Cannon fodder in the New world!

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"So, he still refused to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

Sengoku tapped his fingers on the desk, frowning slightly.

Standing before his desk was Issho (Fujitora), who answered calmly, "Yes, he refused."

"Hahaha, that's definitely that kid's style," Garp, who was lounging on the sofa in Sengoku's office, laughed heartily upon hearing Fujitora's words.

"Garp, you idiot, what are you laughing about?" Sengoku shouted angrily at Garp.

"Ace is the most dazzling super rookie this year, and he's a tricky Logia type. If we let him be, who knows what kind of force he might grow into," Sengoku mused.

Suddenly, Kuzan (Aokiji), who had been napping on the sofa next to Garp, yawned and stood up. "I heard he's a Flame-Flame Fruit user? I'm interested!"

Kuzan's brief remark wiped the smile off Garp's face, who then spoke seriously. "Kuzan, is it really necessary for you to deal with a rookie like Ace?"

Since the Ohara incident, Garp found it increasingly hard to read Kuzan. Once a spirited youth whose emotions were easily read, Kuzan now seemed wrapped in an impenetrable layer of ice, much like his Devil Fruit power, making his thoughts elusive.

Kuzan waved dismissively as he put on his eye mask. "Garp, you can't say that. If he decided to become a pirate, it doesn't matter who deals with him. Besides, he's a Logia user, and not just anyone can handle that. Leave it to me."

Sengoku, with a serious expression, looked at Kuzan. "Alright then, Kuzan, you handle this. Since he refused the Warlord offer, he must be prepared for the consequences. Capturing him early would be good. If we let him grow unchecked, he'll become an even bigger problem."

Sengoku glanced at Garp while saying this, his final words directed at him, hinting at the World Government's stance during the previous attempt to abolish the Warlords system.

Seeing that Garp had no strong reaction, Sengoku waved Kuzan off. "Go, Kuzan."

"Yes," Kuzan replied and left.

…

Half a month later, on the Sabaody Archipelago:

Ace and his crew were wandering the streets, having just arrived and needing some relaxation while their ship underwent coating.

Suddenly, Ace stopped abruptly and turned his head to look at the base of a nearby tree.

Under the tree, a figure was leaning against it.

"I've been waiting for you, Fire Fist Ace," came a lazy voice.

"Vice Admiral Aokiji?" Ace said, his tone serious.

Seeing Aokiji, Deuce fell silent, feeling overwhelmed. Having just encountered Fujitora, now facing Aokiji, he feared the next would be Fleet Admiral Sengoku or another top admiral.

"Damn, we hit the jackpot," Deuce muttered.

"What are you afraid of? We are the Spade Pirates! Our captain is Fire Fist Ace!" a crew member shouted.

"That's Vice Admiral Aokiji, one of the three great Vice Admirals!" another replied, clearly anxious.

Ace and Deuce remained vigilant, knowing this opponent was no ordinary foe and a single mistake could spell doom for the entire crew.

As Aokiji approached, the surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

Ace's expression changed at the sudden cold, recalling the tall, shapely woman he had encountered in Water 7.

Feeling the change in the environment, flames began to ignite on parts of Ace's body.

As the flames burned, the temperature rose, making the crew feel more at ease despite the enormous pressure Aokiji's presence exerted.

Aokiji lazily observed the flames on Ace's body, seemingly unsurprised. "So, your power counteracts mine," he said indifferently.

He stepped forward, the oppressive aura of a top-tier marine crushing down on the Spade Pirates, causing their faces to turn pale.

With the sound of ice spreading, a crew member's feet were suddenly frozen, his expression panicked.

"Ace!" Deuce shouted.

Ace's expression shifted, and he yelled, "Everyone back off! Mirror Flame!"

Flames erupted from his body, forming a wall of fire that clashed with the encroaching ice.

"Flame Commandment!" Ace used his powers again, engulfing himself and Aokiji in a sea of flames once his crew had retreated to a safe distance.

"Oh, protecting your comrades? Pirate? Such actions are futile before me," Kuzan said, looking at the fiery barrier, his body exuding a cold aura.

Sizzling sounds filled the air.

The ice instantly evaporated, and the collision between ice and fire created a massive white mist that spread wildly around them. Soon, the cold airflow passed through the mist, condensing the water molecules within and causing snow to fall in this peculiar scene.

"Ace can't possibly be a match for him!"

"That's Admiral Aokiji!"

"We need to think of something; Ace might not hold out for long."

Deuce and the others watched the wall of flames with tense expressions. They acknowledged Ace's strength, but no one believed he could defeat Aokiji. Moreover, they couldn't intervene in the fight between the two.

The destructive power and vast range of the battle between Logia-type Devil Fruit users were beyond ordinary imagination, making it impossible for regular people to get close. Ordinary people could only retreat from such a scene, as being caught in the middle would mean certain death. The battle between Logia users was akin to a natural disaster.

"Cross Fire!"

From within the battle, Ace's low roar could be heard. His scorching aura boiled and continuously spread outward.

Aokiji stood calmly, the blazing flames seeming insignificant in his presence.

"At such a young age, possessing such power..."

"It's a pity you're a pirate."

Ace heard this and his eyes flickered. "If I don't become a pirate, should I serve the World Government like a loyal dog? If you marines had the courage to stand up against the corrupt officials instead of supporting them, what would be wrong with being a marine?"

With that, Ace took a fierce step forward, clenched his fist, and the flames on his fist swirled, growing rapidly into a fiery punch.

"Fire Fist!"

With a roar, Ace's fiery punch shot towards Aokiji.

Facing the oncoming fire fist, Aokiji raised his hand, and a surge of Haki enveloped his palm, effortlessly blocking the attack.

"What a naive fellow. Since you've chosen this path, are you prepared for the consequences?"

As the fire fist was blocked, a chilling presence suddenly emerged from behind Ace, and a large hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"When did he...!"

At that moment, Ace felt a chill run down his spine; Aokiji's speed was far beyond his reaction time.

"Flame—"

"Ka-cha-cha!"

Before Ace could finish speaking, the freezing aura had already enveloped his shoulder. The unusual sensation on his shoulder interrupted his elemental transformation.

In mere moments, Ace's shoulder, entire arm, and body were encased in ice.

At this moment, Ace finally realized the vast difference between himself and one of the world's strongest forces. They were not on the same level.

His bounty might be high in the first half of the Grand Line, but his opponent was one of the world's top fighters, incomparable in strength.

As the ice rapidly spread, Ace struggled to breathe, feeling a suffocating chill.

Unable to use his elemental form, even the air he breathed felt frigid.

As a Flame-Flame Fruit user, Ace was actually feeling cold.

Previously, Ace believed that even if he couldn't defeat his opponent, it wouldn't be easy for the opponent to defeat him. Despite ice and fire countering each other, he thought fire had the advantage. But now he knew he was too naive.

"Haki, combat experience, physical strength... you're lacking in all these areas. With your current power, even as a Logia user, entering the New World would only make you cannon fodder. In the New World, strong Haki users are as common as carp in the river; Logia doesn't mean invincibility."

As Ace was completely frozen, Aokiji's voice slowly came through.