Chapter 19: The Collision of Ice and Fire

Chapter 19: The Collision of Ice and Fire

Shabondy Archipelago, Area 41

The Spade Pirates' ship was just about to depart from the coating factory dock when a group of Navy soldiers surrounded them.

About fifty men in total, the squad was led by a rear admiral, with the rest being elite officers—each one a seasoned fighter.

"Our opponents are the Spade Pirates from the New World. Their captain, Portgas D. Ace, is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user with flame powers. His crime? Assaulting Celestial Dragon Saint Charloss, leaving him seriously injured," the rear admiral barked outside the dock.

"We can't hope to defeat a Logia user directly. But Admiral Aokiji is already on the Archipelago. Our mission isn't to win—it's to stall them until he arrives. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Morale surged the moment the admiral's name was mentioned.

"Good! Even if it costs us our lives, we must hold them here until Admiral Aokiji arrives. Charge!"

With a roar, the rear admiral drew his massive blade and led the assault, charging into the dock. The navy followed without hesitation.

---

"Captain Ace! The Navy's here—what do we do?" Gambi asked from behind him on the deck.

"Break through!" Ace said decisively.

"Raise the sails—full speed ahead!" Gambi shouted.

"Yeah!!"

"Let's go!"

The wind caught the sails, and the Spade slowly pulled away from the dock. The crew stood proudly at the bow, their spirits high despite being surrounded. None of them looked the least bit nervous.

"Stop them!"

The rear admiral raised his massive sword and slashed down at the ship, sending a powerful crescent-shaped shockwave toward the Spade.

Clang!

Gambi leapt from the ship's bow and intercepted the slash with his own blade, shattering it into fragments. He landed and immediately clashed with the rear admiral.

The skirmish erupted into a full-blown battle. The coating factory dock was soon engulfed in gunfire and chaos.

Not all Navy officers joined the melee. Over a dozen stationed themselves at the dock's entrance, lobbing mortars in a concentrated effort to destroy the Spade. But every shell that neared the ship was incinerated by walls of flame.

Ace didn't join the battle either. His priority was protecting the ship. With an admiral nearby, even a minor delay could seal their fate.

The Navy knew this too—which is why they focused all their firepower on sinking the Spade.

---

"Fire Fist!"

As the Spade neared the dock exit, Ace soared into the air and launched a massive fireball, blasting away the Navy troops blocking the path and opening a way forward.

"Ice Age!"

Suddenly, a cold voice echoed across the sea. The ocean instantly froze solid for as far as the eye could see. A tall figure walked calmly across the ice, cold air billowing around him.

Admiral Aokiji had arrived.

"Admiral Aokiji..." Ace muttered, watching the man approach. His face darkened. "This is going to be trouble."

A heavy silence fell across the battlefield. The Spade Pirates tensed and gathered around Ace, while the Navy cheered—renewed with confidence at the sight of the admiral.

"Ara ara... so you're the captain of the Spade Pirates, Portgas D. Ace," Aokiji said nonchalantly from atop the ice. "What a headache."

At this time, Ace was still relatively unknown. The infamous title of "Fire Fist" had yet to be earned.

Ace didn't answer. Instead, he simply pressed down his hat with one hand, grinned—and flames erupted across his body.

"Fire Fist!"

Without hesitation, Ace hurled a fiery punch toward Aokiji.

"Ara ara, such a hotheaded brat," Aokiji muttered lazily, scratching his head even as the massive flame engulfed him.

Boom!

A roaring inferno consumed Aokiji, melting the ice beneath and filling the air with steam.

"Admiral!" the Navy cried out in panic.

"Silence!" the rear admiral barked. "Watch carefully. It's not every day you witness an admiral in action."

---

"Twin Thorn Spears!"

Two ice spears burst from the steam and shot toward Ace.

"Heat Haze!"

Ace's arm turned into flames, shooting a concentrated beam that incinerated the incoming spears.

"Ara ara... fire is such a troublesome ability," Aokiji said as he emerged calmly from the steam, unharmed.

He raised one arm, cold air swirling as he pressed his palms together.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"

From the admiral's hands, an ice bird took shape and charged at Ace, freezing everything in its path.

"Flame Mirror Wall!"

Ace responded by summoning a massive wall of fire to block the bird's advance.

Boom!!!

The two forces collided violently, shaking the frozen sea. Cracks spread in every direction, seawater gushing from the gaps.

"Fire Fist!"

Ace launched another fire punch, clearing a path through the shattered ice.

"Get out of here—now!" he shouted to his crew.

"But—but Ace, that's an admiral! You can't fight him alone—"

"That's a direct order!" Ace cut them off. His voice was firm, but his eyes were calm. He turned to the crew with a confident smile. "Don't worry. I'll catch up."

"Captain Ace…" The crew bit their lips, tears streaming down their faces.

"You'd better come back alive, Captain!"

Ace gave them a thumbs up and grinned. "Idiots. Who do you think I am? I'm your captain!"

"Ara ara… that won't do. If I let you go, I won't be doing my job," Aokiji said as he began walking forward. With each step, the thawing sea refroze beneath his feet.

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