"What the hell is that guy trying to do?"
"He's walking toward the Red-Haired Pirates… do they have some unknown connection?"
"No well-known figure from the seas, who exactly is this man?"
The mystery surrounding him only deepened, stirring everyone's curiosity.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Kaelen Tsukishiro was a little exasperated. Though undeniably handsome, being the center of attention like this made even him uneasy.
Luckily, the distance wasn't far. In just a few strides, he approached Shanks and the others.
Under the curious gazes of Shanks and his crew, Kaelen spoke up.
"Don't look at me like that. Ace and I were friends. I originally came here to save him… though it seems I arrived a little too late."
To avoid trouble, Kaelen casually made up an excuse. With Ace gone, no one could challenge his claim.
At these words, the expressions of those around him softened.
"So, you were Ace's friend. If he knew you came, he would've been happy."
Seeing the sorrow flicker across Kaelen's face, Shanks didn't doubt him for a moment.
"Thank you."
Kaelen gave a small nod and walked over to Ace's lifeless body.
The grief in his eyes was only half-feigned. It wasn't entirely an act — otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fool the likes of Shanks or Ben Beckman.
"Hey..."
Looking down at the peaceful smile that lingered on Ace's face, Kaelen sighed softly.
Maybe, for Ace, death wasn't a tragedy. It was a release — a new beginning.
The title of Pirate King's son had brought him nothing but torment. In his short life, Ace had constantly searched for meaning, trying to understand his place in the world.
"Perhaps… when he saw Whitebeard fall, he made up his mind to follow him."
Kaelen silently guessed.
To Ace, Whitebeard had embodied everything a father should be — a towering, unshakable pillar of strength. And when that pillar crumbled, Ace lost his reason to go on.
His reckless clash with Akainu might have been his final, stubborn act of defiance.
"I hope, in whatever world you wake up next, you find freedom."
With a silent farewell, Kaelen brushed Ace's hair into place. It was a small gesture of respect, for a man loved by many.
[System prompt: Congratulations, host. You have touched the corpse of Portgas D. Ace and acquired the Flame-Flame Fruit ability.]
A wave of searing heat surged through Kaelen's body as knowledge of the fruit's techniques and Ace's combat experience flooded his mind.
"In theory… the temperature limit of this flame is boundless. Ace was too young, and his ability underdeveloped. If he'd had more time, even Akainu would have struggled."
Kaelen sighed, his thoughts tinged with regret.
There was no questioning Ace's talent. In just three years, he'd brought the Flame-Flame Fruit close to awakening. With a little more time, he wouldn't have been caught off guard by Blackbeard.
"Ace's body is in your hands now."
The performance complete, Kaelen turned to face Shanks.
"Rest assured, I'll give Ace the burial he deserves."
Shanks' voice was solemn. Ace wasn't just Roger's son or Luffy's brother — he was a man worthy of being honored.
Kaelen gave a faint nod before shifting his gaze to the fallen Little Oars Jr.
When it came to sheer strength and endurance, even giants paled in comparison to the Majin race. His ancestor, Oars, could literally tow islands, and his body had resisted decay for centuries.
The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was brutal on the body, and not even Whitebeard's monstrous physique had endured it for long. So for Kaelen, the vitality of a Oars was an opportunity not to miss.
"Wait a second, that's… a live Den Den Mushi!"
Kaelen's eyes lit up. Diverting his path, he strode toward a languishing Transponder Snail still broadcasting the events at Marineford.
A sly grin curled his lips.
'I didn't come to this world just to quietly blend in. I want to leave something behind — proof that I existed.'
Ever since his system had activated, Kaelen hadn't planned on staying in the shadows. In his last life, no one had remembered his name. He wouldn't let that happen here.
With that thought, Kaelen faced the Transponder Snail.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he greeted. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kaelen Tsukishiro, a bounty hunter."
In this world, bounty hunters were akin to mercenaries. Kaelen had no interest in becoming a Marine or a pirate. This profession suited him fine.
"What the hell is that guy up to?"
On a shattered platform, Sengoku frowned as an ominous feeling settled in his gut.
And sure enough, his instincts were right.
"I hereby declare to the entire world — whether you're a Marine, pirate, revolutionary, or anything else — if you have the Berries, I'll take any job."
Kaelen's voice dropped an octave, deadly serious.
"Even if it means hunting down a Celestial Dragon."
BOOM.
The words dropped like a cannonball into the ocean, sending shockwaves rippling through Marineford.
On Sabaody, in front of the broadcast screen, civilians, pirates, and reporters from every major paper stared wide-eyed at Kaelen's face.
Then the square erupted into a frenzy.
"Hurry! Get this story to headquarters! This might be the biggest headline since Whitebeard's speech!"
"Insane… who in their right mind would say something like that on a global broadcast?!"
"Gulp… the world really is changing. I can feel a storm coming, one that could drown the world."
In a place unseen by anyone, an old man in glasses chuckled softly, his sharp eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"Kaelen Tsukishiro… what a name. From this moment, it'll echo across the seas."
"The tide of the new era rises even higher. Only one can claim the throne of the seas… what a time to be alive."
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