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Little Ozzy, who had broken through the defense line of the bay, charged toward the execution square without hesitation.
Even Vice Admiral Momonga couldn't last a round against him; Ozzy took down enemies almost one sword swing at a time, and nothing could halt his advance.
Whitebeard sighed helplessly:
"That foolish Oz, there's no stopping him."
His tone was filled with worry.
Ozzy's massive frame makes him an easy target on the front lines.
The further he goes, the more concentrated fire he'll face.
"Bravery and recklessness are two different things!" Whitebeard called out loudly, trying to dissuade Little Ozzy.
To him, everyone in his pirate crew was like a child.
"Pops, please don't try to stop me," Little Ozzy insisted stubbornly. "I have to save him!"
The resolve in his voice left Whitebeard utterly helpless.
"Go cover him and watch his back!" Whitebeard commanded.
As Ozzy drew closer and closer to the Shichibukai's defenses…
Frontline.
"Come and see if you've got the guts!" Diamond Joz hefted a massive ice chunk and hurled it forcefully toward the execution platform.
Guarding the Admirals, only Akainu remained.
"I said it a long time ago—if everyone charges, who will hold this position?" Akainu muttered irritably as he stood up slowly.
Despite his grumbling, he didn't hesitate to act.
His arm transformed into searing magma, radiating intense heat, and the lava dripped to the ground, creating a smoking crater where it landed.
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu's lava fist exploded forward, a scorching wave engulfing everything as his molten arm, like a giant's fist, struck the ice.
The massive ice block was obliterated without resistance, evaporating instantly.
On the execution platform.
Sengoku observed the battlefield, his gaze fixed on Whitebeard's movements, with no interest in Ace's condition at all.
Beside him, Ace looked serious and murmured to himself,
"It's time!"
Ace took a deep breath, igniting into flames to break free from the seastone restraints, and darted forward.
In the face of his transformed flames, the seastone shackles were as weak as ordinary chains, unable to hold him.
Ace, freed at last!
...
Sengoku only registered a quick flash as a streak of fire whooshed past him.
Fire?
Where had the flames come from?
A bad feeling stirred within Sengoku.
With difficulty, he turned to confirm his suspicion.
Clang clang—
Sengoku saw the vacant execution platform and the seastone shackles lying on it, making a sharp clinking sound, mocking him.
Buzz.
Sengoku's mind went blank, as if it had crashed.
He stood there, stunned, as disbelief swept over his face. He stared at Ace's former position in a daze.
"This is impossible!!!"
A furious roar erupted from Sengoku.
Enraged, his body glowed with a golden light, his grip almost crushing the Transponder Snail in his hand due to his intense anger.
Even now, he struggled to comprehend.
What just happened??
How did Ace escape??
Those were seastone handcuffs—how did he break free??
Sengoku glared at the empty shackles, his mind a storm of confusion, and the heaving of his chest was the only sign that the Marine Marshal was truly enraged.
…
On the other side.
Just as Akainu was about to continue his attack, a sudden, inexplicable sense of danger washed over him, as if he were being stalked by a feral beast.
Then, Sengoku's furious roar exploded in his ears:
"This is impossible!!"
The shock in Sengoku's voice jolted Akainu, who immediately sensed something was terribly wrong.
Right now, with so many eyes watching, there was likely only one thing that could rattle Sengoku this much—Ace!
Without a second thought, Akainu abandoned his attack, halting his "Red Dog" assault on Whitebeard's ship.
His entire body morphed into roiling magma as he spun around, his gaze frantically scanning for the source of the ominous feeling gnawing at him.
What he saw was a sea of blazing gold.
Akainu's pupils narrowed sharply, his expression one of utter shock!
He saw Ace!
Ace, right before him!
The same Ace who had been bound on the execution platform!
The same Ace who should have been shackled by seastone!
But regardless of the circumstances, Ace should not be here!
How had he escaped??
Akainu was completely baffled.
As a Marine Admiral, he'd never encountered anything this absurd!
He watched as Ace, engulfed in flames, radiated an evolved, brilliant golden fire, surrounding him like a miniature sun.
The flames burned intensely on Ace's arms, and the immortal fire surged, forming a colossal flaming fist.
There was a smile on his lips.
Beneath that smile, a deadly intent smoldered.
Now freed, Ace no longer needed to hold back; he could unleash his full strength!
And it was time to repay Akainu's punch.
Avenge yesterday, resolve today!
No grudges left for tomorrow.
"Fire Fist!!!"
Ace's booming roar was like thunder from the heavens, shaking everyone to their core.
In his voice, an overwhelming array of emotions burned…
The grievances, anger, joy, anticipation, and other emotions accumulated after time travel are all vented in this roar.
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