Alabasta…"
"…is because I'm hunting someone."
Ronan's eyelids twitched slightly.
He knew.
This was the turning point.
The beginning of everything.
"His name is Marshall D. Teach."
"Codename—Blackbeard."
Ace's voice grew heavy.
"He used to be a member of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"My subordinate."
"But he committed the one unforgivable crime on a pirate ship…"
"He killed a crewmate… and fled."
Usopp couldn't help but speak up.
"So you came all the way here… just to hunt him down?"
"Yeah."
Ace clenched his fist, flames flickering between his fingers.
"As his captain… it's my responsibility to deal with him."
"I heard he might be here."
"Didn't catch him…"
"But running into you?"
"Worth it."
Ronan stood silently.
Watching Ace.
That young, burning figure—
Full of pride.
Full of conviction.
He opened his mouth slightly—
Then stopped.
Because he knew—
This was a man who would give his life for honor.
For his crew.
For his captain.
For his brother.
And that kind of pride—
Could never be changed by words.
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