#1484 - Chapter 1494: The Battle of Marineford

Akainu struggled to suppress the upward curve of his lips, but the undisguised contempt still seeped from his eyes and expression. He fixed his gaze upon Ace with a seemingly calm, yet profoundly sarcastic tone, and slowly began to speak.

Ace, upon hearing these words, did not offer a single reply. He merely silently began to move his feet, approaching Akainu step by step.

As he advanced, the flames around him intensified as if ignited by a powder keg, growing ever more turbulent. The temperature climbed rapidly, and with each step, the flames became more savage and ferocious, like wild beasts unleashed from their cages.

Seeing Ace gradually approach, Akainu showed no fear. Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a disdainful smile, seemingly unconcerned with Ace's fury.

He continued to provoke Ace with cutting words: "Think about it carefully, 'Fire Fist' Ace. Aren't you just a pathetic fool? You spend your days with a bunch of second-rate nobodies, and you even let them call that Whitebeard geezer 'Pops.' It's nothing more than a childish game of make-believe!"

Akainu sneered mockingly.

"Shut your mouth!" Ace finally lost control of his inner rage, roaring out with a voice like the biting wind of a frozen winter, sending a chill down one's spine.

However, Akainu completely disregarded Ace's rebuke, continuing to speak as if he hadn't heard a thing: "So many years have passed, and even if you strut around on these seas, what have you accomplished? In the end, you couldn't even manage to become king, achieving absolutely nothing! Even more laughable, in the end, you were betrayed by your own biological son, and that foolish old man brought tens of thousands of his men here to die in vain just to save your worthless hide. Truly a hollow, tedious, and utterly tragic farce of a life!"

Ace's steps did not falter in the slightest. He clenched his teeth, his eyes fixed intently on Akainu, the flames around him dancing wildly like a roaring fire dragon, directly engulfing Akainu.

"Shut up!" Ace's eyes widened in fury, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared again.

These two words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying boundless rage and authority.

"Ace, don't fall for it! Come back!" Marco shouted from afar, his voice hoarse with anxiety.

His eyes were wide with concern, wishing he could immediately rush over and pull Ace back to safety.

However, Ace seemed deaf to his words, his head lowered, his face as dark as the sky before a storm.

He clenched his teeth, not uttering a single word, but his tightly clenched fists and slightly trembling body revealed the surging rage he was suppressing within.

"Pops gave us the motivation and courage to live on. How could someone like you ever understand the greatness of Pops?" Ace suddenly raised his head, looking directly at Akainu and roaring loudly.

Accompanying his words, the flames that had been burning fiercely around him instantly surged again, the intense heat causing the surrounding air to distort and warp.

"Hmph, a person who doesn't walk the righteous path is worthless. You useless pirates are nothing but scum of society. There's no need for you to continue living in this world!" Akainu smiled coldly, his face full of disdainful mockery.

At the same time, he slowly raised his right arm, which instantly transformed into flowing magma, emitting a terrifying heat and aura.

"Shut up!" Ace could no longer contain the anger in his heart. He roared to the heavens, his entire body trembling involuntarily due to extreme rage.

"Whitebeard died as a loser, which is perfectly fitting. A useless, garbage manager like him was destined to end with such a tragic ending!" Akainu completely ignored Ace's scolding, continuing to ramble on.

"Silence! Whitebeard created this era! No one is allowed to insult my Pops!" Ace finally reached his breaking point. He suddenly raised both fists, his eyes flashing with a resolute light.

"This era is called -- Whitebeard!" As Ace's roar echoed through the heavens, his figure flashed, rushing towards Akainu like a bolt of lightning, and throwing a punch filled with endless grief and power.

At that moment, Akainu unhesitatingly swung his right arm, his right fist slamming out with surging power.

At the same time, Ace's eyes widened in fury, and he let out a violent shout, similarly meeting the attack with his right fist.

In an instant, the two massive fists collided violently in the air, one burning with raging flames, the other flowing with scorching magma.

"Hmph, whether it's that old Whitebeard geezer or you utterly foolish idiots who call him Pops, you're all losers!" Akainu stared intently at Ace, a cold, ruthless smile on his face, and coldly mocked.

The scalding magma, like a ferocious beast, instantly opened its bloody maw and devoured the fiery fist without mercy.

The powerful impact surged towards Ace like an avalanche, sending his entire body flying backward.

While airborne, Ace clutched his injured right arm tightly, his face contorted in pain, emitting a miserable howl.

Then, his body fell rapidly like a kite with a cut string, eventually crashing heavily onto the hard ground, raising a cloud of dust.

With just this one punch, the terrifying strength displayed by Akainu completely deprived Ace of his ability to resist.

At this moment, Ace lay on the ground, unable to move even a fraction, and his body was covered in large, shocking burn marks.

Upon hearing these words, Ace's body trembled involuntarily, as if a powerful force was raging within him, wanting to break free and erupt.

However, the pain in his body made it difficult for him to react.