Chapter 172: Free Ace!
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Wasting no time, Coby quickly crafted another wax key. He shoved the key into the lock on Ace's cuffs, twisting it quickly, just as Sengoku's giant fist came down again.
Ace's shackles fell off with a metallic clang, the sound barely audible over the roar of the battlefield.
But Sengoku's punch was already coming. Coby glanced at Ace. "You're on your own now, man. Don't die."
He grabbed Luffy's collar as he touched Luffy with the Sea Stone handcuffs, using Shadow Step to vanish just as Sengoku's punch smashed into the scaffold, splintering the wood and sending debris flying everywhere.
Coby reappeared a short distance away with Luffy in tow and hid away the Sea Stone cuffs, both of them barely avoiding the massive shockwave from Sengoku's strike. The ground beneath them cracked, but they stood firm, eyes darting toward Ace, who coughed blood but still very much alive.
"Come on, Ace!" Luffy shouted, his voice hoarse from the strain. "Get out of there!"
Ace used his flames to blast himself off the platform, launching through the air. He caught up with Coby in a flash and landed next to Luffy.
Luffy's eyes lit up with pure joy, a grin splitting his face. "Ace! You're free!" His voice boomed across the battlefield, the weight of the moment hitting everyone around them.
The Whitebeard Pirates, scattered across the battlefield, couldn't help but grin. From Marco to Vista, even the most hardened fighters shared a collective sense of triumph. The sight of Ace standing free, back with his brother, ignited a spark of hope in their hearts.
The Marines, on the other hand, looked furious. Sengoku, still in his massive Buddha form, glared down at the scene unfolding before him, his fists clenched. The failure to execute Ace had caused a ripple of disbelief and anger among the ranks. Akainu scowled from where he stood, magma dripping from his fists as he prepared to attack again.
Ace stood tall beside Luffy, the flames around him dancing as he smirked. "Thanks for coming to get me, Luffy. I really didn't think you would make it this far."
Luffy just laughed, clapping Ace on the back. "Of course I did! No way I was gonna leave you here!"
Coby stood next to them, glancing at the battlefield. 'Now, if Whitebeard and Ace don't die, it's gonna mess up a lot of stuff. Oof, I've definitely changed things too much already. Well, let's just hope it works out,' he thought to himself.
Whitebeard was holding his own against Akainu, magma and tremors clashing with destructive force. The air around them was thick with heat and energy, the ground cracking and melting beneath their feet. Whitebeard, despite his injuries, wasn't backing down an inch. His massive naginata swept through the air, deflecting Akainu's magma fists and sending shockwaves that rippled through the battlefield.
Ace, now free, clenched his fists, flames swirling around him as he glanced at the battlefield. "We need to help Pops," he said, voice steady.
Coby, despite himself, got pissed. "No, you little fucker. You don't help your pops. You run. This whole damn mess is because you couldn't sit still!" His voice cut through the battlefield, rough and unapologetic, but Ace ignored him, his eyes burning with resolve. Without a word, he dashed off toward Whitebeard. Luffy followed right behind him, grinning like an idiot.
"Go on, die then. See if I care," Coby muttered under his breath, shaking his head as the two brothers charged straight into the heart of the battle.
The battlefield around them was a madhouse. Whitebeard was going toe-to-toe with Akainu, magma and tremors ripping through the ground. The Marines were pushing hard, closing in on the pirates from all sides, and things were getting out of hand fast.
Ace's flames burst to life as he threw himself into the fray, blasting Marines away with a fiery onslaught.
Luffy, as usual, was right next to him, taking down anyone who got in their way. "Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol!" Luffy's fist shot out, smashing a Marine into the ground as they carved a path toward Whitebeard.
Coby, still pissed but keeping his distance, watched from above, using Geppo to stay out of reach of the chaos below. His eyes darted between Luffy, Ace, and the Marines rushing to intercept them. He gritted his teeth.
With a burst of speed, he dove down, appearing behind a Marine Vice-Admiral who was about to skewer Luffy from behind. "Not today!" Coby slammed the guy in the back with a powerful punch, knocking him into the ground with a sickening crunch.
Luffy looked back, surprised but grinning. "Thanks, Coby!"
"Yeah, yeah," Coby shot back, scanning the battlefield again. His eyes locked on Akainu, who was still locked in battle with Whitebeard. The sheer destruction the two of them were causing was unreal—Whitebeard's quakes tore through the ground while Akainu's magma melted everything in its path.
Whitebeard swung his naginata with a mighty force, the tremors splitting the ground beneath his feet. The island itself cracked, separating into two with a thunderous roar. His voice boomed across the battlefield. "Run! This is your captain's order! Take Ace and leave!"
The Whitebeard Pirates froze in place. Their captain, the strongest man in the world, had just commanded them to retreat. Some hesitated, their loyalty making them reluctant to abandon him, but they couldn't disobey. His words were final.
Despite the massive chasm Whitebeard created, Ace ignored it, his eyes locked on Akainu. Rage boiled inside him as he shot forward. "Hiken!" His flame-covered fist surged through the air, heading straight for the Admiral.
Akainu met Ace's attack head-on, his magma fist colliding with Ace's fire. The heat from the clash scorched the air around them, but Akainu's smirk never faded. "Lava burns hotter than fire, evil brat," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "My fruit is above yours."
The moment Akainu's magma overwhelmed Ace's flames, the younger pirate felt it—his body burned, searing pain erupting as the magma consumed his fire. Ace's scream echoed across the battlefield as the realization hit him hard—he wasn't ready for this fight.
Whitebeard's eyes flicked toward Ace, seeing his son engulfed in flames. His face tightened with anger. He couldn't go all out, not with Ace so close to him now. The battlefield had just turned into a delicate balance, and Ace had ruined it by jumping into a fight he wasn't prepared for.
Ace, stupid as ever, had dived headfirst into a battle he couldn't win. Now Whitebeard, despite his injuries, was forced to hold back, his power restrained to avoid hurting his own son.
The Whitebeard Pirates stood in shock, some already starting to retreat while others stood frozen. Marco, flying above, called out to them. "You heard Pops! We need to move!" He made a beeline towards Ace to pick him up.
But some of them couldn't move, their eyes glued to the sight of their captain still standing against the Admirals. Ace, still writhing in pain, managed to stand, but his flames were flickering, weakened by Akainu's magma.
Kizaru's attack arrived at the worst moment. While Jozu was focused on Whitebeard and Ace, a concentrated beam of light shot forward, punching straight through Whitebeard's chest. The Yonko staggered, blood spurting from the gaping wound. "Pops!" Whitebeard Pirates shouted in alarm, voices shaking as their captain coughed up blood.
Akainu wasn't about to waste the opportunity. As Aokiji reappeared on the scene after Marco left to save Ace, the two Admirals moved in unison. Akainu went for Ace, his magma-covered fist erupting with heat as he aimed directly at the weakened pirate. Aokiji targeted Luffy, sending a wave of ice toward him.
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