One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 144 was instantly killed!

The Spade Pirates' challenge to the Whitebeard Pirates had caused quite a stir. It wasn't that Ace was being reckless; it was just that a month had passed, and there was still no news of the Whitebeard Pirates at sea.

Ace couldn't find anyone, so he asked around everywhere. Eventually, the word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, until everyone knew that Ace was going to challenge Whitebeard.

Yu learned about this from Law; he had just reunited with her and casually mentioned it to her. Law didn't think Ace was overestimating himself, because Law's goal was also one of the Four Emperors, but not Whitebeard.

He wants to fight against Kaido of the Beasts.

“Nesan, is he your other brother?” Luo’s spotted fur brim covered his eyes, and no one knew what his emotions were.

Yu nodded. "There's another one named Luffy, but he'll be setting sail later." Wow, I wonder what will happen when these three meet. I'm kind of looking forward to it.

"Hey Luo Bao, why are your dark circles even worse again?"

I tugged at Luo's hat and saw the dark circles under his eyes. This kid seems to have had dark circles on his eyes since the first time I met him. Does his cunning nature show through his dark circles?

"Nai-san, you talk too much." I don't want to answer this question.

He's had these dark circles under his eyes since he was little, and so have his eyes. My parents mentioned it many times back then, and my younger sister, when she was just old enough to understand, would cry whenever she saw him because she wanted a drink.

Nesang, on the other hand, is getting more and more fond of picking on him now.

Yu glanced at it and continued, "DEATH? Why do you have another tattoo on your hand?"

To be honest, I'm quite disgusted. That look in his eyes already had a slightly mischievous feel to it, and now he has tattoos not only on his chest and back, but also on his hands, which are the easiest places for people to see.

Sigh, Luo Bao really doesn't seem like a good doctor at all.

"The captain said he's the surgeon of death!" Bepo suddenly appeared out of nowhere and explained with a rather smug air.

"Bepo!"

"…sorry."

When it comes to admitting mistakes, Bepo always manages to break records.

Yu pinched Bepo's ear and hugged him to play. "Isn't Bepo a little chubby? He's even cuter now!"

Unlike her aloof and scheming younger brother, she is hypocritical and incredibly arrogant.

"Ignore Luo Bao, she clearly likes you a lot, but she still yells at you."

Upon hearing this, Luo's body stiffened, and he unconsciously lowered the brim of his hat.

Yu looked at him and found it hilarious. "It's a good thing you don't like children, otherwise they would all run away and stay far away from you."

"The only things in the world that should not be missed are cute pets and cute babies. It's a pity if you can't enjoy the cuteness of these two."

He snorted coldly, not taking Yu's words seriously. Having Bepo, the polar bear, was enough; they wouldn't even encounter many other cute kids or pets, let alone other adorable children. What was there to waste?

Luo never expected that for a long time to come, he would be trying to reduce his sense of oppression and increase his approachability.

……

Ace didn't get to see Whitebeard, but instead encountered Jinbe, the knight-errant who had once been indebted to the Whitebeard Pirates.

Fish-men and merfolk have long suffered from racial discrimination, and one of the reasons for becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was to better protect them. Although the Whitebeard Pirates occupied Fish-Man Island, they also prevented the island from being invaded.

Jinbe could not stand idly by in the face of Ace's provocation.

Fire and water seem inherently incompatible, yet they are also mutually reinforcing and restraining. The duel between Ace and Jinbe lasted for five days and five nights, with neither giving an inch.

On the sixth day, both men were covered in wounds and exhausted. Finally, during a moment of respite after the attack, they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The two were on the island's edge. The collision of water and fire caused the water content in the air to rise, and the thick fog made it impossible to see what the sea looked like for a moment.

Deus and the crew stood behind Ace, and when they saw Ace fall, they prepared to go forward and treat him.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore came from the water, followed by a muffled thud, and a dark figure appeared in the mist. It seemed someone was approaching them.

Ace was exhausted, but at this moment his Observation Haki sensed a powerful aura. The appearance of this aura suddenly gave his tired body the urge to stand up.

"So it's you who's been clamoring to challenge me?"

A steady, powerful voice pierced through the mist and reached Ace's ears. Ace trembled as he raised his head, trying to see the figure in the mist.

Some people are so powerful that they not only inspire awe, but also cause the world to change dramatically.

As the mist dissipated, the sea appeared, revealing a tall figure wielding a sword as long as himself. The pirate ship behind him, though resembling a harmless whale, sent shivers down one's spine.

Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man, and his pirate ship, the Moby Dick.

Ace's goal was right in front of him. His fatigue was swept away by excitement and exhilaration, and a broad smile appeared on his face. "It's finally here. I thought the strongest man was a coward."

The white-bearded man looked down at the young man before him, arrogant and unruly, a rising star, but one that burned with a certain fearlessness. In this era, such a fire could easily be extinguished.

"Boss, you just finished a big battle. You have no chance of winning against someone like this!" Not only Deus, but every member of the Spade Pirates was worried. The difference in strength plus the difference in stamina meant that their captain was risking his life!

Ace dismissed it, "It's not like I'm going to run away when we finally meet someone like this." There's no reason not to challenge a Yonko who has come to us of their own accord.

Knowing they couldn't dissuade Ace, the pirate crew members stood behind him, ready to challenge him together.

"Crossfire!"

"Musketeers!"

The flames continued to explode around Whitebeard, and the billowing smoke once again covered his figure.

As the smoke cleared, the white-bearded man stood perfectly still in his original spot, without even a furrowed brow. It seemed as if not even dust dared to stick to him, let alone fire.

Ace refused to give up, unleashing a barrage of attacks. His already dwindling stamina was being depleted, bringing him ever closer to his limit.

This was child's play to Whitebeard, but he had already gone too far, and continuing would be disrespectful to his challenger.

Murakumogiri left the ground. Whitebeard took a step forward, assumed a horse stance, and began to swing Murakumogiri from his right rear. A sharp blade slashed through the air.

With just this ordinary attack, Ace and his crew were knocked to the ground.

When Deus and the others realized what was happening and got up, they could no longer see their leader and Whitebeard.

A wall of fire shot up, blocking their path to provide support and also cutting off Ace's retreat route.

"Boss!"

"captain!"

Ace knelt on the ground beneath the wall of fire, exhausted not only physically but also in strength. "You are no match for him, get out of here!"

When I came to my senses, Whitebeard was already standing in front of me.

Ace didn't even need to think; he didn't even have the strength to resist. If Whitebeard's fist came down, he would have died instantly.

But he still won't run away, nor will he surrender.

Whitebeard didn't think that much. The brat in front of him had no strength left to resist, but his eyes remained resolute, showing no fear.

You've got guts!

"Hey, aren't you going to give in yet?"

To surrender? Even in death, one must have dignity. "I have only failed to challenge you. In this era, on this sea, I am not the only one who has challenged the Four Emperors, and I am not the only one who will die here."

"But I, Ace, will never be the kind of person who surrenders and lives a life of cowardice!"

Almost everyone in the sea knew about Ace's challenge to Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors. Even if he lost, so be it. At least he did what many wouldn't dare to do!

But he was still unwilling to accept it. He hadn't conquered enough of this ocean, hadn't caused enough trouble, and now he was dying like this. It was such a loss.

"Gulalalalala".

"Ace, is that right?"