We will meet again!

"Whether I'm suitable or not isn't for you to decide!"

As Aokiji's hand withdrew, the Haki that was suppressing Ace's elemental transformation also dissipated. Gritting his teeth, Ace's voice trembled.

He summoned all his strength, and flames reignited, quickly bringing warmth back to his body and dispelling the cold.

With Ace's words, a massive pillar of fire erupted, melting the ice on him and temporarily forcing Aokiji back.

"I'm going to become the Pirate King! I'll take down everyone in the New World!"

As the cold dissipated, Ace's voice grew stronger.

The flames around him intensified, turning the surrounding air into a twisted, shimmering heat.

At this point, Ace dared not be careless, unleashing his full power.

The two stood off against each other again.

"In terms of Devil Fruit abilities alone, you're indeed powerful, far beyond your current bounty," Aokiji said calmly. "But that's all. Without your Devil Fruit, what else do you have?"

In the blink of an eye, Kuzan's figure disappeared and reappeared beside Ace, his right leg sweeping out mercilessly.

Boom!

The air shook. Ace's pupils contracted as he raised his right arm to block Aokiji's attack.

"Solar Flames!"

Fiery flames burst forth, enveloping Ace's arm and blocking Aokiji's kick. Aokiji, expressionless, waved his right hand, cold air gathering on his arm, and sent an ice bird charging toward Ace.

Ace, anticipating this, raised his other arm and shouted, "Mirror Flame!"

Scorching flames appeared, forming a wall of fire to block the ice bird.

The collision of the ice bird and the flame wall created a fierce explosion.

Aokiji frowned slightly, feeling the Devil Fruit's natural counter to his power.

Fire could prevent ice from forming, which was a significant countermeasure.

But such a counter was insignificant given the gap in their power.

In the next moment, Kuzan attacked again.

Boom!

A Haki-covered kick came flying.

Ace's hands, blazing with flames, blocked in front of him, but the force of the kick sent him rolling across the ground for dozens of meters before stopping.

"My elemental form didn't work! His Haki!"

Ace's thoughts raced. He had been overwhelmed in Water 7, and now he was being overwhelmed again. The Logia powers he had prided himself on seemed far from invincible.

"Compared to the complexities of the New World, you're still too inexperienced," Aokiji's voice echoed.

He was getting serious.

"Now, do you see the difference between us?"

Aokiji's voice reached Ace, whose expression was extremely grave.

At this stage, he truly had no way to contend with a Navy Admiral.

However, as Aokiji took a few steps forward, he suddenly stopped, his previously lazy expression turning serious and grave.

Ace was puzzled, quickly realizing the change wasn't due to him. He turned sharply.

Three figures had somehow appeared within his flame wall.

One of them was particularly familiar.

"Kuzan, long time no see," a rough voice echoed, as if the speaker and the Navy Admiral had a close relationship.

"Vista!"

Aokiji's eyes locked onto the intruder. "Why are you here? This isn't a place you should be."

Vista responded casually, "I'm just here to escort a friend to Fish-Man Island. Are you looking to fight me here?"

With the Flame Commandment withdrawn, the entire Spade Pirates crew heard this exchange, leaving them all in shock.

They didn't recognize this man speaking so freely to Aokiji, but Aokiji's serious expression told them he was incredibly strong, possibly on par with the Navy vice Admiral.

Vista stood calmly, but Aokiji's expression kept changing. He knew exactly what Vista represented. Even though Thunder God Nicholas had been missing for years, his former crew members were still closely monitored by the Navy, especially Vista. He might not be frequently heard of now, but Aokiji knew he was still on par with the Emperors of the sea.

"There's one more thing, Kuzan," Vista said calmly, catching Aokiji off guard.

"What is it?" Aokiji asked, eyes wary, knowing anything Vista said would be significant to the Navy.

"Tell Sengoku that our captain is Returning."

The joy in Vista's voice was unmistakable. Aokiji's mind went blank for a moment as he processed this information.

He took a deep look at Vista, Yamato, and the Fish-Man shipwright Tom, as if to engrave their images in his memory, then turned and left without hesitation.

Vista's news was too significant. Aokiji could already imagine the chaos it would cause in the already tumultuous seas. Fighting someone like Vista in the Sabaody Archipelago was out of the question.

"Finally," the Spade Pirates breathed a collective sigh of relief as Aokiji left. Ace turned to Vista and Yamato, eyes full of questions.

"Who are you? Why did you help us?"

Vista turned, his haughty gaze falling on Ace, a sudden pressure enveloping him. "Help you?"

The rough voice carried a cold indifference, making everyone tense up. "You misunderstood. I just came to greet Kuzan and pass on a message."

With that, Vista, Yamato, and Tom turned to leave. They had other people to visit on Sabaody and needed to get their ship coated for the journey to Fish-Man Island.

As Vista and his companions walked away, the Spade Pirates were left in a daze, full of questions.

"Who was that guy?" Saber asked.

" If you don't know, how are we supposed to?" Deuce replied, exasperated.

"I don't know the man, but I recognize the Fish-Man," said Wallace, the Fish-Man among the Spade Pirates.

"You recognize him?" Deuce and Saber, along with the rest of the crew, turned to Wallace.

"Yes, that's Tom, the legendary shipwright we were looking for in Water 7."

"If that Fish-Man is Master Tom, then the woman must be the one from that night, she stopped Ace and me..." Deuce seemed to piece something together.

Ace narrowed his eyes in thought but soon smiled, "It doesn't matter. As long as we're on these seas, we'll meet again. Now, let's focus on our mission!"