The scorching light filled the world with brilliance.
Achino was no longer the man he used to be. Whether it was fate or something else, he and Kuzan had become rivals.
They made quite a couple.
His split personality had also given him terrifying talent.
On top of the Life Return he'd awakened long ago, he'd awakened Armament Haki's Internal Destruction technique while fighting the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates. As a result, Crocodile might now be his equal.
He could no longer overpower him like before.
The Heat-Heat Fruit had tremendous potential, and its power was simple and straightforward.
All Achino had to do was raise the temperature. Once it was high enough, he could burn any monster or demon to ashes.
The most obvious advantage was the environment in battle.
When the temperature was high enough, his enemies had no choice but to defend themselves with Armament Haki, which only drained their Haki faster. The longer the battle dragged on, the more it favored Achino.
"The Sun King is back."
"It's so hot."
"Is the Richest Group gathering all its representatives?"
On Poppy Island, many people looked up at the ball of light streaking across the sky, leaving a long trail of fiery feathers. Its face was impossible to make out before it finally landed on the shattered mountainside.
Three hours later, a bolt of lightning split the darkness beneath the night sky, gathering into a figure in midair.
It was Enel!
He looked a little worse for wear, clearly having been in a fight before returning.
Even his breathing was unsteady.
Then, an hour later, until dawn the next day,
Kuma and Ivankov returned as well.
Ivankov was the same as ever, coming back covered in wounds as though he'd just narrowly escaped death.
Kuma