C7 Fire Fist Ace

"I absolutely refuse to go back with you to see that old man!" Ace protested vehemently.

"What does that have to do with me? I'm just here to take you back, and Vice Admiral Garp has already paid me for it," Rodney said, limbering up. "Dealing with Nature Type is such a hassle. Colonel Smoker, I've got your back." He quickly armed himself with a shuriken and a kunai, hurling them toward Ace.

"Fire Gun!"

Ace pointed his index and middle fingers like a gun, launching a barrage of tiny fireballs at the two men.

Rodney leapt into the air, spinning around to land a powerful kick on Ace's upper body with his leg, which was as strong as a steel whip.

"How many times do I have to say it? No fighting in the city!"

"Tashigi, get the townspeople to safety," Smoker commanded, puffing on his cigar as he instructed Tashigi to clear the area of civilians.

In no time, the townsfolk scattered, abandoning their shops and homes at the news of a fight. It made sense; getting caught in a clash between the navy and pirates could easily cost them their lives, and what good is money to the dead?

Rodney's kick had no effect on Ace, who didn't even bother to dodge. Ace's upper body, reformed from flames, remarked, "Impressive attack. How about joining my crew instead?"

Rodney scowled. Was he dealing with another one just like the last?

"Dammit, stop trying to recruit pirates in front of me!" Smoker bellowed, his foot slamming into the ground as he vanished using the Six Moves technique - Shave!

A flurry of blows rained down on Ace, who sensed the danger and evaded without resorting to Element Transformation.

"That was close. Huh? What's this?" Ace noticed a kunai on the ground next to him, attached to an Explosive Talisman.

The talisman ignited, and with a loud blast, Ace's body was obliterated, not even a hair left intact.

As the flames reconstituted his form, Ace's expression turned grave. "You're no ordinary navy officer, are you?"

"I'm a Pirate Hunter. I just haven't had any clothes to wear lately," Rodney retorted.

With a cold snort, Smoker said, "Rodney, stop wasting time and capture him."

Rodney held six kunai between his fingers, each one bound with an explosive talisman. He hurled them towards Ace, then swiftly drew a shuriken from his waist pouch. Striking first, he altered the kunai's flight path in a rapid succession of hits, successfully evading the destruction by Ace's flames.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The explosions kicked up a massive cloud of smoke and dust. A fiery silhouette burst through, taking on Ace's form. Hovering in the air, he tipped his hat down with a grin and said, "My crew's waiting for me. I've got to head out first."

"Think you can escape, kid?" Smoker used the Six Moves technique to appear instantly before Ace.

Caught off guard, Ace swung his hand, and his flames devoured Smoker. But then, a sword, empowered by the Sea Building Stone, shattered the fiery assault and pinned Ace down, preventing his Element Transformation and sending him crashing into a building.

"Ouch! What just happened? I couldn't use Element Transformation!" Ace climbed out from the rubble, nursing a few minor scrapes.

It made sense that someone raised by Vice Admiral Garp would have the tenacity to survive this long.

"How long have you had this ability?" Rodney inquired.

Brushing off the dust, Ace answered without a second thought, "I acquired it two days ago."

Rodney fell silent. It was no surprise that Ace couldn't wield much power; he hadn't had the chance to master his new ability yet.

"Good. If you got the hang of it, you'd be a real pain for me to handle," Smoker said, taking a long drag on his cigar until only a stub remained.

He pulled out two fresh cigars, placed them in his mouth, and lit them with the remnants of the old ones. Puffing away, he looked every bit the seasoned smoker.

"Navy folks sure are a hassle," Ace remarked, pressing down on his hat. "But I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King. How could I possibly stop now?"

His dream hadn't wavered since before he met his son.

"Pirate King? That's a dull dream. The last one died right here," Smoker retorted.

Ace's previously easygoing expression darkened. "Who says I'll end up like him? I'm going to be the Pirate King and I'll outlive them all!"

Growing up without his father's love and lacking maternal affection, he harbored a deep resentment towards his father, the Pirate King. He found it repulsive to even speak of his father to others.

"I'm not concerned with that. My only job is to bring you back to Vice Admiral Garp. After that, whether you stay or flee is none of my business," Rodney said, feeling quite helpless. Confronted with the Nature Type Fruit, he felt as though he was being mobbed.

It's like a tiger trying to bite a hedgehog—nowhere to sink its teeth!

Meanwhile, Smoker was approached with a request, "Colonel Smoker, could I borrow your Kunai for a bit?"

Smoker gave him a look that said it all without uttering a word—don't even think about it.

After hitting a soft spot, Rodney sighed and asked, "What exactly did that old man offer you?"

"Half of the Six Moves and the training methods for Busoshoku Haki," Rodney chuckled. "Ace, don't underestimate your grandfather. He was a formidable man who once chased the Pirate King across the seas. He's been indulgent with you simply because you're his grandsons."

Garp truly embodied the word 'justice,' yet it was justice itself that tripped him up, leaving him powerless as he watched his beloved grandson die before his eyes.

It wasn't the Warring States that held him back, but his own sense of justice!

As for whether Red Dog would end up dead at Garp's hands, that was uncertain, but severe injury was definitely on the cards.

After a moment of silence, Ace declared, "More talk won't help. I'm definitely escaping today. My crew is waiting for me."

"I will capture each and every one of you. White Fist!"

Smoker's limbs turned to smoke in an instant, thanks to the Nature Type smoke fruit he had consumed, allowing him to transform his body into smoke for attacking and tracking.

While his fists and feet remained solid, his arms and legs became smoke, speeding up his attacks and giving Ace quite the challenge.

Rodney could only watch the fight between the two Nature Types awkwardly. As a commoner without Busoshoku Haki or a Sea Building Stone, he had no choice but to shiver on the sidelines, clutching his melon and watching the battle unfold.

Ace's Devil Fruit powers, which specialized in fiery attacks, would have given him an edge, had he been more adept at using them. As it was, it was hard to say who would come out on top in a fight with Smoker.

"Fire Fist!"

Ace's fist swung with sudden ferocity, his entire right arm transforming into a blaze. A towering inferno, the size of a three-story building, hurtled towards Smoker and Rodney.

Boom!

The buildings lining the street crumbled to rubble, flames devouring the wreckage.

Smoker silently thanked his foresight for having Tashigi evacuate the civilians. Otherwise, the casualties would have been catastrophic.

His resolve to apprehend Ace only intensified. It didn't matter that his grandfather was Vice Admiral Garp; justice had to be served.

So your grandfather is a high-ranking officer and you think you can do as you please? I've even dared to strike my superior; I won't hesitate to cross a Navy Hero.

Rodney, emerging from the ground, surveyed the cleared area with a grim expression. "Dammit! How many times must I say it? Avoid large-scale attacks that could harm civilians! This is exactly why I detest you pirates!"

Witnessing and living through an event were worlds apart. Rodney's morals wouldn't allow him to be indifferent or cruel. The world might be corrupt, but he refused to be. He could only do so much, but he would lend a hand wherever possible. Ace's reckless disregard for life irked him deeply.

"I'm sorry!" Thankfully, Ace's response was earnest, acknowledging his mistake and resolving to correct it.

Seizing the moment, Smoker lunged forward, thrusting the Sea Building Stone's ten hands towards Ace's throat. A hit could spell disaster even for someone of Ace's resilience.

Yet, as Garp's grandson, Ace's honed reflexes and physical prowess enabled him to evade the strike, countering with a fiery punch that tore through Smoker's chest.

Smoker, undeterred, swung his ten hands, driving Ace back.

Rodney charged, drawing a short knife from his leg and slashing at Ace, who responded with resignation, "You know, physical attacks hardly affect me."

"If I don't strike at least twice, it just feels awkward," Rodney said with a shrug, casting a helpless glance at Smoker. "Colonel Smoker, can't you show a little more authority? Lending me your weapon would be nice."

"If I had that kind of authority, would I still need this?" Smoker retorted. He aspired to master Busoshoku Haki in the future, but for now... he was still a student of the art.