Blackbeard’s Gambit

The sea trembled under the weight of two overwhelming forces as Ace and Blackbeard stood opposite each other. The blazing heat of Ace's Mera Mera no Mi clashed violently with the oppressive darkness of Blackbeard's Yami Yami no Mi. Sparks of fire and tendrils of darkness intertwined, creating a storm of energy that whipped the surrounding air into a frenzy.

"You think you can stop me now, Teach?" Ace's voice was fierce, his fists ablaze with fire. "I've been waiting for this. I won't let you take me or my brothers ever again!"

Blackbeard's grin was wide and sinister, his massive frame hunched as he reveled in the chaos. "Zehahahaha! You've got guts, Ace, but you should've stayed dead. I've got power you can't even imagine now!"

As Blackbeard spoke, the swirling darkness around him intensified, expanding outward and swallowing the light. The sheer force of his presence sent shockwaves through the water, causing the Marine ships nearby to sway violently. His control over the Gura Gura no Mi, Whitebeard's quake powers, only made him more dangerous.

Ace, however, was undeterred. His flames crackled like a living beast, roaring in response to Blackbeard's power. He had spent his entire life struggling with his identity as the son of Gol D. Roger, but now he had embraced it. He wouldn't run from his past or his enemies anymore.

With a sharp cry, Ace thrust his hand forward, summoning a torrent of fire that rushed toward Blackbeard in a devastating wave. "Hiken!"

The massive fire fist roared through the air, the heat so intense that it scorched the very sea below. But Blackbeard only laughed as he stretched out his arm, unleashing a wave of darkness that swallowed the flames whole.

"Zehahaha! You can't beat my darkness, Ace. It's the ultimate power—everything is drawn into it, just like you will be!" Blackbeard sneered, his eyes glowing with malice as the darkness surged forward, reaching for Ace.

But Ace wasn't backing down. His body erupted into a flaming whirlwind as he dodged Blackbeard's attack, leaping into the air and launching another barrage of fireballs. "You think I'm scared of the dark? I'll burn right through it!"

The sky above the battlefield lit up with the intensity of the battle. The flames of the Mera Mera no Mi illuminated the dark clouds, while Blackbeard's Yami Yami no Mi seemed to make the very air heavier, oppressive. Every strike between the two echoed across the sea, a clash of pure elemental power.

Watching from the Thousand Sunny, Luffy's fists clenched tightly, his eyes locked on the fight. He could feel the tension in his gut, but he also knew he had to trust Ace. This was his brother's fight, and Luffy couldn't interfere—not yet.

"Stay focused, Ace!" Luffy shouted, his voice filled with determination.

"You better burn that bastard to a crisp!" Zoro added from beside Luffy, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Even the normally calm swordsman couldn't help but feel the intensity of the battle.

On the opposite side of the battlefield, Sabo stood watching, his eyes narrowed. His Mera Mera no Mi powers pulsed within him, as if responding to Ace's flames. Sabo knew the weight of this fight; it was not just about strength, but about closure. Ace had to settle this.

As the flames and darkness collided, Blackbeard suddenly shifted his stance, his massive arm pulling back before slamming forward, creating a quake that rippled through the air. The very atmosphere seemed to crack as the shockwave tore through Ace's flames, shattering them and sending Ace flying backward.

Ace crashed into the water, steam rising as his flames sizzled against the cold sea. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself back up, his body drenched and trembling, but his fire still burned. He wasn't done yet.

"Come on, Ace!" Sabo muttered under his breath, his hands clenched tightly. He knew how dangerous Blackbeard was now, but he had faith in his brother.

Blackbeard's laughter filled the battlefield once again as he towered over Ace, his body practically radiating with darkness. "You should've stayed down, fire boy. You can't beat me. Not when I've got both the darkness and the power of Whitebeard's quakes!"

With a roar, Blackbeard thrust both hands forward, creating a massive quake that cracked the very sea. The force of the attack sent waves crashing in all directions, and the sky itself seemed to ripple under the strain.

Ace barely had time to react as the ground beneath him split apart, but his fire burned hotter, and he leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the devastating quake.

"I'm not done yet, Teach!" Ace shouted, his body igniting once more. He pulled his arms back, gathering all of his strength into one final attack. His flames roared to life, hotter than ever before, swirling around him in a burning cyclone.

"Dai Enkai... Entei!" Ace roared as he launched a massive ball of fire—the size of a small island—toward Blackbeard. The heat was intense, and even the air around the battlefield shimmered as the fireball hurtled toward its target.

Blackbeard's eyes widened at the sheer scale of the attack, but his grin never faltered. With a roar of his own, he slammed his fists together, sending out a wave of darkness and quakes that surged toward Ace's attack.

The two forces collided in midair, the fireball crashing into the wave of darkness and quakes. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, and then there was an explosion of energy. Fire and darkness exploded outward, the sheer force of the blast sending shockwaves through the sea.

Ace was thrown back by the blast, his body skidding across the water before he came to a stop, breathing heavily. His flames flickered, but they didn't go out.

Blackbeard staggered as well, his body shaking from the impact of the explosion. He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, but his dark grin remained. "You've got some fight in you, Ace... but it's not enough. You can't beat me. I'm the future Pirate King!"

Ace struggled to his feet, his body trembling from the effort, but his determination was unwavering. "I'm not fighting for a throne, Teach. I'm fighting for my brothers, for my family."

At those words, Luffy's heart swelled with pride, and Sabo's eyes softened. Ace was fighting not just for himself but for all of them.

Blackbeard, however, wasn't moved by Ace's words. "Zehahaha! That's where you're wrong, Ace. The Pirate King's throne is all that matters!"

Before Blackbeard could launch another attack, a sudden blast of wind and force erupted from the sky, and the battlefield seemed to pause. All eyes turned to the sky as the sound of approaching ships filled the air.

Sabo's eyes widened in surprise. "The Revolutionary Army..."

From the clouds, a fleet of Revolutionary ships descended, led by Dragon, the infamous leader of the Revolutionaries—and Luffy's father. The ships' cannons were aimed squarely at Blackbeard and his crew.

"Ace," Sabo said with a small smile, "looks like we've got backup."

Blackbeard's grin faltered for the first time as he looked up at the descending ships. "Damn... the Revolutionaries."

As Dragon's ships prepared to open fire, Luffy and Sabo rushed to Ace's side, helping their brother to his feet. The fight wasn't over yet, but with the arrival of the Revolutionary Army, the tides had shifted.

"Let's finish this, together," Luffy said, his voice full of determination.

Ace nodded, his flames rekindling as he prepared for the final showdown with Blackbeard. The brothers were ready to face whatever came next, together.