One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Luffy and his crew drifted along and entered the Whitebeard Pirates' territory.

Although the Whitebeard Pirates control a large territory, they don't actually use many islands as their base.

Led by Marco, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed smoothly into the core sea area.

When the Sun Lion docked, Ace was already waiting at the port.

"Luffy—!" Ace opened his arms.

"Ace—!"

Luffy jumped off the bow of the ship and pounced like a cannonball, wrapping his two rubber arms around Ace's neck. The two collided and rolled several times.

"What's wrong with your hair, kid?!" Ace laughed and tugged at Luffy's white hair.

"This is called Gear Fifth! It's amazing!" Luffy gestured excitedly.

"Don't brag yet, let's talk about it once we get to the island. There'll be wine and meat."

Ace patted him on the shoulder and greeted the Straw Hat crew members one by one.

The Whitebeard Pirates' territory is much more desolate than it used to be, but the smoke from their cooking fires still rises, and their popularity remains.

Marco, Bista, Joz and other veteran captains were all there, their faces bearing more scars and weathering than two years ago, but their spirits were good.

The batch of Devil Fruits that Roy had sent to the Whitebeard Pirates six months ago were divided up by Ace and the captains.

He was originally a user of the Flame-Flame Fruit, and later he acquired the Azure Dragon Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—the latter being a relic of Whitebeard, which was copied by Vegapunk and given to him.

With the addition of three Devil Fruits, Ace's strength far surpasses that of two years ago.

Marco's Phoenix Fruit, combined with the Flame-Flame Fruit and the Heal-Heal Fruit, has seen a qualitative leap in his recovery and healing abilities.

Vista was originally a master of dual-wielding, and he also chose to eat a three-element fruit. However, with the blessing of the Mythical Zoan type, his dual-wielding swordsmanship was greatly amplified.

Jozu's Diamond Fruit has been enhanced with the Strength-Strength Fruit and Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit, allowing him to smash a small mountain into ruins with a single punch.

Luffy's eyes lit up: "Wow, that's amazing! I want to eat a few more!"

Ace chuckled and patted his head.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"This isn't something you can just eat casually. Our ability to achieve multiple Devil Fruit powers is all thanks to the technology of Beehive Island!"

The campfire crackled, and the sea breeze sent sparks flying into the air.

The two brothers leaned against each other, bickering and playing around as they always had.

Marco was drinking with Zoro on the side, while Vista and Sanji were chatting about ingredients from the New World; the atmosphere was warm and boisterous.

Luffy lay sprawled on the sand, gazing at the starry sky.

"Ace, I haven't settled my score with Kaido yet."

"Know."

Ace tossed him a jug of wine.

"But everything depends on yourselves. After all, we are only able to be safe because of Beehive Island."

You know about Kaido's relationship with Roy.

"The most I can offer is psychological support!"

"Is that so?!"

"Hehe, it's okay! I'll do it myself!"

Luffy grinned, took the sake jug, and took a big gulp, choking and coughing.

In the latter half of the night, the campfire gradually died down.

Luffy and Ace sat back to back on the beach, chatting casually.

"Ace, you spent some time on Beehive Island, didn't you?"

"Stay here."

"What exactly is Roy trying to do?"

Ace remained silent for a moment.

"I can't explain it either."

That guy is too cunning.

He tilted his head back and took a sip of wine.

"But my father has always had a good relationship with them, so I'm willing to believe him."

"Is that so?" Luffy replied in a low voice.

"Don't overthink it. Your task now is to become stronger."

Ace nudged Luffy's shoulder with his sake jug.

"I'm waiting for you to take the throne of Pirate King."

"Um!"

As soon as Luffy finished speaking, Ace suddenly stood up.

His Observation Haki was flashing warnings at the same time, and his muscles tensed up instantly.

Luffy sensed it too.

He raised his head, his pupils slightly contracting.

In the very center of the night sky, which was originally filled with stars, a huge magic circle was slowly unfolding.

Golden patterns spread like living things, drawing dazzling light across the night sky.

A terrifying aura poured down from the center of the formation.

Five figures emerged from the light, like gods descending from the sky.

"Ace." Luffy's voice also turned somber.

"I know."

Ace was engulfed in flames, unleashing the full power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.

"The visitor is not friendly."

Everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates became alert at the same time.

Marco transforms into a phoenix and soars into the air, Vista draws his twin swords, and Jozu's skin turns into diamond.

The Straw Hat Pirates also entered battle mode.

Zoro and Sanji stood to Luffy's left and right, their swords and legs poised for attack. Robin shielded Nami and Chopper behind her.

But the Five Elders' first attack came too quickly.

Nasujiro Sei gripped the Kitetsu, which was over two meters long, with both hands and slashed down from mid-air.

The blade's momentum carried boundless pressure, as if the sky were collapsing.

Zoro and Ace attacked simultaneously.

The Three-Sword Style and the Fire Tornado intertwined above Luffy's head, forcefully blocking the attack.

"when--!"

The shockwave exploded from the point of impact, lifting the beach more than three meters high, and seawater rushed in.

"Nika".

Nasujiro Sei's voice was as cold as if it came from hell.

"By order of Lord Im, I will take your life."

"I won't let you cut me down so easily!" Luffy gritted his teeth, his white hair instantly standing on end as he activated Gear Fifth.

His body swelled into a white giant, with black and red Conqueror's Haki lightning crackling wildly around him.

The straw hat was pushed up by the white hair, and the eyes under the brim were frighteningly bright.

"Moonhead! I'll handle this guy." Luffy's voice carried a hint of laughter, yet it was chillingly cold.

Garin Saint landed slowly from the air, each step carrying an undeniable aura of power.

"Straw Hat Luffy, just surrender!"

Luffy grinned, his laughter booming: "Haha! You don't get to decide that."

boom--!

Luffy and Korin disappeared at the same time, leaving behind two deep craters.

The next second, the two collided in mid-air, Conqueror's Haki lightning flashed everywhere, and the shockwave overturned all the surrounding coconut trees.

Ace awakened all three of his Devil Fruits.

The Flame-Flame Fruit envelops his entire body, forming a fiery armor; the Azure Dragon Fruit transforms his limbs into dragon claws; and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit concentrates in his fist, unleashing a punch at Sacred Worch.

Space shattered under that punch, and the unique cracks of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit spread in all directions, completely sealing off Vochuri Saint's retreat.

Volcholl Saint neither dodged nor evaded, his body rapidly transforming into a gigantic being, taking the full force of Ace's punch.

On the battlefield, Marco fought against Saint Mars, while Vista and Joz joined forces to hold off Saint Pitt.

The other members of the Straw Hat Pirates worked together with the ordinary members of the Whitebeard Pirates on the periphery to hold back Piet Saint, one of the Five Elders.

The sword duel between Zoro and Nasujuro was the most dazzling moment on the entire battlefield.

Every clash between the Onikiri and the Santo-ryu swords produced a deafening metallic clang, the sword and blade energies intertwining and carving deep grooves into the sand.

Zoro's Demonic Nine-Sword Style has reached its limit.

But each of Nasujiro Sei's strikes seemed to carry the sword intent of hundreds of years, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Zoro gritted his teeth, unleashing a triple burst of Ryuo and Conqueror's Haki, his three swords withstanding the suppression of Kitetsu.

But the gap in strength cannot be bridged by willpower alone.

The Five Elders are, after all, the Five Elders.

The battle lasted less than twenty minutes before the Whitebeard Pirates began to show signs of exhaustion.