Chapter 185 Ace and That ManOutside the island, three Navy warships and pirates faced each other, but they didn't engage in battle; instead, their gazes were fixed on the small island.The duel between Vice Admiral Lin Tian and Fire Fist Ace would surely shock the world tomorrow.Ayn looked at the island in front of her and asked worriedly, "Tina, who do you think will win this duel, Lin Tian or that Fire Fist Ace?"Tina, deep in thought, didn't notice Ayn's expression. She took a puff from her cigarette and muttered to herself."It's more likely that scoundrel Lin Tian will win. Four years ago, he was already able to hold his own against Silvers Rayleigh, and he's been fighting in the New World for these four years. Lin Tian's combat power should have reached a terrifying level.""However, that Fire Fist Ace isn't weak either. Since arriving in the Grand Line two years ago, he's been advancing rapidly, relying on the power of his formidable Logia-type 'Mera Mera no Mi'.""In a short time, he became a highly sought-after pirate, though he later failed in his challenge against Whitebeard. Still, his combat power is incredibly strong. For that scoundrel Lin Tian to win..."Tina, who had been talking, suddenly realized something was off. She glanced at the worried Ayn and helplessly patted her forehead."Big sis, can you please not make that face? From our conversation just now, it seems they are old friends. It's very possible they're just sparring."On the flat ground, while everyone outside was curious about what kind of fierce battle was unfolding inside, a different scene was taking place."Ace, you scoundrel, you stole my roasted leg again!""Hehe, that's not stealing, is it? Anyone can take a roasted leg; you were just too slow, Lin Tian."Lin Tian stretched out and pointed at the goat on the grill, saying, "I caught this goat, and I roasted it. I put in the most effort, so the whole roasted goat should be distributed by me."Ace also stretched out, looking at Lin Tian. "In that case, I made this fire. If it weren't for my fire, could you have roasted the goat? I put in the most effort.""Fire is simple. Does that count as effort?"...The two of them wouldn't yield, glaring at each other, all for the sake of this roasted goat, arguing over who put in the most effort.There was no hint of the aura a strong person should possess; they were like two children arguing red-faced over something."Hahaha..."Suddenly, both of them looked up at the same time and burst into laughter. It had been a long time since they had felt this way.As time passed, both of them had undergone tremendous changes, but the bond between them had always existed, without the slightest weakening; instead, it was growing deeper and deeper.Taking a big bite of the roasted leg in his mouth, he praised, "Lin Tian! After staying in the Grand Line for so long, your barbecue is still the best, as delicious as ever.""Of course," Lin Tian said with a smug look. Perhaps he wasn't good at other dishes, but when it came to barbecue, he was a true master.Ace looked at the roasted meat in his hand and couldn't help but recall those carefree and happy days in Foosha Village, and the faces of those people came to mind."It's a pity it's just the two of us here. Luffy is still in Foosha Village. It would be great if Luffy were here too. I wonder how Luffy is doing by himself in Foosha Village."Hearing this sigh, Lin Tian paused his movements, and Luffy also came to his mind, recalling those joyful times.Throwing a piece of wood into the fire, Lin Tian smiled and said, "If Luffy were here, how could we still be savoring this barbecue? He would have probably snatched it all away by now.""You're right. For Luffy, his favorite thing is barbecue. Back then, he would always snatch and devour it before we even finished roasting it," Ace also laughed as he recalled the past.Lin Tian continued, "However, Ace, you've been out for two years now, and in another year, Luffy will also set sail. I expect it won't be long before Luffy appears in the Grand Line."At this point, his tone shifted, and he said with a bit of a headache, "Given Luffy's talent for causing trouble, he'll probably do something earth-shattering again.""Haha... Lin Tian! If Luffy doesn't cause trouble, is he still Luffy?""You're right!" Lin Tian realized, then turned his attention to Ace, "Ace, your talent for causing trouble isn't small either, you're quite famous in the Grand Line."Hearing Lin Tian say this, Ace chuckled a bit awkwardly. When he first entered the Grand Line, he indeed did a few earth-shattering things, otherwise, he wouldn't have such a high bounty.Adding some seasoning, Lin Tian flipped the roasted meat and asked, "But Ace, why did you disappear for the past six months? I couldn't find you. How did you suddenly join the Whitebeard Pirates?"Ace suddenly fell silent, put down the roasted meat in his hand, looked at the roaring fire in front of him, and, lost in thought, slowly began to recount."After setting sail two years ago, I accidentally gained the power of the Mera Mera no Mi," Ace said, as his hands transformed into flames, burning brightly and casting their light on both their faces.Feeling the scorching firelight, Lin Tian nodded and said, "The Mera Mera no Mi is indeed a powerful Devil Fruit, ranking among the top of the Logia types. Ace, this is your destiny.""Then, I began traveling the Grand Line. During that time, a few things happened, and my bounty started to increase."Suddenly, Lin Tian chuckled. Ace had indeed done a few earth-shattering things in the Grand Line back then. At that time, Lin Tian had almost been sent to capture Ace, but some things happened that kept Lin Tian from being able to go."Ace, you wouldn't believe it, but when you refused to become a Warlord, it caused quite a stir in the Navy."Ace smiled faintly and continued to recount, "Finally, I arrived at Sabaody Archipelago. Using your address, I found Silvers Rayleigh and asked him everything. Speaking of which, I have to thank you, Lin Tian."Hearing this, the smile on Lin Tian's face gradually faded, and his movements stopped. He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking."Uncle Rayleigh told you everything?"After the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Lin Tian had specifically sought out Uncle Rayleigh and told him about Ace's identity and name.He also recounted Ace's hatred for that man in his heart, as well as his childhood experiences. He also mentioned that he had given Ace Uncle Rayleigh's address, and that one day in the future, Ace might come looking for Rayleigh to learn the truth.He remembered that when Uncle Rayleigh heard about this, he sat alone at the bar for an entire night, with sake bottles filling the entire counter, and in the end, he said nothing.Even Lin Tian didn't know what Uncle Rayleigh would do when faced with Ace's questions."Mmm!" Ace responded softly, "That night, Uncle Rayleigh talked with me all night, telling me everything from when he met my father until just before their final parting."Regarding this matter, Lin Tian didn't know what to say. Perhaps to outsiders, that man was a legend, but in Ace's eyes, he was just an irresponsible father.The world knew that man had obtained the legendary One Piece, gaining fame, fortune, and being revered as the 'Pirate King,' possessing all the world's wealth, fame, and power.But who knew the pain in that man's heart? Compared to family, the legendary great treasure in his heart might be worthless.When he entrusted Ace to that old geezer, what was in that man's heart? Lin Tian couldn't understand. It might have been 'pain,' 'guilt,' or perhaps 'helplessness.'After some thought, Lin Tian finally asked, "So... what do you think of that man now?"Ace shook his head, his voice tinged with self-mockery, saying, "After that night, I gained a general understanding of the father I never met. But the more I knew, the more confused I became. I don't know how to judge that man in my heart.""Perhaps, as Rayleigh said, he had his own difficulties, but is that a reason to abandon my mother and me, while he died gloriously, leaving my mother and me to bear the pressure from the entire world alone?"Towards the end, Ace's voice became agitated, completely yelling, shouting out his confusion, his unwillingness, and his anger towards that man...At this moment, Lin Tian just sat there quietly, slowly turning the roasted meat in his hands, acting as a silent listener, listening to Ace's buried thoughts.In this world, besides himself and Luffy, no one else could understand how scarred Ace's heart was, or what kind of experiences Ace had in his childhood, because Ace had only told these things to his two brothers.But how could that thick-headed Luffy understand these things? So, the only one who could truly confide in Ace was Lin Tian, and the one who understood Ace the most was also Lin Tian.Only when talking with Lin Tian would Ace change his usual composed demeanor and expose the thoughts he had suppressed in his heart for many years.After Ace finished speaking, Lin Tian didn't express any particular emotion. He just poured a pot of water and asked with a smile, "So now, why are you staying with the Whitebeard Pirates? Weren't you going to become the Pirate King, following in that man's footsteps?"Gulping down a few mouthfuls of water, "Ever since I met Pops, I no longer want to be the Pirate King. I want to help Pops become the Pirate King.""Pops?""Yes, Pops is Whitebeard. He treats us like a father, so we all call him Pops. In the Whitebeard Pirates, I've found what I've always been searching for."Seeing the genuine smile on Ace's face, Lin Tian knew that Ace had truly found what he needed. A joyful smile appeared on his face, happy for Ace.Suddenly, Lin Tian clapped his hands and stood up. "The barbecue is finished, and we've caught up. Now it's time for business."Hearing Lin Tian's words, Ace quickly finished the roasted meat in his hand in two or three bites, stood up, and their eyes met, erupting with intense fighting spirit."Navy, pirates. The two stand on different sides; a battle was destined from the start." (To be continued.)
Chapter 186: Marcus vs. Ace"Fire Fist!"Ace's right fist turned into a ball of flame, rapidly extending until it reached over ten meters, a fist entirely composed of gathered massive flames, striking toward Marcus.The raging flames carried an extremely high temperature, and wherever they passed, the ground was scorched, turning into a charred black expanse.Under that extreme temperature, the seawater in the surrounding cracks boiled, bubbling up and rising in plumes of white smoke, as if the entire forest was shrouded in a mist.The flame fist, while appearing massive, was actually extremely fast, arriving in front of Marcus in the blink of an eye.Watching the oncoming flame fist, Marcus's expression shifted slightly; he clenched his right hand and threw a punch. Marcus did not use Conqueror's Haki, intending to counter the Fire Fistwith his bare fist.Seeing Marcus's action, Ace's expression changed slightly. His Fire Fist possessed extremely high attack power and destructive capability; a single punch could destroy a three-masted sailing ship."Marcus is actually going to catch it with a normal bare fist? Has he already become that strong?" Acethought to himself, knowing that Marcus was not the type to be arrogant."Profound Truth of Taijutsu: Air Fist."Marcus let out a low shout, his right fist suddenly striking out into the Void Realm. A powerful force was transmitted into the void, causing the air to vibrate and forming an invisible column of air.Colliding head-on with the flame fist, fire is naturally difficult to gather and easily dispersed; under the impact of the air column, it instantly scattered in all directions.Fortunately, Marcus's battle last night had already destroyed most of the forest; with no material left to burn, the flames began to dissipate on their own.The Marines and pirates outside the island waited for a long time, but saw no movement coming from the island, as if the two were not fighting at all.Thatch asked himself in confusion, "What's going on? Why is there no movement on the island? Given Ace's fighting style, it's impossible for there to be no sound on such a primitive island."Hina was equally puzzled, dangling a cigarette from her mouth as she said, "What's going on? There isn't a sound. What are those two doing in there?"Before the words had even faded, a towering column of flame erupted from the island, shooting straight into the sky. It appeared for a few seconds before slowly dissipating between heaven and earth."Fire Fist! Fire Fist Ace! Captain Ace truly lives up to his name!" On the pirate ship, the pirates watched this scene and couldn't help but praise him.As for the Marines, there wasn't much of a reaction. They were Marines who had fought alongside Marcus and had witnessed Vice Admiral Marcus's strength firsthand; they had no doubt in their hearts that Marcus would emerge victorious.Marcus threw a punch, but he only struck a ball of flame. The fierce wind from his punch directly blew these flames apart into smaller fireballs."Sigh! This characteristic of Logia Devil Fruit Users is truly troublesome; physical attacks are ineffective," Marcus said, feeling somewhat annoyed.These fireballs seemed to have a life of their own, floating in the Void Realm before gathering together, and Ace's body slowly manifested."Fire Gun!" Ace formed his hands into the shape of guns, rapidly firing balls of flame bullets from his middle fingers, forming a torrent of bullets that surged toward Marcus."Darkness Sphere!" The Void Realm around Marcusbecame pitch black, but it instantly returned to normal, with hundreds of small black spheres quietly floating around him.A black torrent and a yellow torrent flashed through the Void Realm, colliding violently, and accompanied by flashes of fire, a series of explosions rang out."Ace, I haven't seen you in four years. Your combat power has increased so much that you can actually contend with me now. You used to be completely crushed by me," Marcus said with a smile.Ace, with his limbs transformed into flames, replied, "Marcus! Just as you said, the Grand Line is a stage for the strong. Ever since I obtained the Mera Mera no Mi, my combat power has been rapidly improving.""Marcus, take this move: Mirror Flame!"His arms spewed out countless flames, and in the blink of an eye, a massive wall of fire over a hundred meters wide and over ten meters high formed, violently pushing forward.The remaining forest ignited under this extreme temperature. The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, spreading like a prairie fire, until the entire forest was ablaze, and soon the entire island was engulfed in flames.Everyone outside watched this scene in shock; the entire island was actually ablaze, trapped in a roaring inferno.Seeing this, the pirates were naturally excited. The whole island had turned into a furnace, and since Captain Ace was a Mera Mera no Mi user, this environment had no effect on him at all.As for that God of Slaughter Lin Tian, although he was also a Devil Fruit User, in such a high-temperature environment, one could only imagine the kind of damage he would face.Wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead, Ainlooked extremely worried. "Staying in this environment, how could Marcus possibly withstand it with just his body?"They were still hundreds of meters away from the island, but the heat waves hitting them made them feel the temperature was extremely high, and sweat couldn't stop flowing from their bodies. One could only imagine what kind of high temperature Marcus, who was in the center, was enduring.Hina remained extremely calm. "Don't worry, Marcus can fly. If he really couldn't withstand it, he would have come out long ago. The fact that he hasn't come out yet shows that it's not causing him much harm."Having eaten barbecue every day, Marcus finally understood what it felt like to be roasted by fire. Stinging pain came from all over his body; he was burning hot, and sweat was vaporized the moment it appeared. His clothes clung tightly to his skin, as if they were about to catch fire at any moment.This wasn't even the most important thing; in front of him was a massive wall of fire pressing toward him, which was the truly powerful attack.Looking around at the raging fire, Marcus said with some distress, "It seems I chose a bad place to fight; there is absolutely no terrain advantage."Suddenly, he shouted to Ace on the other side of the fire wall, "Ace, this move of yours is not bad. You've turned the whole island into a furnace just to roast me alone. It's not enough; this move is useless against me.""Space Control!" An invisible spatial fluctuation emanated from Marcus's hands, spreading through the Void Realm in all directions. In an instant, a massive, invisible spatial barrier enveloped the entire island.Marcus just stood there quietly, watching the wall of fire approach him. Unlike before, not a single drop of sweat flowed from his body; this immense high temperature had no effect on Marcus at all.As time passed second by second, the fire wall approached Marcus. The fierce flames swept toward Marcus with the wind, but upon nearing him, they were blocked by an invisible barrier."What? What happened?" A voice of surprise and confusion came from Ace; at this moment, Ace had completely transformed into flames.Just a moment ago, Ace had sensed that the flames on the entire island were gradually shrinking, that massive fire wall was slowly diminishing, and even his own body had undergone a huge change.Ace felt that he couldn't maintain his flame form, and it was now very difficult for him to generate flames. No! Or perhaps it could be said that he could still easily generate flames, but the moment the flames appeared, they would immediately extinguish and couldn't burn.Thinking back to what Marcus had said earlier, Acethought to himself, "Could it be that Marcus did all this? But if so, isn't Marcus too strong? To be able to change the environment of heaven and earth… even Pops can't do that."All of this happened in a mere few seconds. The fire that had been raging across the entire island disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye, eventually vanishing completely from everyone's sight.The power of the fire had been enough to burn everything on the island that could be burned. The island, which had originally been beautiful with mountains and clear waters, had turned into a charred black expanse, all traces left by the burning.Not to mention the confusion and doubts of the people on the sea, how could the island, which had been burning, suddenly disappear completely? This clearly defied common sense.As the flames disappeared, the figures of Marcusand Ace gradually appeared in the clearing. However, Marcus was standing, while Ace was half-crouched on the ground, supporting himself with one hand, panting heavily, clearly struggling to breathe."Marcus, this must have been your doing, right? What kind of method is this? I didn't expect you to be this strong," Ace said, gasping for air and speaking hurriedly."Snap!" Marcus gently snapped his fingers with his right hand. Instantly, a fresh breeze blew from all directions toward the clearing.Ace also felt his breathing smooth out, and he stopped panting. With a poof, a small flame sprouted from his finger; Ace had regained his ability.Reaching out his hand and feeling the wind coming from all directions, Ace's face was filled with shock. This feeling was as if the entire world was under Marcus's control."This… how is this possible?"Marcus smiled and explained, "Don't worry, I'm not as strong as you think. My Devil Fruit Ability just happens to counter yours. I can generate a barrier that is large enough to cover the entire island and is invisible to the naked eye, which can isolate the air.""A big fire requires oxygen to burn, especially a fire of that magnitude just now; it consumed all the air inside the barrier in an instant. Therefore, you couldn't use your ability, and at the same time, you couldn't breathe."Ace suddenly realized, and in the blink of an eye, he said dejectedly, "In that case, why are we even fighting? I can't use my strongest ability; how could I possibly beat a freak like you who is incredibly powerful in Taijutsu, swordsmanship, and abilities?""Hey, hey! Ace, why are you giving up already? We haven't even been fighting for that long. If it comes to that, I won't use this move," Marcus said hurriedly.No sooner had Marcus finished speaking than a smile immediately appeared on Ace's face. "Alright! It's a deal; don't use that move."Seeing the smile on Ace's face, black lines appeared on Marcus's forehead. He immediately realized he had been played and shook his head secretly. How had it been only a few years, and even Ace had become so black-bellied?"Cross Fire!" Ace crossed his index fingers and aimed at Marcus, firing a cross-shaped flame. It looked like liquid magma, a sign that the flames had been condensed to the extreme. It was extremely fast, reaching Marcus's side in an instant.Now that Ace was using his true strength, Marcusdidn't dare to be arrogant anymore. He covered his right fist with Armament Haki and struck toward the flames."Profound Truth of Taijutsu: Iron Fist." With a bang, Marcus's pitch-black fist collided with the flames, and immediately, a scorching burning sensation came from his fist. Armament Haki could not defend against something intangible like high temperature."Open!" With a low shout, Marcus increased the power in his fist and shattered the flames."Gather!" Under Ace's control, the flames that had been scattered increased in size, completely surrounding Marcus in fire. (To be continued
Chapter 187: Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor vs. Lushan Rising Dragon PalmHoo...Marcus gave a slight jolt, creating a hurricane out of thin air that scattered the flames around his body, causing them to dissipate into the heavens and earth; yet, there wasn't the slightest scorch mark on him."Ace, your flames have tremendous lethality against ordinary people, but for me, they are useless."The damage from flames relies solely on burning and high temperatures—a form of damage that is formless and traceless to the body—but Marcusonly needed to lightly set up a protective barrier to block it.Among the fire-type Devil Fruit, the only one capable of breaking through Marcus's shield would likely be the Magma Fruit of the current Admiral, Akainu. Marcus had tested it specifically in the past, and the situation was disastrous.Ace opened his hands, palms facing Marcus. "Is that so? The power of the Mera Mera no Mi is not that simple; there are many kinds of fire."As he watched, faint green lights continuously emerged from Ace's open hands, flying toward Marcus in small clusters.Although he didn't know exactly what this light was, it definitely wasn't anything good and likely possessed extreme lethality."Firefly, Fire Daruma."The faint green light clusters began to burn fiercely, growing in size against the wind. Several large fireballs surrounded Marcus, leaving him nowhere to hide."Flash!"Surrounded by the large fire again, Marcus's expression remained perfectly calm. With a low shout, his figure vanished instantly, suddenly disappearing from the Void Realm.Ace withdrew his hands, and without control, the large fires were instantly extinguished. Looking at the empty space before him, Ace looked shocked."How is this possible? With the flames blocking the view, it couldn't be an illusion caused by extreme speed; it was as if he vanished directly from the Void Realm."Suddenly, a strong gust of wind sounded from behind. Ace's expression changed, and his entire body immediately turned into flames. In flame form, any physical attack would be ineffective.But Ace was still sent flying, forced out of his flame form, and crashed to the ground, creating a large crater.Ace quickly turned back to look; Marcus was already standing in the spot he had just occupied, precisely withdrawing his pitch-black fist, which shimmered with a metallic luster."Hehe, Ace, I haven't been idle these past few years; my mastery of Devil Fruit Ability is much deeper than yours," Marcus said with a smile.'Flash!' This was a new Move Marcus had developed over the last two years as his research into his Devil Fruit deepened; it was actually spatial teleportation, simply abbreviated as 'Flash'.It was an extremely fast method of movement, and Marcus could confidently say that no one in this world could compare to him in terms of speed.Perhaps over short distances, Marcus's speed was no different from other powerhouses, but as the distance increased slightly, the huge gap became apparent.No matter how great the distance, as long as it was within Marcus's control, he could reach it in an instant—truly in an instant. This was spatial teleportation.By overlapping the space of two locations, Marcusonly needed to take a light step to arrive at another place, no matter how far away, without being blocked by any object.At the same time, it could also be used to dodge attacks that couldn't otherwise be avoided, because Marcus's movement occurred in another space. Just like before, when Marcus was surrounded by raging fire, he simply teleported behind Ace without a sound.However, this also had some drawbacks: Marcushad to place a mark at the location he wanted to teleport to in order to connect the space between the two places. Ace had been marked by Marcuswith a special mark.Even so, this ability was absolutely Heaven-Defying, ignoring any physical obstructions; as long as it was within the range of his ability, no barrier was useful.Hearing Marcus's words, Ace couldn't help but feel curious about Marcus's ability; it actually had so many uses and could derive so many combat methods.In fact, the outside world had long been curious about what Marcus's ability actually was; it was generally believed to be a Paramecia-type fruit, yet it possessed some effects of a Logia-type. Furthermore, with so many combat styles, it was hard to imagine this was all unleashed by a single Devil Fruit Ability."Ace, now that you've become a Logia user, I wonder if your taijutsu has declined. Take this!" Not using his ability, Marcus relied on his body's extreme explosive power and charged fiercely toward Ace.Without thinking too much, seeing Marcus charge, Ace leaped forcefully into mid-air, dodging Marcus's punch.Only a fool would compete with Marcus in taijutsu. Marcus was the student of that Stinky Old ManGarp, and his taijutsu was completely unparalleled. In terms of taijutsu, he certainly wasn't his opponent.With a loud bang, Marcus's punch landed, and the entire ground couldn't withstand the force; countless cracks spread out like a spider web.Gravel shattered, the ground shook, and a huge crater appeared on the ground. Marcus, who was in the crater, rose up and leaped into the air toward Ace."Great Flame Commandment: Fire Pillar."Rotating his hands, raging fire swirled around him, forming a massive pillar of fire. Pushing his hands downward, the fire pillar pressed down upon Marcus's head. The fire burned, high temperatures filled the surroundings, and even the Void Realmseemed to distort.Below, Marcus did not retreat but instead descended. Facing the raging fire above, Marcuswas fearless; his right fist, which had been gathering power for a long time, swung out fiercely."Taijutsu Profound Truth: Lushan Rising Dragon Palm."A pale blue dragon head emerged from Marcus's hand, letting out a long roar toward the heavens. The massive sound wave cracked the surrounding earth and caused mountain peaks to collapse; in an instant, the world shook as if it were being destroyed.The powerful sound wave spread directly to the ocean; the seawater churned, and a wave several meters high was created out of thin air, rushing toward the large ships on the sea. Fortunately, the wave wasn't too high, and both the marine warshipand pirate ship could withstand it."This... what is that thing?" a pirate asked, trembling as he looked at the massive dragon head above."A dragon head, it's actually the dragon head of the legendary Divine Beast! How is that possible?" at this moment, another pirate replied in fear. The scene before them was truly horrifying; dragons were only creatures of legend, how could one appear, and on this small island no less?Nearby, on the marine warship, the Marines were equally shocked. Anyone who saw a creature from legend would be unable to remain calm."No, there's someone inside it," suddenly, a sharp-eyed pirate noticed a small black dot within the dragon head.A pirate nearby quickly pulled out a telescope he carried, "Come look quickly!" he said, disbelieving, "Idiot, this is a dragon! How could there be someone inside!""Re... really... there really is someone!" the pirate exclaimed after looking.What! Thatch heard this, his face full of shock. His figure flashed, arriving beside the pirate, and he grabbed the telescope to see for himself."Vice Admiral Marcus, it really is Vice AdmiralMarcus! This is Vice Admiral Marcus's ultimate Move."'Lushan Rising Dragon Palm', one of Marcus's strongest taijutsu Moves, was comparable in power to the Rising Dragon Fist from the previous night, only one was for attacking upward, while the other was for dealing with enemies in front.But the two punching techniques had one thing in common: they concentrated all the body's strength into the fist, unleashing a dragon-shaped punch energy that seemed to have a spirit. The power was unparalleled, enough to shatter a mountain peak in one blow; it was a typical one-hit-victory technique. After using it, even Marcus would be weakened.As for having the appearance of a dragon and seeming to have spirituality, like the loud roar just now, even Marcus didn't know what was going on; that was just how this punching technique was when he created it.Because of these characteristics, Marcus chose the name 'Lushan Rising Dragon Palm'; it was an extremely powerful ultimate Move from a very famous anime in his past life.The explosive power was enough to make the Great Lushan Waterfall, which falls three thousand feet, flow backward. Although Marcus couldn't do that yet, he believed that one day, as his strength increased, he would reach that level.Under the dragon head's loud roar, the fire pillar above shattered layer by layer, turning into clusters of fire that drifted in the air.Ace, on the other end, hadn't even reacted before being directly hit by the sound wave. Instantly, his chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer; his blood surged, his body was sent flying backward, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.Turning into flames, Ace finally stopped his momentum. Only his head remained, and looking at the massive dragon head below, he was also incredibly shocked; after all, this was a creature from myth.What Ace felt most deeply was that the huge dragon head seemed to have spirituality; its eyes turned slightly, staring intently at him, and his whole body couldn't help but tremble.This feeling was like when he was a child and encountered that giant tiger in Mount Colubo. In the blink of an eye, Ace calmed his mindset; it wasn't as if he hadn't seen creatures of legend before—Marcowas a Phoenix, after all."Ace, this is my strongest Move; its power is immense, and even I cannot control it perfectly. Be careful.""Haha... Good! Marcus! Since that's the case, let's decide the winner with one Move."Ace crossed his hands, and with Ace as the center, circles of fire surrounded him. Finally, countless flames emerged from within, merging into a massive fireball. The entire small island was under the coverage of the fireball, which Ace held aloft in his hands.At this moment, Ace was like an emperor of fire, standing within that scorching yet endlessly radiant flame, with all fires bowing at his feet and honoring him as supreme.On the sea, the Captain and the others no longer cared who would win or lose; everyone had long been stunned, deeply shocked by the battle on the island.Above the dark island, a fireball of unknown size erupted with immense heat and radiance, so much so that the sun hanging high in the sky was obscured by its brilliance, appearing insignificant by comparison.Below, the dragon head, tens of meters large, was so small compared to the fireball above, yet that Aura of charging forward and being the king of all things was not in the least bit weaker."Lushan Rising Dragon Palm."With a low roar, the fist that had been swung halfway was finally thrown with full force. The dragon head let out another long roar, soaring into the air, and its massive dragon body slowly manifested.Perhaps everyone had never seen a legendary Divine Beast, but feeling that massive Aura, it was likely no less impressive than the real thing."Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor."Ace also gave a low shout, his right hand holding up the massive fireball, pressing it down toward the dragon below, like a blazing sun falling from the high sky, turning the entire world into a huge furnace.Below, the island, which hadn't completely burned out, ignited again. Rivers dried up instantly, gravel cracked under the great fire, and the sand on the beach seemed to be burning, shimmering brightly.And on the ships, regardless of whether they were Marine or pirates, seeing this scene, the shock on their faces had long since turned into fear. What kind of power would erupt from such a massive collision of energy? No one knew.But one thing was certain: staying this close meant certain death."Retreat, retreat quickly!" (To be continued.)
Chapter 188 The Strongest Man AppearsJust as everyone on the sea was retreating in panic, the giant dragon and the fireball had already begun to collide.The giant dragon and the fireball seemed to slowly charge towards each other, but they were actually incredibly fast, covering dozens of meters in a flash.In an instant, the two sides collided, but to the astonishment of everyone who thought they were doomed, there was no sound at all; no explosion, no earth-shattering bang—the world was utterly silent."Captain Satchi, Captain Ace's Flame Emperor is incredibly powerful, so why is there no movement at all?" a rugged, burly middle-aged man asked in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.Satchi shook his head; he was equally puzzled. He had experienced the immense power of Ace's Flame Emperor, so why was there no sound?Ayn worriedly said, "What's going on? Lin Tian's Lushan Ascending Dragon Strike is incredibly powerful, but now there's no movement at all, as if it's been swallowed by that giant fireball."Tina, by her side, had been staring at the scene in the sky and hadn't spoken, but her eyes were also filled with confusion. Last night, Lin Tian's single punch had almost destroyed this small island.Only the two people involved understood what was happening. There was no error in their moves; rather, the immense energies of both sides were precisely at a point of balance.The two massive energies were both resisting and merging, but seeing this, Lin Tian and Ace's faces changed drastically.Currently, the two energies could maintain balance, but how could such immense power stay balanced? When the two energies eventually intersected, the resulting power would be several times stronger than before."Flame Ring, Flame Pillar!"Ace rotated his hands, and a towering pillar of fire shot towards the intersection of the giant dragon and the fireball, hoping to disrupt the balance between them.However, that immensely powerful pillar of fire was useless, like a stone sinking into the sea, not even stirring a ripple.Feeling the increasingly powerful energy within, Lin Tian's expression grew worse and worse. He gritted his teeth and decided to use that move, not caring what would happen after the two sides exploded. He couldn't worry about that much now."The probability of this happening is even lower than winning the lottery, and yet it happened to the two of us. This is really messed up."He cursed under his breath, but his hands didn't stop. He extended his right hand slightly backward, and the void behind Lin Tian suddenly darkened. The darkness was so pure, so alarming.In the distance,Ace watched this scene and couldn't help but be startled. The endless darkness was as if the world had suddenly lost a piece, a part of itself."What's happening? What exactly did Lin Tian do?"But this was only for an instant. The darkness slowly condensed, and the sky returned to its original state, leaving only a black blade over a hundred meters long, shaped like a crescent moon, with a special light flowing over its surface."How is this possible? After Lin Tian unleashed such a powerful punch, he can still use such a powerful move. How strong is he really?"The aura and killing intent emanating from the circular blade made even Ace feel a chill. Its power was probably no weaker than his own Flame Emperor.Being able to contend with Ace for so long, and even slightly gaining the upper hand, had already astonished everyone. One must know that Fire Fist Ace was a supernova back then, but now, it seemed Lin Tian clearly still had reserves and hadn't used his full power.They had always heard how powerful Marine Vice Admiral Lin Tian, the genius, was, and today they finally witnessed it, though they secretly cursed in their hearts. Such combat power was enough to make him a Marine Admiral, yet he still held the rank of Vice Admiral. Were the Marines playing dumb to catch a tiger?"Blade of Space!"Compared to the hundred-meter-long black circular blade, Lin Tian's figure was as tiny as an ant, yet it was this ant-like figure that grasped the giant circular blade and swung it with one hand.After swinging the circular blade, Lin Tian, not even out of breath, shouted a reminder, "Ace, run!"Actually, swinging something so large didn't require using his hand; he could have just willed it to move, but he thought this looked cooler.After hearing Lin Tian's reminder, Ace also understood how powerful the upcoming explosion would be. But when he wanted to leave, he realized a very awkward problem. He couldn't fly, and there was only seawater around. As a Devil Fruit user, how could he leave?At this moment, Lin Tian suddenly appeared in front of Ace, grabbed him, said nothing, and flew directly towards the ship, because the Blade of Space was about to strike.The hundred-meter-long Blade of Space, massive in size, was like a giant mountain suspended in the air, blotting out the sky, yet its speed was not slow. The distance of several thousand meters was covered in an instant.Wherever it passed, a black trajectory appeared, and space itself was torn open, slowly repairing itself under the forces of heaven and earth.The mountain-like circular blade accurately struck the middle of the giant dragon and the fireball. The addition of the circular blade was like a catalyst, disrupting the balance between the two sides.In the middle of the three forces, a beam of light rose, and cracking sounds echoed. The entire space shattered under the immense power, followed by a powerful energy pillar that shot up and directly hit the island below.It was just an instant, merely an instant!Under the immense energy, amidst the earth-shattering roar, the entire island instantly vanished into thin air, truly disappearing without a trace.That was an island, not a piece of paper, yet it turned to dust. One can imagine how powerful Lin Tian and Ace's strongest moves truly were.As the island was destroyed, an extremely powerful energy shockwave also began to unleash itself, spreading in all directions at the speed of light. Wherever it passed, seawater splashed up hundreds of meters high, and the sea level dropped by dozens of centimeters.Lin Tian and Ace, in mid-air, were directly hit by the shockwave and immediately felt a heavy blow, as if a powerful punch had landed on their backs. They staggered, almost falling from the high altitude.Fortunately, Lin Tian reacted in time, otherwise, two Devil Fruit users falling into the sea would surely be doomed. If two such famous powerhouses of the Grand Line were to die this way, it would truly be a story for the ages.Watching the red and blue intertwined shockwave rush towards the ships ahead, a bitter smile flashed across Ace's face."What do we do? With such a strong shockwave, those ships might not make it. We're in trouble this time. If something really happens..."Hearing Ace's words, Lin Tian suddenly realized that other Marines might be fine; even if their ships were destroyed, they could still swim. But Ayn and Tina were Devil Fruit users; if they fell into the sea without a ship, it was very likely... Lin Tian didn't think much, nor dared to. He tightly grabbed Ace's right hand, then turned around and directly threw Ace towards the pirate ship."Lin Tian, you bastard! How dare you throw me! I'll definitely..." Ace, being thrown, cursed loudly. The rest of his words were not because Ace didn't want to say them, but because the wind was too strong."I'm sorry, Ace," Lin Tian murmured apologetically, and then, there was no 'then'.Instant!Lin Tian's figure disappeared directly, reappearing behind Ayn. This was spatial teleportation, true instant movement.Looking at the approaching shockwave, the Marines' faces were filled with fear. They frantically paddled their oars, but the warship was so huge that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't increase their speed much.Sensing someone behind her, Ayn immediately reached back to slap, but feeling the familiar sensation, Ayn stopped and shouted happily, "Lin Tian!""Vice Admiral Lin Tian! It's Vice Admiral Lin Tian!" The previously panicked Marines instantly became excited. Lin Tian was like a backbone in the Navy.Many Marines blindly trusted and admired Lin Tian. To this day, Lin Tian had never lost a battle; even when facing enemies stronger than himself, Lin Tian had always managed to turn the tables and kill them in the end.Nodding, Lin Tian walked towards the ship with a serious expression, his Marine cape fluttering in the wind. Facing the powerful shockwave, Lin Tian was incredibly calm."Spatial Shield!""Looking at him like this, that bastard does look a bit handsome... How could I... bah!" Tina's face instantly flushed slightly. He was just a bastard, not at all handsome.The island was destroyed in an instant, but the energy had not fully dissipated. It could only vent into the boundless ocean, and a series of dull roars echoed from the sea.The entire sea area began to churn, like boiling water, followed by towering giant waves rising on the surface, rushing towards the ships ahead, covering the sky and earth.If hundred-meter-high giant waves crashed down, these ships would all be finished. Although Lin Tian and Ace were powerful, that was their combat strength. Their abilities had no effect on such giant waves, unless it was Aokiji's Ice Age.Moreover, the giant waves and shockwave were now coming together, making it even harder to block them. Even Lin Tian, who had been confident earlier, couldn't help but be moved.His gaze involuntarily swept towards the pirate ship next to them. Lin Tian's throw had been well-calculated; Ace landed precisely on the ship. Fortunately, Ace was a Logia user, though he still gnashed his teeth in hatred for Lin Tian.But now, the impending shockwave and waves were upon them, and Ace had no good way to deal with them. His ability wasn't suitable for defense, and if he couldn't block it, he would first set his own ship on fire.His gaze also swept towards Lin Tian, knowing that Lin Tian had such defensive capabilities. Their eyes met, and they instantly understood each other's thoughts."Ah, we can only leave it to fate."At this moment, both suddenly felt an extremely powerful aura from behind, and their hearts couldn't help but be startled. One must know that Lin Tian and Ace were already considered some of the strongest people in the world. For them to consider someone 'extremely strong' showed how powerful the newcomer was.At this time, such a powerhouse arriving might not be a good thing. Just as the two turned around, a colossal figure had already flown overhead, blocking out the bright sun."Boom!"This figure landed steadily on Ace's ship. The immense power caused the stern of the entire massive three-masted ship to tilt upwards.The man said nothing, calmly looking at the shockwave and towering waves before him. He clenched his right fist and raised it high.Before he even threw the punch, everyone felt an extremely powerful aura, as if they had already witnessed the world-destroying scene that punch would create. Many people felt cold sweat on their backs.The man threw his punch without preparation; it was just an ordinary, unremarkable punch. The oppressive feeling in everyone's hearts only disappeared the moment he threw it.Crack, crack, crack... Around his fist, the void was covered with cracks, and sounds like shattering air echoed. Everyone hadn't yet reacted to what was happening.They then saw that the incredibly powerful shockwave, which had lowered the entire sea by dozens of centimeters and caused hundred-meter waves to splash wherever it passed, instantly shattered.The hundred-meter-high towering giant waves also shattered in an instant, breaking into countless pieces and returning to the sea. With one punch, the entire sea surface became still.The man turned around and said with a hearty laugh, "Gurararara, my sons, you played a bit too much this time. You almost got yourselves into trouble.""Pops!" Seeing the man before them, the pirates shouted in joyful unison.Lin Tian looked at the man and said, word by word,"The World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard." (To be continued.)
Chapter 189: Forcing Whitebeard to Retreat"Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, has actually arrived!"Seeing this man appear, the Marines instinctively raised their weapons.Instantly, thousands of spears were pointed at him, and dozens of cannons were aimed.But Whitebeard seemed oblivious, as if the thousands of people didn't exist, still conversing with Ace and the others.What an overwhelming aura! He truly lives up to his title as the strongest man in the world.On the warship, the Marines were incredibly nervous, their faces filled with vigilance as they stared at the man before them.They clutched their weapons tightly, their knuckles white, yet they felt no pain, as if the weapons brought them a sense of security.It wasn't that these Marines were too weak, but rather that this man's reputation was simply too immense.This man was one of only two legendary pirates from the era of the Pirate King Roger who could contend with Roger, known as the strongest man in the world, with terrifying strength.Just as the Marines were extremely tense, Lin Tian stretched out his right hand and shouted loudly, "Put down your weapons! These things are useless against a legendary man like him!"Looking at Vice Admiral Lin Tian on the ship, everyone seemed to find their backbone, their hearts instantly calming down, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.Since the battle with Doflamingo in Dressrosa two years ago, it had already been rumored among the Marines that Vice Admiral Lin Tian's combat power had reached the level of an Admiral.Now, two more years had passed, and Vice Admiral Lin Tian's strength was undoubtedly unfathomable.Vice Admiral Garp, the strongest Marine, and Vice Admiral Lin Tian's teacher, had even said that his student was catching up to him."Yes, we have Vice Admiral Lin Tian with us," many Marine soldiers secretly encouraged themselves.Lin Tian was also observing this legendary man.His first impression was that he was tall; his physique was very large and robust, over five meters tall.Even though they were some distance apart, Lin Tian still had to tilt his head slightly to see his face.His height completely surpassed that of ordinary humans, like a giant, which reminded Lin Tian of Bartholomew Kuma from the Revolutionary Army, who was now one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.However, Whitebeard had denied being anything other than an ordinary human."The anime world is indeed a place without logic.How does an ordinary human grow to be five meters tall?" Lin Tian shook his head, thinking maliciously.Edward Newgate was given the title 'Whitebeard' by the world, not only for his strength but primarily because of the crescent-shaped white mustache on his face, which left a lasting impression.On the pirate ship,Whitebeard laughed heartily, "Ace, you've caused quite a stir this time, destroying an entire island and almost getting yourself caught."This was Whitebeard, who genuinely treated all his crew members as his sons.Even if his sons made mistakes, he wouldn't blame them, embracing them with a father's chest.Ace scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.It was only in front of his father, Whitebeard, that Ace genuinely smiled from the heart."Dad, I didn't mean to this time.I didn't expect such a situation to occur."Changing the subject, Ace suddenly asked in confusion, "But, Dad, how did you get here?Weren't you resting at Brood?Why did you specifically come out to find us?"Satch, the Fourth Division Commander, also asked doubtfully, "Yeah, Dad, did something happen?And where are the others?"Satch scanned the surroundings and found that there was only their pirate ship on the sea, with three other Marine warships nearby.At this moment, a voice came down from high above, "Dad came all this way specifically for you guys."Both Marines and pirates quickly looked up into the sky.High above, a phoenix-like bird, emitting pale blue flames, was soaring.But upon closer inspection, one could see that only the wings of the bird were flames; the body in the middle was actually a person.Ace and the others showed joy on their faces when they saw the newcomer.After circling in the sky, the phoenix-like bird swooped down towards the ship below.Just as it was about to hit the deck, the bird transformed into a human figure and landed steadily on the deck.Golden punk hair, a dagger at his waist, and the Whitebeard Pirates' tattoo on his chest—another master."Whitebeard Pirates' First Division Commander, Marco the Phoenix!"Seeing that the newcomer was Marco, Lin Tian's eyes also narrowed.This was an extremely powerful master.'Marco the Phoenix' was the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates.His combat power was extremely strong, comparable to Marine Admirals like Aokiji.He possessed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, rarer than a Logia type, allowing him to transform into a phoenix composed of pale blue flames.He could nullify physical attacks and also had strong regenerative abilities, which was why he was called 'the Phoenix.'Tina, behind him, took a few steps forward, staring intently at the pirate ship opposite and asked, "What should we do, Lin Tian?Now that Whitebeard and First Division Commander Marco are here, the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates must not be far away."Whitebeard couldn't have swum here, and besides, he's a Devil Fruit user.Although no other pirate ships were visible on the sea, they must be approaching from nearby."What else can we do?We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.We'll see how things develop," Lin Tian shrugged, saying with an indifferent expression.Tina was furious; her prominent chest heaved violently.In this situation, Lin Tian was still so nonchalant, still joking around.She reached out her right hand.Suddenly, a yelp sounded, and Lin Tian quickly turned around, "Tina, what are you doing?Why are you pinching me for no reason?"With a cold snort, Tina tilted her head and said proudly, "Tina is very unhappy, so she wants to pinch someone."Lin Tian pointed his finger for a long time, finally managing to squeeze out a sentence, "You win."He suddenly reached out and hugged Ain, who was watching the two helplessly, and said proudly, "Our Ain is so good, unlike some people who are just she-devils."...On the other side, Marco landed on the deck and explained with a smile, "We received news that the Marine G-1 Branch has recently been investigating the whereabouts of our Whitebeard Pirates, and they've been specifically investigating you, Ace.""This time, someone discovered that the Marine genius Vice Admiral Lin Tian was heading towards you with thousands of elite Marines.Therefore, Dad and I immediately came to support you."Satch chuckled softly and said, "Dad, you two were a bit too worried.Ace and that Lin Tian are good friends.""Huh!"Hearing this news, Whitebeard and Ace were also moved, looking at Ace beside them with surprise and confusion, wanting an explanation.Ace explained, "Lin Tian is Vice Admiral Garp's student, and I grew up with Vice Admiral Garp's grandson when I was young.That's how Lin Tian and I met and spent a year together."The secret of being the son of the Pirate King Roger was only known to Dad among those present, so Ace's explanation was somewhat veiled and not fully revealed.Marco nodded in understanding, then asked curiously, "How is he?How strong is that strongest Marine genius?Is he really as powerful as the rumors say?"As pirates, everyone had heard of the name Lin Tian the God of Slaughter, after all, this name had been circulating worldwide for nearly ten years.Especially the rumors about Lin Tian's immense talent, and how at fifteen he could contend with Silvers Rayleigh without being at a disadvantage, which pushed Lin Tian to the forefront of the world's attention, and many pirate powerhouses wanted to test him.Marco had clearly seen the commotion Lin Tian and Ace had caused earlier and really wanted to see how strong this Marine genius truly was.Ace nodded, glancing at Lin Tian beside him, and said, "Very strong!When we first met, I couldn't even see his figure clearly.After the big battle just now, he still doesn't seem to have used his full strength."As the strongest Marine genius, many people had investigated Lin Tian's combat power.Lin Tian excelled in all three aspects: physical combat, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruit abilities, making him a true all-rounder.In the recent battle, Ace had never seen Lin Tian use his swordsmanship, but just his physical combat and Devil Fruit abilities alone had made it difficult for him to contend.Although Lin Tian's abilities were very effective against Ace's, it couldn't deny Lin Tian's power.For Ace to comment that he was very strong, it showed that this Marine genius was indeed incredibly powerful.Marco wanted to fight Lin Tian even more; only fighting true powerhouses was interesting."Marco, if you want to fight him, you'll have to wait a bit.The others haven't arrived yet," Whitebeard said, stopping Marco when he saw his eagerness.Marco paused, saying somewhat sullenly, "Alright, Dad, but you can't stop me later.I really want to see if this Marine genius is truly as legendary as they say.""Don't worry, I definitely won't stop you later.I also want to see what kind of abilities Garp's student possesses."Whitebeard said softly, the latter sentence only flashing through his mind and not spoken aloud.Feeling the approaching aura, Lin Tian stopped arguing with Tina, slowly turned around, and his eyes met Marco's.Feeling the fighting spirit in the other's eyes, Lin Tian's mouth curved into a slight smile, which he immediately hid, shifting his gaze to the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard, beside him.Their gazes collided in the void; the atmosphere between heaven and earth seemed to solidify.A vast, invincible aura burst forth from both of them.The calm sea, under the clash of their auras, immediately began to churn violently.The ships rocked fiercely, and everyone could only hold on tightly to nearby objects to steady themselves.Yet Lin Tian and Whitebeard remained standing firmly, without the slightest movement.The waves surged, and the sea trembled under their combined aura.Rumble!A sudden clap of thunder sounded out of nowhere, and the aura from both of them vanished completely, as if it had never existed.The sea immediately returned to calm, and both men still stood steadily in their places."Vice Admiral Lin Tian blocked Whitebeard's aura!He truly lives up to his name as Vice Admiral Lin Tian, the strongest Marine genius!"Seeing that Vice Admiral Lin Tian had held his ground, the Marines cheered, and the fear and tension in their hearts vanished completely.After all, even though they knew Vice Admiral Lin Tian was powerful, facing such a legendary man, everyone still felt uncertain.Now, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief."Lin Tian, are you alright?"Ain asked worriedly, about to rush forward to support Lin Tian, but she was immediately stopped by Lin Tian's outstretched hand, and Tina also secretly reached out and pulled Ain back.Lin Tian was not unscathed from the clash of auras, unlike what everyone thought.In fact, Lin Tian was injured, but he had been holding it in, so no one else noticed.Lin Tian understood that in this situation, he had to hold on and not show any weakness, as it would be a huge blow to the Marines."Dad, are you alright?"On the pirate ship, everyone saw Dad take a step back, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.In the previous clash of auras, Dad was actually forced back by the Marine genius opposite them.How was this possible?Ace glanced at the motionless Lin Tian, his shock imaginable.Had Lin Tian already become so strong?Whitebeard waved his hand, standing steadily on the deck, and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I'm fine, just forced back a step.However, the one opposite is probably injured, aren't they?"Hearing this, everyone inexplicably felt a sense of relief. (To be continued.)