The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Then, in the year 1517 of the Sea Calendar, three years before Monkey D. Luffy set sail...

Portgas D. Ace set sail, embarking on his journey.

In the same year, by a stroke of fate, he unexpectedly obtained the Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit), greatly increasing his abilities.

He then founded the Spade Pirates, rose to prominence on the Grand Line, and became the most sought-after supernova of the next generation.

His most epic battle was before entering the New World, when he single-handedly defeated "Hanazakura," one of the then Seven Warlords of the Sea.

This marks the first time a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea has been defeated since the system was established!

Furthermore, he subsequently rejected the World Government's invitation to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

This move made his name 'Fire Fist' resound throughout the seas, making him the strongest newcomer of the next generation!

........

In the year 1519 of the Sea Calendar, two years after Ace set sail, it was also the first year he officially entered the New World.

New World, G-10 sphere of influence, Slarok Island

"Fire Fist!!" A giant fist of blazing fire roared out, charging forward with the power to incinerate everything.

However, the flames, powerful enough to blast through a warship, were split open by an overwhelming aura, dissipating to both sides, and the scorching air currents ruffled a strand of white hair.

Immediately following was a carrot-shaped dagger with its hilt covered in Armament Haki.

It tore the object apart from the ground with deadly force, and stabbed straight at Ace's face with perfect precision!

Upon seeing this, Ace's pupils contracted slightly, not expecting his flames to be penetrated so easily.

Driven by a strong sense of crisis, he instinctively leaned back to his limit, bending his waist almost to a ninety-degree angle.

The tip of the carrot dagger whistled through the air as it sliced ​​past the bridge of his nose.

"So fast!"

Just as Ace was inwardly sighing, a white figure appeared.

With a speed that Ace could hardly comprehend, she suddenly appeared at the end of the dagger's trajectory, and with a slender hand, she firmly grasped the hilt of the dagger, which was not yet exhausted.

Then, taking advantage of the momentum, it soared into the air!

Her long, slender legs unleashed a terrifying power completely at odds with her cute appearance, and her body spun gracefully in the air.

Immediately, his right leg rose high like a battle axe, and Armament Haki instantly hardened his heel.

With the weight of a falling meteor, it slashed down on Ace, who was still unsteady on his feet!

"Rabbit Kick - Falling Moon!!"

"Bang!!!" A heavy thud rang out. Ace didn't even have time to transform into his elemental form before the powerful heel slammed into his shoulder blade.

A sharp pain instantly spread throughout his body, a sweet taste filled his throat, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

He was sent flying uncontrollably backward, crashing through the walls of two dilapidated buildings before being buried in rubble, kicking up clouds of dust.

At that moment, Lipo landed lightly, dusted off non-existent dust from her clothes, and the tip of her snow-white tail swayed gently behind her.

Years have passed, and the little rabbit from back then has grown much taller, and some of the childishness on its face has faded.

Only his unique white fur, his gradient pink pupils, and the carrot-shaped crossbody bag that his grandmother had sewn by hand behind him remained unchanged.

Libo gazed at the ruins, her face still bearing that harmless expression, her lips and eyes curved like crescent moons, her voice clear and melodious.

"Sorry, you're not qualified to see Gern yet!"

Lipo has lost some of her childishness

Chapter 380 Little Flame Ace

Ace knelt on one knee, the excruciating pain from his shoulder blade almost numbing half of his body.

“Qualifications…” He suddenly raised his head, staring intently at the elegant and composed white figure in front of him.

"What do you mean... I'm not qualified yet?!"

The vow made under the setting sun in Windmill Village, the belief that "defeat Gorn" was etched into his very bones, sustained him through the hardships and dangers of the Grand Line.

He defeated the invincible Seven Warlords of the Sea and even refused the World Government's offer of amnesty!

Then, after paying the exorbitant 300 million Berries entrance fee to Fishman Island—enough to bankrupt an ordinary pirate crew—they stepped into the final sea with great ambition.

With a clear objective—to target G-10, find that man, and prove myself!

Unfortunately, reality dealt him a cold and merciless blow.

They hadn't even reached the core area of ​​G-10, only the edge of its sphere of influence, Slarok Island.

This woman, a member of the rabbit fur tribe who claimed to be the "doctor" of the Gern family, stood firmly in their way!

Twenty times!!

In the short time since entering the new world, he has challenged her a full twenty times!

And the result? Every time, they were utterly defeated by their opponent in a way that seemed effortless but was actually overwhelming.

Of course, most importantly, when he first met her, the woman even said the sentence that Gern had asked him to pass on.

If you can't even beat my family doctor, then don't embarrass yourself in public.

“Disgraceful…disgraceful…” Every time Ace thought of this sentence, he felt it was the greatest humiliation.

That man... he doesn't even bother to show his face?!

They just sent a "doctor" to get rid of him?!

But unfortunately, he really couldn't beat this rabbit in front of him!

"Damn it!" Ace growled, and flames erupted from his body once more.

Struggling to sustain his excruciating pain, countless flames gathered, "Great Flame Ring..."

"Ace, that's enough!!"

Just as Ace was about to unleash his power, a figure rushed forward and forcefully supported his swaying body, interrupting everything.

He is the ship's doctor of the Spade Pirates and Ace's earliest partner—Maskod Deus (the one with the mask on his face).

"Forget it! Ace! Look at yourself!" Deus said in a low voice, almost gritting his teeth as he advised.

"This is the twenty-first time! The result won't change!"

"I still have..."

"I think you were knocked unconscious, didn't you? Have you forgotten? You already used it on the fifteenth time, and you still lost."

"..."

After saying that, Deus ignored Ace and instead looked at Ribo, who was twirling her hair with her fingers not far away. His voice was even lower, trembling with a hint of lingering fear.

"Besides, can't you feel it?"

This woman...she definitely has the ability to kill you! But she's shown mercy every time!

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Ace's burning anger, giving him a jolt.

Doesn't he know? Of course he knows!

Especially that seemingly ridiculous carrot dagger, which always managed to precisely avoid his vital points.

Each heavy blow was controlled to the point of incapacitating him without killing him.

That kind of effortless, terrifyingly precise control over power is more despairing and powerless than pure killing.

This means that the other party never truly regarded him as an equal opponent from the beginning.

It's like saying, "Where would an adult get angry with a child?"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ribo tilted her head, her gradient pink pupils shifting between Ace and Deus.

Then she stretched out her slender finger and gently touched her lips, her tone still carrying that innocent and carefree quality.

"Hmm~ Your partner is right."

"Gern said you're...the son of an old friend! So let me 'take care' of you a little."

She emphasized the word "take care of," then shrugged, giving a cute, helpless look.

"So, I'm just following the doctor's orders~"

Your current condition is diagnosed as: 'Insufficient strength, requires rest and recuperation, and is prohibited from challenging high-difficulty bosses.'

“You…” Ace was so angry he almost vomited blood again.

"Alright, alright!" Lipo waved her hand, her long white ears swaying gently behind her. "That's all for today."

"I suggest you go back and take good care of your injuries, and work hard to become stronger!" After saying that, Lipo turned around and prepared to leave.

"When you've had fifty rounds with me, maybe... you'll be able to get it to go see Gern!"

"So, bye-bye, little flame~"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lipo's figure flickered a few times and disappeared into the shadows of the dilapidated building.

Ace was left leaning weakly against Deus, gazing in the direction she had disappeared, murmuring...

"Son of an old friend... have mercy... and God the hell... Little Flame!!!"

These words echoed wildly in his mind, finally culminating in a low, suppressed growl.

"Gern, you bastard!!!"

...........

Meanwhile, at the G-10 base headquarters, far away in the heart of the New World's oceans, in the supreme commander's office...

"Achoo~" Guern sneezed and rubbed his nose. "Why have I been sneezing so much lately? Is someone missing me again? Or have I caught a cold?"

"Alright, alright, Gern, don't worry about the details. You've been doing a great job lately!"

Karp laughed heartily, completely losing his composure, with one arm tightly wrapped around Gern's neck.

Holding a rice cracker in his other hand, he danced around so wildly that he almost made the tall and imposing Gern sway.

"That damn brat Ace! If he had just obediently followed my orders and joined the Marines, none of this trouble would have happened!"

Now look what's happened! The whole world knows about 'Fire Fist' Ace!

But thanks to you too, Gern!

Kuzan is clearly on the Grand Line, but he just won't make a move.

"Give that arrogant brat a good talking-to!"

Gren was a little out of breath from being pulled by Garp, but he still swayed a couple of times in rhythm with Garp's unrestrained pace, responding with a hearty laugh.

"Hey! Vice Admiral Garp, we're practically family! Why are you being so polite with me!"

What 'Fire Fist'? In our new world, it's just a tiny flame that hasn't been through any storms!

Let my little Libo temper his arrogance, perfect!

The two put their arms around each other's shoulders and laughed and joked for a while before Gern managed to break free from Garp's "iron arm".

He straightened his wrinkled shirt collar, then, as if remembering something, asked in a somewhat casual tone...

"However, Vice Admiral Garp, there's still something I'm curious about."

If you trained Ace like you did with Ribo back then, taking him with you on every vacation to personally train him and teach him the basics of Six Powers and Haki...

With that kid's current strength, he's probably not just at this level, right?

Why let him wander around aimlessly, causing such a commotion?

Ribo's physical combat skills were built upon the foundation laid by Garp, coupled with the systematic training she received later within the Zephyr naval system.

This is what has led to the current "physical skills" of the G-10 base, where even Barrett can hold his own.

Upon hearing this, Garp, who had been laughing heartily just moments before, paused, and his smile faded.

After a long silence, he quietly put the half-eaten rice cracker back on the plate, slowly sat back on the large sofa, and let out a heavy sigh.

“Because…” Garp raised his head, his eyes filled with a complex and unfathomable expression.

"Even if I'm being ridiculous... I still bear the burden of 'justice'."