Chapter 222: External Brain, Online Stand-in.

"Ace,"

Although the white dove made of life paper was said to be fire and water resistant, it would still burn to ashes if the temperature was too high. So Ace had to restrain his power.

"If you don't want your brother and companions' blood to be shed in vain, and your Pops' sacrifice to become a joke, you better listen to me—"

...

"Charge!!"

"Don't let these pirates escape—"

"Eradicate all 'evil'!!"

Although Whitebeard was indeed very strong, even a hero can't fight against too many enemies. Moreover, the Marines daring to besiege Whitebeard were at least Rear Admirals, not mere ants gnawing at an elephant, but a pack of wolves devouring a tiger! Besides:Slash!

The supreme grade sword 'Murakumogiri,' wrapped in Haki and vibrations, suddenly fell! But Kizaru had already elementalized a step ahead, letting the giant naginata pass through his body, then instantly reformed, stepping on the 'Murakumogiri'! At the same time, a golden beam of light was ready to fire from his raised finger.

"Uwa!"

A fist carrying a vibrating light ball suddenly struck, it was Whitebeard who let go of the naginata with one hand! But:Crack, crack, crack—Although the air was punched into extending cracks! Kizaru in front of Whitebeard once again disappeared into light, his characteristic 'sleazy' voice coming from the side.

"Still strong in old age... so scary~~~"

Swish—Puff!

However, contrary to his words, the beam of light he shot mercilessly pierced through Whitebeard's tall body.

"Pops!!"

Facing the grim-faced Ace, the white dove beside him calmly spoke.

"Did you forget what I said so quickly?"

!!

"...I understand,"

Ace, retreating, looked up at Marco in the sky.

"Marco! Heal everyone."

?!

Marco, whose hands had turned into blue flame wings, was stunned. Although he did have a 'wide-range healing' ability, it would consume a lot of his energy. As the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, if he fell, who would..."Use that 'paper'."

With Ace's loud order, Marco's gaze fell on the white dove flying nearby and The White Knight dragging Luffy, and he understood.

The 'blood paper' Roman had sent was verified to be harmless, and half of it had already been used to replenish Whitebeard's life force, allowing the nearly exhausted Whitebeard to hold on until now. The rest was with Marco.

Unfortunately, the Whitebeard Pirates had just gotten this item, and it was quickly forgotten once the battle started..."Pineapple Gravel!"

As Marco absorbed the 'blood paper,' large masses of blue flames rained down like a meteor shower, causing the Marines to instinctively defend. However, the flames weren't aimed at them but fell on the Whitebeard Pirates!

As the Marines watched in confusion, the blue flames didn't harm them but instantly merged into the bodies of the Whitebeard Pirates, revitalizing them as if they had taken a powerful drug! Even their wounds began to heal...What?!

"He still has the energy to heal others?"

This conspicuous 'healer' on the battlefield instantly attracted hostility. A massive magma fist shot up, carrying intense heat and sticky, burning magma towards Marco in the sky.

"Phoenix Seal!"

Facing Akainu's attack, Marco's feet turned into claws and struck down! A large explosion of magma and blue flames erupted in the air, causing those below to quickly dodge.

"Marco, hold off Akainu!"

Ace, retreating under Roman's (the white dove's) command, didn't give Akainu a chance to speak. At the same time, Ace punched towards Aokiji from a distance.

"Fire Fist!"

Facing the massive fire fist, as large as a battleship, Aokiji calmly raised his hand.

"Ice Wall!"

A crystal-clear ice wall, like eternal ice, instantly blocked the massive fire fist, naturally stopping Ace's attack, but:

Sizzle~~~The intense flames scorched the ice wall, not breaking through Aokiji's defense but rapidly melting and evaporating it! The ice turned to liquid, then gas, and a massive cloud of steam spread out, like a giant smoke bomb exploding.

"Hmm? Using my ability..."

Aokiji glanced at the spreading fog. For the retreating Whitebeard Pirates, this was perfect battlefield cover! The Marine Admiral frowned.

The rumored reckless and brainless second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates had such a delicate mind? It seems the rumors were false...

If Roman knew what Aokiji was thinking, he would definitely say, 'You're overthinking it.' Because:"Ace, use the fire walls to divide the battlefield!"

Following the dove's words, Ace immediately raised his hands, and tall, crisscrossing walls of flames erupted on the battlefield, like the walls of hell rising with surging fire! In an instant, a three-dimensional maze of expanding flames formed.

These towering fire walls were not just simple flames; they contained a high-temperature field that repelled foreign objects like a "Ring of Fire."

Anything that touched them would instantly explode and be blasted away! The deeper the contact, the more intense the explosion. So trying to pass through the fire walls was not just about enduring the flames.

Ace then turned to the burly man with two rocket launchers on his back, wearing square purple-framed glasses and a brown-green striped barrel-shaped helmet: Curiel, the captain of the 10th division of the Whitebeard Pirates, and shouted.

"Curiel, signal flare!"

The weapon-laden captain immediately fired a shot into the sky, and the conspicuous signal flare caught the attention of the entire chaotic battlefield, guiding the Whitebeard Pirates who were separated by the mist and fire walls.

"It's Curiel's signal flare,"

"Great, the captains are reliable!!"

"Charge that way—"

In an instant, the Whitebeard Pirates, who knew their comrades' abilities well, unhesitatingly rushed towards the signal flare! Meanwhile, the Marines hesitated briefly in the face of the mist and fire walls.

In those few seconds of hesitation, large numbers of Whitebeard Pirates successfully retreated into the fire walls. As the Marines pursued, Ace immediately detonated the fire walls!

Boom, boom, boom, boom!!

"Oh my—"

Kizaru, retreating and flying into the air, watched the dazzling series of maneuvers that allowed the Whitebeard Pirates to escape the Marines, and couldn't help but touch his chin.

"They say the captain of Whitebeard's second division is brave but not smart, but today I see:"

"He clearly has both courage and wisdom! No wonder you want to groom him as the next 'Pirate King,' truly terrifying..."

"Gurararararara~~~"

The heavily injured Whitebeard laughed heartily—though he didn't know what had happened, a profound laugh was appropriate.

But... how did that little guy Ace learn to 'think'? Never mind:It's even better this way!

If I entrust the Whitebeard Pirates to you, I can rest easy.

"What are you all looking at, Marines,"

With a swing of the massive 'Murakumogiri,' he sent a group of Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals flying like paper dolls.

"Face me—!"

...As the Whitebeard Pirates passed through the fire maze and regrouped at the rear, the battle that seemed hopeless took a turn, making everyone look at the person responsible with newfound respect:"Captain Ace!!"

"Captain Ace, well done—"

"I told you Captain Ace is reliable..."

Luffy, hearing this, instinctively glanced at The White Knight beside him. He felt like he often heard this on his own ship..."It actually... worked?"

Facing Ace's surprise, the white dove beside him rolled its eyes.

In this world, power is concentrated in individuals, leading to all Devil Fruit users desperately developing combat skills. When they fight, it's always 'Charge with me!' Then the main force starts fighting all around, and as for strategies or formations?

Nonexistent.When in doubt, charge! If that doesn't work, charge again!

Still doesn't work? Hahaha, today is my fate, no regrets in death...They're practically a bunch of human-shaped animals!

Unaware that he had been classified as a 'beast,' Ace looked at the white dove beside him and had to admit that its intelligence was above his own.

"What do we do next?"

What to do?

Nothing!

Why haven't Blackbeard and Red-Haired shown up yet?!

Without them making the Marines cautious, as I said, how can the Whitebeard Pirates escape? Aokiji could freeze the sea, and they would have to run on two legs. Even if they all grew wings, they couldn't outfly Kizaru...

"Establish a position, cover the others boarding the ship, and then—"

Leave it to fate...

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