Chapter 125: Fire vs. Dragon Claw
Dawn Island - Rook's Courtyard
The evening breeze was gentle, the cooking smoke dispersed.
In the courtyard, Roy snapped his fingers. Space rippled around them.
The messy table, piled high with greasy plates, bones, and spilled soup, was swept away by an invisible wind. In the blink of an eye, everything vanished, leaving the ground spotless and only a faint scent of meat in the air.
"Whoa!" Koala gasped, nearly jumping out of her chair. "What kind of power is that?! You can even skip cleaning?! That's amazing!"
Sabo raised an eyebrow. "A spatial Devil Fruit? ...No, that level of precision is probably more than just a fruit ability."
Roy just smiled faintly, sipping his tea without a word.
Inside the house, laughter rang out. Ace and Luffy were helping Rook and Erin, the four of them looking like a perfect picture of family happiness.
Rook was directing the boys to move the cured meat into the cellar while Erin snuck candy into their pockets.
In the yard, Roy, Sabo, and Koala sat around the tea table.
Golden sunset filtered through the trees onto the table. The tea was warm, its aroma peaceful.
"Sabo," Roy said softly, tracing the rim of his cup. "Did you have a mission in the Goa Kingdom?"
Sabo put down his cup and shook his head frankly. "No special mission. Just passing through... I wanted to come back and see the land where I grew up."
Koala added, "Sabo's always thinking about this place. even though some memories are fuzzy, he says whenever he thinks of 'home,' he sees the mountain wind and smoke at dawn."
Roy hummed thoughtfully, his expression softening.
Sabo smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yeah. Stepping on this land again... there's an inexplicable familiarity."
As they talked, Sabo turned into a diligent student, asking Roy question after question.
The topic shifted to world affairs.
Sabo, eager for knowledge, couldn't hide his admiration and curiosity. "Mr. Roy, what do you make of the World Government's recent moves? The Celestial Dragons seem quiet on the surface, but there's a lot happening underneath..."
"And the New World is constantly shifting. The major powers are changing. How should the Revolutionary Army position itself?"
"Do you have any suggestions for our current organizational structure—"
Roy answered unhurriedly, his words concise but cutting to the bone, clearing the fog and pointing straight to the essence of the issues.
Koala laughed softly, watching Sabo listen so intently. "You look just like a student right now."
Sabo scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "Mr. Roy's insights are too profound. It'd be a loss not to ask when I have the chance."
Roy smiled, his gaze gentle. "The path of the Revolution is swimming upstream. But as long as the direction is right, you'll eventually reach the light."
Just then, the house door creaked open.
Ace strode out first, arms crossed, his eyes burning as he looked at Sabo. "Hey, Sabo. I heard about you from Big Bro Roy."
"The Revolutionary Army's Number 2. You must be strong—want to spar?"
Luffy bounced out behind him, punching the air. "Me too! Me too! Let's fight!"
Sabo looked at the fighting spirit in the brothers' eyes. He didn't feel offended; instead, he gave a clean, bright smile. "Sure. I could use a stretch."
Koala blinked. "You guys just ate..."
Everyone looked at Roy.
Rook and Erin came out, looking worried. "Ace, Luffy, you just got back and you're already fighting?"
Roy chuckled, reassuring them. "Don't worry. Just a friendly spar between young people. I'll watch them; nothing will go wrong."
He raised his hand.
"FWOOSH—!"
Space trembled, and a gentle but powerful energy wrapped around the five of them, vanishing from the courtyard instantly.
Dawn Island - Isolated Eastern Island
"BOOM—!!"
The air twisted violently, and five figures appeared on the sandy beach of a deserted island.
It was quiet and primitive, with only the sound of the sea and birds.
"Wh-Where is this?!" Koala looked around in shock.
Sabo narrowed his eyes, whispering in admiration, "Instant travel, just like Kuma... Spatial abilities are so convenient!"
Roy stood with his hands behind his back on the sand, smiling. "There's no one here. You can go all out."
The wind howled, kicking up sand. The air was thick with the anticipation of battle.
Sabo and Ace stood ten meters apart, their auras clashing like volcanoes. The moment their eyes met, fighting spirit ignited like fire.
Koala clutched her dress nervously, watching from behind a rock. Luffy was jumping up and down beside her. "Ace! Sabo! Go all out!"
"Hah—!"
The wind snapped, and Sabo moved first!
He was like a lightning bolt, closing the distance instantly! His hand formed a claw, fingers distorting the air, coated in Armament Haki!
"Dragon Claw Fist: Steel Crusher!"
"BOOM!!!"
The claw tore through the air, but Ace just grinned wider, his eyes blazing.
"Fire Fist: Burst!"
He punched, white-hot flames erupting like a volcano to meet the claw head-on!
The explosion was deafening. The ground cracked, dust rolled, and the blast wave blew away sand and rocks for ten meters!
Sabo's pupils shrank. He retreated like lightning as the fire pressure increased, then swung his left hand!
"Dragon's Hook!"
Five solid claw-winds cut through the dust, aiming straight for Ace's throat!
Fwoosh!
Ace flickered, turning into a stream of fire, leaving an afterimage!
The next second, he appeared behind Sabo, both fists burning with compressed blue-white flames!
"Great Flame Commandment: Twin Stars!"
"BOOM—!!!"
Two compressed fireballs blasted out with zero delay, falling like twin meteors, swallowing Sabo whole!
"Sabo—!" Koala cried out.
But the next moment, the sea of fire exploded, and a figure forced its way out!
Sabo was wrapped in jet-black Armament Haki, like a black dragon breaking through the flames, his eyes shining like torches.
He grinned, his battle lust spiking. "Nice heat, but not enough!"
He stomped the ground, shattering it, and vanished!
"BAM!"
He reappeared inches from Ace, his right claw spinning and roaring!
"Dragon's Breath: Pierce!"
This strike could punch through a steel warship!
Ace's eyes narrowed. The flames on his chest spun rapidly, forming a spiral shield of fire!
"Flame Mirror: Vortex!"
"CLANG—!!!"
Dragon Claw met Fire Shield. Sparks flew, and the air churned!
Both were knocked back five steps, but immediately charged again!
"BAM! BAM! BAM—!"
Fists and feet thundered, offense and defense flowing without a gap!
Sabo's Dragon Claw Fist was ruthless and precise, locking down movement with the force of crumbling mountains!
Ace's Fire Fist style was fluid and unpredictable, a perfect blend of heat and explosive compression, lighting up half the sky!
Both were using Observation Haki to the limit, predicting every move!
In the distance, Luffy was pumped, swinging his fists. "Woooah! I wanna fight too!!!"
Roy put a hand on Luffy's head, holding him back. "Watch and learn. This is good for you."
The battle reached a fever pitch. Dozens of rounds passed, the air growing thin!
Suddenly—
Sabo changed his stance, crossing his arms, Haki flooding into them!
"Dragon Claw: Twin Dragon Strangle!"
Two dragon-shaped claw winds dove from the sky, crossing like two dragons tearing space apart, sealing off Ace's retreat!
Ace's eyes darkened. He didn't retreat; he advanced!
He crossed his arms over his chest, compressing the fire to its limit, gathering it into a cross-shaped, blazing red sun!
"Great Flame Commandment: Cross Fire!"
"BOOOOOM—!!!!"
Twin dragons met blazing fire. The world seemed to tear apart!
The island shook, light flooding the sky, illuminating the distant horizon!
After a long time, the dust settled.
The two stood facing each other, five meters apart. Both were panting like bulls, clothes torn, but both were smiling.
Ace had a claw mark on his cheek, and his uniform was torn open at the chest, revealing three bleeding scratches.
Sabo's cravat was burnt, his right arm scorched black, skin red.
They looked at each other.
Ace grinned. "Draw?"
Sabo wiped sweat from his face, chuckling. "No, I lost."
He pointed to his scorched arm.
Ace blinked, then looked down at his own chest and laughed. "Haha! Let's call it a draw then!"
They smiled at each other and extended their right hands.
Smack!
Two scar-covered hands gripped each other firmly!
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