"Ace…"
Whitebeard's gaze did not waver. He looked down at Ace, far smaller in stature, with the gentle warmth of a father watching his son grow.
Glurururur…
The quiet space was suddenly shattered.
Whitebeard's massive frame erupted in a booming laughter, shaking the surrounding waters as though thunder itself had descended upon the ocean.
He stood colossal, one hand gripping his Murakumogiri, the other lightly resting on his belly, laughing from the depths of his heart.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Whitebeard's laughter stopped. His massive Murakumogiri sliced through the air with a surge of raw wind, pointing straight at Ace as he bellowed:
"This day!"
"I've been waiting for it for a long time!!"
"Ace!!!"
What no one else knew was…
From the very first day Ace joined the Whitebeard Pirates, he revealed his identity and purpose.
He had boarded this feared pirate ship with one goal: to eventually take over the Whitebeard Pirates.
Because…
He had made a promise with Luffy: none of the brothers would live under Roger's shadow.
They would carve their own legends.
Ace's joining of the Whitebeard Pirates was a carefully thought-out plan he discussed with Sabo after their reunion.
Yes!
Ace didn't set out to recruit crewmates or seek adventure immediately.
Instead, he scoured the world for news of the Revolutionary Army, creating dramatic headlines just to reach Sabo's ears.
Sabo, who had not lost his memory, immediately recognized Ace from the papers.
After witnessing Ace's actions and peculiar behavior, Sabo understood his intentions and went out to find him.
The brothers' reunion wasn't some dramatic spectacle.
They greeted each other calmly, like a family who had never been apart.
No awkwardness, no distance.
It was as if… they had never been separated at all.
That night, they talked until dawn—about food, about the past, about Luffy…
And when they spoke of Luffy, they couldn't help but recall his bold promise to them three.
Luffy's strength, as always, reminded them of the gap they needed to overcome.
But neither brother would be content to trail behind.
After their reunion, they made a full plan to "catch up to Luffy."
The decision was clear: Sabo would continue as a Revolutionary Army leader, operating within the government's shadow.
Ace, meanwhile, would join the aging Whitebeard Pirates, infiltrate the leadership, and eventually take over the largest pirate group in the New World.
Everything went according to plan.
The only thing was…
Ace told Whitebeard his plan on the very first day.
The reason was simple: Ace… did not like to lie.
Whitebeard had laughed heartily at this, slapping his knee, amused beyond words, seeing a shadow of an old acquaintance in Ace.
At that time, Ace hadn't revealed his lineage to Whitebeard yet, but it didn't matter.
With his skill and potential, Ace soon became captain of the Second Division.
Whether or not Whitebeard took Ace's words seriously, Ace's growing power made it impossible to ignore him.
Whitebeard had already begun training Ace as his heir.
Otherwise, Ace would never have gained such popularity and respect so quickly.
"Father… I'm sorry."
Ace's expression darkened as he looked at Whitebeard laughing heartily.
Though he couldn't explain why, following the plan didn't make him happy.
Glurururur…
"Why apologize, Ace!?"
Whitebeard's expression shifted to mild surprise.
"Isn't this exactly what we agreed upon?"
"Seeing you grow into the man you are today… it makes me proud, son!"
His massive Murakumogiri suddenly swung downward, pointing straight at Ace, who frowned.
"What's wrong, Ace?"
"This isn't your style!"
"My son would never be so timid!"
Shing!!!
The Murakumogiri, vibrating with immense force, surged forward.
Its blade sliced through the air, the shockwaves tearing open a vacuum around it.
The ice beneath shattered like an earthquake, breaking into countless fragments yet stubbornly remaining connected.
Thud!!!
Ace leapt with all his strength, narrowly dodging the strike.
Feeling the power embedded in the blade, he understood Whitebeard's intent.
Sharp determination returned to his eyes.
If this is the way it's going to be…
Ace planted a firm stance on the ice, his body glowing deep crimson.
But this was only the beginning.
Under Whitebeard's pressure, Ace moved, placing his right index finger in his mouth. He drew a deep breath, expanding his body like a massive balloon.
With a snap, he bit down, releasing a rush of air into his muscles.
At the same time, a dark crimson, almost black, layer of Haki enveloped him like a blazing fire.
"Gear Fourth: Boundman!"
BOOM!!!
Ace wasted no time, launching himself tens of meters into the air.
Arms armored in Haki, he shaped his thumbs and forefingers into a rectangle in front of his chest, framing Whitebeard's massive form below.
"Father! Let's finish this battle properly, with no regrets!!!"
From high above, Ace shouted, his voice tearing through the air with unyielding resolve.
Whoosh!
His legs, retracted and primed, shot out like bullets, trailing roaring flames.
The flaming limbs formed the shape of a colossal axe, aiming straight at Whitebeard.
Glurururur…
Whitebeard faced the oncoming strike, unshaken, laughing heartily:
"That's my son!!"
Whoosh!!!
The Murakumogiri cut through the air, sending a shockwave toward Ace's flaming legs.
"No!"
Sensing danger with Observation Haki, Ace reacted—but time was short.
The shockwave, formed by the Murakumogiri's immense vibration, surged toward him.
In an instant, a massive chasm seemed to open in the sky, as if splitting two worlds apart.
Ace's extended legs were caught in the shockwave.
The overwhelming force, capable of leveling mountains, battered his Haki-covered limbs, sending tremors across their surface.
It looked as though Ace had been seized by Whitebeard, unable to move.