Chapter 213: Flame Ring: Fire Pillar
Miss Carina, who claims to be Nami’s good friend, was clearly not prepared to risk making an enemy of the famous Black Prince to save her friend. After disembarking at the rapeseed flowers, the master thief bid a cheerful and straightforward farewell to the Straw Hat Pirates.
Before leaving, she also took most of the Straw Hat Pirates’ reserve funds, which was the agreed-upon reward. Without the resourceful Miss Nami in charge of the ship’s finances, the Straw Hat Pirates’ financial situation was steadily deteriorating.
“Luffy, we need to be more economical with our spending. If we spend all our money, Miss Nami will throw a fit when she returns,” said the curly-browed chef, pointing to the scarce few ‘Skull Yuki’ coins in their shriveled wallet. This small amount of money wouldn’t sustain their captain’s bottomless appetite.
“Hmph—!!!”
The captain scowled reluctantly, muttering petty complaints under his breath.
“Stop your nagging. If you want to eat, go hunt in the desert. I’ve heard that the deserts of the Alabasta Kingdom aren’t devoid of life, and there are quite a few giant beasts there! Catch a couple, and I guarantee you’ll be full.”
Sanji was determined to guard their last bit of savings, at least not to blow it all at once now and have some money left for emergencies. If an unexpected situation arose, it would be difficult.
The others had no objections. After purchasing essential items for entering the desert, such as headscarves to protect them from wind and sun, and plenty of fresh drinking water, the group immediately set sail into the desert.
The endless, rolling desert quickly wore away the initial curiosity the group felt upon seeing the billowing yellow sand. The hot sand that burned their feet, the dry, dust-filled air, and the monotonous scenery with little variation… it was a dual torment of spirit and body.
They did not rent any means of transportation and walked entirely on foot. Even those with immense stamina like Luffy and Zoro showed signs of deep fatigue when facing the challenge of the desert climate.
Ace was the only one unaffected.
As a Logia Ability User of the Flare-Flare Fruit, the dry, high-temperature environment posed no obstacle to him whatsoever. On the contrary, his Flare-Flare Fruit’s power could even be somewhat amplified here.
However, the journey wasn’t entirely a monotonous march.
Luffy, keenly feeling the inadequacy of his own strength, had been constantly pondering how to become stronger. He had wrestled with the whale Laboon at Twin Capes to hone his strength and defeated a group of bounty hunters who were hunting pirates at Whiskey Peak.
On the ancient island of Little Garden, he befriended two giants and learned some combat techniques of the Giant Race. Upon reaching Drum Island, he defeated Mushuru, an Ability User of the Fungus-Fungus Fruit.
He fought his way all the way to the Alabasta Kingdom.
While traveling through the desert, he did not forget to practice the combat techniques taught to him by the giants. The giants’ fighting style was not suitable for ordinary humans; forcing oneself to learn it would only lead to injury. However, Luffy was a Rubber Human.
His body was a rubber physique, and his rubber form possessed excellent elasticity and extensibility. Not only was his body immune to damage from recoil, but most physical attacks (excluding Haki) would bounce back or be completely ineffective when they hit his body.
This characteristic allowed him to do things that ordinary humans could not, making it possible for him to learn the giants’ combat techniques.
It wasn’t just Luffy; Zoro and Sanji were also making their own efforts. Zoro, recalling his impression of the battle between the Black Prince and the Golden Lion he witnessed in Loguetown, found their earth-shattering swordsmanship duel endlessly fascinating, giving him more thoughts about his own swordsmanship.
Sanji’s approach was more direct and simple. Unlike Luffy and Zoro, with his family’s background, he voluntarily carried everyone’s luggage, walking unsteadily through the desert, exercising his leg muscles as much as possible to build a solid foundation in preparation for learning Armament Haki in the future.
As for Usopp, Robin, Chopper, and the others, their stamina and condition were not as good as Luffy’s, but they gritted their teeth and kept pace, never falling behind.
“Luffy… you’ve found a group of good companions!” Ace said with a happy smile, having witnessed everything.
He did not do anything extra, merely followed the group silently, while extending his Observation Haki to remain vigilant for any enemies who might appear before they reached their destination.
The Black Prince… he was an unfathomable fellow. Who knew what kind of plan he would concoct…
Ace suddenly raised his gaze, looking towards the distant sand dunes. His Observation Haki detected two rapidly approaching presences from behind the dunes.
Before long, billowing smoke and dust also appeared in their field of vision.
“Luffy!”
Zoro, sensing the commotion, immediately gripped the hilt of his sword.
“Yeah, I see them. Everyone, be careful,” Luffy said, clenching his fist and stopping his advance, gazing at the approaching carriage.
It wasn’t that they were being overly cautious. To reach Alabasta as quickly as possible, Luffy had not chosen the winding road that passed through several small oases. Instead, guided by Robin and Usopp, he decided to cross the desert directly, aiming for the shortest straight-line distance. By all accounts, there should have been no one else here besides them.
Was it sand bandits?
Or merchants taking a shortcut?
Or perhaps subordinates of the Black Prince?
As the smoke and dust drew closer, the group finally saw the identity of the creature kicking up the sky-high dust: a massive Land-and-Sea Turtle, pulling a luxurious carriage at an extreme speed.
“A turtle pulling the carriage? It’s running so fast!” Usopp’s eyes widened.
“Huh? Are there turtles in the desert too?”
Chopper, panting with his tongue hanging out from exhaustion, also strained to lift his neck, the image of the giant Land-and-Sea Turtle entering his view.
Robin was also somewhat stunned.
This Land-and-Sea Turtle… if she remembered correctly, it belonged to Baroque Works. Its name was Binchi. She hadn’t expected to see this big fellow again under these circumstances.
However, it made sense. Baroque Works was defeated by the Black Prince’s subordinates, Crocodile escaped and disappeared without a trace, and the entire inheritance of Baroque Works was absorbed by the Black Prince and the Alabasta Kingdom. It was perfectly normal for Binchi to appear here.
She just wondered who was riding in the carriage now.
Land-and-Sea Turtle was a species name. Their race naturally enjoyed activities like pulling carriages. If Kung Fu Dugong was the fastest creature in the Alabasta Kingdom, then the Land-and-Sea Turtle was undoubtedly the most professional mode of transportation in the Alabasta Kingdom.
Without any command, Binchi slowed down and stopped, coming to a halt steadily ten meters away from the Straw Hat Pirates, without a single extraneous tremor.
Holding a pipe in its mouth, it slowly lowered itself. Its eyes, the size of large water tanks, leisurely observed the Straw Hat Pirates before them.
The carriage door opened, and instead of the vicious enemies they had imagined, Fran, dressed as a maid, stepped out.
“Captain Ace, it’s been a long time,” the maid said politely.
“…Miss Fran?” Ace recognized Fran, the maid who always followed the Black Prince like a shadow. He had seen her several times before, but this was the first time she had spoken to him like this.
“Captain Ace, my master said that this matter does not concern Your Excellency, and as he had a prior engagement with Mister Dragon, His Highness will not take action personally. If possible… we hope Captain Ace will also refrain from making any moves that might spoil His Highness’s fun,” Fran stated her business directly and efficiently.
“I don’t doubt Prince Elus’s word, but… just because Prince Elus isn’t acting doesn’t mean Miss Fran and your group won’t. If you make a move against Luffy and the others… honestly, that would be quite bullying!”
Ace wouldn’t easily back down.
He clearly understood the current combat power level of Luffy and the others. Even if they combined their strength and everyone performed beyond their usual capabilities, facing an enemy on Fran’s level would only result in them being beaten.
Because,
he himself stood at that realm. Even if he were to act, he wouldn’t dare to guarantee a sure victory against Fran.
Although the maid before them wasn’t as active as the Black Prince’s three aides-de-camp, the Whitebeard Pirates’ intelligence channels made it clear that this maid was by no means just a pretty face with no substance. To be able to serve by the Black Prince’s side, how could she possibly be a mere decoration?
What was even more critical was that there was still a person hidden inside the carriage!
That familiar aura made his temples throb.
“Please rest assured, the agreement between my master and Mister Dragon of the Revolutionary Army is not something simple. I will not be making a move either. My master has prepared other opponents for Mister Luffy and the others; they are subordinates recruited from Paradise and have not yet been to the New World.”
“…If that’s the case…”
Ace’s head began to ache even more,
what should he do now?
“My master also said that Captain Ace and Mister Luffy share a deep brotherhood, so it’s unlikely you’d stand by idly. To avoid making things difficult for you, Captain Ace… Miss Isca, I’ll have to trouble you.” As Fran finished speaking, Isca, dressed in a military uniform, descended from the carriage.
Her sharp gaze, like a sword, fell upon Ace’s face, making the famous Fire Fist feel so uncomfortable that he couldn’t help but twist his neck.
“Luffy, it looks like I can’t accompany you any further. The road ahead… will be up to you.” Realizing the current situation, Ace scratched his head with a wry smile. He hadn’t expected to actually encounter Isca here.
Truly… what a bother!
“Ace, goodbye! We’re leaving first.”
The two, who were closer than brothers, didn’t need any sappy farewells. Upon hearing Ace’s words, Luffy immediately turned and ran, not hesitating for even a second. The Straw Hat Pirates, who were momentarily taken aback, also started to move, but Bruno was intercepted by Fran raising a hand.
“Bruno cannot be taken by you. Besides, without Captain Ace, you won’t be able to keep an eye on Bruno. Mister Luffy, you should hurry on your way!”
“Usopp, Chopper, Robin, don’t worry about that horned monster. We’ll keep moving.”
Luffy made a swift decision.
Casually abandoning Bruno, a potentially useful captive, the Straw Hat Pirates passed over the Land-and-Sea Turtle and the carriage, galloping along the route the carriage had taken. Their figures quickly disappeared into the smoke and dust.
“I am truly sorry, for my incompetence, to have troubled you, Lady Fran, to make this trip personally.”
Bruno, who had easily broken free from the ropes, knelt on one knee, lowering his head with a touch of shame.
To have a mission turn out this way, even becoming a prisoner himself, was truly… embarrassing!
“After all, it was that Fire Fist… it’s not your fault.”
Fran did not blame Bruno for his failure.
Facing the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, few in Paradise could stand their ground. It would be strange if Bruno could hold his own against Fire Fist for a few exchanges. To punish a subordinate for such an unexpected situation… would be far too inhumane.
“Alright, be quiet! Don’t miss the good show before us.”
Fran waved her hand, stopping Bruno’s unnecessary words. Her piercing gaze was fixed on Ace and Isca. Compared to listening to Bruno’s uninspired chatter, the clash between these two was far more interesting!
······
“Ace, I heard you’ve been chasing Blackbeard recently?”
“Yes, that guy… I must catch him or kill him with my own hands.”
“Blackbeard isn’t that easy to catch. That fatso’s devil fruit ability is very strange. My master himself said that if caught off guard, even a Four Emperor would suffer greatly… Ace, it will be difficult for you to catch that guy alone. If you don’t want to die, honestly return to the New World.”
“Impossible! Only Blackbeard… I will absolutely kill him.”
Ace flatly refused the request, which he found unreasonable.
“…Fine, fine! Then I’ll see what grounds Captain Fire Fist has to pursue that Blackbeard. If you can’t even defeat me, I advise you not to go die.” Isca, her anger piqued, instantly drew her sword, and her clear, water-like blade thrust forward like lightning.
“Ah! That was close, so close!”
Ace, who had elementalized in advance to evade that sword strike, retreated backward.
He didn’t really want to waste energy fighting Isca here, but it was clear that Isca’s thoughts were the complete opposite. She continued her fierce assault with her sword, clearly not intending to give Ace any chance to escape. The dense sword qi crisscrossed, weaving into a seemingly impenetrable net that descended from above.
“There’s no other way! This is troublesome… Flame Mirroring: Fire Pillar!!!”
Ace swung his hands and spun, and a thick, tall pillar of flame shot up into the sky. The scorching flames, in this desert with abundant sunlight, received astonishing amplification. The pillar of flame easily broke through the net of sword qi. Ace, having elementalized, appeared in the air. However, to his dismay, Isca ascended using Geppo and pursued him. Her sword qi, capable of injuring Logia users, relentlessly followed.
It seems,
this won’t end without a proper fight!
“Ah! How did it come to this…”
Ace was frustrated and wanted to roar. He came to Paradise to hunt down Blackbeard, not to spar with Isca. Yet, Blackbeard remained elusive, while he had an unexpected encounter with Isca. This luck… was truly bizarre!
“There’s no other choice. Since that’s the case… I might as well have a good spar! It’s been a long time since I’ve properly worked my body in Paradise.” Relying solely on the power of the Flare-Flare Fruit had been enough to level most enemies he encountered; he had almost forgotten about Haki.
