Chapter 79: Brothers Reunite, The Flames of War
"You… you… you…"
Ace's jaw trembled as tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
"What, don't recognize me? It's me!!" The man took off his hat, smiling warmly at Ace, eyes brimming with tears.
"This guy... Could it be...?" Deuce's brow furrowed. Suddenly realizing something, his expression changed drastically.
"Brother Deuce, who is he? What's going on with Captain Ace?" Loxus asked nervously.
"Blonde hair, burned face… He's the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff—Sabo!!" Deuce exclaimed in shock.
"The Revolutionary Army?"
"Chief of Staff?"
Ace's face was soaked in tears; he couldn't even speak through his choked sobs.
"Sabo!!"
Ace lunged forward and hugged Sabo tightly, bawling like a child. In that moment, he was no longer Fire Fist Ace, the captain of the Spade Pirates.
He was just a boy crying in the arms of his long-lost brother.
"Sabo! We all thought you were dead, you bastard! Why didn't you come find us if you were alive?! Waaahhh!!!"
"Ace!!!" Sabo couldn't hold back his tears either. He had waited for this moment for far too long.
Ever since regaining his memories after reading the news, he had dreamed of this reunion.
He thought he wouldn't cry, but he couldn't help it. Holding Ace tightly, he sobbed just as loudly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's my fault! I should've remembered sooner!" Sabo clung to Ace, crying just as hard.
The two brothers held each other, sobbing their hearts out. Just moments ago, they had been fighting, and now, they were crying in each other's arms.
The Spade Pirates stood frozen in shock, while on the Revolutionary Army's side, Koala was already in tears, crying along with them.
"Does Captain Ace know the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army?" Loxus asked curiously.
"Seems like it's not just a simple acquaintance," Deuce replied.
While the brothers reunited here, Roy's side was engulfed in flames of war.
Totto Land, Liqueur Island.
"Hey, when's your 'Mama' showing up?"
Roy stood with his foot on a short, fat man, Charlotte Zuccotto, one of the Big Mom Pirates' 34 ministers, the "Minister of Alcohol."
In an instant, the island had fallen under the assault of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by Roy.
Zuccotto, being a minister, was immediately captured and pinned beneath Roy's foot.
"You'll regret this! Mama will come for me!" Zuccotto groaned, bruised and battered.
"Then, hurry up and get Charlotte Linlin out here. I want to see if she really can save you." Roy kicked him flying.
"Big bro, we've looted everything. Seeing all this booze, Pops is gonna die of happiness!" Rakuyo pushed a cart over.
Thump!
Roy smacked him on the head and scolded, "What do you mean, 'die of happiness'? You trying to jinx him?"
"N-No! It's just a figure of speech!" Rakuyo rubbed his head, smiling sheepishly.
"Sure, he'll be happy for a while, but let's not overdo it. We still want him around a few more years," Roy smiled.
"Yeah, definitely."
He raised them all, naturally, they would see him off when the time came.
They couldn't stay under his protection forever, not when he was already so old.
The Whitebeard Pirates were united in one goal now—to ensure Edward Newgate had a peaceful and joyful twilight.
"Big bro, ships are incoming!" Namur emerged from the sea, reporting.
"Pfft, you smell like fruit juice!" Haruta burst out laughing.
"No issues underwater, but the surface is covered in juice. At first, I thought the whole sea was juice!" Namur shook off the water.
Roy looked up at the distance. Black clouds loomed.
Charlotte Linlin had arrived.
An overwhelming army charged toward them, with Linlin leading the way.
But she wasn't in top condition; one of her eyes was bandaged, permanently blinded, beyond recovery.
Seeing Roy, her rage was palpable.
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE!!"
Big Mom leapt onto Zeus' back, raising her flaming sword Napoleon as she charged at Roiy
"Everyone, fall back!"
Roy stood up and told Rakuyo and the others to retreat.
The crew scattered immediately. This was a battle only emperors could fight.
"Roaring Light Cannon."
Zeus unleashed lightning, Prometheus spewed fire, and Linlin combined it with a mighty slash.
The attack was like a beam of energy, slicing towards Roy.
"Too slow."
Roy didn't take the hit head-on; instead, he swiftly dodged. The slash pierced through the island, exploding violently behind it.
"Emperor Blade"
Charlotte Linlin appeared in front of Roy, swinging her flame sword down.
"Blast Ring!"
Roy raised his fist, Conqueror's Haki swirling around it, forming a shockwave ring like Whitebeard's power.
Boom!
The sound echoed like a giant bell. The burst of Haki tore the sky apart, clearing the storm clouds.
Everyone's hearts skipped violently. The weaker ones had their hearts shattered on the spot and collapsed, lifeless.
Most people in Totto Land were ordinary civilians, offering up lifespan for protection under Linlin.
They worked in her factories to earn food in return.
Compared to even the lowest-ranked Marine, they were powerless.
The shockwave killed them instantly, and hundreds of voices went silent in Roy's ears.
"Heavenly Feuer"
Prometheus engulfed Roy in a firestorm.
The intensity was so extreme, it made even the Flame-Flame Fruit seem like nothing.
"Thunder bolt!"
Zeus fired a bolt of lightning, scorching everything it touched.
"Air Burst!!"
Roy shattered the Haki inside him, going full power. Conqueror's Haki exploded, forming black lightning pulses.
One bolt pierced Zeus.
One bolt pierced Prometheus.
The two Homies lost their power, turning into a small white cloud and a little sun.
Roy had nullified Linlin's abilities with Conqueror's Haki.
"Mama… I…" Prometheus flickered weakly.
"I've got no strength left…" Zeus collapsed, barely conscious.
"Elbaf Spear: Ikoku Sovereignty"
Linlin sent a circular slash at Roy. Roy met it with his fist.
The two clashed head-on.
Even without her Homies, Linlin's power wasn't diminished. She was a monster even in childhood, capable of fighting Giants.
She was far from ordinary.
Elsewhere, Katakuri and Vista had begun their duel.
War erupted across the island as both sides went all-out.
...
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