"Yeah." Carolus nodded firmly, her face glowing with joy. "Yes! Ace is Carolus's friend—my best friend!"
Ace grinned. "Hey, wanna join my pirate crew?" he asked, then turned to Kakus. "You too, Kakus. How about joining my crew and adventuring across the seas with us?"
"Really? I can become a pirate too?" Carolus's eyes sparkled as she zipped to Ace's shoulder, wings fluttering in excitement. "I've heard there are giants as tall as mountains on the sea, and fish-men who live 10,000 meters below the surface! Are those real?"
"They sure are," Ace nodded. "One of my friends is a fish-man named Vores. The sea is full of different races and rare wonders. There's Fish-Man Island 10,000 meters beneath the ocean, and even Sky Islands floating high above the clouds. The people there have wings just like you—but they can't fly."
"And in a country called Dressrosa, there's a race of tiny people about your size. Most people call them Tontattas—sometimes 'fairies.'"
"Fairies!" Carolus's eyes widened, brighter than ever. She clutched Ace's finger with both hands. "I want to join! I want to be a pirate! I want to visit Sky Island, Fish-Man Island, and meet those Tontattas in Dressrosa too!"
"You'll take me, right, Ace?" she asked, eyes pleading.
"Of course!" Ace said seriously. "My dream is to explore every corner of this world with my friends—and become the freest pirate on the seas!"
"Yeah! Yeah! I want to join!" Carolus bounced with excitement, then turned to Kakus. "Big brother Kakus, come too! Let's travel the world with Ace!"
Ace echoed, "That's right, Kakus. Come with us. Sail the Grand Line and see the world!"
Kakus was clearly moved by the invitation, but he hesitated. His duty as a Sun Warrior weighed heavily on him. After a moment, he shook his head with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Ace. I can't."
"Why?" Ace asked, confused.
Carolus's wings drooped. "Big brother Kakus... is it because of the Sun Warrior's Oath?"
"Oath?" Ace repeated.
Carolus's voice trembled. "Every warrior of our sun elf clan must make a sacred oath before the Sun Tree when they receive the 'Corona' and become a Sun Warrior. They vow to protect the Sun Island and the Sacred Sun Tree, and once the elders pass, they must take their place and continue absorbing the energy from the Sun Seed."
Carolus knew Kakus longed for the sea even more than she did. But becoming a Sun Warrior meant shortened life, a sacrifice Kakus was willing to make. That's why her heart ached for him.
"Kakus." Carolus gently tugged his sleeve. "Can't you be happy for once?"
Kakus smiled, placing a hand on her head. "Don't worry about me. I'm the Sun Knight—strongest Sun Warrior in history. Even the sun can't burn me down. Don't worry, Carolus. In time, I'll find a way to journey the sea with Ace and everyone."
Turning to Ace, Kakus asked, "Ace... you understand the weight of a man's oath, don't you?"
"Of course!" Ace responded seriously. "A real man honors his promises! But, Kakus, you only swore to protect the Sun Tree and take over for the elders when they pass, right? That doesn't mean you have to stay on the island every moment."
"So there's no real conflict," Ace reasoned. "You can protect the tree—and still join us."
Kakus blinked. "That… might be true. But the elders are already nearing their limit…"
"Ho ho ho ho!" Elder Pim's laughter suddenly echoed from behind. He stood with a wide grin. "Kakus, don't underestimate us! We can hold on for at least another hundred years!"
"Hmph! Pim, a hundred? I can go one-twenty!" Elder Marcus huffed.
"You're both weaklings!" grunted Elder Tim. "I can last one-fifty!"
"Pah! I've still got two hundred years in me!" Elder Kaz added.
"You're all fossils!" Elder Victor snapped. "I'll live three hundred more years—I'm the strongest!"
The five elders began bickering like children.
Kakus looked at them with tears in his eyes. "Elder Pim, Elder Marcus, Elder Tim, Elder Kaz, Elder Victor…" His heart swelled with gratitude.
But before he could say more, Ace interrupted.
"Kakus!" Ace declared. "Elder Pim said it—we're welcome to make this island our home. That makes it our responsibility, too. We'll help you protect this island and your Sun Tree!"
Without another word, Ace dashed toward the Sun Tree. Everyone gasped.
He leaped high—straight toward the Sun Seed glowing atop the twisted Sun Tree—and bit into it!
"Ace!"
"Ace-kun, what are you doing!?" Carolus and Kakus both screamed in alarm.
The elders' eyes snapped open in unison, their gazes fixed in stunned disbelief.
They weren't afraid that Ace would damage the seed—but that the seed's overwhelming energy would harm him. In the knowledge passed down through their race, only sun elves could withstand the power of the Sun Seed.
Kakus flared his golden wings and launched into the air, racing toward Ace in a panic—but it was too late.
Ace had already sunk his teeth into the Sun Seed.
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