Breaking the Limit of Divine Fire

The lighthouse at Twin Capes was brightly lit.

"I see. No wonder I felt such a sense of familiarity."

Crocus sat before the wooden table, looking at Ace across from him, the corners of his eyes glistening with a trace of well-hidden moisture. He set down his wine glass and let out a long sigh. "That bastard Roger, he actually left behind a bloodline before he died. And to think he was fostered by that other bastard, Garp."

During their conversation, Buggy had excitedly introduced Ace to Crocus and revealed his true identity.

Ace did not put on any airs before the old ship doctor who had accompanied his father on his final journey. He calmly recounted how he and Sabo had set out to sea, as well as the goals of the Eclipse Pirates.

"You chose not to hide your name, instead causing such a stir in the East Blue; the Marine Headquarters will have their eyes on you soon." Crocus looked at Ace, his tone carrying the concern of an elder. "The Grand Line is not like the East Blue. The magnetic fields, the climate, and the monsters lurking here are far beyond your imagination. Do you have a Log Pose?"

"We are prepared." Carina professionally shook the Log Pose on her wrist.

"That's good." Crocus nodded, then his gaze fell upon Ace, his eyes becoming sharp and professional. "Just now outside, I saw that astonishing fluctuation of vitality radiating from you. Is that the power of a Devil Fruit?"

Ace did not hide it. He raised his right hand, and a cluster of pure, crimson-gold Vermilion Bird Divine Fire danced quietly in his palm.

"Mythical Zoan, Vermilion Bird. Its flames not only possess extreme destructive power but can also instantly repair any physical damage," Ace explained calmly.

As one of the top doctors on these seas, the moment Crocus saw those crimson-gold flames, his professional keenness made him stand up abruptly. He leaned closer to the fire, feeling the endless power of creation contained within, and a look of profound shock flashed in his eyes.

"This is nothing short of a miracle in the medical world!"

Crocus muttered to himself, then looked at Ace with extreme seriousness and said in a low voice, "Ace, you may not yet realize what kind of terrifying strategic value this fruit of yours holds for a pirate crew."

Sabo and Carina were both stunned, listening intently.

"On this sea, even for the Four Emperors, the strength of their combatants is often locked by the word 'talent'."

Crocus pointed to his own muscles. "The human body has its limits. Whether training in martial arts or developing Haki, once a certain threshold is reached, overexerting the body only leads to irreversible internal injuries and collapse. Many people spend their entire lives unable to break through this ceiling of talent."

"However..."

Crocus's gaze burned as he stared at the divine fire. "Your healing ability can perfectly erase that cost! As long as you are there, your crew can engage in pure, self-destructive training that pushes past human limits! As long as it doesn't kill them, your flames can force their muscles and bones to break through their talent caps through destruction and rebirth, becoming tougher and denser than before!"

Upon hearing this conclusion from Crocus, the air in the living quarters fell silent.

Sabo looked at his own hands. No wonder that after being healed of his internal injuries by Ace's flames on the deserted island, he had felt as if his physical strength was showing signs of a breakthrough.

"In other words..."

A dangerous glint flashed in Ace's deep black eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled upward. "As long as they have enough perseverance and resolve, I can use this divine fire to forcibly create a crew of monsters who have broken through the limits of humanity."

"Theoretically, absolutely." Crocus nodded heavily. "This is a trump card capable of upsetting the balance of the world. Young man, use it well."

That night, the group chatted for a long time inside the lighthouse.

Crocus taught Carina and Sabo in great detail about the current changes, extreme weather, and other things to watch out for in the first half of the Grand Line.

The next morning.

After the Eclipse replenished its fresh water, it raised its pure black sails once more.

"Doctor Crocus, take care! This Great One will come to see you again!" Buggy stood at the stern, waving his handkerchief with great reluctance.

Ace stood at the bow, nodding slightly to the old ship doctor on the shore.

"Go! Roger's son!"

Crocus stood beneath the lighthouse, watching the black warship riding the waves, and waved his hand with a hearty laugh. "Let this sea, which has been silent for twenty years, see what you are made of!"

The Eclipse gradually disappeared at the edge of the horizon.

Crocus stood under the lighthouse, the smile on his face slowly fading, replaced by an indescribable sense of relief.

He turned and walked back into the lighthouse, digging out a dust-covered, custom-made Den Den Mushi from a hidden drawer.

"Brrr-brrr-brrr..."

The Den Den Mushi rang sluggishly for a long time before a "click" signaled it had been answered.

"Hello? This is Rayleigh."

From the other end of the line came the voice of an old man, lazy and seemingly still suffering from a hangover. "What a rare guest, Crocus. I didn't think you, old bones, would take the initiative to contact me."

"Rayleigh, old friend. Wake up from your booze."

Crocus looked at the turbulent Grand Line outside the window, his aged hand gripping the receiver with slight force, his voice filled with unconcealable excitement.

"Just a moment ago, a fast ship flying a black sun-skull flag crossed Reverse Mountain."

"That young captain's name is Portgas D. Ace."

Crocus took a deep breath, his eyes reddening, but he broke into a hearty, wide laugh.

"Rayleigh, Roger's bloodline still exists! The captain's son has not only set out to sea alive, but his ambition and talent are born to turn this world upside down!"

On the other end of the line, the sound of casual pouring stopped abruptly. Immediately after, there was the crisp sound of a glass wine cup falling to the floor and shattering.

The whole world seemed to fall into a brief, deathly silence at that moment.

After a long while, the Den Den Mushi vividly mimicked the expression on Rayleigh's face—a complex and relieved look following his shock.

"Is that so?"

From the Den Den Mushi came Rayleigh's low, yet slightly trembling, joyful laughter.

"That is truly the best news this old man has heard on this boring sea in all these years."