"Admiral!?"
Ace looked at Iggy with a grim expression, then turned to stare at the formidable man standing before them.
Though he'd only been at sea for a year, he'd heard enough rumors to know what kind of power he was facing.
As one of the Navy Headquarters' highest-ranking officers, an admiral stood at the very top of the world's combat hierarchy. Their strength rivaled even that of the Four Emperors.
Thinking of his mighty father, Ace's expression hardened. A wisp of flame flickered across his body.
"'Ghost of Vengeance' Iggy. 'Fire Fist' Ace. I didn't expect you two to be in the same den."
Akainu looked down at them with contempt. Anger briefly flashed across his chiseled face before it returned to its usual cold, steely expression.
His eyes narrowed at Iggy, recalling the combat meeting at Marineford six years ago.
That meeting—chaired by Fleet Admiral Sengoku—had been held to address the total annihilation of a Celestial Dragon convoy.
Driven by his belief in "absolute justice," Akainu was the first to propose a Buster Call on the Goa Kingdom—believing it better to kill innocents than let a single criminal escape.
But after heated debate, Sengoku vetoed the plan, opting for a more conservative approach.
Akainu had been furious afterward, brooding for days.
"The crimes you've committed are beyond forgiveness. Justice demands your execution. If you have accomplices, they'll be wiped out too."
Just a few days ago, another assassination had rocked the Holy Land—five Celestial Dragons killed in one strike.
As soon as Iggy became the prime suspect, Akainu volunteered to eliminate him personally.
Twelve warships were mobilized. After combing the vast sea, they'd finally found the man who dared undermine justice.
"Catching you both brings great satisfaction to this old man."
And as a bonus, he'd get to kill the son of Gol D. Roger—now part of the Whitebeard Pirates. Akainu felt his time had been well spent.
Looking at the two outlaws before him, the admiral exuded righteous fury.
His clenched fist turned molten, lava bubbling around his arm and spewing thick black smoke.
"I won't let you hurt Iggy!"
Ace stepped forward, unflinching under Akainu's pressure. Flames erupted along his arm.
He launched into the air and fired a fiery punch. A blazing column of flame surged toward Akainu, engulfing him in a violent inferno.
But the flames stopped at the ship's bow, unable to press forward.
"Perhaps you're unaware," Akainu said as the fire cleared, stepping out of the smoke unharmed. Small flames still clung to his uniform.
"Devil Fruits have natural counters."
"Great Eruption."
He took one step and punched. A stream of lava surged out, flying straight toward Ace in the air.
"Crap!"
Akainu's arm extended rapidly, hurling molten rock with terrifying force. Ace could feel the searing heat against his face.
Suddenly, a strong grip yanked him from midair—Iggy had pulled him down to safety.
The attack barely missed. Magma fragments struck the small boat below, instantly piercing through the deck.
"Damn it… there's no winning against Akainu like this," Iggy muttered, frowning.
He recalled the admiral's combat feats from the One Piece manga. Even with Ace at his side, they didn't stand a chance.
Not only had his revenge been cut short, but now they'd drawn the attention of a monster.
A second wave of magma came flying.
"Moonwalk!"
Iggy grabbed Ace and leapt, dodging the lava with all his strength. The two darted onto the roof of a nearby naval ship.
The magma crashed into their old boat, launching a towering geyser of seawater. In moments, the vessel had melted into nothing.
"Hmph. Let's see you spew magma on a Navy ship."
No sooner had Iggy spoken than a blazing column of fire erupted, swallowing part of the cabin.
The steel plating melted as panicked Marines fled in all directions.
Without missing a beat, Iggy used Shave, vanishing in a blur. Ace followed, trailing smoke as the pair leapt through the burning wreckage.
"Tch…"
Ace was a second too slow. His calf was struck by molten debris, leaving a charred wound.
"Die—Great Flame Commandment!"
Growing frustrated, Akainu unleashed a massive magma wave, combining devastating range with overwhelming power.
Iggy glanced at Ace. There was no time to hesitate.
He wrapped his arms in Armament Haki and activated Tekkai, hardening his body until it was like iron. His arms thickened and expanded into armored columns.
"Tekkai: Steel Wall!"
Iggy moved in front of Ace, arms crossed in an X-shape—the strongest defense he could muster.
A hellish wave of heat slammed into them. Iggy's arms sizzled under the pressure.
"Mirror Flame!"
Ace, having gathered strength, roared and swung his arm upward in a C-shaped arc.
The flame surged outward, forming a blazing wall that pushed back against the oncoming lava—standing side by side with Iggy in a desperate defense.
The shockwave from the clash scorched the battlefield. Nearby Marines barely had time to scream before being incinerated.
As the smoke slowly cleared and the heat faded, Ace collapsed, his body riddled with burns.
"Iggy…!"
He turned to see his brother: arms melted to the bone, chest blackened and scorched, half-kneeling yet still glaring at Akainu with defiance.
Ace couldn't comprehend how Iggy was still alive—his willpower defied belief.
But he didn't know: for a true avenger, dying before vengeance is fulfilled is not an option.
"Criminals… your judgment is at hand."
Through thick black smoke, Akainu stepped forward—lava dripping from his clenched fist, radiating unrelenting heat as he approached.
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