Chapter 542 - 382

Chapter 383: Flame and Darkness!New World, "Sea of Wrecks."Thunderstorms tore through the pitch-black sky, and the viscous seawater surged with a pungent smell of blood.This fight had already lasted for three full days and nights.Countless shipwrecks floated on the sea surface; the whale-shaped bow of the Moby Dick and the Blackbeard Pirates' iconic three-skull flag were both bobbing among the broken planks.This sea area had turned into a veritable graveyard.At the very center of the battlefield, two completely opposite yet equally terrifyingly powerful forces were clashing frantically.The orange-red imperial flames were as blazing as the sun, while the deep blue flames of regeneration were like the wings of a Phoenix, resilient and inextinguishable.At the center of the flames were Ace and Marco.Across from them, that man just stood there, as if he could drag the entire world into the abyss.Marshall D. Teach."Zehahahaha!!! Haven't given up yet? Remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates!"Teach spread his arms and let out a piercing, arrogant laugh; the darkness beneath his feet squirmed like a living thing, rapidly spreading in all directions.Dark Water: Awakening Form - Dark Era!In an instant, with Teach as the center, a massive domain of darkness unfolded with a bang.Within the domain, light was distorted, air was swallowed, and it felt as if countless invisible hands were death-gripping Ace and Marco's bodies, trying to drag them into the void beneath their feet."Ugh..."Marco let out a muffled groan, the blue flames on his body visibly dimming for a moment.In this domain, he felt his power being continuously weakened, and even his proud regeneration ability became sluggish."Zehahahaha!!! Do you see it now! This is the power of a god!!!"Teach's figure abruptly vanished from the spot, appearing beside Ace in the next second. Massive dark tentacles extended from his back, coiling around the giant mast of a warship and smashing it toward Ace with a whistle that tore through the air.Ace's gaze, however, was exceptionally steady, no longer the impulsive hothead he was during the Marineford War.He didn't dodge; orange-red flames instantly enveloped his right fist, coated with pitch-black Armament Haki, solid as lava, as he punched out.Fire Fist!Boom!!!Flames collided with the giant wood, erupting in a deafening roar as wood chips and sparks flew everywhere.Teach's figure vanished again, appearing behind Marco, baring his gap-toothed grin as he threw a punch toward the back of Marco's heart.Phoenix Claw!Marco turned abruptly, his talons covered in blue flames clashing precisely with Teach's fist, the powerful impact knocking both of them back simultaneously.Teach faced two opponents alone yet remained at ease, fully displaying his terrifying strength."It's useless, useless! Your pathetic little flames are like a candle in the wind before my darkness!!!"Teach's words were like poisoned knives, frantically provoking Ace."Look at your pathetic state, and you still call yourselves family? That old man Whitebeard was killed by his own stupid'son' in this ridiculous family game!"Ace's pupils shrank suddenly; the broad back of Pops flashed through his mind, along with Luffy's worn straw hat and Sabo's smiling face under his noble top hat.Anger erupted like a volcano, yet in an instant, it was transformed by him into a purer, more searing power."A person like you..."Ace's voice was low, yet filled with unquestionable resolve."...will never understand how precious the 'family' Pops gave us is!"Orange-red flames soared into the sky, enveloping his entire body; the terrifyingly high temperature actually forced back Teach's domain of darkness by several inches."Oh? Still being stubborn?"Teach's smile widened, but his gaze became increasingly cold.Just then, Marco's figure appeared in front of Ace."Ace! Don't let him provoke you!!!"Marco spread his arms, and the deep blue flames of regeneration were no longer confined to himself, instead forming a constantly rotating domain of blue fire that shrouded both him and Ace.Phoenix: Awakening Form - Regeneration Domain!Within the domain, Ace felt the wounds all over his body healing at a visible rate, and his stamina, eroded by the darkness, recovered slightly.This was the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Guardian Shield of the crew!"Zehahahaha! Interesting! An awakening of the Phoenix? But how long can you hold out?"Teach's offensive became even more violent; massive dark tentacles and a torrent of sprayed debris smashed toward that small blue domain like a storm....Another part of the battlefield.Vibration Elbow!!!"Champion" Burgess let out a roar, his Haki-wrapped elbow striking Jozu's chest like a battering ram.Clang!!!Sparks flew everywhere.Diamond Jozu turned his entire body into the hardest diamond, tanking the blow head-on, though the deck beneath his feet shattered inch by inch.He let out a roar, and his massive diamond fist, carrying ten thousand tons of force, sent Burgessflying....On the other side, the swordsmanship duel had also reached a fever pitch.Rose Round Dance!"Flower Sword" Vista's twin swords traced a brilliant path, and countless rose petals carrying sword qi danced through the air, sealing off every inch of space.However, a line of blood abruptly sprayed from his back.Shiliew of the Rain's figure slowly emerged in mid-air; he licked the blood off his famous blade "raimei," a cruel smile on his face.He was like an untargetable phantom, always able to launch silent, lethal ambushes from the most tricky angles.Vista's Observation Haki was already pushed to its limit, yet several deep, bone-deep wounds still marked his body."The commanders... they're about to break..."On a ship that hadn't yet sunk in the distance, the crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates looked at the scene before them, their faces filled with despair.The strength of the Blackbeard Pirates' officers was even more terrifying than they had imagined.Moreover, there was Teach, who was like a demon god....Marco's face was already as pale as paper; maintaining the "Regeneration Domain" for so long was intensely draining his stamina.Suddenly, the blue flames on his body flickered violently, and the rotating domain stalled for a split second.An opportunity!A horrifying glint erupted in Teach's sinister eyes.He suddenly spread his five fingers, aimed at Marco below, and unleashed his strongest gravitational pull.Dark Star Core!An irresistible and terrifying suction force instantly erupted; Marco didn't even have time to react before he was pinned in mid-air, unable to move.The blue flames on his body, like a candle flickering in a gale, dimmed instantly."Marco!!!"Ace's eyes nearly split from rage as he let out a roar."Zehahahahahaha! It ends here, Fire Fist!"Teach laughed maniacally, gathering all his dark power into his right fist.Dark Emperor!He threw a punch.Time seemed to slow down countless times at this moment.Ace watched that mass of darkness, capable of destroying everything, rush toward his undefended self.There was no retreat.There was no escape.At this moment, his gaze became unexpectedly calm.Behind him was the family he needed to protect.Then, let's go down together.Ace took a deep breath, concentrating all the flames of his life, all his Haki, and all his will into a single point.A massive, golden fireball, as brilliant as the sun, slowly rose in his hand.That was his ultimate secret technique.Great Flame Commandment...Using every ounce of his strength, Ace thrust that sun—which condensed his everything—toward the darkness that swallowed all.Flame Emperor!!!