CHAPTER 18 — A QUESTION OF FLAMES
The boat rocked gently as the wind shifted. The sun hung high, heat pressing down on the open sea. The horizon was empty—no ships, no islands, no distractions.
Just water.
Just time.
Ace sat at the edge of the boat, legs dangling over the side, watching the waves break against the hull. Fire flickered lazily around his knuckles, more habit than intent.
He looked comfortable. Too comfortable.
I adjusted the sail, then spoke without turning.
"So, Ace," I said calmly, "which Devil Fruit do you want?"
He blinked, then laughed. "Huh?"
I finally looked at him. "I think you'd be better with one."
The words hung in the air.
Ace stopped laughing.
ACE'S REACTION
"
A Devil Fruit?" he repeated, scratching the back of his head. "Those things are rare. And dangerous. You really think I need one?"
"You don't need one," I replied. "But it would accelerate your growth. Cover weaknesses.
Expand options."
Ace stared out at the sea again, expression turning thoughtful. "You always talk like that. Like everything's a calculation."
"It is."
He snorted. "Figures."
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The wind filled the silence. Gulls cried somewhere far above.
Then Ace's voice dropped.
"If I could choose… I wouldn't want something fancy."
I waited.
ACE'S ANSWER
"I want power that doesn't run away from me," he continued. "Something straightforward. Destructive. Something I can throw everything into."
Fire flared brighter around his hands as he spoke, instinctively reacting to his emotions.
"I don't care about tricks. Or sneaking around. I want something that lets me stand in front of an enemy and burn through them."
I studied him carefully.
His temperament. His aggression. His refusal to retreat. His instinct to protect by overwhelming force.
Observation Haki confirmed it.
He wasn't wrong.
"You're suited for an elemental Logia," I said. "High output. Direct control. Overwhelming offense."
Ace's eyes widened slightly. "Logia? Those are the strongest ones, right?"
"
Among the most dangerous," I corrected. "High reward. High risk."
He grinned. Wide. Confident. Reckless.
"Sounds perfect."
THE UNNAMED FUTURE
I turned back toward the sea. "If the right one appears, I'll let you choose."
Ace leaned back, hands behind his head.
"You talk like you're already planning to steal one."
"I am."
He laughed again, louder this time. "Guess I'm in good hands then."
The flames around his knuckles died down, but something else burned brighter now—anticipation.
I adjusted the course slightly, eyes fixed on the horizon.
Devil Fruits were rare.
But the sea was vast.
And patience always paid off.
The question had been asked.
The answer had been given.
Ace didn't know which fruit awaited him yet.
Only that when it came—
It would burn.