"Let go of Carol, you bastard!"
Suddenly, an angry voice echoed behind Ace. He turned his head sharply and spotted a blazing figure streaking through the air like a comet — a sun elf larger than the rest, cloaked in searing flames.
"It's Lord Karkus!"
"Yes! The Sun Knight is here!"
"Now that Lord Karkus has arrived, this human doesn't stand a chance!"
The surrounding sun elves cheered with unrestrained relief and excitement. Their confidence surged the moment this newcomer appeared — as if his presence alone guaranteed victory over Ace.
This sun elf, named Karkus, was significantly larger than the average member of his kind. While most sun elves stood around 16 to 17 centimeters tall, he towered over them at nearly 27 centimeters. His entire body radiated intense heat, and he held a dark, flame-wreathed knight's lance in hand. Without hesitation, he charged at Ace, thrusting his weapon forward with devastating force.
"Sun Lance Thrust!"
Ace's eyes narrowed. Without activating his Logia abilities, he raised his arm, letting it be coated in black — Armament Haki.
Clang!
The lance clashed against Ace's Haki-covered forearm, sending a wave of scorching wind that blew the nearby elves off course.
"As expected… even among these tiny warriors, some can wield Haki," Ace muttered, eyes sharp as he stared at the charging sun elf.
"Human, release Carol at once!" Karkus growled, his lance still pointed at Ace.
Ace grinned. "If you're demanding names, shouldn't you offer yours first?"
The flaming knight paused, spear steady. "Alexander Karkus, Sun Knight of the Solar Grove and warrior of the Sun Elf Tribe!" he declared with pride. "Now, identify yourself!"
"Portgas D. Ace. Pirate."
At the word "pirate," Karkus's expression darkened. "A pirate…" he sneered, and then, with a sudden flap of his wings, he vanished in a burst of speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their weapons clashed repeatedly. Ace held his ground, countering every blow with precision, armed only with his fists and Haki. Though tiny, Karkus's strength and agility were remarkable. His Haki was refined, aggressive, and tightly controlled. Despite the enormous size difference, he held his own.
"Spinning Flame Thrust!"
The flames around Karkus's lance flared into a swirling vortex. He twirled the weapon with deadly grace, forming a blazing spiral and lunged straight for Ace's chest.
Ace responded with a grin.
"Armament — Fire Fist!"
A massive flaming punch engulfed in Haki met the spinning thrust.
Boom!
The blast of fire and Haki ignited the air itself, thunderous from the sheer force of their collision. Sparks of static crackled around them as flame clashed with flame.
But Karkus wasn't finished.
He flared his wings and vanished again.
"Sun Flash Thrust!"
A concentrated burst of sunlight beamed from the tip of Karkus's lance, dazzling and fast — a piercing attack accelerated by his flight.
Ace's right palm surged with Haki. He didn't dodge.
"Armament — Sky God Strike!"
Ace compressed his Haki and released it like a shockwave from his palm — not through contact, but through projection. The invisible force blasted the lance aside and struck Karkus directly in the chest, launching him through the flaming forest canopy and sending a shockwave through the entire grove.
It was the most advanced form of Armament Haki — Emission. Ace had begun mastering the technique Rayleigh once demonstrated: projecting Haki without contact, turning defense into explosive offense.
Though his version was crude, the Sky God Strike had undeniable force.
"Lord Karkus!"
The sun elves panicked. Seeing their strongest warrior launched into the distance, they collectively charged at Ace, rage and fear igniting their flames.
But it was already too late.
Buzz!
Ace exhaled.
BOOM!
An invisible wave of will burst from his body.
Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, the sky buzzed with invisible pressure. The sun elves mid-flight froze, then collapsed like falling stars, unconscious before hitting the ground.
Even Karkus, barely recovering, froze mid-air. That overwhelming aura… was this man also a Conqueror?
"You… what did you do to my people?!" Karkus roared, finally stabilizing himself midair, his face pale with fury.
He charged again.
Ace, calm and smiling, raised his left hand.
"Wait."
Karkus halted instantly.
Because in that raised hand… Carol still floated, squirming lightly, gripped by Ace.
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