Ace's Observation Haki captured everything unfolding on the battlefield, and his smirk grew wider. When Akainu noticed Ace's smile, he couldn't hide his anger. "What are you laughing at, Gol D. Ace?" he spat out, his face contorted with rage.
Akainu had intended to shake Ace's resolve by revealing his lineage to the world, believing that such a revelation would unsettle him. After all, Ace had kept his bloodline a secret, and even his crew seemed unaware. Akainu was confident that exposing Ace's true identity as Gol D. Roger's son would create a psychological advantage.
Despite his iron-blooded and extreme adherence to justice, Akainu acknowledged Ace's formidable strength. He knew that any psychological wavering in Ace could tip the scales in his favor during their confrontation. Akainu was willing to use any means to achieve his concept of justice, no matter how ruthless.
However, the situation had spiraled beyond Akainu's expectations. Instead of being shaken, Ace remained composed, his Haki growing more intense. The unexpected appearance of 'Dark King' Rayleigh and his subsequent assault on Kizaru further complicated matters. Moreover, the arrival of a middle-aged man with Admiral-level strength and the emergence of Nami, whose Thunder Fruit abilities had propelled her to Admiral threshold strength, caught Akainu off guard.
Akainu's strategy was crumbling. Even with Kizaru's Sparkling Fruit, he faced insurmountable odds against three top combatants wielding formidable fruits like Thunder and Gravity. Without swift intervention, Kizaru's defeat was imminent, and Akainu's own position would be jeopardized. The potential failure of Headquarters Admirals on a global stage was inconceivable to Akainu, who upheld "thorough justice" with unwavering zeal.
"Gol D. Ace?" Akainu repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. The intensity of Conqueror's Haki in Ace's eyes deepened.
"What? Don't you like this name?" Akainu taunted coldly.
Ace's smile widened, transforming into a Haki-filled laugh. "Did you make a mistake, Akainu?" he said. "I am the Flame Emperor! This era will be called the Flame Emperor!"
With a deafening roar, Ace unleashed a terrifying surge of flames. The atmosphere's temperature skyrocketed, distorting the air and transforming the entire space into a blazing inferno.
Akainu's face twisted further in frustration. He realized that names and bloodlines held no sway over Ace. This madman intended to forge an era of his own.
"The Emperor of Fire shows his power!" spectators around the world exclaimed as they witnessed the ferocious flames on their screens.
In the center of the fiery maelstrom, Ace laughed at Akainu. "Want to save Kizaru?" he taunted. "Then come over here and let me completely burn the magma you are so proud of, Akainu!"
Ace's confident challenge reverberated through the air, asserting his dominance and setting the stage for the new era he envisioned.
"Boom!"
A monstrous, terrifying flame erupted, transforming the entire world into an inferno of astonishing temperatures. The heat was so intense that it distorted the atmosphere.
"Boom!"
The flames engulfed Akainu in the next moment. It was as if the flames had transformed into a gigantic beast, opening its abyssal maw to swallow everything in its path before burning it all to ashes.
"I see. Has the power of the Mera-Mera Fruit been developed to this extent?" Akainu thought as he watched the terrifying flames engulfing him. His eyes showed no trace of emotion. With just one move, he understood that Portgas D. Ace had fully mastered the Mera-Mera Fruit, just as he, Aokiji, and Kizaru had mastered their own Logia fruits.
The Mera-Mera Fruit, one of the most destructive Logia abilities, boasted attack power superior to Aokiji's Frozen Fruit and Kizaru's Sparkling Fruit. However, Akainu knew his own Lava-Lava Fruit represented pure destruction in the Logia class.
"Gulu! Gulu! Boom!"
Akainu's right arm suddenly turned into terrifying magma. As the magma flowed, it formed the shape of a head. "Inugami Guren!" Akainu roared angrily, swinging his right arm.
"Boom!"
As Akainu swung his magma arm, it stretched out like a rushing dog. The power of the Lava-Lava Fruit exploded fully, resembling a prehistoric beast that destroyed everything in its path. It collided violently with the monstrous flames.
"Boom!"
Countless flames were bitten into pieces by the magma dog's head, turning into sparks and disappearing into the atmosphere.
"Good!" Sengoku shouted loudly as he watched Akainu's Lava-Lava Fruit ability display its power on the screen. The Lava-Lava Fruit, known for its strongest attack power among all Devil Fruits, stood at the top with a single attack power rating of 18.
In the Devil Fruit illustrated book, the Lava-Lava Fruit was also the superior Devil Fruit to the Mera-Mera Fruit. It completely restrained the Mera-Mera Fruit, much more than it did the Frozen Fruit. While magma could evaporate ice, freezing air could also freeze lava, making it a more balanced matchup. However, magma could burn away fire, giving the Lava-Lava Fruit a significant advantage over the Mera-Mera Fruit.
This was why Sengoku had sent Akainu to the Sabaody Archipelago when he speculated that Portgas D. Ace might target the Celestial Dragons. Without the Mera-Mera Fruit ability, Ace was still an Admiral-level fighter due to his Conqueror's Haki and martial arts, but losing the fruit's power would significantly impact his strength.
The Four Emperors' power lay not only in their Conqueror's Haki but also in their other abilities. Kaido's Fish Fruit - Azure Dragon form, Whitebeard's Shock Fruit, Big Mom's natural monster physique and Soul Fruit, and Shanks' unique abilities all contributed to their strength. Without these, they wouldn't be as formidable.
Ace, who mastered the Mera-Mera Fruit, Conqueror's Haki, and Observation Haki to the point of briefly seeing the future, was a perfect combatant with no weaknesses. Even in a battle with Kaido, the outcome would be uncertain. However, if the Mera-Mera Fruit was completely restrained, Ace's perfect combat power would have a flaw, potentially decisive in a battle between top experts.
Akainu, with the strongest attack power Devil Fruit, had a chance to defeat Ace in front of the world. Conqueror's Haki, while powerful, didn't restrain Devil Fruit abilities. Powerful Devil Fruit abilities could penetrate Haki, and the Lava-Lava Fruit had the power to break through Conqueror's Haki-entanglement.
This was why Akainu, even without Conqueror's Haki - Entanglement, was the strongest among the Admirals and could fight on equal footing with the Four Emperors.
"Akainu, hurry up and defeat Portgas D. Ace! Kizaru can't hold it anymore," Sengoku urged, cold sweat forming on his forehead as he watched Kizaru on the screen, cornered and on the verge of defeat.
Rayleigh, though aged and with deteriorating strength, was still a formidable opponent. But with two other Admiral-level combatants aiding him, Kizaru was in a desperate situation. Nami, the 'Little Thieving Cat,' had awakened the Thunder Fruit and reached Admiral-level battle experience. The blind middle-aged man with the Gravity Fruit further limited Kizaru's Sparkling Fruit speed.
Despite not using his full strength, the blind man's assistance, combined with Rayleigh and Nami's attacks, left Kizaru struggling. Without the low-level Haki from Nami, Kizaru might have been seriously injured by now.
"Damn it! Portgas D. Ace, what method did you use to awaken the Thunder Fruit of the 'Little Thieving Cat'?" Sengoku cursed. The Entei Pirates were an anomaly. Vivi, the Desert Princess, and Kaya, the Fallen Doctor, had also awakened their Devil Fruit abilities. The Entei Pirates were led by the one who caused all this, the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace.
Sengoku gritted his teeth, watching the Mera-Mera Fruit ability being turned into sparks by the magma. "Defeat him, Akainu! Defeat Portgas D. Ace! As long as we defeat him, the Marines will still have a chance!" Though arresting Ace was impossible with Rayleigh, the blind middle-aged man, and all the Entei Pirates present, saving Marine's face was crucial. "Use your Lava-Lava Fruit to defeat Portgas D. Ace! This is a fated victory!" Sengoku's fists clenched tightly, his forehead covered in veins.
"Sengoku..."
Garp looked at Sengoku and immediately understood what he was thinking. Pinning hopes on the Lava-Lava Fruit to defeat the Mera-Mera Fruit? But had Sengoku forgotten his own words? Ace, at ten years old, had developed the power to surpass the limits of the Mera-Mera Fruit. That power was more terrifying than Sakazuki's Lava-Lava Fruit, which symbolized destruction. Ace's hidden power was destruction itself. Sengoku's heart was completely unsettled at this moment. Garp sighed.
"Want to burn up my lava?" Akainu's right arm turned into magma as the Mera-Mera Fruit's sparks dissipated in the atmosphere. He looked at Ace in the distance, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Are you too arrogant, Portgas D. Ace? Your Mera-Mera Fruit is just plain fire, and I am magma that can even burn fire! The relationship between my abilities and yours is one of superior and subordinate. Show off your Conqueror's Haki all you want. Your Devil Fruit ability is useless now."
Akainu's smile widened as he began his usual verbal assault.
"Sakazuki!" Kizaru, wielding a Light Sword, saw a glimmer of hope as he found himself in a desperate situation. If Sakazuki could quickly defeat Portgas D. Ace and come to his aid, there would be hope. Alternatively, if one of these three attacking him could split combat forces, he could delay the other two using his Sparkling Fruit ability. With the main Marine forces en route for reinforcements, his crisis could be resolved soon.
"Lava-Lava Fruit? It is indeed Mera-Mera Fruit's superior Devil Fruit ability in the illustrated book, completely restraining the Mera-Mera Fruit," Rayleigh observed. "Nami, it's enough for me and Fujitora here. You go help Ace. With your help, Ace can defeat Akainu even with just Conqueror's Haki."
Rayleigh looked at Nami. Although capturing Kizaru was taking longer than anticipated, this approach was the safest. Even if the Mera-Mera Fruit was restrained, Ace was still Admiral-level in combat power just by relying on Conqueror's Haki-Entanglement. No one had defeated the combination of two Admiral-level combatants.
But time was running out. The other members of the Entei Pirates were fighting against the Naval Headquarters Vice Admirals brought by Akainu and Kizaru. Despite having the upper hand, it would take time to completely defeat the Vice Admirals. The Vice Admirals were desperate, and Rayleigh's brows furrowed slightly.
Marine reinforcements would undoubtedly arrive for this public execution. Naval Headquarters was very close to the Sabaody Archipelago. With the speed of Marine's latest warship, reinforcements could arrive quickly. Rayleigh's plan was to inflict heavy damage or capture an important combatant before reinforcements arrived. But if Ace was disadvantaged, it could affect his belief in being a strong person.
This pure Devil Fruit ability restraint had historically made strong individuals feel helpless and powerless, affecting their future strength. If it hindered Ace's growth, Rayleigh would rather face a more troublesome situation. Although he believed in Ace's strength and determination, any possibility of hindrance had to be erased.
"No, Uncle Rayleigh, let's keep knocking him down." Nami smiled playfully at Rayleigh. "Ace can do anything. He is the man who wants to become the king of the world!"
Rayleigh was momentarily stunned, then a smile appeared on his lips. He no longer hesitated and slashed hard at Kizaru, who was becoming increasingly embarrassed.
Seeing that the three showed no intention of splitting up, Kizaru's face turned even grimmer.
"Sakazuki, save, save, save..."
"Boom!"
"Superior-subordinate relationship? Haha, hahaha!"
Ace looked at Akainu, the corners of his mouth curling into a wide grin before turning into outright laughter.
"What's so funny? You can't even accept this objective fact? So disappointing, Portgas D. Ace!"
Akainu no longer used the name Gol D. Ace to provoke Ace, knowing it was futile, but he continued his verbal assault, sneering at Ace.
"You know, Akainu," Ace said, watching the rain of fire defeated by the magma. The curve of his smile grew deeper. "I've been waiting for the appearance of the Lava-Lava Fruit for a long time. Only the Lava-Lava Fruit gives me this sense of destiny."
Ace's eyes burned brighter with the fire of the Mera-Mera Fruit.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Akainu's expression hardened, his brows furrowing. His Observation Haki warned him that something uncontrollable was about to happen.
"Become the nourishment for the advancement of my Mera-Mera Fruit abilities, Akainu!" Ace laughed and closed his eyes.
"Call!"
The scene in front of Ace shifted instantly as he activated his Heaven-Defying understanding. When he reopened his eyes, a plain-looking middle-aged man with long hair and a beard stood before him.
"I haven't seen you for a thousand years, Yhwach," Ace spoke with an ancient voice.
"Your life will end with me! Bankai! Zanka no Tachi!!!"