"Oh? You came all this way just for me?"
Ace raised an eyebrow as he watched the pirate ship slowly approach the shore. He hadn't expected that the visitors would be here specifically for him.
Whoosh!
With a slight press of his foot, Gin's figure suddenly shot into the air.
Under the astonished gazes of the Spade Pirates, he stepped on the air itself, leaping effortlessly from one point to another, landing directly on the shore.
"This is..."
"I seem to have seen..."
"Isn't that the Marines's Moon Step?"
The crew members' eyes narrowed in surprise. Even Ace and his cadres were taken aback.
They hadn't expected this guy to know one of the Marines's Six Styles.
"I'll get straight to the point." Gin stared at Ace in front of him and said directly.
"Luke-sama greatly admires you. He wants to invite you to join the Netherworld Pirates."
"What...?"
"He wants to recruit Captain Ace?"
"Gulp... Black Prison?"
For a moment, the Spade Pirates were stunned.
Although they had some guesses in their hearts, they were still shocked when they heard the other party say that Obask Luke admired their captain very much and sent someone to recruit him.
That was one of the four emperors in the New World, a pirate who ruled like a king!
Still, they knew their captain well. Given his ambition and pride, there was almost no chance he would accept.
The crew turned their attention to their captain, Ace, waiting for his response.
"So? What's your answer?"
Gin's gaze remained steady as he observed Ace, who, despite his youth, radiated an undeniable air of confidence and defiance.
In truth, he already knew the answer.
This was going to turn into a fight.
"I appreciate your captain's offer."
Ace replied with a grin without even thinking it over. "But I refuse."
"I plan to live freer than anyone else. There's no way I'd serve under someone else."
"Is that so? Well... That makes things difficult."
Gin cracked his neck, producing a series of sharp popping sounds.
In fact, he didn't need to ask; he already had the answer in his heart.
It was estimated that he still had to take action.
While staring at Ace, he bared his teeth and said: "Sorry, Luke-sama also said that it's okay to break your limbs to take you back!"
"If you can do it, you can try it."
Ace didn't seem the least bit angry. Instead, he clenched his fists, his fighting spirit surging.
With an air of defiance, he stared Gin down. "But I'm afraid one of the Eght Star won't be enough."
"Tch. I thought you'd be different from all those other rookies. But in the end, you're just another naive fool who doesn't understand the real world."
Gin's eyes narrowed as he sized up Ace, and a mocking sneer appeared in the corner of his mouth.
Bang! Bang! Bang
Without warning, Deuce drew his pistol and fired several shots in rapid succession.
Whoosh!
The bullets pierce through Gin, yet instead of flesh and blood, only flames erupt from the Gin's body.
Gin remained completely unharmed.
"What?!"
The Spade Pirates' faces turn paled in shock.
Ace, however, simply raised a hand, stopping any of his crew from attacking further.
Still staring at Gin, he called out with a firm voice: "Deuce... Everyone, stand down. This fight is mine!"
"But Ace..."
"Captain!!"
Hearing his command, Ace's crew hesitated, their emotions running high.
This wasn't the first time their captain had chosen to take on an overwhelming enemy alone, standing in front of them, shielding them with his own strength.
They wanted to fight by his side, not just stand back and watch him fight alone.
"Get back to the ship and wait for me. This won't take long."
Ace waved them off with unwavering confidence.
Unable to disobey their captain and trusting in his strength, the Spade Pirates reluctantly retreated under Deuce's orders, heading back to their ship.
"So you want to protect your crew, huh?"
Gin made no move to stop them.
After all, he was certain Ace wouldn't be escaping, let alone defeating him.
"Enough talk. Weren't you supposed to be breaking my limbs?"
Ace's eyes burned with determination as he shouted: "Then come and try!"
The moment his words fell, Ace charged.
His right fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, flew toward Gin.
Boom!
Gin tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging with the power of Observation Haki.
At the same time, his right leg lashed out like lightning.
Ace, however, was just as quick to react, narrowly avoiding the counterattack.
"Fire Fist!!!"
But then, in the next instant, Gin's right fist erupted in blazing flames.
He swung it forward with devastating force.
"What?!"
Ace's pupils shrank in shock.
He wanted to dodge, but the sheer size of the flaming fist made escape nearly impossible.
His only option was to cross his arms in front of him and brace for impact.
Boom!
Crackle!
In the blink of an eye, Ace was engulfed in flames.
The sky glowed red, and the fire raged uncontrollably.
"Captain Ace!!"
"Damn it, is this the Strength of the Eight Stars?!"
"The Flame-Flame Fruit... Is it this strong?!"
The Spade Pirates, now back on their ship, watched in horror, their faces filled with worry.
They couldn't stay calm.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a beastly roar pierced through the flames.
"Hmm?"
Gin's eyes narrowed.
He looked at the area covered by the flames in shock, and his pupils shrank sharply: "That is..."
A ferocious beast covered with strange patterns rushed out of the flames.
It was a spotted giant leopard several meters tall, with a red body and surrounded by blazing flames.
Its fangs gleamed menacingly as it lunged at Gin with terrifying speed, and claws extended to rip him apart.
"Heat Mirage!!!"
Gin responded instantly.
With a surge of intense heat, his right arm transformed into a blazing pillar of fire, distorting the air as it clashed violently with the oncoming beast.
Boom!
The battlefield was set ablaze.