Ace and Dadan! A New Year's Eve Where Storms Gather

Ace.

Portgas D. Ace.

Ian looked at Ace, who was challenging them.

One of the goals of this trip to the Kingdom of Goa was to find him.

The son of the Pirate King, Whitebeard's chosen successor, naturally possesses the talent to reach the pinnacle.

However, this kid is just as arrogant and ignorant as Zoro.

No, it should be even more ignorant of one's own limitations.

Zoro and Kuina only challenged Hawk Eyes, while Ace challenged Ian, Red-Haired, and Hawk Eyes all at once.

Therefore, even Zoro and Kuina were dumbfounded.

"That guy!"

Zoro was simply amazed by this guy's courage.

Each of these three is a monster stronger than anyone could imagine!

Kuina wondered to herself, "Golden Flying Dragon When they said they wanted to challenge Hawk Eyes, was the same surprise they felt now?"

It's truly remarkable.

"He actually said he wanted to challenge Shanks!"

Red-Haired's number one Uta, immediately stepped in front of Ace, rubbing his hands together with a menacing expression. "You little brat! Let me teach you a lesson!"

"Ha?"

Ace was by no means a good-tempered child; in fact, before he believed Sabo was dead, Ace was primarily known for his volatile temper. He looked Uta up and down, then said disdainfully, "Aren't you a kid too? And you look even younger than me!"

Ace is nine years old this year, which is indeed one year older than Uta.

"What!"

Uta retorted angrily, "Who cares about you! If you want to challenge Shanks, you'll have to get past me first!"

Then.

Ace raised his hand and shoved her on the head, causing the red-and-white-haired girl to fall on her bottom.

"Alright, I've already won!"

Ace sneered.

Girl?

Of course, the beating will be the same!

Who cares if you're a man or a woman!

Anyone who dares to block my way, don't blame me for being impolite!

Uta blushed instantly, scrambling to her feet and repeatedly saying, "No, no, you ambushed me! You're so despicable!"

"Mean?"

Ace sneered, "What's this about underhanded tactics in a battle between pirates? Kid, you should probably go back and drink your milk."

"Forehead!!!"

Uta's face was trembling with anger, but she, who was always sharp-tongued, couldn't find any reason to refute her.

So,

The little girl, tears welling in her eyes, turned her head angrily, "Shanks! Hurry up and teach this guy a lesson!"

"Waaah, they told the parents!"

Zoro clicked his tongue, "He's just a kid."

"Let's teach that wretched Moss Head a lesson too!"

Uta has sharp ears, and upon hearing Zoro's words, he instantly glared at him fiercely.

"Who's afraid of who!"

Zoro stiffened his neck.

Kuina shook her head helplessly.

They were both just kids.

"Hahaha, alright, Uta, stop fooling around,"

Red-Haired stood up and walked over, first gently patting his aggrieved daughter's head, then turning to look at Ace.

"Young man, why do you want to challenge us? Since you know who we are, you should understand that we are pirates. Challenging pirates is not something to be taken lightly."

"Of course I know who you are!"

Ace was beaming with excitement. "I never expected to run into you guys here! If I can defeat you, it means I already have the power to become the Pirate King!"

Pirate King?

Hawk Eyes raised an eyebrow.

This is an even more difficult goal than Zoro and his friends' dream of surpassing themselves to become the strongest swordsman.

Pirate King?

The Red-Haired's lips slowly curled into a smile.

Captain, it seems my decision was correct.

Your child is the one who should inherit your will the most.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Uta exploded again, "The one who should become the Pirate King is Shanks!"

"That's right, that's right!"

The kid Luffy next to him loudly chimed in, "Shanks is the one who's going to become the Pirate King!"

Puff!

Ian spat out a mouthful of wine.

Who would have thought that one day Luffy would tell him that someone else would become the Pirate King?

Shanks, you really know your stuff.

"Hey! Ace!"

Dadan, finally realizing what was happening, practically scrambled over and grabbed Ace, pulling him into a tight embrace and desperately covering his mouth.

The woman's forehead was covered in cold sweat as she cautiously looked up at the Red-Haired. "This brat is ignorant and arrogant. He was just joking. Men like you shouldn't stoop to the level of a kid, right?"

How did these monsters end up here?!

Ace, you brat, you're really going to get me killed!

He's not joking.

Ian wiped the spilled drink from his mouth, his smile undiminished.

"That's right!"

Ace used his strength to pry Dadan's hands open. Although she was just a kid, she was a kid who could easily hunt giant bears and tigers.

"I'm not kidding! You three, come and fight me!"

"One day I will show the whole world that Roger was just a piece of trash, and I am the true Pirate King!"

The Red-Haired's eyes instantly turned serious.

This child!

He doesn't seem to really want to become the Pirate King.

Ian chuckled softly.

Although Ace kept saying he wanted to become the Pirate King until he met Whitebeard, he knew that Ace wasn't actually that interested in it.

He simply hated his biological father.

It's all Garp's fault, though. He told Garp about his true parentage when Ace was still a child.

Roger, who ushered in the Great Pirate Era, did not have a good reputation in the world. What Ace could feel was the endless hatred that people had for Roger.

Such hatred is terrifying for a child.

In Ace's mind, his father was an unforgivable sinner, and he, the son of a sinner, should perhaps not have been born into this world at all.

Therefore, Ace was trying to save himself, attempting to extricate himself from an uncontrollable and intense self-destructive impulse.

He wanted to find a reason for himself to continue living in this world.

Becoming the Pirate King and surpassing that bastard father was one of the reasons he found.

In the original work, he later found another reason: to take care of Luffy and to help Whitebeard become the Pirate King.

What a tragic child.

Let your Brother Ian come and save you.

Ian put down his bottle and stood up. He smiled and said, "Then bring it on! Let me see the power of the future Pirate King."

Ian?

The Red-Haired turned around in surprise.

"Ian is here again."

Zoro pursed his lips.

Kuina's expression was also subtle. Could it be that Ian enjoys bullying children?

Hawk Eyes chuckled; he probably guessed what Ian was thinking.

That bastard really likes gifted brats.

Upon hearing Ian's words, Ace's eyes lit up instantly. "Great!"

Ian of the Scorched Sky!

He was a household name; wanted Bounty Poster for him were plastered all over the city.

Even the scum of the garbage mountain said that this man was a real monster, possessing unimaginable power at such a young age, and that he would surely rise above the world in the future!

If we can defeat him, we'll be very close to becoming the Pirate King!

"Hey! Dadan! Let me go!"

Ace struggled fiercely, but the woman held him tightly. "I'm going to fight this guy!"

"No! Ace! Absolutely not!"

Dadan nearly screamed.

Ian of the Scorched Sky!

This guy is a true monster with a bounty of two billion Beli!

How could that brat Ace possibly be a match for him!

I'll die! I'll definitely die!

"Um,"

Ian tilted his head. "I think parents should respect their children's opinions sometimes, don't you think?"

"Hehe, Lord Ian!"

Dadan, her face covered in cold sweat, forced a fawning smile and said obsequiously, "This kid is just a child; he doesn't understand anything. Please don't take it to heart."

"If he made you angry, then I will apologize on his behalf!"

As she spoke, she was about to kneel down.

"..."

Red-Haired can make expressions complicated.

"Dadan!"

Ace's expression changed drastically.

Dadan, the woman who always seemed to despise him, is now actually willing to kneel down for him!

Ace felt as if his heart had been struck.

"There's no need to go to this extent,"

Ian raised his hand, Armament Haki surged forth, instantly filling the space and supporting Dadan's body, preventing her from kneeling.

"But,"

He smiled and said to Ace, "You've got a really good Mama, haven't you?"

Mama?

Ace's lips trembled slightly as memories of the past flooded back.

He grew up under Dadan's care from a young age.

This woman is rude, short-tempered, selfish, and evil; she always says things like, "I wish you were dead, you brat."

However, she did manage to grow up healthy, and even though she was always complaining, she would still prepare food and clothes for herself.

This time was no different. He kept saying that the Golden Lion might be coming and that the island was already very dangerous, but he was still willing to spend many days accompanying me to sneak into the city to find Sabo.

Ace suddenly said, "Dadan, thank you."

"Ugh! What did you just say all of a sudden?! To be honest, it's kind of disgusting."

Dadan was startled.

Then, Ace broke free from her grasp and jumped in front of Ian, who had his back to Dadan. "Dadan, thank you so much! But there's something I have to do!"

As he spoke, he charged straight at Ian.

The Red-Haired's expression was now extremely serious.

Captain, your child has a serious problem!

This is not a challenge at all.

He's courting death!

"Ian!"

He spoke in a deep voice.

Ian simply nodded.

"Ace!!"

Dadan screamed.

She glared angrily at Ian almost instantly, at Ian who had raised his hand towards Ace, and yelled, "You dare! If you dare touch him, I'll kill you!!"

"Come forth, Ian of the Scorched Sky!"

Ace leaped into the air, his fist swinging powerfully towards Ian.

His face showed excitement, and also relief.

Ian smirked, casually grabbed Ace's arm, and slammed him onto a nearby table.

"Ace!"

Dadan lunged at Ian in an instant, yelling, "Bastard! Let him go!"

But the woman ran into an invisible wall; Ian's overwhelming Haki blocked her.

"A kid should act like a kid."

Ian grinned maliciously and raised his hand. "Luo, Dao."

Without hesitation, Luo handed his sword to Ian.

"Is he going to kill that guy?"

"Uta exclaimed in surprise."

It shouldn't have come to this!

"Ace!!"

Dadan desperately pounded on the Haki barrier, but to no avail.

Dadan.

Ace turned his head and looked at the woman's tear-streaked face, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Ian had already drawn his knife, the sharp blade reflecting the light.

"Stop! Stop, you beast!"

Dadan was practically pleading, "He's not even ten years old! He's still a child!!"

"That's right! That's right! He's the grandson of the Navy Hero Garp! If you kill him, that old bastard Garp won't let you get away with it!"

"Hey!"

Luffy, who was still somewhat bewildered by the current situation, was completely dumbfounded.

Grandpa's grandson, who is he again?

Ian ignored him and swung his knife directly.

"No!"

Dadan cried out in despair.

Sorry, Dadan.

Ace closed his eyes.

Someone like me shouldn't even exist.

I've caused you trouble over the years.

You'll be better off without me, won't you?

However, the expected pain did not come.

Ace only felt a chill on his butt.

Then.

Smack

A crisp crack, followed by a sharp pain in my buttocks.

Huh?

Ace opened his eyes in a daze.

"Honestly, a kid should act like a kid."

Ian smiled.

The horizontal blade slammed down again.

Smack

"Whoa!!"

Ace's face flushed crimson instantly. The boy, who had been indifferent to death, screamed, "What the hell are you doing, you bastard?!"

Physical pain can't compare to even a fraction of mental anguish.

Hahahaha!

Uta burst into laughter, "This guy got his pants pulled down and spanked by Ian!"

Red-Haired couldn't help but chuckle, but still solemnly covered his daughter's eyes, "Uta, don't look."

Kuina's cheeks flushed, and she turned her face away.

Zoro didn't think too much about it and just laughed heartily.

Luffy laughed loudly, "How embarrassing! Hehehe!"

Not only him, Ian's friends were laughing, Red-Haired Pirates were laughing too.

Hahahaha!

The tavern once again became a sea of joy.

"Aaaaaaah!!"

Ace was so ashamed that he wished Ian would kill him on the spot.

At this moment, Ian was more terrifying to him than a billion serial killers!

Dadan was also stunned.

Then I couldn't help but chuckle.

This brat probably deserved to be taught a lesson long ago.

"Dadan! Help me!!"

Ace cried out in despair.

Later.

Ace was thrown back to Dadan by Ian, and the woman immediately clung to him tightly.

But Ace, enraged like a mad dog, struggled desperately, yelling, "Bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

"That's how a child should behave."

Ian nodded in satisfaction and handed the knife back to Law.

Luo, however, threw the knife away with a look of disgust. Who knows if that brat was injured when he was beaten?

Why make it sound so bitter and resentful?

Ian laughed and said, "Kids should play freely, learn freely, and grow up freely, instead of..."

"Seeking their own death."

Ace's body suddenly trembled.

Ian chuckled and said, "Kid, do you feel humiliated?"

"One day, I'll kill you!!"

In Ace's heart, Ian, that bastard, was second only to his scumbag father in terms of hatred.

"Would you like to board my ship?"

Ian said, "That way, you'll always have a chance for revenge."

Luo's lips twitched slightly.

Sure enough, the kids Ian takes a liking to are all ones he's set his sights on.

The Red-Haired couldn't help but look at Ian.

However, he couldn't directly say that Ace was Roger's son.

"What?"

Ace was stunned, unable to understand Ian's logic. Without hesitation, he shouted angrily, "Are you kidding me! I'd kill you right now!"

Dadan quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Lord Ian, Ace is still just a kid. He's not qualified to be on your ship."

"But if you don't get on the ship now, I'll deliberately avoid you in the future, so you'll never have a chance to get revenge," Ian warned.

Hawk Eyes's eye twitched.

That's something Ian, that bastard, would say.

But who would be threatened by such inexplicable words?

"You bastard!"

Ace was furious. "That's so despicable!"

Hawk Eyes's lips curled into a smirk.

Yes, there really is.

"But, Ace,"

Ian's smile faded slightly. "Once you're on my ship, you can change the world with me."

"Ha?"

Ace was taken aback.

"If you find this world annoying and wish you could leave immediately, then try changing it with me."

Ian said, "No one comes into this world without a reason, and our meeting now may be a destiny moment!"

"Kid, instead of pointlessly trying to end everything, why don't you join me in ending this chaotic Great Pirate Era and rebuilding world order?"

Ace's pupils trembled.

The person he hated most was his father, because he had started the Great Pirate Era, bringing endless suffering to the world.

But now Ian is telling him to end this chaotic era!

Ace couldn't help but wonder, if that day ever came, if he really did that, would he be considered to have defeated his father?

Why.

Red-Haired sighed.

Ian, you're something else.

"No need to answer immediately,"

Ian smiled and said, "We'll be staying here for a while longer, so you can take your time to think it over. But even if you decline, there's one thing you should remember."

"You'd better live well before you seek revenge against me."

Ace's face stiffened, then he turned his head angrily, "I don't need you to say anything more, you bastard!"

Later, at the pier in Foosha Village, Ace stood on the shore, lost in thought.

He actually wanted to sit down, but his butt hurt.

"Ace-- "

Not far away, Dadan and his bandits watched his retreating figure with some worry.

"But Ace was actually invited by such a big shot as Ian!"

One of the bandits said with some pride, "He truly is a child we raised!"

"Idiot! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Dadan punched the bastard in exasperation, "I don't want that kid to become a pirate! I just want him to grow up safely!"

"Wow, boss, this is totally Mom's commentary!"

Another bandit exclaimed.

"Mom and stuff--"

Dadan blushed.

Then.

Her expression turned serious. "But then I suddenly think that it might not be a bad idea for Ace to leave with that guy."

Ace, I never noticed that you had something like this hidden in your heart.

She remarked casually, "It's good that the brat's gone; I'm happy to finally have some peace and quiet."

Um?

Dadan suddenly noticed a small figure.

"Ace, is your grandfather also a grandfather?"

Ace heard a voice coming from behind him.

"Ha?"

He turned around in surprise and saw the black-haired brat from the tavern earlier.

What is this guy saying?

What does it mean that my grandfather is also my grandfather?

I can't understand a word.

Later.

A Dog-Head Warship was rapidly approaching from a distance on the high seas, some distance from the Kingdom of Goa.

"Damn Ian! And Red-Haired! How dare they cause trouble in my hometown!"

An old man wearing a dog-head hat stood at the bow of the large ship, holding a Den Den Mushi in his hand. "Kuzan, your area of responsibility is nearby! You'd better get over there right away!"

"Oh dear, I don't mind, but Mr. Garp, isn't it inappropriate for you to abandon your post like this?"

A sleepy voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, "Besides, didn't the higher-ups give orders to leave Ian and the others alone?"

"What do you know! Family is different!"

The old man angrily hung up the phone.

A few days later, the year 1511 of the Sea Circle Calendar came to a complete end.

Today is the last day of the year, December 31st.

In Foosha Village, the pirates are preparing a banquet to celebrate New Year's Eve. The banquet will begin as night falls.

At the same time.

High in the sky, beyond the Kingdom of Goa.

An island rapidly approached.

At the edge of the island, a golden lion sits cross-legged, looking down at the island below.

"Hehehe! The last day of the year? That's the perfect time!"

I had diarrhea all night last night; the Splatoon lives up to its name.

Also, I've finally reached 1,000 monthly votes! I've never had such a wonderful start. Please cheer for me!