The explosion was deafening. Flames engulfed a vast area as Ace crashed to the ground, triggering a violent blast.

At the critical moment, he had elementalized his body, allowing it to land in a form of pure fire, effectively turning into a fireball that struck the earth and exploded.

From within the flames, Ace stood up, his head bleeding, both arms broken, and unable to move.

"Ace!"

Deuce flapped his wings and flew over. The Phoenix flames swept over Ace's body.

"Flames of Regeneration."

White phoenix fire coiled around Ace, rapidly healing his injuries.

"I'll buy you time."

Deuce charged at Charlotte Linlin.

When Big Mom saw the white phoenix flying toward her, she was briefly stunned, then seemed to realize something.

"The Whitebeard Pirates' phoenix… So you're White Phoenix Deuce, huh?" she grinned.

"Phoenix Seal!"

Deuce didn't waste words. He lunged forward and slashed with a talon.

"Get out of my way!"

Big Mom raised a fist and smashed it directly into Deuce's body.

The power gap was obvious. If Big Mom had been in her food-craving mental state, maybe Deuce could've held his own.

But unfortunately, he was fighting a fully lucid Emperor of the Sea.

Big Mom, with her clear mind and mastery of Conqueror's Haki, was now no different from Garp smashing Marco.

With a single punch, Deuce was blasted away like a meteor and crashed into the ground next to Ace.

"Deuce!"

Ace called out amid the white flames.

"I'm fine." Deuce climbed to his feet, but Big Mom was already charging at Ace again.

Ace's injuries were still healing; he couldn't move. Deuce once again rushed forward to block her.

This time, Deuce fought smarter, using a nimble hit-and-run style to deny Big Mom any clear target.

She couldn't catch him. He buzzed around like a fly, infuriating her.

Finally, she'd had enough. She grabbed Zeus's face, causing Zeus to cry out in pain and unleash a massive thunderbolt. The lightning compressed into a giant electric sphere.

Big Mom raised her hand and aimed at Deuce.

"Indra!"

A bolt of lightning surged forward. Predicting Deuce's next move, it zig-zagged through the air and struck him squarely.

Being a phoenix, Deuce wasn't badly hurt by the lightning itself, but Big Mom seized the opportunity, grabbing him tightly.

Conqueror's Haki locked down his true body, preventing him from escaping her grasp.

"Finally caught you, you damned fly."

Big Mom grinned wickedly as Deuce struggled in her grasp.

"Now die!"

With no hesitation, she slammed him into the ground.

BOOM!

The earth trembled. Deuce coughed up blood from the impact.

Big Mom lifted his battered body. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, and mouth. He was barely breathing.

"Hmph." She flung Deuce aside.

"Fire Fist!"

A flaming punch struck Big Mom. Caught off guard, she was too slow to react.

Ace charged in, his burning fist cloaked in Armament Haki.

"Fire Fist Impact!"

BOOM!

The blow landed square on Big Mom's cheek, triggering a fire explosion that sent her flying.

"Mama!!!"

Perospero and others shouted in shock.

"Attack!"

They rushed Ace, but Candy couldn't withstand the flame. Ace's fire kept most of them at bay, only Oven fared better.

"Maji Giren!"

Daifuku's steam genie slashed at Ace with a blade.

Oven, unfazed by fire, charged in, but was soon punched away by Ace.

Then Smoothie joined in. Her slicing attacks cut through fire, and her giant body swelled to nearly the size of a giant.

"I'll squeeze every drop out of your body." She slashed again and again, trying to drain Ace's moisture.

Ace grabbed Deuce and made a run for it. But Big Mom had already recovered. Though injured, she resumed her pursuit.

Ace's allies were held back, unable to support him.

"You're not escaping! Elbaf Spear, Hakoku Sovereignty!"

She swung her blade in a colossal slash that launched Ace and Deuce into the air.

Seeing an opening, she struck the ground with her blade, separating the two. Ace tumbled away. Before he could react, Big Mom punched him again, his body turning into fire and clinging to her arm.

He clung to her like a fiery parasite, much like when Akainu used his magma fist technique against him years ago.

"Aaaaahhhh!!!"

Ace roared. He felt something awaken inside him. His Conqueror's Haki surged.

Big Mom sensed danger, but it was too late.

"Fire Dragon!!"

A massive flaming dragon roared and surged forward, led by Ace's fist, smashing into Big Mom's chin.

Her jaw caved in. Her massive frame was hurled skyward, engulfed by fire brighter than the dawn sun.

"Did it work?!" Ace's crew shouted with excitement.

"Mama!!!" Perospero and others screamed in horror.

"That feeling just now…"

Ace realized he'd just glimpsed the secret to infusing Conqueror's Haki into his attacks, a technique only the strongest could wield.

But before he could celebrate, a hand grabbed him, immobilizing him.

"That last attack… As expected from Roger's son…"

"Shut up! My only father is Whitebeard!"

"I don't care whose son you are. Now that you've reached this level, I can't let you live. Die."

Big Mom had felt the Conqueror's Haki, Ace's punch had broken her jaw. He was getting too close to true Emperor-level strength.

'The child of a powerful man… born with terrifying potential.'

BAM!

Ace suffered the same fate as Deuce, grabbed and smashed into the ground by Big Mom's Haki-coated grip.

He struggled, trying to stand, only to be smashed down again, blood covering his body.

But he rose once more, spewing fire, and slammed his head into Big Mom's belly.

She was sent flying. Looking down at Ace clinging to her stomach, she slapped her own belly hard.

Waves rippled across her gut, squashing Ace like a mosquito. His blood splattered across her palm.

"It's over."

She raised Napoleon and swung down at the collapsed Ace.

CLANG!

A halberd blocked Napoleon's blade.

In his daze, Ace looked up and saw… a familiar figure standing before him.

...

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu