"Hehe, Ace, why are you so serious?"
Luffy chuckled.
"Shirogai was someone I picked up on a small island! He's our pirate crew's Vice Captain!"
Luffy beamed with pride as he explained to Ace.
"How about it? He's pretty interesting and powerful, right?"
"Just interesting?"
Ace frowned slightly. In Luffy's eyes, someone that dangerous was just interesting?
---
Meanwhile, from the rooftops and nearby alleys, figures lurked in silence.
A group of surviving Baroque Works—those who had escaped the earlier purge—were now quietly encircling the brothers.
Weapons were raised. Crossbows cocked. Fingers on triggers. Luffy and Ace were just steps away from stepping into the trap.
---
"Hehe! Shirogai is super powerful!"
Luffy gestured with exaggerated glee.
"He can do everything! He cooks delicious meat, brews his own wine, fixes ships, sews clothes, even makes toys! He's great at hand-to-hand, swordplay, and can even kick hard like Sanji!"
He laughed.
"He can even stretch his arms like me! Just like my Gum-Gum powers!"
"Oh! And he trained Chopper to jump through flaming hoops!"
Luffy burst into hearty laughter, clearly proud.
Ace rubbed his brother's face in exasperation.
"Luffy! I'm telling you—have you matured at all? You're still the same idiot!"
"Eh?"
Luffy tilted his head, confused.
"What did Shirogai do? Did he make more tasty meat? Mmm, I am hungry…"
His stomach growled and a bit of drool escaped.
"…He nearly destroyed a city."
Ace sighed, watching Luffy's clueless grin.
"You seriously don't understand how dangerous that guy is."
Ace's brows furrowed.
"Hey, Luffy—what Devil Fruit did this Shirogai eat? His power... it's kinda like my Flame-Flame Fruit."
"Oh, right!"
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Shirogai ate the Talent-Talent Fruit! He's a Talent Human!"
"Huh?"
"Yeah! He can instantly learn any skill he sees—even Devil Fruit powers!"
Ace's steps halted.
"...What?"
"A Devil Fruit that copies other powers… just by watching?"
He stared blankly.
"That's... a god-level ability…"
---
Whoosh!
A flare burst into the sky.
"They're in position! Move in!"
From all sides, the encircling Baroque Works emerged from cover.
"As long as we kill Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy—we'll be promoted to executive officers!"
Shouts and war cries filled the air.
Bang! Bang!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows and bullets rained down in a storm.
"Hey, rude guys! Don't interrupt our brotherly talk!"
Ace stood calmly, letting bullets and arrows pass through his flame-elemental body, striking only the walls behind him.
"Wow! That's dangerous!"
Luffy leapt, grabbing a clothesline above, flipping high to avoid the barrage.
But a second volley was already incoming.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
"Ha! We got Straw Hat!"
Cheers erupted as bullets hit Luffy's body.
"Hehe! I'm a Rubber Man! Bullets don't work!"
"Gum-Gum Bullet Rebound!"
Luffy's body launched the bullets back, knocking several attackers to the ground.
"Ahh!"
"Shoot him with arrows—he's weak to cuts!"
Archers refocused.
But—
"Firefly Flame Stream!"
A burst of fire cut through the air, incinerating arrows mid-flight and blinding the shooters.
BOOM!
Explosions rocked the alley.
"My eyes!"
"Ow! My guts are blown out!"
"Help meee!"
The attackers scattered, screaming and falling one after another.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!"
Luffy slammed the gang leader into a wall across the street. The man didn't move again.
"You... stay back!"
The few remaining Baroque Works trembled, stepping back in fear.
But Ace and Luffy walked past them, chatting like nothing had happened.
"Hey, Luffy—besides Shirogai, what kind of crew do you have?"
"Hm? Lemme count…"
Luffy held up fingers, serious.
"There's Zoro, the swordsman who'll be the best in the world! Nami draws maps and loves money. Sanji's a great cook."
He grinned.
"There's Usopp, he brags a lot—his nose is funny! And our doctor's a reindeer, but he's also emergency rations!"
Ace laughed.
"Yep, sounds like your kind of crew."
Except Shirogai.
That guy… is dangerous.
"Oh! And we've got an undercover princess and a super-fast duck too! Everyone's fun!"
"Hahaha, you're the most fun, honestly."
"I still want a musician! Wouldn't it be awesome if we sang at every party?"
"A musician? Hmm… I know a guy who plays a great accordion…"
Ace was about to say more, but his voice trailed off.
They'd reached the beach.
---
Before them floated the Going Merry, its Straw Hat skull emblem flapping gently in the breeze.
"OOOH! Ace! That's my ship, the Going Merry!"
Luffy laughed, stretching his arm to grab the railing.
"HA HA! I'M BACK!"
---
"Luffy! Finally!"
"Were you okay out there?!"
Sanji and Chopper rushed forward.
"Wait, huh?"
Chopper blinked.
"Sanji, is Luffy flying at us?"
Sanji's eyes went wide.
"Oh no—LUFFY!!"
BAM!
Too late. The three crashed into a heap on deck.
"Hehe… Sorry, Sanji, Chopper!"
---
Nearby, Shirogai sat cross-legged, sipping milk tea. His expression unreadable.
"Everyone... get ready. We have a guest."
Crack!
A flame landed on the railing behind Luffy.
It flared, condensed—then solidified into Ace's figure.
"Fruit Plunderer... Shirogai Yamikuro."
Ace's voice was low, serious. His eyes burned with intent.
"Were you trying to wipe out a town just now?!"
"Heh. Overthinking it."
Shirogai stood, meeting Ace's gaze calmly.
"I just wanted to see what the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates was capable of."
Their eyes locked.
A faint, swirling black aura rose around them.
Haki.
Neither willing to back down.
The air pulsed with tension.
---
Send Powerstones (☉｡☉)