By the middle of Sea Circle Calendar year 1519, the gears of fate, though slowed slightly by certain unforeseen changes, still stubbornly turned toward their appointed course.
Fire Fist Ace, who had only recently regained his freedom, was driven by his innate stubbornness and his desire to uncover the truth of his origins to make a choice much like the one he had made in the original history.
First, he entered the isolationist Wano Country, intending to challenge the Emperor who occupied it-Kaido of the Beasts.
Unfortunately, Kaido had gone off to challenge Gern again at that very moment, so a twist of circumstances kept Ace from encountering him directly.
Instead, he met Tama and Yamato there.
After spending a short time with Yamato, Ace left Wano Country with his goal still unfulfilled.
Afterward, he stubbornly charged into the waters controlled by another Emperor of the Sea, Whitebeard, the "World's Strongest Man," intending to affirm his chosen path by challenging the strong.
Even after the lesson Gern had given him, he still believed: If I can't beat Gern, surely I can beat you lot?
Unfortunately, fate continued to favor him. Ace did not encounter Whitebeard right away, but instead crossed paths with a Shichibukai who had come under orders-
Jinbe, the "Knight of the Sea."
The two fought an earth-shaking battle for five days, which finally ended in a draw.
Just as Ace exhausted his strength, the enormous silhouette of the Moby Dick came cutting through the waves.
Whitebeard appeared in person and, in a manner that brooked no resistance, forcibly brought this son of an old acquaintance-
a young man who could even be called a "troublemaker"-aboard his ship.
But the actual reason behind this was that Akainu, who had only recently left G-10, had learned of Ace's movements