Yet, to Gin's surprise, Ace didn't stop; he charged straight through the flames!
"What?!"
Ace emerged from the fire with his claws aimed at Gin's throat.
Caught off guard, Gin barely dodged in time.
"Flame Ring: Fire Pillar!"
Boom!
The scorching heat distorted the air, and the explosion cracked the ground, charring it black.
Ace, relentless in his attacks, pressed on.
But he was forced back.
"Tch... What a troublesome guy."
Seeing that Ace was only a little embarrassed but not burned, Gin couldn't help but look down.
"Facing a Mythical Zoan fruit user like you who can also control fire, it's really a pain in the ass."
Ace's never-before-seen Mythical Zoan fruit significantly weakened Gin's Flame-Flame Fruit powers.
To some extent, they countered each other.
"Yeah? Well, same to you."
Ace wasted no time.
With an unyielding spirit, he charged forward again.
Against the Flame-Flame Fruit user, his own flame-enhanced attacks had also lost their edge.
Whoosh!
He moved with incredible speed.
In an instant, he was right in front of Gin, and his sharp claws, wrapped in Armament Haki and blazing with fire, slashed forward like lightning.
"Flaming Claw!!"
Clang!
Suddenly, sparks flew, and Ace's vision blurred.
A jet-black tonfa suddenly cut through the air, and it firmly blocked his fiery claws.
Bang!!
At the same time, caught off guard, Ace was struck by another tonfa, and it slammed into his abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Ace's face was distorted, his eyes bulged, and he vomited blood.
Nearly losing consciousness, Ace gritted his teeth through and barely dodged Gin's sweeping right kick.
Then he retreats violently, creating distance between them.
"What!?"
In Gin's hands, at some point, each held a tonfa.
"In that case, I'll have to get a little rough..."
Spinning the tonfa effortlessly, he heated them with intense flames, turning them scorching red-hot.
Then, a sinister grin spread across Gin's face as he stared at Ace. "You should feel honored. Very few people have ever forced me to use a weapon!"
He wasn't one of those weaklings who relied solely on Devil Fruit powers.
Since joining the Netherworld Pirate, he had never neglected his physical training and Haki mastery.
His most proficient weapon, this tonfa, had never been abandoned.
It was just that few had ever pushed him to the point of using it.
"Ace!
"Captain!!"
At the sea, the crew members of the Spade Pirates, watching Ace struggle, were filled with shock and fear.
"Stay back!!"
Ace gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly; his expression was fierce and determined.
Like a swift panther, he charged straight at Gin. "I won't lose!!"
Bang!!
Two figures clashed continuously.
Claws and tonfa collided with overwhelming force.
Their battle was so intense and fast-paced that it was impossible to follow.
But the fight didn't remain evenly matched for long.
Soon, the outcome was decided.
Bang!!
"Ughhh...!!"
In an instant, Ace made a critical mistake, leaving an opening for Gin.
A red-hot, Armament Haki-infused tonfa struck him square in the chest.
Blood spewed from his mouth as he was sent flying.
His abdomen was burned raw, and flesh scorched beyond recognition.
It was a gruesome sight.
"Shave!!"
Without giving Ace a chance to counter, Gin's foot slammed into the ground, launching him forward at lightning speed.
In an instant, he was right in front of the fallen Ace, who was a bit dazed.
Whoosh!
His left knee pressed against Ace's throat while his right foot pinned down Ace's right wrist.
At the same time, one burning-hot tonfa firmly restrained Ace's left arm.
And the other, radiating intense flames, hovered directly over Ace's forehead.
With ruthless efficiency, Gin had completely subdued Ace to the point that he couldn't even move.
"Don't struggle!!"
Looking down at the defiant Ace, still trying to resist, Gin coldly warned him.
If Ace made even the slightest movement, the scalding-hot tip of the tonfa would instantly brand his forehead.
"Sizzle..."
"Ace!"
"Captain!"
Less than half an hour after the fierce but one-sided battle began, the Spade Pirates, who had bravely rushed back ashore to rescue their captain after witnessing Ace's defeat, were all captured.
They were tightly bound and taken aboard the pirate ship, which slowly sailed deeper into the vast ocean.
"Apologies, but I'm afraid I had to be a little rough."
Gin smiled slightly as he spoke, but there was no hint of apology in his tone.
He looked at Ace, who was now restrained with Sea Prism Stone handcuffs.
His injuries had been hastily treated by the ship's doctor, and his entire body was wrapped in bandages. Despite his battered state, Ace glared at Gin with eyes that burned with fury.
Clank…
"Damn it..."
The Sea Prism Stone cuffs rattled as Ace struggled, his face contorted in frustration. He gritted his teeth and shouted: "Where are my crewmates? What have you done to them?"
"Your target is me; it's none of their business. Don't hurt them!'
His voice was filled with urgency. The thought of harm befalling his loyal crewmates, who had fought alongside him day and night, made his heart pound with anxiety.
"No need to worry."
Gin said casually while sitting in a chair nearby. "Your crew... Well, they took a bit of a beating, but they're fine."
"They're just prisoners now. Other than losing their freedom, they're being well-fed and treated decently."
"You should consider yourself lucky. My captain sees value in you. If it weren't for that, the outcome would've been very different."
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