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He twisted his neck, cracked his wrists, and stood before the Straw Hat crew.
Ignoring the marines and special agents in front of him, he looked up at Borsalino in mid-air and said with a smile: "Looks like I'm not too late!"
"Ace!"
"Luffy's brother!"
The Straw Hat crew watched excitedly as the figure stood before them. Even Teach, seeing the sudden appearance, felt a surge of excitement.
It's here!
It's finally here!
Now that it's here, then Ian, the God of Sun…
However, as Teach looked on expectantly, no one else descended from the sky.
The Straw Hat crew was taken aback.
Nami hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Ace, where's Ian?"
"Mr. Ian didn't come."
Ace turned around, pulling down his cowboy hat, and gave the Straw Hat crew a bright smile. "But it's okay…"
He then turned back to the figure in mid-air: "I'm here!"
"Huh, how scary!"
Faced with the sudden appearance of this figure, Borsalino didn't immediately attack.
Instead, he slowly adjusted his sunglasses while saying, how scary, but his tone remained calm. "Looks like Lucci and the others failed!"
"Those guys? They definitely failed."
Ace smiled at Borsalino and said sincerely, "But thanks to them, I was able to come here!"
"That's a terrible answer!"
Borsalino sighed helplessly, then his tone hardened as he stared directly at Ace. "So, is the Umbrella Corporation planning to start a war?"
"No, you started the war first."
Facing Borsalino's imposing aura, Ace showed no fear. He clenched his right fist against his left, his tone earnest: "Mr. Ian said he would teach you the consequences of starting a war!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying flame erupted around Ace, as if his entire body was engulfed in flames; no, it would be more accurate to say he transformed into flames. His entire aura seemed to change in that instant.
The elementalization granted by his Flame-Flame Fruit made this move easier to execute.
Everyone: "...?!"
This sudden change also caused Borsalino's expression to shift.
Something seemed to flash through his mind, and he muttered to himself: "Ian, the God of Sun!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he quickly regained his composure, reverting to his lazy demeanor: "You seem to really enjoy imitating your boss… Whether it's you, or that Enel guy from the Skypiea, but…"
With that, Borsalino's aura shifted, transforming him into a beam of light as he swooped down from mid-air and charged towards Ace.
"You are not Ian, the God of Sun!"
As those words fell, Borsalino appeared before Ace, just as Ace raised his right foot.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, another burst of flame… No, more like a firebird, hurtled towards Borsalino, sending him flying.
"Admiral… Kizaru!"
This sudden turn of events caused the marines and agents to widen their eyes as Admiral Kizaru was sent flying.
Admiral Kizaru was defeated?
Defeated by an executive of the Umbrella Corporation?
But just as the Marines and agents were staring wide-eyed, another unfamiliar voice rang out.
"Oh dear, looks like I'm not too late! Huh, are a cadre of the Umbrella Corporation here too?"
That unique flame wasn't Ace's flame.
Everyone stared at the figure that had transformed from a firebird into human form, but their eyes widened again, as if they had recognized him.
"Who is this guy?"
"White… the Whitebeard Pirates…"
"Marco!"
Teach also saw the figure, and, unable to hold back any longer, tears welled in his eyes. "You're here! You really came!"
"Yo, Teach, looks like you're in pretty bad shape! I didn't expect you to have this kind of identity. Even Pops was startled by you!"
Marco, also engulfed in flames, greeted Teach with a smile, then turned to Ace, smiling. "I know your name, Ace. You're also a logia-type Devil Fruit user, is that right?"
Then, with a solemn tone, he said: "On behalf of the Whitebeard Pirates, I express my gratitude to the Umbrella Corporation for their help. Please allow me to give my regards to Mr. Ian!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates?"
Ace nodded, even grinning despite being engulfed in flames, and said, "I understand!"
Just then…
"Hey, is it really okay to ignore me like this?"
Borsalino, who had pulled himself out of the pit, looked at the suddenly appearing Whitebeard Pirates crew member, hands in his pockets, his strange mouth agape: "That kick was terrifying!"
"Admiral Kizaru."
Marco gave an elegant salute and said with a smile, "Could you return my brother to me?"
"Sorry, but I can't!"
Borsalino shrugged, his tone still slow and deliberate: "The World Government has issued an order to bring him back. As an Admiral, I cannot disobey orders."
"Is that so? What a pity."
Marco seemed unsurprised by Borsalino's answer. Even after being rejected, he maintained his smile. "Since that's the case…"
He paused slightly, his tone shifting to a serious one: "My father told me to tell you that no one can harm our family!"
As Marco finished speaking, a flame ignited around him, but unlike Ace's flame, it was a vibrant blue flame, standing alongside Ace, both staring directly at Borsalino.
This scene caused Borsalino to abandon his lazy expression.
Hands in his pockets, he faced the two men, seemingly serious, and said coldly: "Umbrella Corporation, the Whitebeard Pirates… This is truly a terrible feeling!"
A terrifying aura instantly emanated from between the three, sweeping outwards!
…
Meanwhile, on the other side…
"They've arrived?"
"Oh my, looks like at least ten fleets!"
Zephyr also noticed the densely packed naval warships in the distance and said cheerfully, "Looks like the World Government really intends to keep you here this time."
He nudged Ian again: "It's getting dark. Can you handle this? If not, we'd better run!"
"Not ten fleets, but fifteen."
Before Ian could answer, Lucci, hanging up, spoke with a mocking tone: "It's too late to run now. The Marine Headquarters specifically dispatched two admirals to capture you. Without sunlight, what are you going to do?"
Throwing a jolt of surprise, Zephyr and Kuma, who had initially been somewhat confident, instantly frowned, their eyes filled with shock.
Fifteen fleets and two marine admirals!
Has the Marine Headquarters gone mad?
Could it be that they're going to… just erase this whole place!?
They all turned to look at Ian, but before they could speak…
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