The last demon in the One Piece world

Chapter 142: The Aftermath

"Fi...Fire Fist Ace...is free!", most marines exclaimed in disbelief and panic as Ace drifted towards the ground with his two brothers and Mr.3. 

Despite the panic and disbelief, the marines weren't about to let Ace go even after he had gotten rid of his handcuffs.

"Stay sharp, you guys!", Yushiro warned them as he smirked at the incoming enemies. "Let's take them out."

"Right, Nii-chan / Yushiro-nii!!", both younger brothers shouted with a grin.

"Are you crazy?!", Mr.3 screamed. He was clearly terrified of the situation and didn't want to fight.

Ace turned into fire and create fire columns that exploded, throwing the marines aside like trash. When Ace landed, he was surrounded by his own flame as he protected his beloved brothers and wel... Mr.3.

Luffy landed safely beside Ace and threw Mr.3 to the side, who happily ran away, not wanting to get caught up in it.

Luffy and Ace were standing not back-to-back, but more like in a 'V' position, as if they were waiting someone to fill in the void.

Yushiro, as if sensing that, then also landed in between his two brothers, crouched like a cat ready to pounce.

"They're strong, be careful!", a marine warned.

"Can you still fight, guys?!", Ace asked his brothers in a voice that screamed worry and concern, frowning at their ruined state.

"Of course we can!", Luffy responded with not a hint of doubt in his voice.

Yushiro huffed from his position and rolled his eyes. "Hmph. Who do you take us for?"

Ace didn't seem convinced but held his tongue. It wasn't like he could order them to stay out of the war anyway.

"Got it! Fire Fist Ace is made out of fire! He is a logia type!", a marine informed his troops.

"Don't think you're safe yet!", a marine shouted as they surrounded the trio of brothers with their guns readied. "This is your execution stand!"

The marines open-fired at the trio, but obviously it didn't work. Yushiro deadpanned as the bullets passed through Ace's fire body while Luffy returned all the bullets with his rubbery body. Yushiro didn't have a devil fruit to save him, but he had his claws. He literally just clawed at them, knocking them back.

The marines finally realized that their guns weren't working, and so, they charged at them, specifically at Luffy.

Their attacks failed to land as Ace did a handstand on Luffy's head, pushing him down, and out of the harm's way. The sabers went right through Ace's body, making him smirk.

"He's my little brother. I would appreciate it if you went easy on him.", Ace said politely before he jumped off Luffy's head. Once he was in the air, he attacked the marines with his signature Fire Fist.

Yushiro noticed that a marine had escaped his fire and had gotten behind Ace, trying ot behead him. His eyes darkened at that before he jumped up in the air from his crouch and landed on the marine's shoulders. 

He wrapped his arms around the marine's head, earning a groan from him. That made Ace turn around and look at his older brother. Yushiro didn't glance at Ace, instead he whispered in a dark tone to the marine, "Bad, bad choice...", and snapped his neck clean, killing him.

Ace sweatdropped at the sight before he pat Yushiro's head. "Ha....Yushiro-nii....You're as protective as ever, huh?", he mused with an amsued smile as he messed with his hair.

Yushiro's eye twitched and he slapped Ace's hand away half-heartedly. "I'll give you a proper scolding later about respecting your elders."

"Yeah, yeah.", Ace said, noticing the happy tears that occupied Yushiro's corners of his eyes and smiled.