The flames crackled and twisted in front of him, the heat distorting the air. Then, from within that fiery sea, Ace noticed a subtle shift—movement. Slowly, a silhouette emerged through the wall of fire.
Gojo stepped forward, completely unharmed. His black clothes were untouched, not a trace of soot marring the fabric. His brilliant sky‑blue eyes shone openly, the faint wind brushing past as he walked out of the blaze with an almost casual grace.
Ace's eyes widened as he finally understood. The flames had never actually touched Gojo. There was a faint distortion around him—a thin, invisible layer of space separating him from the fire itself.
The fire never reached him, Ace realized, disbelief flickering across his face. He didn't block it… he's untouched because the flames can't even get close.
After witnessing this, Ace decided to test exactly what was happening. He raised both hands, shaping his fingers like guns, and aimed them straight at Gojo. "Fire Gun!" he shouted, releasing a rapid burst of small fire projectiles. The blazing bullets shot through the air with incredible speed, whistling as they cut through the heat.
But once again, as soon as the fiery bullets reached Gojo, they halted—stopping mere inches away from his body. Gojo remained completely unharmed, walking forward at an unhurried pace, his sky‑blue eyes steady as he moved. The fire bullets trembled in midair, suspended as if trapped by some unseen force. Then, as Gojo passed through them, they slowly drifted aside, sliding harmlessly away from him before falling to the ground one by one, flickering out in faint puffs of smoke.
Ace's eyes widened, shock flashing across his face. "What kind of Devil Fruit ability do you have?" he demanded, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Gojo turned his head slightly toward him, the faint gleam of his sky‑blue eyes catching the light. His expression was calm, his voice composed yet distant. "I don't like to flaunt the abilities of my Devil Fruit," he said. "And I don't trust you enough to reveal them all. If you can deduce what it does while fighting me, then that's another matter—but for now, I'll choose to keep its nature hidden.
Ace clenched his jaw, his flames flickering with renewed intensity. So, he won't tell me… he thought, his mind racing. But even without a direct answer, one thing had become crystal clear—the power of Gojo's Devil Fruit created some sort of barrier. A field that prevented his fire from ever reaching him. It's like there's a space between us… a gap that my flames can't cross.
Seeing Gojo continue to walk toward him with that same calm composure, Ace quickly pulled a knife from the sheath at his waist. Maybe it's only my fire that can't reach him, he thought sharply. Without hesitation, he hurled the blade straight at Gojo, its edge slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
But just like before, the knife froze a few inches from Gojo's body, suspended in midair as if time itself had stopped around him. Gojo didn't even flinch. With a simple wave of his hand, the knife dropped harmlessly to the ground, clinking softly against the dirt.
Gojo tilted his head slightly, a faint smile forming on his lips. "You've used all your attacks, I presume?" he said calmly. "Then take one from me."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pointed his index finger toward the sky. A small, glowing orb of blue light began to form at his fingertip—bright yet eerily calm, like a piece of condensed energy. The air around it shimmered faintly. Then, with a flick of his finger, Gojo sent it flying toward Ace.
The tiny blue sphere—Blue—expanded rapidly as it shot forward, growing to the size of a football by the time it reached Ace's position. Its speed was incredible, and since Gojo was standing so close, Ace had barely a moment to react.
Instinctively, Ace tried to dodge, twisting his body to the side, but the Blue had already generated a tremendous pulling force. The air bent toward it, dragging everything within range closer. What—!? It's pulling me in! Ace realized, his eyes widening in alarm.
Despite his efforts, he was yanked forward, unable to resist the suction. The next instant, the Blue slammed into him with crushing force, sending him hurtling backward through the air. He crashed into the trees behind him, splintering trunks and scattering embers across the ground as the shockwave rippled through the forest.
The other four members of the Spade Pirates, who had been watching anxiously from the edge of the clearing beyond the tree line, shouted in unison, "Captain!" Their voices carried clear worry as they saw Ace's body crash through the trees and vanish into the smoke and dust.
Gojo, however, paid them no attention. His expression remained calm—almost indifferent. In the next instant, his figure blurred and disappeared from where he stood, reappearing amid the wreckage of splintered trees and scorched earth. The air rippled faintly where he'd moved, leaving a soft gust in his wake.
Amid the fallen trunks, Ace groaned, struggling to rise before Gojo's hand clamped firmly around his neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Ace's flames flickered weakly across his body but sputtered out almost immediately.
"Although I expected that your elemental fire wouldn't be able to protect you from my Devil Fruit powers," Gojo said calmly, his tone composed yet edged with quiet certainty, "I wasn't entirely sure—until now." He tilted his head slightly, the faint glint in his sky‑blue eyes as he studied Ace's weakened state. "Fortunately, I was right."
He tightened his grip just slightly, enough to make Ace wince. "And judging by your condition," Gojo continued, his voice low and steady, "you might not even be able to use your Flame-Flame Fruit powers for the next few moments."
The forest around them crackled faintly, bits of ember glowing in the ruined clearing as Gojo's words hung heavy in the smoky air.
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