On a nameless island, atop a cliff of jagged stone—
[Your comprehension is unparalleled! The Flame-Flame Fruit has been drawn to you by your out-of-this-world comprehension!]
Ace stared at the Flame-Flame Fruit in his hand. As the words echoed in his mind, he began to understand.
It was just like Luffy and that mythical Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika.
The Five Elders had said that the World Government had searched tirelessly for its trace for centuries.
But that Devil Fruit seemed to possess a will of its own—evading the World Government at every turn… and ultimately, choosing Luffy.
And now, the Flame-Flame Fruit had chosen him—delivered straight to his hands by a Sea King.
Back when he was fishing, Ace had felt an odd pull in the depths. So this is what it was…
Ace had always been a little frustrated by how vaguely the original timeline described how he got the Flame-Flame Fruit.
All he remembered was that he obtained it sometime after setting sail, on some island—
But exactly where or how? Not a clue.
Finding it again in this life felt like searching for a single ember in a raging ocean storm.
And without the Flame-Flame Fruit, the technique he had comprehended—Ittō Kasō, a blade of cremation transcending the laws of this world—would have remained sealed away.
But now, none of that mattered. He had found it.
He had obtained the Flame-Flame Fruit a full decade earlier than the Ace in the original story.
And with his unparalleled comprehension, he had reached the moment of 'unsealing.'
Ace didn't hesitate. He wiped the skin of the Flame-Flame Fruit for a bit—
—and took a bite.
Crunch!
"..."
A twitch danced at the corner of his mouth.
The taste… was every bit as foul as legend claimed.
"Hmm?!"
Just as Ace bit into the fruit, Garp snapped back to attention. His eyes shot toward the cliff.
"Oi! Ace! What the hell are you eating?!"
Spotting the half-eaten fruit in Ace's hand, Garp's eyes went wide.
In a flash, he was up the cliff and had Ace by the collar, holding him up.
Huff—
But in the next instant, a wave of searing heat surged from Ace's skin.
No—Ace's very body had turned into flame.
"Tch—! That's hot!"
Caught unprepared, Garp yelped and let go, blowing on his scorched hands.
Ace stood in a swirl of rising fire, untouched by the heat.
Because from the moment he ate the Flame-Flame Fruit…
He was fire.
[You comprehension is unparalleled. You can wield the Flame-Flame Fruit's power at 100% efficiency, perfectly attuned to yourself.]
Words blazed in his mind once more.
Ace instantly grasped what that meant.
Devil Fruit development—at its core—was simply mastering how to use the fruit's power.
But the power itself? That came pre-baked.
Eat the Flame-Flame Fruit, and you become flame. Your strength equals your flame's strength.
Even Sabo, when he ate the fruit at Dressrosa, could instantly wield formidable power.
But to use it freely—truly master it—took endless training.
Yet Ace… could skip that.
His unparalleled comprehension made full mastery instinctive.
The stronger his body became, the more power the Flame-Flame Fruit would unleash—without limitation.
And for Ace, enhancing his physical form was child's play.
After all, he had already mastered the Combat Hibernation Technique and Total Absorption.
As long as he had time, even surpassing Kaido's monstrous physique was within reach.
And when that day came…
The raw might of the Flame-Flame Fruit, fused with Ittō Kasō—
Ace couldn't wait to see just how terrifying that power could become.
"A-A Devil Fruit?! And a Logia at that!"
Garp's eyes narrowed. He was no stranger to the rare and fearsome.
And even among Logias, the Flame-Flame Fruit sat near the top.
"Where the hell did you get your hands on that?!"
Garp demanded.
"From that Sea King over there," Ace replied without a hint of hesitation, pointing to the unconscious beast nearby.
"..."
Garp checked the Sea King's body—
And sure enough, there was a sunken imprint in its belly, perfectly matching the shape of the fruit.
A Devil Fruit—the sea's rarest treasure.
Not just any Devil Fruit—
A Logia.
And not just any Logia—
The Flame-Flame Fruit.
And somehow, through pure chance (or fate?), it had ended up with Ace.
Even in the Navy, few fruits could rival it.
Not even Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit could claim superiority over it.
In the hands of the right person, it was the mark of an Admiral in the making.
And Ace… had talent beyond comprehension.
Garp fell silent for a long moment.
Then, he burst into laughter.
A rising star—no, a future Admiral, without a doubt.
But as Ace saw that grin spreading across Garp's face…
A chill ran down his spine.
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TL/N:
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