Ages shouted excitedly.
"Hahaha, it worked, it worked..."
After spending a while in excitement,
Ages calmed down, rested a hand on his chin, and pondered.
"Now that the experiment worked, I should give this move a name. What should I call it?"
Ages rubbed his chin in thought...
Just then, a wave washed in.
Ages looked down at the wave washing over his feet. A few fragments of rock were carried ashore by the water.
Ages looked at the rock fragments, then at the full moon reflected in the sea, and said,
"I've got it! I'll call it Moonfall: Starburst!"
"Hehe, how could a big move in the pirate world not have an over-the-top name?"
As Ages stood there, his face full of satisfaction with the name he had given his big move,
Tap... tap...
"Hehe, Ages, that's quite a move you've got."
Fujitora walked toward Ages with a smile.
Hearing him, Ages turned to look at Fujitora as he approached and said proudly,
"Pops, so you were here! What do you think? Pretty good move, right? Hehe."
Fujitora nodded in approval.
"Very good. It has tremendous destructive power over a wide area, but you need time to charge it, don't you? If someone destroyed that little black ball before you finished forming the meteor sphere, you wouldn't be able to unleash your big move..."
As expected of a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the pirate world's strength, Fujitora had pointed out the flaw in the big move Ages had created with a single remark.
Ages' excited expression fell as soon as he heard Fujitora's words. Only then did he realize his move had a fatal flaw.
If someone was fast enough, like Kizaru, he could easily destroy the black sphere while it was forming into a meteor.
Or, more directly, interrupt Ages while he was charging up the black sphere.
But just as Fujitora was about to console him, the somewhat dejected Ages suddenly looked up. An air of fearlessness in the face of hardship and unwavering determination radiated from him, and a resolute light shone in his eyes as he said,
"Pops, I'll definitely improve this move until it has no flaws!"
Sensing the change in Ages' bearing, Fujitora felt that the words of comfort he had prepared were somewhat unnecessary.
After all, if Ages were someone who could be "defeated" so easily, he would not have possessed strength far beyond that of his peers, and even beyond some adults, at the age of ten.
The change in Ages' bearing strengthened Fujitora's resolve. He asked,
"Ages, what is your dream?"
Fujitora's sudden question left Ages utterly baffled. He thought,
What's Pops doing? Can he summon a divine dragon to grant my wish or something??
Though his thoughts were running wild, he still answered,
"My dream is world peace!"
Fujitora nearly burst out laughing with a snort. He chuckled and scolded him.
"You brat, I'm asking you a serious question. Stop fooling around."
Ages grinned and said,
"Hehe, I thought you might actually believe me, Pops."
After fooling around, Ages said seriously,
"Pops, my dream is actually simple. I want to be powerful."
Hearing Ages' ordinary dream, Fujitora had long since guessed it. After all, he had watched Ages grow up.
Fujitora put aside his usual gentleness and said with a serious expression,
"Ages, you want to be powerful, but have you ever thought about how to gain that power?"
Ages hesitated for a moment, then answered,
"By learning swordsmanship from you, Pops. Then I'll become powerful."
Fujitora shook his head, walked to the water's edge, and pointed his wooden cane at the sea.
"Ages, this world is vast, and its powerful fighters are as numerous as bamboo shoots after spring rain."
"Perhaps you think I'm strong, but in this world, I'm just a drop in this vast ocean. Nothing more than an insignificant existence."
"Because you've stayed with me, your horizons have been limited by me. What you've seen is only what's within those limits..."
"So... go out and make your way in the world, Ages. Go out into this vast world and make your way, if you want to grow stronger quickly."
When Fujitora finished, he felt the sea breeze blowing against his face and said with a sigh,
"This vast world is so very big, as beautiful as the ocean, yet as full of unknowns and mysteries as the deep sea..."
As he listened to Fujitora, Ages' heart could not settle for a long time.
Ages had never watched Pirate King, so he did not know much about this world. Ever since he was born into this pirate world, he had stayed with Fujitora.
In Ages' eyes, Fujitora was an invincible swordsman, and Ages believed that as long as he learned from Fujitora, he could become powerful.
But what Fujitora had said today was somewhat different from the way Ages understood the world, leaving him at a loss for words.
His heart remained unsettled for a long time...
Suddenly, Ages' heart churned even more. He was tremendously excited, and a bold light shone in his eyes.
So this world is that interesting? There are so many powerful people in this world? So many unknown adventures waiting for me!
Ages suddenly felt reluctant to leave, because if he went out into the world, he would have to leave Pops, who had been at his side and taught him swordsmanship since he was little.
Perhaps Fujitora sensed what Ages was thinking, for he said,
"Ages, don't be reluctant. If a young eagle wants to grow, it must one day leave the embrace of the great eagle."
"Hehe... besides, you're only going out into the world. It's not as though you'll never see me again, is it?"
"Mm! Mm!..."
Ages nodded emphatically.
Fujitora walked over slowly and, as usual, rubbed Ages' hair. He said gently,
"Ages, if you want to grow stronger, I suggest joining the Marines. They have people who specifically teach a form of physical combat that surpasses the limits of human physical ability, as well as how to master and use Haki."
"Hehe... and Ages, you're like me in that you can't stand seeing people bullied. If you join the Marines, you'll be better able to protect and help those who need help."
Ages nodded, and a dream suddenly came to mind... a dream from his previous life...
The dream of becoming the supreme leader of the Marine Corps!
Perhaps this dream, left unfulfilled in his previous life, might come true in this world.