Smoker froze in place, as if struck by lightning.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"I never imagined it… never imagined it at all," he said hoarsely.
"You three… are actually brothers?"
After taking Zhenhai back from Tuanzi, Logan looked calmly at Smoker.
"Smoker, you're a smart man," Logan said flatly.
"Let Luffy go today. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy and killing every Marine behind you."
He paused for a beat, then added casually,
"Of course—Tashigi is excluded."
Smoker turned around, his voice icy.
"Are you all prepared to die?"
"Yes, Captain Smoker!"
The Marines behind him answered in unison, their voices firm.
Smoker turned back to Logan.
"See that? They aren't afraid of death.
And if they're not afraid, then I—as a Marine Captain—have even less reason to stop them from dying."
He stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Logan with full focus.
"Come on. Let me see your true strength."
Ace frowned slightly, looking from Smoker to Logan.
"…Am I being ignored here?"
He stepped forward and stood in front of Logan, then turned to Tuanzi.
"Tuanzi, take your master and leave. I'll handle this."
Tuanzi rolled her eyes at Ace with utter disdain.
Instead, she turned toward Logan, eyes shining with excitement.
"Master, can I kill them?"
Logan thought for a moment before replying calmly,
"If your strength allows it, and you can guarantee your own safety—
then you don't have to kill."
Tuanzi threw her head back and laughed wildly.
"Hahahaha! Finally—I get to kill someone!"
"White Storm!"
Smoker roared.
A dense silver wave of smoke surged forward, swallowing everything in its path.
Logan had no choice but to retreat.
If he forced himself, he could still defeat Smoker—but it would completely wreck his already fragile body.
With Ace here, there was no need.
Ace stood quietly in front of Logan and spread his arms.
When the smoke reached within two meters of him—
BOOM!
A sea of flames erupted from Ace's body.
Under the clear sky, the blazing fire was even brighter than the sun itself.
The terrifying heat warped the air.
The charging silver smoke collided with the flames, instantly intertwining with the yellow fire before spiraling upward into the sky.
Everyone nearby stared up in shock.
"So this is Fire Fist Ace…"
"Unbelievable strength!"
"No wonder he's from the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Amid the stunned murmurs, the smoke dispersed.
The roaring flames slowly contracted, finally condensing into a tiny flickering flame dancing on Ace's fingertip.
Smoker gasped heavily, exhaustion clear on his face.
He stared at Ace and sneered,
"So this is Fire Fist Ace?
Honestly… you're far inferior to Logan."
Ace glanced at Smoker, then at Logan's pale face.
"…Are you sure about that?"
Smoker snorted inwardly.
At the very least, I can take one of your attacks.
With a shout, Smoker drew his jitte and transformed into white smoke, surging forward at full speed.
Behind him, the Marines raised their rifles and opened fire on Ace.
Ace's expression changed instantly.
Logan and Tuanzi are still behind me.
He wasn't afraid of bullets—but they might get hurt.
Ace clenched his right fist.
The small flame on his fingertip exploded, spreading instantly across his entire arm.
He bent his knees slightly and threw a devastating punch—
"Fire Fist!"
A colossal pillar of fire erupted from his fist, like a raging fire dragon, engulfing Smoker and every Marine behind him.
The bullets melted the instant they touched the flames.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Marines burned and rolled across the sand.
"Water! Get water!"
They screamed desperately—but before anyone could reach the sea, their bodies went still.
Smoker collapsed as well, eyes wide, his body charred black, thin trails of smoke rising from him.
Tashigi—who had been right behind Smoker—was forcibly pinned into a corner by Logan.
"Relax," Logan said calmly.
"Smoker won't die that easily. Just take him and leave later."
Tashigi looked anxious.
"Logan… you shouldn't be involved with Ace and the others."
Logan shook his head with a faint smile.
"I don't want to be.
But Ace and Luffy are my brothers. As their elder brother, I can't abandon them."
He looked at Tashigi seriously.
"Let me give you some advice too.
The Marines aren't a place you can stay forever.
If one day you can't remain there anymore—come find me in Alabasta."
With that, Logan turned and walked away.
Tashigi slid down against the wall, powerless, her body trembling.
Ace extinguished the flames and turned around proudly—
Only to find Logan gone.
All that remained was Tuanzi, gripping her blade, staring blankly ahead.
Ace laughed and struck a pose.
"Well? Little Tuanzi—was that punch cool or what?"
Tuanzi's breathing quickened.
She glared at Ace with blazing fury, raised Dragon-Slayer, and swung—
"I'll kill your uncle!"
"Hahahaha!"
Ace burst into laughter.
Seeing the small girl charge at him, he casually reached out, planning to catch the blade barehanded.
After all, he was a Logia user.
Ordinary weapons meant nothing to him.
But the instant Dragon-Slayer touched his palm—
Pain.
A sharp, unmistakable pain.
Ace's expression changed instantly.
He pulled his hand back—but it was already too late.
A thin cut appeared across his palm.
Blood spurted out.
"Huh?! Huh?!"
Ace stared in shock, then grinned even wider.
"Tuanzi, you're amazing! How did you do that?!"
Logan really had taken in a terrifying disciple.
"Idiot… I hate you!"
Tuanzi stomped her foot angrily, turned away, and pouted.
At that moment, Logan returned—his expression unusually grave.
Ace immediately sensed it.
"Something wrong?"
"It's nothing," Logan said lightly.
Then he looked straight at Tuanzi.
Tuanzi lowered her head instantly, staring at her feet.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" Logan asked coldly.
Her hands clasped together tightly.
"…Yes, Master."
"I'll say this only once," Logan said, his voice ice-cold.
"The blade in your hand must never be pointed at your own people."
"If there's a second time—don't call me your master anymore.
Go back to where you came from."
Clang.
Dragon-Slayer fell to the ground.
Tuanzi burst into tears.
Tears poured down like rain as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"I won't ever do it again, Master… please don't abandon me…"
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