Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
After leaving the warm cave, the members of the Spade Pirates—bundled in thick cotton jackets and overcoats—were immediately greeted by the biting cold. Shivering, they hunched their shoulders against the wind as they trudged through the snow.
Ace, however, seemed unaffected. Perhaps due to the flame powers of his Mera-Mera Fruit, or even his naturally strong constitution, he wore far less than his crewmates and appeared entirely at ease. Shaking Shanks' hand at the entrance to the cave, he bid farewell with a bright smile.
"Well, we'll take our leave now. Thanks again for saving my little brother's life."
Shanks returned the smile with a wave. "It was nothing. Good luck in achieving your goals in the New World."
Ace nodded and turned, leading his crew toward the distant snow-capped mountains. Shanks watched them disappear into the icy wilderness, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Luffy has an older brother. Who would've guessed?" he mused aloud.
"Luffy's about the same age as my Usopp," Yasopp remarked, stepping up beside him. "Think there's a chance they might end up as crewmates someday?"
Shanks grinned, the thought clearly appealing to him. "If that happens, it'd be something to look forward to."
Lucky Roux, munching on a slice of ham, chimed in. "That's Luffy's big brother, huh? And he's heading off to challenge Whitebeard—or even Alex—just like that. You don't seem too worried, Captain."
Shanks let out a soft sigh, his gaze lingering on the snow-covered horizon. "It's not our place to interfere. From the look in Ace's eyes, it's clear his purpose is deeply personal. Young people have their own dreams and journeys to follow. We can't control that."
Then, Shanks smiled again, more relaxed this time. "Besides, the New World is a harsh teacher. Only by struggling here can someone grow stronger. And Ace... he's a Logia user. The kid won't have it easy, but he's not going to be wiped out either."
With that, the Red-Haired Pirates turned back toward their camp, preparing to return to their ship.
Meanwhile, Ace and his crew continued their journey through the icy terrain.
"Was it the right call to leave so soon?" one of the crew asked, glancing at their captain walking ahead of them. "The Red-Haired Pirates were so friendly. We could've learned a lot about Haki from them."
The New World was proving to be a far cry from the "paradise" of the first half of the Grand Line. Although Ace's strength, combined with that of his crew, had allowed them to overcome their challenges so far, the battles were no longer as decisive as they'd once been.
Haki, in particular, had become a major obstacle. It had rendered Ace's Logia abilities less untouchable, and the crew had started to feel the strain of navigating this new stage of their adventure.
Ace stopped briefly, turning to his crew with his usual confident grin. "There's more than one way to get stronger. Shanks already gave up his arm to save my brother. I'm not going to trouble him any further for my own reasons."
His words were firm, and while his stubborn nature frustrated some of the crew, they respected their captain too much to argue. They had grown accustomed to his unyielding personality, from their days in the East Blue to their arrival in the New World.
Deus, the ship's masked doctor and one of Ace's earliest crewmates, walked up to him. "So, Ace, who's your first target?"
Compared to finding the One Piece, Ace's true purpose felt more tangible: he wanted to earn the sea's recognition and leave his strength etched into its history.
For that, stepping into the New World—territory ruled by the Four Emperors—and challenging their thrones meant targeting the strongest among them.
"Whitebeard."
When Ace spoke the name, his usual smile faded, replaced by a look of unwavering determination. His gaze pierced the horizon, fixed on the endless expanse of the sea ahead.
Even though Whitebeard had fallen from the title of the world's strongest pirate, Ace longed to experience the strength that had once rivaled Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King himself. For Ace, this wasn't just a whim—it was one of the driving reasons he had ventured into the New World.
Besides repaying the Red-Haired Pirates for saving his brother, this was what Ace desired most.
What Ace didn't know was that his name had already reached the ears of the Whitebeard Pirates. The interest wasn't one-sided—both Ace and Whitebeard's crew were on a collision course, their attention increasingly drawn toward one another.
The year 1519 of the Sea Circle Calendar had been dominated by news of Ace. As the leader of the supernova generation of pirates, his actions stirred the waters in a year otherwise lacking major upheavals among the great powers.
Even in the Sky Kingdom, Ace's exploits were the subject of discussion.
In Flower Capital, Baccarat returned from yet another treasure hunt. Among the trinkets and trophies, she brought back one particularly intriguing item—a Devil Fruit tied to Ace's future.
Hovering in the air under the influence of Alex's Float-Float Fruit, the item floated gently in the center of his palm.
It was a Devil Fruit shaped like a snail, its spiral pattern resembling a pineapple. Its lavender skin glistened, with intricate swirls etched across its surface, giving it an otherworldly and somewhat ominous appearance.
This wasn't just any fruit—it was the Dark-Dark Fruit, the most coveted treasure for a certain ambitious figure.
Alex recognized it instantly, even without consulting the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
"This... this is the fruit that nullifies the abilities of others?" Yamato asked, her voice tinged with awe as she studied the fruit from several angles.
Alex nodded solemnly.
"Yes, it's Logia. The Dark-Dark Fruit."
This fruit was more than a treasure—it was the catalyst for the eventual Summit War, a Devil Fruit that would shape the future in unimaginable ways.
The retainers surrounding Alex turned their attention to him. Yamato's question lingered in the air:
"Who is this fruit for?"
The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit wasn't just formidable—it was strategic, capable of disrupting the abilities of others. Such a unique and dangerous ability couldn't be handed out casually, unlike the other Devil Fruits Alex had come across.
But among the retainers, except those who are unwilling, most of them already ate a devil fruit.