"It's T. Bone, the 'Ship Cutter'!"
"He's so powerful, he can even slice through flames!"
"It's reassuring to have Colonel T. Bone here."
"With Colonel T. Bone leading us, what fear do we have of Devil Fruit users? Follow the colonel—charge!"
The arrival of T. Bone immediately boosted the morale of all the Marine soldiers. They rallied behind him and charged toward Ace with renewed confidence.
"Oh?" Ace saw the man charging toward him without fear. He tipped his hat with a smirk and said, "Now that's a man with backbone."
He remembered this Marine. In the original events, T. Bone had appeared during the Enies Lobby arc when Luffy and the Straw Hats took the Sea Train to rescue Nico Robin. Despite his horror-movie-like face, T. Bone was a kind man who deeply cared for his subordinates. Although he was defeated by Zoro during the Sea Train journey, his spirit was commendable.
"Are you the enemy? What a young man!"
"But criminals must be captured. It's time to wake up, young one!"
T. Bone charged through Ace's wall of fire. Upon seeing Ace, he looked briefly surprised, but quickly refocused. Drawing his massive sword, he unleashed a powerful slash.
"Right-Angle Slash—T. Bone's Air Cutter!"
The brilliant slash tore through the air like a flash of light, carrying a deadly edge as it slashed straight toward Ace.
"Fire Fist!"
Ace launched a blazing punch, the flames condensing into the form of a massive fiery fist to meet the slash head-on.
BOOM!
The Fire Fist shattered the slash, then continued its path straight toward T. Bone.
The Marine colonel met it with his blade, slicing through the fire with a loud crack before leaping into the air and unleashing another technique.
"A man's slash must fly straight—even when it turns!"
"Rectangular Bird—T. Bone Cutter!"
His slash descended from above like a giant bird and then made a sudden 90-degree turn in midair, slashing at Ace like a predator diving at its prey.
"Armament!" Ace raised his right hand, coating it with invisible Busoshoku Haki. He met the incoming slash head-on with another punch.
Ace respected this kind of straightforward warrior. Dodging such an attack would be an insult. Only a direct counterattack was worthy.
BANG!
Ace's Haki-infused punch shattered T. Bone's slash with overwhelming power.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Ace appeared in front of T. Bone mid-air, his Haki-covered fist striking the Marine colonel directly in the chest.
CRASH!
T. Bone was launched high into the air, then came crashing down in front of the gathered Marines, unconscious.
Though a respected Marine Headquarters colonel, T. Bone simply wasn't a match for Ace—especially after Ace's year of training on Sky Island. He was defeated instantly.
The morale of the Marines—so recently boosted by T. Bone's presence—collapsed again in an instant, replaced by fear.
---
"Captain Ace!"
At that moment, Trafalgar Law emerged from the warehouse, holding a record pointer in his hand.
"We've found what we came for. Time to move," he said calmly.
"Got it."
Ace moved to Law's side, grabbed him by the shoulder, and partially turned into flames as he lifted them into the sky.
---
"Ace!!"
Just as the two were about to take off, a loud, gravelly voice boomed through the air. The next second, a large man wearing a dog-headed hat appeared beside Ace out of nowhere, his massive fist swinging toward Ace's head.
"BANG!"
The surprise punch landed before Ace could react, slamming him and Law out of the air and crashing them to the ground.
"Ow!"
Ace sat up, rubbing his head and wincing in pain. Law, beside him, was stunned.
He stared at Ace's scorched head in disbelief.
"Captain... you're a Logia user. How did you get hit?"
"The Fist of Love... can't be dodged," said the new arrival, removing his dog-head hat to reveal a broad, weathered face with a wide grin.
"Ace, you really made it hard for me to find you."
"It's him!"
Law's eyes widened in shock, cold sweat forming on his brow as he whispered:
"The Marine Hero... Monkey D. Garp!"
"Old man! Why the hell are you here?!" Ace shouted, still rubbing the growing lump on his head.
"I'm a Vice Admiral. Why wouldn't I be at a Marine base?" Garp replied, casually picking his nose. "More importantly, you haven't even greeted your dear grandpa after so long."
"Grandpa... Grandpa?!"
Law, who was about to shout for Ace to run, froze in place when he heard Garp's words. He turned between Ace and Garp in shock, eyes bulging.
He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
His captain... was the grandson of the legendary Marine Hero?!
At this moment, Law wanted to grab Ace by the collar and scream:
"You had that kind of connection, and you still became a pirate?! Wouldn't it have been easier to just join the Marines?!"
But he wasn't the only one in shock.
The commanding officer of the A3 Base and all the Marines accompanying Garp stood frozen. Compared to Law, their brains had already short-circuited.
---
"How the hell was I supposed to know an old fossil like you would show up here?!" Ace retorted angrily.
"You called your loving grandpa a fossil? You ungrateful brat!" Garp bellowed, landing another fist square on Ace's head.
"AAARGH!! THAT HURT, YOU STINKY OLD MAN!"
Despite having prepared for the second punch with his Busoshoku Haki, Ace was still floored. His armament was completely overwhelmed.
He was stunned.
Even Rayleigh would struggle to break through his current defense so easily—yet Garp did it like it was nothing.
That's how terrifying Garp's Armament Haki was.
---
"Ace, do you know how much trouble you caused a year ago? You almost beat a Celestial Dragon to death!" Garp grabbed Ace by the collar and lifted him up, scolding fiercely.
But then, his tone suddenly changed.
He gave Ace a thumbs-up and grinned.
"But you almost beat that Celestial Dragon scum to death... Just as expected of my grandson! Hahahahaha!"
The scene turned silent.
All the nearby Marines were petrified, jaws dropped.
Garp noticed the silence and turned to the crowd.
"Ah, you're all here... Then, uh—just pretend I didn't say that."
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