One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Moria's high-pitched voice grabbed everyone's attention.

"Bartholomew Kuma? Is that his name?" Nami, who had been watching Tashigi and Ryoma's battle, narrowed her beautiful eyes.

"One of the Seven Shichibukai of the Sea, the tyrant with a bounty of 296 million Berries, Bartholomew Kuma! Why is he here?" Perona exclaimed in shock.

"Kuma?" Ace glanced at the distant towering figure, a spark of recognition in his eyes.

Kuma, the wielder of a Devil Fruit with near-broken abilities—the Paw-Paw Fruit. His power placed him among the most formidable of the Shichibukai. Despite his intimidating appearance, he possessed one of the gentlest hearts on the seas.

Ace remembered the story well. Kuma had willingly become a weapon of the World Government, sacrificing his sense of self, all to save Jewelry Bonney, who, though not his biological child, he treated as his own. Even after losing his consciousness, Kuma had still gone to Egghead Island when Bonney was in danger.

Ace admired Kuma deeply. Men like him, he thought, are the true warriors of this sea.

"Has he noticed me?" Kuma's eyes locked onto Ace from behind his glasses. His gaze sharpened.

It didn't surprise him. Even with the Paw-Paw Fruit, trying to sneak past someone like Ace was a fool's errand. His Conqueror Haki was already more advanced than even that of Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army.

This man… Kuma thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. Ace's mere gaze, even from such a distance, sent waves of overwhelming pressure toward him.

If it weren't for his true role as an undercover agent for the Revolutionary Army and his mission to pass on critical information, Kuma might've used his Paw-Paw powers to flee. The pressure was that immense.

"Tashigi, let's finish this," Ace said with a calm smile.

Tashigi nodded, her grip tightening around Shigure. "As much as I've enjoyed fighting a legendary swordsman, my captain's orders come first."

She placed her sword before her, her eyes flashing with the dark hue of Armament Haki. Around her neck, a charm given to her by Ace glowed faintly, and her sword, Shigure, began to undergo a mysterious transformation.

"This feeling…" Ryoma said, gazing at her blade. "Your sword… It's changing, becoming more like mine. I am honored to duel with you today. Yo ho ho ho!"

"No, you're mistaken," Tashigi replied, lifting her chin with newfound confidence. "My power only blossoms like this because of my captain."

"Clang!"

The sound of Shigure's transformation echoed as it responded to her growing strength.

"I see. It is an honor for me to fight a swordsman who has been shaped by such a man," Ryoma said, his voice turning serious. "Tell me, young swordswoman—what are the names of you and your captain?"

The air around Ryoma chilled as his legendary blade, Shusui, thrummed with power.

"Tashigi! And my captain's name is—Portgas D. Ace, the Flame Emperor!" Tashigi shouted proudly as she swung her blade with precision.

"Dawn Song: Right-Handed Strike!" Ryoma roared, thrusting his Shusui forward with fierce intent.

"Clang! Whoosh!"

Their blades collided, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. In the next instant, the two warriors landed on opposite sides of the battlefield.

Tashigi exhaled heavily. "Even after all these years, your strength is astonishing. It's a shame I couldn't witness your true swordsmanship."

She turned to face Ryoma, noticing the deep scar that now marred his chest. There was regret in her voice.

"Ah, yes… It is unfortunate. If only I had regained my former strength… If only I had the courage to face your captain, Portgas D. Ace, sword in hand. Yo ho ho ho!" Ryoma chuckled, casting a glance at Ace in the distance.

"Young swordswoman," Ryoma said, his voice growing serious again. "Your sword is strong, but it isn't enough to make you one of the top swordsmen. Eventually, it will struggle to keep up with your growing strength. Though I've left my mark on it, this blade won't be your final one."

With a slow, deliberate motion, Ryoma tossed Shusui towards Tashigi.

"Take it. Shusui, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords."

Tashigi stared at the legendary sword in her hands, her eyes wide with amazement. Its beauty was undeniable.

"I'll find a blade worthy of my skills," Tashigi declared with a confident smile. "My swordsmanship will grow as I follow Ace—until the day he becomes King of the World! I want to see that wondrous world he spoke of. That's my path, my way of the sword!"

Ryoma smiled, his voice softening. "It is no shame for a samurai to be defeated by a swordsman inspired by a man like your captain. Yo ho ho ho…"

With those words, Ryoma's head bowed, his spirit fading.

"Shadow… release," Merry, who had been sustaining Ryoma, said gently.

The reason Ryoma was able to move, even after Moria had lost control of him, was due to Ace's desire to let Ryoma hone Tashigi's skills. Through Merry's control of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Ryoma's form had remained.

Now, the shadow was being returned.

"Whoosh!"

Ryoma's shadow shot back into Brook's body, settling at his feet.

"My shadow! Yo ho ho ho!" Brook exclaimed, looking down with delight. He then turned to Ace, gratitude overflowing in his eyes.

"Mr. Ace, thank you so much," Brook said sincerely. "Not only did you retrieve my shadow, but during that strange moment within your realm, my control over my devil fruit improved dramatically. I've gained new insights into both my swordsmanship and how to develop my powers moving forward."

Ace smiled warmly. "No need to thank me. Your bond with Laboon is more than enough reason to help. Besides…"

Ace's eyes gleamed with nostalgia.

"My little brother, Monkey D. Luffy, dreams of having a musician like you on his crew. Ever since we were kids, he's always wanted a skeleton musician. I think you're the one."

Ace chuckled softly, his gaze distant, as if lost in nostalgia.

"When I was back in Windmill Village, I once joked that there could be musicians out there who were nothing but bones yet could still sing.

Luffy got so excited, he nearly jumped on a boat to set sail right then and there.

My little brother's favorite thing is meeting strange and wonderful people."

"Mr. Ace's brother? Monkey D. Luffy?" Brook's eyes widened, looking down at his skeletal hands.

"Is it possible… that someone would dream of having me as their musician?" His hand bones trembled slightly. 

Though Brook was always optimistic, cracking jokes about his bones, he knew deep down that his current form—just a skeleton—was strange to most people.

To be someone's musician again? To regain the precious bond of companionship? It was something he had never dared dream of.

"Of course," Ace affirmed with a reassuring smile. "My brother has always dreamed of having a musician like you, Brook."

"Is that so? Someone like that really exists?" Brook's hands shook, and slowly, tears began to flow down his face.

"My brother will set out to sea soon, though it'll likely be two more years before that happens," Ace added, gazing at Brook.

"Two years?" Brook sighed. "I've been drifting alone on this sea for what feels like an eternity—almost 5,000 cycles of the moon. But thank you, Mr. Ace, for giving me hope once again. Yo ho ho ho!" Brook's laugh echoed through the air, a wild, joyful sound.

"Then, I look forward to our next meeting," Ace said, laughing too. "My brother will be an important right hand to me in the future. The next time we meet… maybe it'll be at Twin Cape, where Laboon waits."

"If it's Mr. Ace's brother, I'm sure that day will come," Brook replied, excitement filling his voice. His hollow eyes seemed to shine with a light of their own.

Mr. Ace's brother will become his right hand? Brook thought to himself. Then, as his brother's musician, not only could I regain my companions, but I could also play my part for Mr. Ace.

The thought made Brook's spirit soar.

——

"Bartholomew Kuma! Are you just going to stand there?" Ace suddenly called out toward the distant figure of Kuma.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, Kuma's massive form vanished, reappearing right in front of Ace.

"What was that?" Nami and the others approached, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Is that the power of his Devil Fruit?" Nami asked, her voice wary. The girls had detected his arrival using Observation Haki.

"He bounced here," Nami said, eyeing his hands. "That power… came from his palms."

"That's right," Moria shrieked. "The Paw Man with the Paw-Paw Fruit! He can repel anything he touches with his paw pads! Why are you here, Kuma?!"

Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit ability was among the most fearsome of the Devil Fruits, granting him immense power. Its strangeness far surpassed the Shadow Fruit Moria once wielded.

"Emperor of Flame, it's an honor to meet you," Kuma said, bowing slightly in respect. "I bring you greetings on behalf of Sabo."

Ace's eyes widened slightly, and a small smile crept across his lips. "Sabo… my brother?"

Ace's lips curled into a grin, which soon turned into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! So you've recovered your memories, Sabo! My brother, Sabo—is he doing well with the Revolutionary Army?" Ace's eyes gleamed with nostalgia.

Kuma's pupils shrank in surprise. He hadn't mentioned the Revolutionary Army at all, yet Ace had figured it out.

"What's so shocking?" Ace said, amused by Kuma's reaction. "When Sabo was rescued by Dragon, I saw everything clearly with my Observation Haki."

Ace grinned slyly, as if daring Kuma to question him.

"I see…" Kuma muttered, understanding dawned on him. He realized there was much about Ace he didn't yet know. Still, it wasn't his place to ask. Inside, however, he was amazed. 

Dragon rescued Sabo when he was only ten? And at that age, Ace already had mastered Observation Haki to this level? Kuma thought, As expected of someone with Conqueror's Haki, this powerful.

Moria, who had been watching quietly, suddenly gasped. "The Revolutionary Army? Kuma… you're an undercover agent for the Revolutionary Army?!"

Kuma turned to face Moria, his expression unreadable. "Aren't you in a similar position, Moria?" he said calmly.

Moria opened his mouth to respond, but Ace interrupted with a laugh. "Don't misunderstand, Moria. You're not qualified to join my Entei Pirates. As for my crew, it's just Perona."

Ace's words stabbed like a knife, and Moria clutched his chest in pain. It was true—after losing the Shadow Fruit and neglecting his training for so long, his Haki and physical strength had deteriorated.

But even so, Moria still felt the sting of rejection.

After a moment, however, a spark of determination lit up Moria's eyes. So what if I've been out of shape for a long time? My talent is still there! And just now, he had felt something stir within him—a mysterious power from the light that had surrounded them earlier.

He looked down at his hands, stunned.

——

"Sabo is doing well," Kuma reported. "He's now the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army."

"Hahaha! That's my brother, alright!" Ace laughed, his voice filled with pride.

Sabo, having trained alongside Ace since they were children, had grown far stronger than he had been at the same point in the original story. It was only natural that he would become the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army ahead of schedule.

"After hearing your name spread across the seas, Sabo regained his memory," Kuma said, looking at Ace. "He spoke at length with Dragon after that, and it seems Dragon had much to think about. From what I can gather, Dragon holds a great deal of admiration for you, Emperor of Flame."

Kuma's respect for Dragon was evident—not just for Dragon's immense strength but also for his ideals. For someone like Dragon to admire a man like Ace... Kuma couldn't help but marvel. Portgas D. Ace truly is a mysterious figure, he thought.

"Tell Sabo I got his message," Ace replied, a faint smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "I look forward to seeing him soon."

Between brothers, not many words were needed. Just a few sentences, and Ace could easily understand what Sabo was thinking. Likewise, Sabo would understand Ace's message as well. Sabo wasn't the same boy from before; he'd grown strong enough to be a crucial ally in the battles ahead, someone who could stand by Ace's side as they challenge the heavens.

Ace knew that Sabo would grasp the meaning behind his words. They were brothers, after all. They both awaited the day when they could fight together again.

"I'll relay your message," Kuma said, his tone growing more serious. "But there's something important I need to tell you."

Kuma's expression became grave.

"The Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, has left his New World territory and is heading for the first half of the Grand Line."

"At the same time, Kaido of the Beasts, in his Azure Dragon form, has left his base and is also heading for the first half of the Grand Line."

"Their target… is you, Emperor of Flame."

Kuma's words hung in the air, heavy with tension.

"Based on their respective navigation paths, it's highly likely that all three of you will converge at the Sabaody Archipelago."

"The Navy, in anticipation of a potential battle between the three of you, has deployed nearly all of its top fighters. The World Government has even given the Naval Headquarters the authority to issue an emergency summons for the Seven Shichibukai of the Sea."

"In other words, two of the sea's great powers—the Navy and the Seven Shichibukai—are preparing for war."

"And whether this war breaks out… depends entirely on you, the Fifth Emperor of the Sea," Kuma finished gravely.

"Wh-what?! I completely forgot about this!" Moria exclaimed, clutching his head in a panic. He had been so engrossed in the joy of regaining his Haki and rediscovering his purpose that he had overlooked such a critical piece of information.

Moria glanced nervously at Perona, who had already expressed her intent to join the Entei Pirates. If things continued on this course, wouldn't Perona be dragged into this terrible war?

"The Four Emperors… Red Hair? Kaido?" Nami and Vivi gasped, wide-eyed.

Two of the Four Emperors were headed straight for Ace?

Perona, trembling, realized the gravity of the situation. How could she have forgotten about this? Joining the Entei Pirates would mean facing two of the Four Emperors head-on!

"Kishishishi, don't worry, Perona," Moria cackled nervously, trying to reassure her. "Now that Ace knows about this, he can avoid crossing paths with them. Only a fool would willingly throw themselves into a clash between two of the Four Emperors, the Navy, and the Shichibukai of the Sea!"

"Woo!" Nami and Vivi turned to Ace, their eyes brimming with tears.

"!!!"

Moria's gaze followed theirs, turning mechanically to Ace, whose eyes were gleaming with excitement. His expression left Moria speechless—his tongue nearly falling out of his mouth.

"What an interesting war! In the Sabaody Archipelago… I'll take them on!" Ace declared with a booming laugh.

"Ace, you're way too excited!" Nami and Vivi, the timid duo of the Entei Pirates, burst into tears.