Ace: I'm Not Interested in the Mera Mera no Mi!

Under the influence of the [Float-Float Fruit], the Sky Garden floats ten thousand meters above the ground.

This is a terrifying altitude, level with the Sky Island White Sea, where it feels as if you could reach out and touch the ever-changing white clouds around you.

If people living at sea level look up at the sky, they can only see a small black dot at most, and cannot get a full view of the Sky Garden.

Due to its altitude, the air in the Sky Garden is extremely thin.

When they first went into space, Nami was still in high spirits and full of energy.

Before long, she seemed to have developed altitude sickness, feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and weak all over.

Now...

Nami could only lie on the ground of the Sky Garden, like a fish out of breath, her eyes wide open, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly, but she had no strength to make a sound.

Just then...

Storm walked over from the side, but the Golden Lion II was no longer beside him.

Just now, Storm made a tiny, minor alteration to the entire Sky Garden.

The [Float-Float Fruit] allows objects to lose their original gravity and float freely in the sky.

If Devil Fruit User continues to manipulate these weightless substances, then the substances will respond to their control.

However, if the Devil Fruit User does not exert additional control over these substances, these weightless objects will be propelled by other energies in nature.

For example—the wind, which is everywhere!

The Battle of Edd War, decades ago.

Golden Lion Shiki's Flying Pirates were mostly wiped out by a sudden super storm.

Storm will certainly learn from Shiki the Golden Lion Shiki's painful lesson.

So he made a tiny bit of a modification to the Sky Garden.

Specifically...

Using his Clay Fruit, Storm created some simple clay propellers for the Sky Garden to ensure it wouldn't be blown off its intended path by the fierce winds that are everywhere in the Sky Garden.

As for other aspects of the renovation, they will be completed gradually in the future.

"Nami, your physical condition is far too weak."

Storm walked over to Nami's side, looked at the Little Thief Cat lying stiffly on the ground, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"I'll create an exercise plan for you later."

"Huff... huff..."

Nami forced an awkward smile while panting heavily.

"Lord White Dragon, I want to study, can I skip the training...?"

"These two things don't conflict."

Storm was talking about things that seemed perfectly ordinary to him.

"Study first, then exercise when you get tired; when you get tired from exercising, you can rest while continuing to study."

"If you don't push yourself, how will you know where your limits are?"

Nami's face grew even paler as she listened to Storm's words.

Storm's renovation of the Sky Garden was quite successful.

In just over half a day, Sky Garden returned directly from the sea area where Ant Nest Hell was located to the Konomi Islands.

Storm originally intended to take Nami immediately to reunite with Bear, Robin, and the others.

But a sudden Den Den Den Mushi interrupted his plans.

The person who contacted them was none other than Portgas D. Ace, whom they had successfully recruited earlier!

Storm and Ace exchanged a few words before Storm hung up the Den Den Mushi.

He looked at Nami, who was surveying the Konomi Islands below.

"Nami, how about I give you a break and you go home to rest for a while? I need to go pick someone up now."

Storm calmly offered Nami two pieces of advice.

"Or perhaps I should take you to the Germa Kingdom first, so you can meet your other companions?"

Nami thought about it for a while and decided to go home first.

She understood from Storm that he had urgent matters to attend to and wouldn't be able to stay by her side indefinitely.

Since that's the case, Nami doesn't want to contact those "companions" she hasn't officially met yet, all by herself.

Let's wait until the last guy arrives before we talk about it!

Nami made her decision.

Storm didn't have any objections.

He first sent Nami back to Cocoyasi Village, and then activated the [Rumble-Rumble Ring], speeding all the way to Dawn Island, where the Kingdom of Goa is located.

Dawn Island, Mt. Colbo, Dadan's Home.

Ace, fully prepared, bowed respectfully to Dadan, the bandit who had raised him.

"Thank you for taking care of me all these years, Dadan."

"Little Ace, you're not an adult yet. Are you really not going to stay home for another year?"

Dadan, a tall and robust man, wiped away his tears with a handkerchief and responded with a sob.

"And Garp... has always wanted you... to join him in the Navy."

"Although the Navy isn't exactly a good thing, at least it's better than pirates who don't know where their next meal will come from!"

"Dadan, I won't join the navy."

Ace said in an extremely firm tone.

"Moreover, I have already found my companions!"

"I've already made a promise with him; I'll go to sea with him!"

"Damn it!"

Dadan clenched her fist and said indignantly.

"Do you also want to be seduced by a man like this?"

Dadan remembers very clearly that Luffy, when he was a child, decided to become a pirate because he met Red-Haired.

Although Ace made up his mind to go to sea and become a pirate when he was very young.

But just a week ago, he was still working hard to save money, deciding to go to sea after he turned 18.

Everything has changed now...

Garp, you old man, what exactly did you protect?!

Dadan cursed the "Hero of the Marines" in her heart.

Ace is about to set sail, aren't you going to come back and check on him?!

"Alright, Dadan."

Ace smiled and shook his head. He looked around but didn't see the boy in the Straw Hat.

"Luffy... never mind."

Ace decided to set sail a year earlier than planned.

Luffy was greatly shocked by this.

Because he could have spent another year with his brother...

But now Ace has decided to set sail ahead of schedule.

Luffy believes he has been deceived by Ace and has begun a "cold war" with him.

Even when Ace was about to depart, Luffy didn't come to say goodbye.

Ace forcibly suppressed the sorrow of parting in his heart, shouldered his huge bag, and waved to the Dadan Family.

"Dadan, and everyone else."

Then.

Without waiting for Dadan and the others to respond, Ace pulled his hat down a little to cover his eyes, then turned and left seemingly without any mercy, heading towards the Foosha Village at the foot of the mountain.

Ace had walked this path down the mountain countless times since he was a child, but this time it was especially difficult.

But in the end, Ace still left Mt. Colbo.

After saying goodbye to his friends in Foosha Village, he borrowed a Den Den Mushi from Makino, the tavern owner in Foosha Village, and dialed the number he remembered.

Ace had originally thought he would stay in Foosha Village a little longer.

Unexpectedly, it only took less than half a minute.

A loud, booming sound, like thunder, came from outside the tavern in Foosha Village.

"Did it thunder?"

Makino, who was working behind the bar, suddenly changed her expression after hearing the thunder.

"My clothes!"

However.

Before Makino could even rush out of the tavern and gather her clothes...

Then Storm appeared at the tavern entrance.

"Ace, let's go!"

Amidst the exclamations of amazement from the residents of the Foosha Village.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flying away from Dawn Island.

On the summit of Mt. Colbo.

The top of the big tree that was originally Ace's secret treasure trove.

Wearing Straw Hat, Luffy gazed at the Blue-Eyes White Dragon disappearing into the distance on the horizon, put his hands to his mouth, and shouted.

"Ace! Next time we meet!! I'll definitely surpass you!!!"

Blue-Eyes White Dragon roamed the sky.

Although this was Ace's second time riding the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Ace couldn't help but show his excitement.

This thing is much better than a boat!

Just then, as if he heard a sound, he turned his head to look at Dawn Island behind him.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he thought he heard Luffy calling his name...

"What's wrong?"

Storm's voice reached Ace's ears.

"You're already homesick?"

"How is that possible!"

Ace withdrew his gaze from Dawn Island and immediately rejected the idea.

"I just suddenly thought of my younger brother Luffy. I didn't have time to say goodbye to him earlier... I'll have to wait until we meet again."

"Your younger brother..."

Storm glanced at Ace and suddenly spoke.

"If one day in the future I beat up your younger brother... would you be unhappy?"

"... ah?"

Ace remained silent for a moment, a look of confusion on his face.

"Luffy... what did he do to you?"

"No, but I really don't like your brother."

Storm said earnestly.

"So I really want to hit him."

Upon hearing this, Ace couldn't help but scratch his head.

He still felt that Luffy had offended Storm...

But that's completely impossible...

"Luffy is my younger brother."

Ace first revealed his identity, and then added.

"But everyone has their own adventure."

"If you want to fight Luffy... can you wait until he sets sail?"

"He's still just a child!"

"It seems we've reached a consensus!"

Storm extended his right hand to Ace.

The latter, not understanding why, slapped his hand, making a "smack" sound.

"What kind of gesture is that? Is it a way pirates communicate?"

No, it was just a handshake.

Storm withdrew his right hand and pressed it against the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Immediately, a brightly colored Devil Fruit appeared in his hand.

"Ace, are you interested in Devil Fruit?"

"Devil Fruit?"

Ace looked at the brightly colored fruit in Storm's hand and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"This is Devil Fruit? It looks a bit strange."

"This is Logia [Flame-Flame Fruit]."

Storm held up the [Flame-Flame Fruit] in his hand and gave Ace a general introduction to its abilities, effects, and weaknesses.

Do you want to eat it?

Despite the infamous saying—"[Flame-Flame Fruit], even dogs won't eat it."

However, Ace's development of the [Flame-Flame Fruit] was actually quite remarkable.

It's a pity he never encountered a suitable opponent.

First it Blackbeard, then it was Akainu.

Ace's [Flame-Flame Fruit] was completely countered by these two.

In addition, the powerful figures of the New World have displayed fire-based abilities that completely surpass the [Flame-Flame Fruit].

The reputation of the [Flame-Flame Fruit] naturally plummeted...

But just look at Sabo after he ate the [Flame-Flame Fruit] in the future, and you'll know.

This Logia Devil Fruit is truly formidable!

Otherwise.

Sabo will not earn the title of "Emperor of Flames".

Storm himself had little interest in the [Flame-Flame Fruit].

Since he already possesses the Flame-Flame Fruit - Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he has little interest in obtaining another Logia Devil Fruit.

Otherwise, Storm wouldn't have wanted to give the [Flame-Flame Fruit] to Nami in the first place—unfortunately, that blinded Little Thief Cat only wanted to sell the Devil Fruit for money.

Even if Storm ruins the [Flame-Flame Fruit], he shouldn't sell it for money!

This [Flame-Flame Fruit], after going through many twists and turns, has now been brought back to Ace by Storm.

However, to everyone's surprise, Ace refused outright.

"No!"

Ace stated frankly.

"I have no interest in Devil Fruit."

Thank you so much to "Yun Deng Mu tide" for the 500 Qidian Coins reward!!

At midnight, nearly 10,000 words are presented!

There will be more in the evening, around nine o'clock.