The middle forest between Mount Corvo and Gray Terminal.
Ace brought Luffy and Uta to a giant tree.
"Sabo, are you there? Sabo?!"
Ace cupped his hand like a megaphone and shouted towards the top of the giant tree.
Soon, the group saw a boy wearing a blue hat poke his head out and say,
"What have you been doing these past few days, Ace?"
"I've already pulled off quite a few jobs in the past few days."
Suddenly, Sabo noticed two strangers standing beside Ace and immediately became alert.
This was where they hid their treasure, and it couldn't be discovered by outsiders.
"Who are these two guys?"
Luffy then introduced himself with a smile.
"Yo! I'm Luffy, and this is Uta."
Sabo looked puzzled and questioned Ace.
"What exactly is going on, Ace?"
Ace scratched his head.
"Well! It's hard to explain this matter. In short, come down first, and I'll tell you slowly."
...
Dozens of minutes later.
"What? You said Luffy knocked you down with one punch?"
Sabo looked shocked and exclaimed.
"Careless! Careless! I told you I was careless!"
"You, did you even listen carefully to what I was saying?"
Ace gritted his teeth in anger, arguing indignantly.
"Hahahahaha! I didn't expect Ace to have a day where he gets taught a lesson by someone else! Hahahahaha..."
Sabo didn't listen to Ace's excuse at all, slapping his thigh and laughing loudly.
Thump!
Just then, Ace's angry fist suddenly slammed down on Sabo's head, instantly stopping Sabo's laughter.
He couldn't beat Luffy, but he couldn't beat Sabo either?
Sabo clutched his head in pain, looking at Ace.
"Ace..."
Ace, on the other hand, crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away haughtily.
"Hmph!"
After Ace's introduction, Luffy officially met Sabo.
In the following days, the group either sparred with each other or went to Gray Terminal to rob the treasures of those bandits and criminals.
However, after sparring with Ace a few times, Luffy could no longer improve his Conqueror's Haki from him.
Ace's Conqueror's Haki had not yet awakened, and the limit of improvement was still too low.
...
Gray Terminal.
"We made a huge haul this time!"
"Mr. Burjermi was right! That greedy merchant's expression changed drastically as soon as he heard there was treasure from the Grand Line, and he rushed out."
"Actually, it was all just trash that drifted to the shore! Hahahahaha..."
Two men teased each other, talking about the treasure they had just snatched from a merchant, laughing loudly.
At this moment, they suddenly noticed two small figures appearing in the faint mist ahead.
As the two continued forward, wanting to investigate, the two figures simultaneously leaped up, and the steel pipes in their hands fell, heavily striking their heads.
A moment later.
Ace and Sabo excitedly carried the newly acquired treasure, exclaiming with excitement.
"The haul this time seems to be quite large! A full bag!"
"Yes! We're one step closer to our dream."
The two left leisurely.
Unbeknownst to them, someone had already noticed them in the shadows.
...
Middle Forest.
Sabo was sleeping alone at the top of the giant tree when he suddenly heard voices nearby.
"Ace and Sabo, they're famous brats around here."
"It was them, wasn't it, who stole the treasure from you last time!"
The tall Burjermi asked the man beside him, who had his treasure stolen by Ace and Sabo last time.
One of them replied,
"Yes, I'm truly ashamed, I was too careless at the time."
Burjermi's face was filled with anger.
"How daring, to dare to touch our pirate crew's money."
Saying that, he asked another person beside him.
"You tracked them last time, it was around here, wasn't it?!"
"That's right, I saw them come here with my own eyes."
Hearing the conversation below, Sabo was already covered in cold sweat.
If these people continued to search here, their treasure would definitely be discovered.
In a moment of urgency, Sabo leaped up and ran into the distance.
The sudden movement immediately attracted Burjermi and the others.
"Chase them!"
...
Dadan Family.
Luffy and the others were still sound asleep.
But the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Something bad has happened, Luffy!"
This shout woke everyone in the house.
Luffy slowly opened his blurry eyes and saw Ace standing at the door, looking panicked, his eyes filled with worry.
"What's wrong, Ace?"
Ace rushed to Luffy, handed him a note, and said,
"When I went to look for Sabo this morning, I found this note nearby."
Luffy took the note, which read:
"Sabo is in our hands. If you want to save him, bring all your treasure. - Burgem's Crew."
"Burgem?!"
Luffy mumbled, he seemed to have heard that name before.
"Burgem is the Captain of the Sapphire Pirates. They are not bound by law because they pay tribute to the kingdom. If Sabo falls into their hands, he will surely be killed."
Ace said worriedly from the side.
Luffy also recalled that this Burgem was the pirate in the original story who forced Ace to awaken his Conqueror's Haki.
Thinking of this, Luffy suddenly had an idea.
Perhaps he could use this Burgem to make Ace awaken his Conqueror's Haki, and then he could guide him from the side.
This would not only improve Ace's strength but also allow him to spar with Ace later to improve his own Conqueror's Haki.
Thinking of this, Luffy said to Ace,
"Ace, you've trained for so long, it should be no problem to entrust the task of saving Sabo to you, right?"
"Let's go! I'll observe from the shadows. If you can't do it, I'll step in."
Ace was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"I will definitely rescue Sabo."
...
Gray Terminal, on a pirate ship by the shore.
Sabo was tied to a pillar, and Burjermi punched him repeatedly.
Sabo was now covered in blood, his mind dazed, looking incredibly weak.
"Still won't tell us, brat? Hurry up and tell us the whereabouts of the treasure and Ace, and you won't have to suffer this."
Sabo's breath was weak, and he said in a faint voice,
"I... I won't tell you. Besides, your punches are much weaker than Ace's."
Upon hearing this, Burjermi's anger surged, and he gritted his teeth, swinging his fist at Sabo again.
Bang!
Just then, a small figure suddenly leaped onto the deck.
"Stop!"
Ace held a steel pipe, and his expression changed drastically when he saw Sabo's condition, his face instantly covered in rage.
Seeing Ace appear, Burjermi's fist stopped.
The other pirates also looked over, their eyes filled with amusement.
"Well, did you bring the treasure?"
As he asked, Burjermi suddenly noticed that Ace's hands were empty, and he frowned.
"You're not trying to die, are you? Daring not to bring the treasure you stole from us."
Burgem's face had originally shown a smile when he saw Ace appear.
But when he learned that Ace hadn't brought the treasure, his face was completely covered by murderous intent.
"Burjermi!"
Burgem called out in a low voice.
Burjermi immediately understood, clenched his fist, and walked towards Ace.
The two quickly entered a fighting stance.
After a dozen rounds of fighting, Ace finally found an opportunity, seized Burjermi's opening, and delivered a heavy blow.
Soon, having gained the upper hand, he secured the victory.
"Oh? Not bad!"
Burgem was very surprised, but also intrigued.
He slowly stood up from his chair and walked towards Ace.
Without even a moment to rest, Ace joined the battle once again.
...
Bang!
Ace, covered in injuries, was kicked to the ground by Burgem and then heavily stepped on.
"If it weren't for you daring to steal my treasure, I would have wanted to take you as my subordinates."
"Now, quickly tell me where those treasures are?"
"Otherwise, you two brats will die here today."
Ace's face was being brutally stepped on by Burgem, but he still maintained an unyielding posture.
"Don't dream about it, those are our treasures, and we will never tell you."
"Damn brat!"
He didn't expect this Ace to be as stubborn as Sabo, which reignited the anger in Burgem's heart.
He looked at a subordinate beside him and nodded to him.
Then, he revealed a sinister smirk and said,
"If you still don't speak, I'll kill your companion first."
"Look at him, he's already on his last breath!"
Ace looked at Sabo worriedly, but still kept his mouth shut.
He knew Luffy was nearby and would definitely save Ace.
At this moment, behind the ship's cabin at the stern, Uta whispered with a worried expression.
"Luffy, if you don't act soon, Sabo will be killed."
"No hurry!"
Luffy sat quietly leaning on the ground; Observation Haki allowed him to know everything that was happening.
He was confident he could save Sabo at the last moment, so he wasn't in a hurry, but wanted to push Ace a bit more.
Because Haoshoku usually awakens when one extremely desires to accomplish something, he had to wait until the last moment, giving Ace a little more time.
On the deck side.
Burgem asked again,
"What, still won't speak?"
Ace gritted his teeth, his thoughts incredibly chaotic.
He wondered why Luffy hadn't appeared yet, worried if Luffy wasn't nearby, and was even more concerned about Sabo's safety...
At this moment, Burgem completely lost his patience and glanced at the subordinate holding a knife.
"Do it."
The subordinate obeyed, raising the large knife in his hand, aiming at the dying Sabo.
Seeing this scene, Ace became even more flustered.
Nervousness, worry, doubt, anger—various emotions filled his mind.
His body was also completely drenched in sweat.
Watching the large knife get closer and closer to Sabo's head, Ace's emotions were amplified to the extreme at this moment.
Only one thought filled his mind.
"Stop!"
Ace roared.
Suddenly, an astonishing aura burst forth from him.
All the surrounding pirates were instantly filled with fear.
The next moment, everyone present, except for Burgem, rolled their eyes and fell to the ground, unconscious.
At this moment, Luffy, hidden in the shadows, slowly curved his lips upward.
Finally...
Ace's Haoshoku awakened.