Ace's eyes snapped open.
But strangely, even with his eyes open, he could not make out anything before him. The bizarre visions kept playing.
Pops flew into a rage, fought the Navy, and ultimately died at Marineford. What enraged Ace even more was that his great, proud Pops had fallen to Marshall D. Teach's shameless, despicable sneak attack.
Even the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit had been stolen by that bastard.
"Teach!!!"
"Pops!!"
Rage, grief, and countless other emotions surged through Ace, filling his heart with unbearable pain.
None of it felt like an illusion. It felt as though he was experiencing it himself, as real as anything could be.
Suddenly, the scene before him came into focus.
"Ace."
The low voice made him jerk his head up, and he saw Xia Le sitting cross-legged across from him.
"You!?"
Ace sounded astonished.
"This isn't an illusion."
"Nor is it a dream. It's the fate you were supposed to experience!"
Xia Le spoke in a low voice.
"Fate!?"
Ace gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, making the shackles between his hands rattle.
"But the gears of fate are already turning. It is changing without a sound."
"No one knows where it will ultimately lead."
"The only question is what you choose!"
Xia Le let out a soft sigh.
Ace bit his lip. He understood what Xia Le meant. "Don't worry. I won't act rashly!"
He closed his eyes, but his emotions refused to settle.
The visions he had experienced felt as though they had truly happened. Every detail remained vivid, even each person's expression, as if they had been embedded in his memory.
If Xia Le had not admitted it, he would even have thought he had traveled through time.
Time slowly passed, and before long, the early hours of