Three Core Abilities

Ace stared at the Flame Emperor Armor floating in midair, his heart racing. The golden patterns across its surface seemed to flow with a life of their own.

"Is this really meant for me?" Ace murmured. The D-shaped mark on his right palm grew faintly warm.

"According to the biometric scan, your compatibility with the Flame Emperor Armor is 98.7%," the KS-7 Guardian replied, an unusual trace of emotion in its mechanical voice. "Only an heir of the Ancient Kingdom's flame-bearing D bloodline can wield it."

Ace took a deep breath and reached out to touch the armor. A sensation like an electric current shot from his fingertips through his body. The Flame Emperor Armor separated into pieces and fitted itself around him as though it had a mind of its own. When the red crystal at the center of the breastplate—the Flame Seed Stone—touched his chest, scorching energy surged into his mind. His vision flooded with crimson.

"Ah!" Ace let out a low cry. Something seemed to have stirred his flame powers, sending them surging wildly through him.

"Stay calm. Control your breathing," the Guardian instructed. "Let your mind resonate with the Flame Seed Stone, just as you control your Devil Fruit power."

Ace forced his breathing to steady and focused on guiding the energy churning inside him. Gradually, the searing heat faded. When he opened his eyes again, the world had changed. He could see particles of energy flowing through the air and sense the faint electromagnetic waves emitted by every device in the laboratory.

More astonishing still, when he raised a hand and summoned a flame, it was no longer the familiar orange-red. A blue-green flame flickered in his palm, so pure it was almost transparent, yet packed with astonishing energy.

"What is this...?" Ace stared at