One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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The gentle breeze brushed against Ace's black hair, making his expression solemn and cold. 

Being chased by the Marines here was undoubtedly a troublesome situation, but what surprised him even more was that the enemy's warship could keep up with his speed. 

However, this wasn't a big deal. Being pursued and surrounded by the Marines was something he had experienced many times before.

"Just a little closer!" Ace muttered, his eyes flashing. He had deliberately slowed down his rocket-propelled boat, waiting for the enemy to enter his attack range. 

Once they did, he would launch a devastating strike and completely shake off this Marine pursuit.

Time passed, and the enemy ship drew closer. The golden staff at its bow gleamed even more brilliantly. 

Through the distance, Ace could vaguely see a tall, muscular figure in a Marine uniform, the white "Justice" cape billowing behind him. 

Because the man had his head lowered, Ace couldn't see his face.

"To have the confidence to chase me so boldly, he must be a high-ranking Marine officer—perhaps even a Vice Admiral!" Ace murmured. 

Flames ignited on his body with a hiss, quickly engulfing his right side. Then, his legs bent slightly, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

As the distance closed further, it signaled that his attack was about to begin. 

Suddenly, the wind picked up, rippling across the sea and forming wave-like patterns. 

Ace's eyes widened in that instant as he leaped high into the air, aiming straight for the warship that had entered his attack range.

"No matter who you are!"

"To chase my ship so openly—you're being far too bold!"

Ace reached his highest point with a powerful shout, looking down from above. 

Flames surged around his right fist, quickly converging into a massive shape before swelling dramatically into a gigantic fist.

"Fire Fist!!"

A crimson fire fist erupted from his swing. 

The scorching heat waves blasted downward, the intense flames instantly consuming all oxygen in the surrounding air.

At that moment, the man standing at the warship's bow slowly raised his head. 

A face with a faint smile, bright eyes, and sharp features came into view, and it was this sight that sent a shock through Ace's pupils.

"Long time no see. Ace!"

A sigh followed, making Ace, who was in midair, tremble with wide eyes, his face filled with disbelief. 

That face—so familiar, yet buried in the depths of his memory—now overlapped perfectly with the blurry recollections in his mind.

"How is this possible?!"

The massive fire fist descended, nearly reaching Arashi's head, its flames casting a crimson hue across the sea.

Crocodile's gaze remained indifferent. 

Smoker's right hand twitched, but upon seeing the woman beside him who resembled Tashigi, he calmed down again.

Buggy grinned, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"So, it's Ace, huh?"

For a brief moment, he was transported back nearly twenty years, remembering the tiny toddler who wasn't even two years old yet.

With a swift motion, a figure shot into the air. The crowd looked up. 

Kuina's hand had already drawn her sword at some point, her black hair dancing wildly, her eyes shining with sharp determination. 

The next moment, she slashed down, aiming directly at the massive flaming fist.

A hum echoed through the air. The crimson flames split cleanly in two, each half veering to the sides of the Marine warship, evaporating into white mist.

Still midair, Ace locked his gaze onto the figure below.

Kuina landed steadily, sheathed her sword, and fixed her eyes on the cowboy-hatted man with a calm and cold expression.

Not far away, Tashigi, wearing black-framed glasses, widened her eyes. The admiration in her gaze was undeniable.

"Such a powerful swordswoman!"

And more importantly, her presence was incredibly striking!

"Do you remember me, Ace?" Arashi's deep voice rang out.

Now back on his rocket-propelled boat, Ace narrowed his eyes and fell silent.

Memories could be a curse—every detail of his time spent with this man was still crystal clear, even after all these years.

"Arashi! Of course, I remember you!"

"The man who left regrets in my childhood!"

After a brief pause, Ace suddenly grinned. Though his face bore a smile, his eyes remained chillingly cold.

"Regrets, huh?" Arashi shook his head and sighed.

Deep down, he felt guilty for breaking his old promise. He had meant to visit Ace, but in the blink of an eye, more than a decade had passed.

"So, as a Marine, did you come here specifically to capture me, Uncle Arashi?" 

Ace asked, his stance lowering slightly, eyes filled with caution and fighting spirit.

"I'm just here to see what kind of man the boy who once clung to my side has become." Arashi exhaled lightly.

"Well, now that you've seen me, you can leave!" Ace said.

"I'm afraid I can't." Arashi's eyes flickered as he spoke softly. 

His gaze lingered on Ace briefly before he continued, "I remember your childhood dream was to become a Marine."

The moment those words were spoken, Ace's expression darkened.

"Shut up!" he roared.

"That was nothing more than a childish joke!"

"Now, I am the man who will help Whitebeard reach the top!"

Arashi fell silent, shaking his head. "Hearing that disappoints me, Ace."

"What, am I supposed to be like you and become a Marine?" Ace sneered. 

"Whitebeard is far greater than someone like you!"

"I know better than you how strong Whitebeard is, and what kind of man he is, Ace." Arashi's voice was steady.

"As for your so-called goal of helping him reach the top— I'm afraid that's nothing more than a lost cause. His age and old wounds have dragged him from his peak."

Each word cut deep into Ace's heart, making his face twisted with anger.

"I won't allow you to speak ill of Pops!" 

Arashi remained unfazed and continued calmly. "I once fought against him. I know the predicament he faces very well—he is already standing at the edge of a cliff."

"The Whitebeard Pirates can no longer escape their inevitable decline and dissolution!"

Ace's face turned ashen, his anger boiling over.

"How dare you say that about Pops! How dare you say that about the Whitebeard Pirates! Who do you think you are?!"

Flames erupted from Ace's body as he charged toward the warship.

"And who do you think you are? How strong do you think you are, Ace?"

Arashi sighed, watching as Ace rapidly closed in on him.

"The truth is often difficult to accept. But this is Whitebeard's fate. And as for your fate..."

Ace's eyes burned with fury. Years of pent-up anger and the enemy's mockery of Whitebeard erupted in this moment, transforming into a blazing fist. 

"Fire Fist!" Arashi raised his hand, extending a finger above his head, and spoke slowly. 

"This, too, was inevitable!" The crimson fire fist clashed against his outstretched finger as his words fell. 

"Buzz!" The entire Alabasta trembled as ripples spread outward. 

Buggy grinned, laughing almost mockingly: "To dare attack him, that's some serious guts!"

"Ace, do you think your strength alone is enough to stand against the officer?" Smoker's voice was cold. 

Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke, silently observing the scene before him. 

At this moment, Ace's body remained suspended midair, flames coiling around his clenched fist. 

Once filled with rage, his face had now shifted to one of shock and solemnity. 

That punch, containing all his fury, was strong enough to destroy over ten Marine battleships in one blow. 

Yet, it had been stopped—by a single finger. That effortless block was like an insurmountable chasm standing immovably before him. "This... how is this possible?!"

Ace was horrified. The power displayed in that stillness rivaled even that of Whitebeard. "Any belief or dream must be protected by strength!" 

"Your strength… it seems insufficient!" 

"Ace!" Arashi spoke lightly. 

He retracted his finger, then slightly curled it before casually flicking it forward. 

"Bang!" That flick landed on Ace's fist, sending a shock through his expression as his body was involuntarily forced backward. 

"Thinking of fighting me..." 

"Are you truly prepared?"

The calm voice echoed in his ears. Ace snapped his head, staring intensely at the tall figure before him. 

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to steady his emotions. 

After so many years, growing from a two-year-old child to the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, he had naturally heard countless tales about this man. 

Whether it was Marco, Jozu, or Vista, they always spoke of him with grave expressions, warning that he was an enemy never to be underestimated. 

Their words alone made it clear just how powerful this Marine was.

"You raise your fist…" 

"Yet because of rumors and legends you've never personally witnessed, you hesitate and waver!" 

"Is this the person you are now? Ace!" Arashi's voice rang out again. 

Ace's body trembled, his fists clenched tightly, and the flames around him roared back to life. The man was right. 

Since he had already raised his fist, there was no room for fear or hesitation. "Your anger is driven by words against Whitebeard." 

"You attack someone who was once family. Is this the coldness you've cultivated as a pirate?"

Another sentence reached him, making Ace's raised fist tremble once more. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. 

Those eyes seemed to see straight through every thought in his heart. "Then fight!" 

"Let me see just how much you've learned under that old man Whitebeard!" Arashi smiled faintly. 

Ace gritted his teeth, this time without hesitation. With a roar, he charged forward. 

"Sizzle!" Flames surged as he sprinted at full speed. 

In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Arashi, leaping high and spreading his arms wide before striking down.

"Hiken!" He roared as his arms transformed into blazing spears, thrusting fiercely toward Arashi. 

Yet, to his shock, just as the attack was unleashed, the man evaded with precision at the very last moment. 

When he looked again, the figure standing there had completely disappeared. 

"Relying too much on a Devil Fruit's power is not a good thing!" 

"Ace!" A calm voice came from behind him. Ace's pupils contracted, and a chill ran down his spine. 

When had he—?! He spun around abruptly, kicking off the deck to retreat and create distance.

To his surprise, Arashi did not pursue him but merely observed him calmly. 

"You're underestimating me!" Ace growled in anger.

"You haven't shown strength worthy of my full attention!" Arashi smiled faintly. 

Then, he raised his right hand and extended a single finger. "What do you mean?!" Ace shouted. 

"I'll use just this one finger!" 

"With your current level of strength, that's all I need!" Arashi smirked. 

His expression was devoid of mockery, yet his words carried undeniable disdain. 

Ace's fury erupted! In all his years, no one had ever belittled him like this.

"Bastard! Even Whitebeard wouldn't look down on me like this!" Ace roared, shaping his hands into pistols. 

"Fire Gun!" Bullets of fire shot toward Arashi in rapid succession. 

Yet, the man remained motionless, not dodging such a childish attack. 

The flames struck him, but his towering frame did not waver. 

"Damn you!!" Ace's eyes blazed as he charged at Arashi, swinging his fists wildly, each punch igniting into bursts of fire. 

"Rage will only cloud your judgment!" Arashi said indifferently.

Using only a single finger, he precisely deflected every attack. 

A subtle shockwave sent tremors through Ace's body, his face contorting in pain with each counter. 

"Even Logia abilities can't avoid taking damage?!" 

"This man…?!" Ace was shocked. 

But he refused to accept defeat so easily! 

"It seems Whitebeard hasn't taught you much." 

"Your crude fundamentals don't even compare to my disciples!" Arashi shook his head in disappointment. 

"You talk too much!" 

"Firefly… Fire Dharma!!" Ace roared furiously, his expression grim.

He had thrown everything into this battle, yet he couldn't even scratch his opponent. 

Worse still, the man had barely launched any real attacks—he had been dodging the entire time. 

Arashi flicked his finger, and a ripple spread through the air. A blue arc of electricity surged, completely extinguishing Ace's Fire Dharma. 

"A Logia ability alone won't grant you the power to stand at the top! If you want to be the strongest, you can only rely on your body—your instincts!" Arashi sighed lightly.

Undoubtedly, Ace's mastery over the Flame-Flame Fruit far exceeded his proficiency in Haki. 

His physical strength, while formidable, was merely built upon the foundation that Garp had instilled in him. 

Compared to those who had refined their Haki from nothing, those reliant on Devil Fruits had a glaring weakness. 

"Just dodging—does that count as strength? If you have the ability, then show me your true power!" Ace bellowed. 

His eyes burned red, and the flames surrounding him surged to their peak, swirling around his body before condensing into a massive fireball above his head.

"You want me to show you?" Arashi narrowed his eyes before nodding slightly. "Then let me show you!"

In the next second, Ace's eyes widened abruptly.

"Buzz!" A vast, overwhelming, terrifying, and domineering aura burst forth, surging in all directions with unstoppable force. 

Ace's entire body froze, and the flames blazing fiercely just a moment ago now trembled like a frightened quail, losing all their power.

"Drip!" Unbeknownst to him, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the deck. 

He stared blankly at the man before him, watching as even the sky behind him turned a dark crimson hue. 

Everything around them was engulfed in his terrifying pressure.

"Trembling in fear, Ace? With this level of strength, you won't stand a chance against Marshall D. Teach." Arashi spoke calmly.

"Shut up!!!" Ace growled, gritting his teeth as he gathered all his flames to unleash the fireball above his head. "Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor!"

But in the very next moment, Arashi's figure suddenly vanished. A finger appeared abruptly at Ace's brow, crackling with black and red lightning. 

The sheer power emanating from it seemed capable of piercing through everything. At that moment, Ace even caught the scent of death.

Before he could react, the finger flicked against his forehead. A terrifying force exploded instantly. 

His body was lifted off the ground, sent flying by the immense power, while the fireball above him dissipated instantly.

"You're still too weak, Ace!"

His consciousness faded into darkness. Even as he lost consciousness, Ace couldn't believe it. 

He, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, had been defeated so easily. And not just defeated—defeated by a single finger?

When Ace opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Arashi sitting cross-legged before him, clad in his Marine coat.

"With such weak power and half-baked skills…Who do you think you can assist? Who do you think you can protect, Ace?"

The calm words echoed in his ears, making Ace grit his teeth and clench his fists. 

But the battle that had just occurred was still fresh in his mind, and the despair he felt from Arashi's overwhelming strength was suffocating. 

It was even more terrifying than facing Whitebeard. Could this man be stronger than even the old man? How was that possible?!

"You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability! Our master has said it more than once—what makes a person truly strong is their will and body!"

Kuina spoke indifferently. "And the power that directly reflects both things is Haki!"

"Haki?" Ace was slightly stunned.

At that moment, Arashi spoke again. "Stay by my side, Ace! I will teach you a greater power!" 

"Only with true strength can you better protect and defend everything you wish to have!"

Ace's expression darkened. "You want me to become a Marine?"

"Wasn't that your childhood dream?" Arashi smiled.

"Do you want to truly bring kindness to the world, to help those who need it?" 

"Or do you want to continue playing pirates, chasing a meaningless freedom?" 

"To change this world, or to be a pirate—what will you choose?"

Ace fell silent. Once upon a time, he had dreamed of being like the man before him, wearing the cloak of justice, admired by all, and doing what he believed to be righteous and just. 

He had deeply admired this man, listening countless times to his mother's stories about him. But as time passed, everything changed.

"A Marine dream? It was shattered long ago!" Ace shook his head and smiled. 

"The old man has been good to me. Marco, Jozu, and Vista, they're all my brothers! If you think it's a childish game, then so be it!"

After a pause, he spoke seriously. "But to me, this is the family I've been searching for!"

Hearing this, Arashi was briefly stunned before he suddenly chuckled.

"The hardest thing for a person is to truly understand what they want."

Slowly rising to his feet, he turned to face the vast ocean. "Ace!"

"Never forget—anger makes people foolish. Whenever someone mocks or insults you, you must understand the reason behind their words!"

Ace stood frozen. In a daze, he recalled the man who once carried him in his arms, lifting him high into the sky, teaching him the principles of life, and telling him what could and could not be done. 

For a moment, Ace's expression softened. 

"If there is anyone in this world whom I can forgive no matter what mistake they make…It would be you, Ace!"

The following sigh made Ace's heart tremble, and he lifted his head sharply.

"Even though you're a pirate, even though you still resent me, I could never bring myself to capture you personally."

By the end of his sentence, his voice carried a rare warmth.

"But you must be careful—Marshall D. Teach is a man of deep cunning! His strength may exceed your imagination!"

"If you insist on going after him, the consequences may be beyond what you expect!"

Arashi turned back, his expression serious. He knew very well that if Ace continued pursuing Teach, the ultimate result would be his capture and use as a bargaining chip, leading to the Summit War.

"Teach!!" Hearing that name, Ace gritted his teeth, clenching his fists tightly.

Watching this, Arashi sighed and shook his head. A person's nature could not be changed in an instant. The future was likely already set in stone.

"There's one more thing."

Hearing his voice, Ace looked up at the man before him. 

Arashi had hardly changed at all compared to his memories—he still looked as youthful as ever. This left Ace with a lingering sense of doubt.

"Remember this! No matter when no matter how long it takes! I will always be your Uncle Arashi!"

As he spoke, Arashi's face bore a warm smile. 

At that moment, the freckled young man before him overlapped with the child he had once cradled in his arms.

Ace's body trembled, a strange warmth rising in his chest. In the next second, he took a few steps forward and hugged the man tightly.

"Thank you!"

Arashi was momentarily stunned before smiling and patting Ace's back.

"Now, I'm afraid I can't lift you up high like before."

Hearing this, Ace couldn't help but laugh.

"If I, Fire Fist Ace, let that happen, I'd be too embarrassed!"

Arashi chuckled before suddenly throwing out another sentence.

"If you become a Marine…I can tell you something that might be important to you."

Ace was intrigued and smiled. "What could possibly make me join the Marines?"

"A person named Sabo."

Arashi smiled.

"What?!"

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