The moment Garp's confident laughter echoed across the battlefield, Ezra D. Vale gave a slight nod.
"I see. Then I'll leave the small fry to you," he said calmly, eyes locked on the towering figure ahead. "This one's mine."
"Wait, you can't take on Whitebeard alone!" Garp barked.
Before his words could finish
Whoosh!
Ezra vanished in a blur, a single flash step cutting through the air as his blade, Ryūjin Jakka, drew a fiery arc straight toward Whitebeard.
But just as the blade was about to connect, a shadow streaked past.
Twin wings of blue fire unfurled, forcing Ezra to halt his strike.
"Marco, huh?" Ezra muttered as he twisted aside, narrowly evading the flaming wings. Marco retaliated instantly, his hands igniting with azure fire as he lunged forward.
"Blue Flame Fist!"
A brilliant flare burst from Marco's fist, forming the shape of a phoenix tail that blazed brighter with every second.
Their attacks met with a metallic crash
Clang!
Ezra didn't even flinch. The impact sent Marco skidding backward, his face tightening as pain shot through his knuckles.
"A young Navy Rear Admiral...?" Marco muttered, recognition dawning on him. "You must be Ezra D. Vale the youngest Rear Admiral in history!"
He shook his aching hand, eyes narrowing. Ezra simply stood there, blade raised, silent and unreadable. He didn't bother responding.
Marco smirked, refusing to back down. "I'm Marco the Phoenix. First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Ezra raised an eyebrow. So he's already the First Division Commander at this point...
Interesting but irrelevant.
Because Marco was already coming at him again, wings blazing like a comet.
"Crane Talon!"
His leg, wreathed in blue flame, sliced through the air toward Ezra at blinding speed.
Ezra's gaze sharpened. Spiritual pressure surged through his body, flowing into Ryūjin Jakka.
In an instant, a blinding light exploded between them.
A white-hot slash burst forward like lightning.
The moment Marco's foot met Ezra's blade, a shockwave erupted. The ground beneath them cracked and groaned.
Marco's pupils shrank. "Oh no—"
BOOM!
Marco's body was launched across the field, crashing into the earth with bone-rattling force. Dust and smoke billowed upward as he lay motionless.
"Marco!" a deep, rumbling voice roared. "You damn brat!"
Whitebeard's fury rolled across the battlefield like a storm.
Ezra stepped forward. His black suit shimmered faintly in the fiery glow, crimson eyes glinting with an icy calm. The tip of his burning blade rested loosely at his side as he stared straight at the world's strongest man.
"Looking for revenge, Whitebeard?"
In the distance, Garp winced and groaned.
"Damn it, that reckless brat! I told him he can't beat Whitebeard! Get back here before you die!"
He cursed under his breath as he launched himself forward, moon-stepping across the air.
But Ezra ignored him completely.
"Edward Newgate," he said evenly, "care for a match?"
Because deep inside, Ezra had no choice.
The system had appeared again.
[Temporary Quest Triggered!]
Battle with Whitebeard!
Defeat instantly: +1% Inheritance Progress
Fight evenly: +10%
Win outright: +20%
Ezra's pulse quickened. Even the smallest reward was worth the risk.
A grin tugged at his lips. "I'd be a fool to walk away from that."
Whitebeard laughed thunderously. "Gurararara! You've got guts, kid! Leave the Navy behind and join my crew instead!"
Ezra's expression twitched.
Everyone knew what joining Whitebeard's crew meant calling him Dad.
Absolutely not. That would never happen.
"This is one dream you'd better forget, Whitebeard," Ezra said coolly. "Because I'm not here to kneel. I'm here to prove myself."
Flames surged to life around him as his spiritual pressure erupted skyward.
"The world's strongest man, huh…"
His crimson eyes gleamed like twin embers. "That title won't be yours forever."
"All things in the universe return to ash Ryūjin Jakka!"
The air exploded as Ezra released his Shikai.
Instantly, the temperature soared to a searing inferno. The lush island known as Flora Isle burst into flames, flowers curling into ash under the unbearable heat.
Even Whitebeard felt it the scorching sting crawling over his skin.
"This kid's power… it's real," he thought grimly.
Ezra exhaled slowly, his breath shimmering with heat. "Ten minutes," he murmured. "That's how long I can hold this."
With each passing second, the flames around him grew wilder, hungrier. His crimson eyes flickered like living fire.
He vanished again
Flash Step!
In an instant, Ezra was in front of Whitebeard, blade blazing with the fury of the sun.
He swung.
CLANG!
Whitebeard blocked with his massive bisento, Murakumogiri, using both hands. The force sent sparks flying, heat rippling across his arms.
"Hot, damn hot!" Whitebeard grimaced, sweat beading on his forehead.
He pulled back, his right hand glowing with vibrational energy.
"Gura Gura no Mi Shockwave!"
The air shattered as his fist tore through space itself, the very atmosphere warping.
Ezra reacted in an instant, slamming his foot against the bisento to propel himself backward, narrowly avoiding the quake punch.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Scorched Earth!" he shouted.
Ryūjin Jakka roared in response, flames spiraling outward, taking shape
A colossal fiery hand emerged from the inferno, reaching out to seize Whitebeard's towering frame.
The old titan's laughter echoed through the blazing storm.
"Gurararara! Not bad, kid! Let's see how long you can stand against me!"
As the flames tightened their grip and the world burned around them, Ezra's smile widened not from arrogance, but pure exhilaration.
Because this wasn't just a battle.
It was destiny calling his name.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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