Chereads / One Piece: Ace The Emperor of Flames / Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: The four Sacred Beasts Unite!

Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: The four Sacred Beasts Unite!

"Five Elders?"

Ace's voice held a mix of curiosity and anticipation as he looked up at the five looming figures that had just appeared. Each was surrounded by a dark aura, a twisted blend of black flames and crackling lightning that seemed to warp the very air around them. These were not ordinary beings—they were monsters in every sense of the word, and Ace's lips curled into a slight, knowing smile as he recognized each of them.

The first was Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the so-called Science Defense God of War. His monstrous form was that of Gyūki, a fearsome, multi-limbed beast with horns that twisted like cruel spirals into the sky. His presence alone exuded an aura of cold, calculated brutality—a being who embodied the terrifying efficiency of science turned into a weapon.

Beside him hovered Saint Marcus Mars, the Environment God of War, whose monstrous form was a colossal bird named Izu-shinten. His wings, vast and terrifying, flapped with the force of a storm, sending gusts of wind that could raze entire landscapes. His sharp, predatory eyes seemed to take in everything around him with a dispassionate gaze, a creature of the skies that dominated the very environment itself.

Next was Saint Topman Warcury, the Legal God of War, in the form of Fengxi, a monstrous boar that radiated raw, unstoppable power. His tusks were like towering blades, and his every movement shook the ground as though the very earth itself bowed to his will. Warcury was a force of nature, an embodiment of the law's unyielding, relentless march forward.

Standing tall and skeletal was Saint Izambaron V Nusjuro, the Finance God of War. His monstrous form was a skeletal horse, a ghastly figure that seemed to defy death itself. His presence was a chilling reminder of the inevitability of decay, and yet, there was a cold, enduring strength in his hollow eyes—a testament to the unending pursuit of wealth and power.

Finally, there was Saint Shepard Ju Peter, the Agricultural God of War, who took the form of a massive sandworm. This monstrous entity slithered through the earth, its body a terrifying blend of muscle and armor, capable of devouring everything in its path. Ju Peter represented the unforgiving cycle of nature—the relentless hunger and growth that could both sustain and destroy.

Ace's eyes flickered with recognition and a hint of caution as he sized up the five monstrosities before him. These were no ordinary foes—they were the pinnacle of the World Government's power, the Five Elders who had transcended their human forms to become living gods of war. Each represented an aspect of the world's most terrifying forces, and together, they were an almost insurmountable threat.

Once, back during the chaos of the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Ace had faced the overwhelming might of the Five Elders. Even though he had already mastered the powerful Residual Fire Style, it took every ounce of his strength, cunning, and strategic brilliance to maneuver through that nightmare. He had orchestrated a grand scheme, pulling the Red Hair Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and even the Beast Pirates led by Kaido off the battlefield. The Marines, too, had been unwittingly manipulated into becoming mere pawns in his game. Ace's mastery over the Gate-Gate Fruit had allowed him to appear anywhere at any time, a ghostly presence that haunted the Five Elders and ultimately forced them into an uneasy compromise.

Back then, he had stood alone as the sole member of the Entei Pirates capable of holding his own against those ancient monsters. His victory had been a testament to his unmatched willpower and tactical genius. But it had also been a lonely battle, with Ace carrying the weight of the entire conflict on his shoulders.

Now, however, the situation was entirely different. Ace was no longer fighting this war alone. His crew, the Entei Pirates, had grown immeasurably stronger. The elites of his fleet, once outmatched by the sheer power of the Five Elders, had honed their skills and abilities to a point where they could now hold their ground against these formidable foes. They had proven themselves time and time again, battling through the ranks of the Navy and emerging victorious.

But it wasn't just his crew that had changed. Ace had forged powerful alliances with some of the most feared and respected figures in the world. Dragon, the enigmatic leader of the Revolutionary Army, Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, and Whitebeard, the man once hailed as the strongest in the world—all stood with him now. The combined might of these legends, along with his own indomitable spirit, meant that the Five Elders were no longer an insurmountable threat.

As the Elite Fighters of the Entei Pirates wrapped up their battles with the Navy, they turned their attention to the Five Elders. No longer were these ancient beings the untouchable gods they once seemed. Now, they were targets—enemies to be overwhelmed and brought down by the combined force of Ace's alliances.

Ace stood at the forefront of this coalition, his eyes burning with determination. The battlefield was no longer a place of isolation for him. He was surrounded by powerful allies, all ready to jump into the fray, to swarm and overpower the once-invincible Five Elders. This was the culmination of everything he had worked for—the moment when the balance of power would finally tip in his favor.

The time for compromise was over. Now was the time to win.

Ace stood before the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, his gaze unwavering as he clapped his hands together with a resounding echo. As if responding to a primal call, the earth itself seemed to tremble. The air grew thick with an ancient power, and from the very fabric of the world, four colossal mythical beasts began to materialize, each one dwarfing the monstrous figures that the Five Elders had transformed into.

"Roar!" "Chi!" "DEX!"

The roars of these beasts echoed across the battlefield, each one distinct yet harmonizing in a terrifying symphony of power.

First, the sky darkened as the Dragon King Sabo emerged, his body coiling through the air, scales glinting with an otherworldly blue hue. His form, a manifestation of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form, was majestic and fearsome. Lightning crackled around him as he descended, eyes burning with the fierce resolve of a warrior who had transcended his limits.

Next, the ground shook as the White Tiger, Momousagi Gion, appeared. Her form, granted by the Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, White Tiger form, was a vision of raw power and grace. Every step she took left deep gouges in the earth, and her eyes gleamed with a predatory sharpness, ready to tear through any opposition. Her presence alone was enough to send chills down the spines of those who dared to look upon her.

The air grew hotter as Laki, in her Firebird form, soared into view. The Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Suzaku form, had granted her wings of pure flame, trailing a burning wake as she flew. Her shrill cry pierced the heavens, a war cry that promised fiery destruction to all who opposed her. She circled the battlefield with grace, her flames intensifying with each pass, as if preparing to engulf the world in her fiery embrace.

Finally, the ground seemed to harden and solidify as the Black Tortoise, Black Arm Z, lumbered forward. The Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Black Tortoise form, had granted him an impenetrable shell and a strength as unyielding as the mountains themselves. His form exuded an aura of invincibility, a steady and unbreakable force of nature that nothing could move. His gaze was stern and unyielding, a silent promise that he would stand firm against any threat.

The four Sacred Beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku, and Black Tortoise—now stood before the Five Elders, each one a living embodiment of the mythical power that had long been whispered of in legends. They towered over their adversaries, their combined presence radiating an overwhelming sense of dread and awe.

Ace watched as these legendary figures took their positions, a small smile curling at the corners of his mouth. This was no ordinary battle—this was a clash of the ages, a confrontation between the most powerful mythical beasts and the once-untouchable monsters of the World Government. The time had come for the ultimate showdown, and Ace knew that with the strength of these formidable allies at his side, the Five Elders would finally meet their match.

The battlefield was set, and the war between the Four Sacred Beasts and the Five Elders was about to begin.

"Roar!!!"

The air itself seemed to tremble as the four mythical beasts unleashed their terrifying roars, their voices reverberating across the battlefield like the sound of thunder. The ground quaked beneath them, and the skies darkened as if the heavens themselves were bowing to their might.

Before these colossal entities, the Five Elders—once the most feared and powerful figures in the world—now stood with faces contorted in frustration and fury. Their once unshakable confidence had been replaced by a grim realization: they were facing an unparalleled force.

"Asshole! Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise! Damn it!" Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, now in his monstrous Gyūki form, growled, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. The sheer size and power of the beasts before him dwarfed anything he had ever encountered, and his expression was twisted with rage as he looked upon them.

"We spent so much effort to secure the Fish-Fish Fruit—Azure Dragon for one of the Knights of God," Saint Nusjuro, the skeletal horse-like figure, spat, his eyes wild and bloodshot. "And Kaido ended up eating it instead! And now this…this man has gathered the abilities of all four top-level Devil Fruits."

The frustration was palpable among the Five Elders. The Fish-Fish Fruit—Azure Dragon form—had once been the crown jewel of their collection, intended as a reward for the highest-ranking member of the Knights of God during the Valley of Gods incident. But chaos had erupted, and in the confusion, the fruit had fallen into the hands of Charlotte Linlin, only to be passed on to Kaido—both of whom had met their end at the hands of the very man who now stood before them.

Saint Topman Warcury, transformed into his monstrous boar form, let out a low, furious snarl. "We've spent centuries—centuries—searching for these mythical beasts, and now… now they're all gathered under him!"

The thought was maddening. Each of these Zoan-type Devil Fruits contained a will of its own, a power that transcended the ordinary. And among them, the mythical beast species were the most coveted, the most feared. They had the potential to create beings of unparalleled strength, beings who could rival the Admirals and even challenge the Four Emperors.

But these fruits were elusive, almost as if they possessed a mind of their own. The Five Elders had searched tirelessly, sending their agents across the world in pursuit of these powerful artifacts, only to be thwarted time and again. They had never even succeeded in capturing the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Nika Form—despite 800 years of effort—until it was snatched away by fate and fell into the hands of Monkey D. Luffy.

It was as if the world itself was conspiring against them, withholding these treasures until they found their true masters.

And now, the man they had underestimated—the man who had taken down Kaido, Big Mom, and countless others—had not only acquired these powers but had united them under his command. Ace, the Flame Emperor, stood before them with the strength of legends at his back, ready to challenge even the gods themselves.

At that moment, even the Five Elders—who had always seen themselves as above the world, as untouchable—felt a surge of frustration and helplessness. They had planned for every eventuality, prepared for every threat, but this… this was something beyond their control.

As the colossal forms of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise loomed over them, the Five Elders could do nothing but curse the cruel twist of fate that had led them to this moment. A moment where their power was dwarfed by a man who had mastered the very forces they had sought to control.

Although the Five Elders were among the most powerful beings in the world, wielding the rare and formidable power of Conqueror's Haki-Infusion, they found themselves facing an unprecedented challenge. The four top-level Devil Fruits that now stood against them were not just any Devil Fruits—they were awakened, their powers fully realized and unleashed. The combined might of these four mythical beasts was something that no amount of strategy or brute force could easily overcome.

One top-level Devil Fruit was already a force to be reckoned with, capable of turning the tide of any battle. But four? And not just any four—these were the pinnacle of Zoan-type fruits, each with abilities that defied the natural order. The Five Elders, with all their experience and strength, knew they were in deep trouble.

What made the situation even more terrifying was a secret that only the Five Elders knew—a secret that had been buried in the annals of history, known only to a select few. These four top-level Devil Fruits were not just individually powerful; they were interconnected, bound by an ancient, mystical link that amplified their powers when brought together.

At the heart of this connection was the strongest of them all: the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Azure Dragon form. This fruit granted its user the ability to control natural elements, a power so vast that it could reshape landscapes and summon storms. But its true potential lay in its ability to tap into the unique powers of the other three mythical beasts.

The Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, White Tiger form, allowed its user to harness the killing aura of weapons, transforming it into devastating attack power. Among all Zoan fruits, it was known for its unparalleled offensive capabilities.

The Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Suzaku form, gave its user control over Suzaku flames—pure, purifying fire that could incinerate anything in its path, reducing even the mightiest foes to ashes.

The Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Black Tortoise form, bestowed upon its user the ability to wield dark water from the netherworld, a force as mysterious as it was destructive.

The Azure Dragon, with its command over natural elements, could also control the unique abilities of these other three beasts. When combined, the power of the four mythical beast species did not just add up—it multiplied exponentially, creating a force that was nothing short of godlike.

In all of history, such a union had never been achieved. The mythical beast Devil Fruits were known to have their own will, resisting domination and coalescence. To obtain just one was a legendary feat. To gather four, and bring them under a single command, was beyond impossible. It was the stuff of nightmares.

Yet here they were, facing this nightmare made real.

The Five Elders had always believed themselves to be the ultimate authority, the final word in power and control in the world. But now, the cruel reality stood before them—an unyielding truth they had never considered. The four sacred beasts, the most powerful of all mythical beasts, had united under the banner of the man who now opposed them.

"Four Sacred Beasts! Unite!"

The roar echoed from the massive maw of the Azure Dragon, a command that shook the very core of the battlefield. Sabo's voice, amplified by the power of the Azure Dragon, resonated with an authority that even the Five Elders couldn't ignore.

The sky darkened further, as if nature itself was bending to the will of these mythical creatures. The elements roared in response—wind howled, flames danced wildly, the earth rumbled, and dark waters surged. The union of these four forces was not just a battle cry—it was the herald of an unstoppable storm.

For the first time, the Five Elders felt a deep, creeping fear. They were no longer the hunters; they had become the hunted. The sacred beasts were united, their combined might poised to unleash a wrath that could tear apart even the strongest of worlds. And at the center of it all was Ace, whose hand had brought these powers together.

The realization hit them like a hammer—there was no easy way out of this. The battlefield had shifted, and now, they were the ones trapped in a nightmare of their own making.