Chapter 216: Fighting Side by Side
"BIG MOM, you're looking for death!"
Ace glared at Charlotte Linlin, his eyes blazing with fury and murderous intent.
He hadn't expected such an outrageous condition from her—trading Whitebeard's head for Luffy's freedom.
Even if he died here, Ace would never agree to something so shameless.
"Hmm? Hmm~Mama-mama-mama! Don't get so worked up—it was only a joke."
Charlotte Linlin waved a massive hand dismissively, not even taking Ace's anger seriously. "I know that old man Whitebeard sees you as his heir. Of course you wouldn't betray him... but—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion suddenly shook the entire Whole Cake Chateau, cutting her words short.
From a nearby Den Den Mushi, Baron Tamago's panicked voice rang out:
"Mama! Someone has broken into the treasure room—they're trying to copy the Poneglyphs!"
"What?!"
Charlotte Linlin's face twisted with rage. "Who dares covet something that belongs to me?!"
"It's one of Crocodile's subordinates—Daz Bones!" Tamago's voice shouted through the receiver.
"Crocodile!" Linlin's eyes snapped toward the former Warlord. "Seize him!"
"Yes, Mama!"
At her command, a dozen of the Big Mom Pirates officers surged forward, led by two of her Sweet Commanders—Charlotte Cracker and Charlotte Smoothie.
They unleashed a combined assault toward Crocodile.
"Tch—already exposed?"
Crocodile's body instantly dispersed into sand, evading their attacks. He glanced meaningfully at Ace, then transformed into a gust of sand and shot toward the lower floors of the castle.
"After him! Don't let him escape!"
Smoothie and Cracker roared, leading dozens of subordinates in pursuit.
---
"Now's my chance!"
While everyone's attention was on Crocodile, Ace flashed across the battlefield, appearing beside the cage that held Luffy captive.
With a single flaming punch, he shattered the bars and freed his brother.
"Ace!" Luffy's eyes widened in relief and joy. He barely had time to speak before Ace grabbed him and flung him backward.
A trident shot forward—piercing through Ace's chest.
Or so it seemed. His body burst into flames and dispersed into embers—Logia elementalization.
"Charlotte Katakuri," Ace growled, his flames gathering in his fists, "you'll have to get through me first!"
Katakuri's calm eyes narrowed.
"Sorry. Straw Hat is an important bargaining chip for Mama. I can't allow you to take him."
"Then try and stop me!"
Ace smirked, his right arm igniting like a miniature sun.
"Fire Fist!"
A massive flaming fist roared across the sky toward Katakuri.
Clang!
Katakuri swung his trident, Mogura, unleashing a powerful slash that split the fiery blast cleanly in two. His arm morphed into thick mochi, wrapping around the trident as it spun violently.
"Mochi Thrust!"
The trident, coated in Armament Haki, shot forward with terrifying speed, aiming straight for Ace's heart.
But Ace didn't dodge.
He met the strike head-on, fist wrapped in Haki.
"Armament: Second Form—Kongming Hammer!"
BOOM!
The collision thundered like a cannon. The shockwave shattered the ground beneath them, sending cracks through the castle walls until the floor finally collapsed.
Katakuri skidded backward, his arms slightly warped from the impact before reforming from mochi.
Ace flexed his fingers, smirking.
"Looks like my Haki's stronger than yours."
Katakuri said nothing. Instead, the ground beneath him turned into flowing mochi—his awakened Devil Fruit ability spreading in all directions.
Ace leapt high to avoid it—but as he did, Katakuri smirked.
A sudden chill ran down Ace's spine.
He turned—and found Big Mom floating behind him on Zeus, her monstrous grin splitting her face.
"You think you can run wild in my territory, boy? You'll pay for your insolence!"
Raising her Emperor Sword, Napoleon, she brought it down in a blazing strike.
---
"Gomu Gomu no... Giant Pistol!"
A thunderous voice roared from below.
A colossal Haki-coated fist shot upward, smashing into Big Mom and knocking her clean off Zeus!
"Ace! You've gotten stronger!"
Luffy landed beside him, grinning widely. Ace laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
That punch—coated with Armament Haki—was proof of Luffy's growth.
During the Marineford War, Luffy had been reckless and inexperienced, unable even to sense Haki.
But now, he could coat his attacks with it—still rough, but undeniably real.
To achieve that much in such a short time... truly, he was the Son of Destiny.
"Heh, Ace!" Luffy grinned, eyes blazing. "I can finally fight side by side with you!"
For Luffy, nothing felt better—not the power he'd gained, not the training he'd endured—than finally being strong enough to stand beside his brother on the battlefield.
---
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics