The lighthouse at Twin Capes was brightly lit.
"I see. No wonder it felt so familiar."
Crocus sat at the wooden table, looking at Ace across from him. A faint sheen of moisture glimmered at the corners of his eyes, almost imperceptibly. He set down his glass and let out a long sigh. "That bastard Roger really did leave behind a child before he died. And he left him in the care of that bastard Garp, of all people."
During their conversation, Buggy had excitedly introduced Ace to Crocus and revealed his identity.
Ace didn't put on airs around the old ship's doctor, who had accompanied his father on the final voyage. He calmly recounted how he and Sabo had set sail, as well as the Eclipse Pirates' goals.
"You didn't choose to conceal your identity. Instead, you've made quite a stir in the East Blue. The Marines at Marine Headquarters will have their eyes on you before long." Crocus looked at Ace, his tone carrying the concern of an elder. "The Grand Line is nothing like the East Blue. Its magnetic fields, weather, and lurking monsters are all beyond your imagination. Do you have a Log Pose?"
"We're prepared." Carina professionally gave the Log Pose on her wrist a shake.
"Good." Crocus nodded, then fixed his gaze on Ace, his expression turning keen and clinical. "Earlier, outside, I sensed an astonishing surge of vitality coming from you. Is that the power of a Devil Fruit?"
Ace didn't hide it. He raised his right hand, and a cluster of pure, reddish-gold Vermilion Bird Divine Fire danced quietly in his palm.
"Mythical Zoan: Vermilion Bird. Its flames don't just possess immense destructive power; they can also instantly heal any physical injury," Ace explained calmly.
As one of the finest doctors on the sea, Crocus sprang to his feet the moment he saw the reddish-gold flames. His professional instincts took over. He leaned close to the fire, sensing the endless regenerative power within it, and his eyes flashed with astonishment.
"This is a medical miracle!"
Crocus murmured to himself, then turned to Ace with utmost seriousness. "Ace, you may not realize what terrifying strategic value your Fruit holds for a pirate crew."
Sabo and Carina both paused, then listened intently.
"On these seas, even the Four Emperors' fighters are often held back by one thing: talent."
Crocus pointed to his own muscles. "The human body has limits. Whether you're training your body or developing Haki, once you reach a certain threshold, pushing yourself too hard will only cause irreversible injuries and breakdown. Many people spend their entire lives unable to break through the ceiling imposed by their talent."
"But..."
Crocus stared at the divine flames, his gaze burning. "Your healing ability can erase that cost almost perfectly! With you around, your crewmates can undergo pure, self-destructive training that pushes them beyond the limits of humanity. As long as it doesn't kill them, your flames can force their muscles and bones to break through the limits of their talent, growing tougher and denser through destruction and rebirth!"
The air in the sitting room fell silent at Crocus's conclusion.
Sabo looked down at his hands. No wonder that after Ace's flames healed his hidden injuries on the deserted island, he'd felt as if his stamina was on the verge of a breakthrough.
"So..."
A dangerous glint flashed in Ace's deep black eyes, and the corners of his mouth slowly lifted. "As long as they have enough willpower and resolve, I can use these divine flames to create an entire shipload of monsters who've surpassed the limits of humanity."
"In theory, absolutely." Crocus nodded firmly. "This is a trump card capable of upsetting the balance of the world. Make good use of it, young man."
That night, they talked late into the evening in the lighthouse.
Crocus taught Carina and Sabo in detail about the ocean currents and extreme weather they would encounter in the first half of the Grand Line.
The next morning.
After replenishing its fresh water, the Eclipse raised its pure-black sails once more.
"Doctor Crocus, take care! This great and powerful Buggy will come visit you again!" Buggy stood at the stern, waving his handkerchief with great reluctance.
Ace stood at the bow and gave the old ship's doctor on shore a slight nod.
"Go on, Roger's son!"
Crocus stood beneath the lighthouse, watching the black warship ride the waves. He laughed and waved. "Show these seas, dormant for twenty years, what you're made of!"
The Eclipse gradually vanished beyond the horizon.
Crocus stood beneath the lighthouse, his smile slowly fading and giving way to an indescribable sense of relief.
He turned and walked back inside. From a hidden drawer, he pulled out a specially made Den Den Mushi, its surface covered in dust.
"Buru buru buru..."
The Den Den Mushi rang sluggishly for a long while before it was finally answered with a click.
"Hello? This is Rayleigh."
An elderly man's lazy voice came from the other end, sounding as if he were still nursing a hangover. "Well, this is a surprise, Crocus. I didn't think these old bones of yours would ever contact me first."
"Rayleigh, old friend. Sober up."
Crocus gazed out the window at the churning waters of the Grand Line. His old hand tightened around the receiver, and his voice brimmed with barely restrained excitement.
"Just now, a fast ship flying a black sun-and-skull flag crossed the Reverse Mountain."
"The young captain's name is Portgas D. Ace."
Crocus drew a deep breath. His eyes were red, but he broke into a hearty laugh.
"Rayleigh, Roger's bloodline lives on! The captain's son has not only survived and gone to sea, but his ambition and talent make it seem as though he was born to overturn this world!"
The sound of someone casually pouring a drink abruptly stopped on the other end. Then came the crisp crash of a glass hitting the floor and shattering.
For a brief moment, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
After a long while, the Den Den Mushi's face vividly mimicked Rayleigh's expression: first shock, then a complicated sense of relief.
"Is that so?"
Rayleigh's low voice came through the Den Den Mushi, his laughter tinged with a tremor of unrestrained delight.
"Well, that really is the best news I've heard in all these years on these dull seas."
Before you continue