Chapter 145: Ace's First Steps into the New World!
The atmosphere in the room was so thick it felt like the air had been replaced with drying concrete.
"It's... impossible."
The voice was dry and hoarse, scraping against the silence like sandpaper. It belonged to Trebol, the disgusting, mucus-covered executive of the Donquixote Family. He stood frozen, his snot hanging perilously from his nose, his eyes wide with genuine terror behind his dark glasses.
Beside him, Diamante, the hero of the Colosseum, gripped the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. Pica, the stone assimilation human, remained silent, his massive shoulders trembling ever so slightly.
They didn't dare to breathe too loudly. They knew the storm that was brewing in the center of the room.
They knew better than anyone what "Beast Kaido" meant to the Donquixote Family.
To the outside world, Doflamingo was a king, a Warlord, a Joker. But these executives knew the truth. Doflamingo was a broker, and Kaido was his biggest client.
Kaido was not just a business partner; he was the iron roof that kept the rain of the World Government from drowning them. He was the ultimate guarantor of the "SMILE" factory, the dark empire they had built on the suffering of Dressrosa. He was the reason Doflamingo could walk with that arrogant swagger, laughing in the face of Admirals, because everyone knew that behind the Flamingo stood a Dragon.
Now, that pillar... the pillar that held up the sky of the underworld... had been broken.
Snapped in half by a pirate crew that hadn't even existed a year ago.
"What a joke! DON'T SCREW WITH ME!"
CRASH!
Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha, slammed the newspaper onto the expensive tiled floor. The force was so great that the marble cracked, sending spiderweb fractures racing toward his subordinates' feet.
"How could that monster... how could the Strongest Creature possibly be defeated?! By a rookie?! By a bunch of nobodies?!"
Doflamingo's chest heaved violently. Veins popped on his forehead, throbbing in time with his racing heart. His signature feather coat rustled as he trembled with a mix of rage and panicked realization.
It's over!
Only these two words remained in his mind, flashing like a neon sign in a dark alley.
Without Kaido's protection, the equation changed instantly.
His SMILE factory—the artificial Devil Fruit production line that made him indispensable—would instantly transform from a treasure trove into a ticking time bomb.
Without the threat of Kaido's wrath, the other Yonko would want it. The Marines would move to seize it. The World Government would want to silence him. Those who once feared him and feigned compliance would pounce like sharks smelling blood in the water.
"Law... that brat..." Doflamingo grit his teeth. "This disrupts everything."
The silence stretched, agonizingly long. Then, a sound broke it.
"Fufufu... Fufufufufu!"
Doflamingo suddenly laughed. He threw his head back, his laughter echoing off the high ceilings. But this time, there was no joy in it. It was dry, brittle, and filled with a madness and icy killing intent that made Trebol shudder.
He slowly stood up, his height casting a long, menacing shadow. He began to pace back and forth in the room, his pointed shoes clicking sharply.
Click. Click. Click.
His mind worked at an unprecedented speed, calculating, re-evaluating, scheming.
"Suzaku Pirates... Hashirama Senju... Uchiha Madara..."
He repeatedly muttered these names, tasting them like poison. His eyes, hidden behind his red-tinted sunglasses, were terribly gloomy.
"I must find a way... I must find a new path!"
He couldn't sit still. The throne he sat on was crumbling.
"Either I find a way to destroy this newly risen behemoth before they consolidate their power... or..."
Doflamingo stopped pacing. He looked out the window toward the sea.
"...Or I find a new backer. Someone even stronger than Kaido. Someone who can protect the Joker."
But who? The Whitebeard Pirates were too moral. Big Mom was too unstable—and she was currently courting Suzaku. Shanks was a pacifist.
The balance of this world—the Three Great Powers—had been completely shattered by Suzaku's victory.
And he, this Flamingo dancing on a tightrope between monsters, realized with chilling clarity: if he couldn't find a new foothold immediately, he would be the first to fall into the abyss.
Meanwhile, in the New World.
The sun shone brightly over a stretch of ocean near the entrance of the New World. The waves here were chaotic, the weather unpredictable, but for now, the sky was a brilliant blue.
On the deck of a pirate ship named Spade, the atmosphere was bustling and lively.
"Captain! One more plate! You've almost eaten all the meat in the kitchen!"
"Hahaha! Don't be stingy! The air of the New World just makes one's appetite soar!"
A young man sat on a barrel, his upper body bare, revealing a lean but muscular physique. He wore an orange cowboy hat with two blue smileys, and a string of red beads around his neck. Freckles dusted his cheeks, giving him a boyish charm that belied his terrifying power.
He was laughing heartily, stuffing a large piece of roasted sea-king meat into his mouth, sauce smearing on his cheek.
"Fire Fist" Portgas D. Ace. The Super Rookie who had turned down a Warlord position.
Masked Deuce, his blue-haired first mate, walked over with a newspaper in his hand. His brow was furrowed, his expression serious amidst the partying crew.
"Ace, don't just focus on eating. Look at this."
Deuce slapped the newspaper onto the barrel table, pointing a gloved finger at the familiar profile on the front page.
"Isn't this Suzaku Yareon... the guy who knocked you out with one move back in Loguetown?"
The lively atmosphere paused instantly. The music stopped. The crew members froze, holding their tankards of grog.
Ace's chewing stopped. His jaw clenched.
He slowly swallowed the meat. He reached out and grabbed the newspaper, his gaze instantly becoming as sharp as fire.
There it was.
The headline screaming about Kaido's defeat.
The ridiculously high bounties of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
And the photo of Captain Suzaku—calm, confident, looking like he owned the world.
The image deeply stung Ace's eyes. It reminded him of that day in the rain, the day he realized there was a wall he couldn't climb yet.
The crew members watched him nervously. They knew Ace's temper. They were afraid that their Captain would erupt in anger, or worse, sink into a depression over being left behind in the race for the summit.
However, Ace was silent for a long moment.
Then, a defiant, almost feral smile spread across his lips.
"Hmph."
He let out a disdainful snort. He crumpled the newspaper into a tight ball in his fist.
Fwoosh.
A small burst of flame ignited in his hand, turning the news of Suzaku's victory into ash. He opened his hand and let the gray dust scatter into the sea wind.
"Sooner or later, I will defeat him with my own hands!"
Ace stood up, wiping his mouth. He walked to the bow of the ship, the figurehead cutting through the waves. He looked at the vast and magnificent sea of the New World, his eyes burning with a raging fire that matched his Devil Fruit.
"However..."
He changed the subject, turning back to his crew. His tone was filled with astonishing confidence and a reckless arrogance that was purely Ace.
"His pirate crew can actually defeat a Yonko! It seems that the so-called 'Yonko' are nothing special after all! They are just old men sitting on thrones!"
Ace grinned, his teeth white against his tan skin.
"If he can do it, so can I! I'm not going to lose to Suzaku!"
Deuce and the other crew members were stunned. They exchanged worried glances.
"Ace, what... what are you planning?" Deuce asked, having a premonition of something bad. "We just got here. We should establish a base, maybe find allies..."
Ace shook his head. He adjusted his hat, his shadow stretching long on the deck.
"The Suzaku Pirates defeated the 'Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air'!"
Ace announced loudly, his voice carrying over the wind.
"Then we will challenge someone even stronger! To prove we are better!"
"Lads, hoist the sails and change course!"
"Our next target!"
Ace pointed a finger toward the horizon, toward the deepest part of the New World.
"Is to defeat Whitebeard! The man hailed as the 'Strongest Man in the World'!"
"EEEEHHH?!"
The crew screamed in unison.
"Hey! Ace! Are you serious?!" Deuce's face turned pale with fright. "That's Whitebeard! Edward Newgate! The man who rivaled Roger! We just entered the New World! This is suicide!"
"It's fine!"
Ace pushed his cowboy hat down firmly on his head. His fist ignited with scorching orange flames, the heat distorting the air around him.
He smiled confidently, the image of a fearless rookie who didn't know the height of the heavens.
"Believe me, I am very strong! If Suzaku can take down a Dragon, I'll take down the Quake Man!"
Somewhere else in the New World.
Unlike the tumultuous waves and political storms raging outside, the atmosphere on the Vermillion Wing was peaceful and serene.
The massive ship cut smoothly through the water. The sun was warm, the sea breeze was gentle, and the smell of freshly brewed tea wafted from the galley.
The addition of the Mink Tribe had filled the ship with vibrant life.
"Scrub, scrub, scrub!"
"Make it shine!"
Carrot and several members of the Mink Tribe were on deck duty. The rabbit mink was hopping around with a brush, scrubbing the deck plates with boundless energy. Her ears twitched with every movement, and she chattered lively with her companions.
"This ship is amazing! It's made of metal but floats so well!"
"And the food Akame-san makes is delicious!"
This tranquility was utterly shattered by a scream loud enough to pierce the clouds.
"KYAAAAAAH!!!"
"We... We are in the newspaper again!!!"
Nami rushed out from the navigation room, clutching a fresh newspaper she had just bought from a passing News Coo. Her fingertips were trembling, not with fear, but with sheer, unadulterated greed.
"Uncle Hashirama's bounty... Oh my god! The numbers! So many zeros!"
Nami's beautiful brown eyes were completely replaced by Berries symbols ($_$). She looked like she was hallucinating a mountain of gold.
"Nani... Nani? What happened, Nami-chan?"
The little rabbit Carrot jumped three feet high in surprise. Her ears perked up, and in the blink of an eye, she used her impressive leg strength to dart to Nami's side.
A group of other Mink Tribe members—dogs, cats, bears—also swarmed behind her curiously, like a bunch of cute little animals watching a feeding time at the zoo.
"Look! Quick, look! Our executive's new bounty poster!"
Nami was so excited she almost tore the newspaper to shreds. She shoved it into Carrot's face. "Look at this increase! Our crew's total bounty just skyrocketed!"
Suzaku walked over at the sound of the commotion. He was dressed casually, holding a cup of tea. After just one glance at the headline, he couldn't help but smile.
"Well done, Marine," he murmured. "They work fast when they're scared."
He chuckled softly and took the newspaper from Nami's shaking hand before she could rip it.
He walked to the center of the deck and spread it out completely on a crate. Then, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted with his full voice towards the stern of the ship.
"Hey! Madara! Hashirama! Come over here! You need to see your performance review!"
At the stern, two legendary figures were idling.
Hashirama Senju was looking at the sea, seemingly depressed about something trivial. Uchiha Madara was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the railing with an aura of "don't bother me unless it's war."
Hearing Suzaku's call, both stood up.
They walked towards Suzaku.
Thud. Thud.
Under the gazes of the Mink Tribe—who looked at them with a mix of adoration, awe, and fanaticism—the two slowly walked over.
The invisible pressure radiating from them made the surrounding air feel a few degrees heavier. Even the wind seemed to quiet down around Madara.
"Lord Madara and Lord Hashirama are truly amazing!" Carrot whispered, her eyes sparkling. Her little paws clenched into fists excitedly. "They look so cool!"
"What's happened again? Making such a fuss over a piece of paper."
Uchiha Madara's tone was as indifferent as ever, with a hint of impatience. He flipped his long, spiky hair over his shoulder.
He casually took the newspaper from Suzaku's hand, acting as if he didn't care.
"Hmph. Let's see how much they value a god."
His gaze fell on his own photo—a menacing shot of him holding his Gunbai against Big Mom—and then drifted to the number below it.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
[Akarin Note:
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