<div>
<div>
Kizaru soared into the air, his radiant light illuminating the land like a miniature sun.
<div>
<div>
Noir''s eyes widened. "Jump into the sea!" he yelled.
<div>
<div>
Ace froze. "Wouldn''t that be certain death?"
<div>
<div>
"Trust me!"
<div>
<div>
Noir''s crew obeyed their captain without hesitation. Even the stoic Lucci plunged into the water without a word.
<div>
<div>
One of Ace''s crewmates hesitantly approached. "Captain, are you sure about this...?"
<div>
<div>
Ace looked at the ocean with determination. "Trust Noir. Let''s jump!"
<div>
<div>
The crewmate was dumbfounded. Deuce patted his shoulder, chuckling. "Don''t worry. Mr. Noir is practically an honorary member of the Spade Pirates. He wouldn''t deceive us."
<div>
<div>
Ace and Noir''s crew leaped into the sea. Kizaru, having charged his light energy, unleashed a barrage of lasers that rained down upon the water''s surface.
<div>
<div>
As Noir dove deeper, he glanced back at the lasers piercing the water, feeling a strange sense of relief.
<div>
<div>
He''s totally holding back.
<div>
<div>
The old man''s a natural at playing it cool.
<div>
<div>
Admiral Kizaru was notorious for only putting in as much effort as he was paid for.
<div>
<div>
When he first appeared in the original story, he''d seemed incredibly powerful, effortlessly taking down Supernova after Supernova, leaving them unable to fight back.
<div>
<div>
But after several episodes, the Supernovas, though battered and bruised, had all miraculously escaped with their lives...
<div>
<div>
Kizaru''s infamous feats of laziness included kicking his nephew all the way to Whitebeard and Rayleigh, threatening to surrender the moment someone pulled a gun on him, and firing lasers at keys but somehow missing Law''s submarine entirely.
<div>
<div>
Kizaru represented ambiguous justice, his personality a constant enigma.
<div>
<div>
But jokes aside, Kizaru''s wide-area attack had still been somewhat effective.
<div>
<div>
At least for now, everyone was swimming for their lives, looking rather pathetic.
<div>
<div>
Kizaru''s interference, combined with the Devil Fruit users in both crews, made their underwater escape a slow and arduous process.
<div>
<div>
But in the murky depths, a large, coated ship submerged beneath the waves, slowly approaching.
<div>
<div>
Thanks to the coating specialists of Sabaody, any ship in this world could be modified for underwater travel.
<div>
<div>
The group swam towards the coated ship. As they touched the bubble surrounding the vessel, the pressure and buoyancy of the sea vanished, and they tumbled onto the deck.
<div>
<div>
Ace had swallowed a mouthful of seawater, and his crewmates were frantically trying to get him to spit it out.
<div>
<div>
On Noir''s side, everyone except himself, Conis, and Kalifa had succumbed to the effects of their Devil Fruits.
<div>
<div>
Robin, dazed from the water, was swept into Noir''s arms in a princess carry.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
<div>
<div>
Using his Mera Mera no Mi powers, Noir created a small flame to dry everyone off.
<div>
<div>
Robin wasn''t short, but in Noir''s embrace, she seemed as delicate as a doll. Regaining her composure, she asked, "Why aren''t you affected by the water?"
<div>
<div>
Noir thought for a moment, then replied seriously, "I don''t know, but I like places with lots of water."
<div>
<div>
Robin rolled her eyes playfully, then pondered, "Is everyone in the Noitem Kingdom like this? That doesn''t seem right..."
<div>
<div>
Noir kept his mouth shut. He wasn''t good at lying, so he chose to say nothing.
<div>
<div>
The group huddled around Noir''s makeshift fire. A tall, beautiful woman approached, smiling. "Mr. Noir, you''re truly impressive. To be able to fight an Admiral for so long."
<div>
<div>
Noir waved his hand dismissively. "I''m strong, alright, but that slippery monkey was impossible to catch."
<div>
<div>
Cretin, who clearly held a high position within the Revolutionary Army, understood immediately. "They must have been worried that you''d touch the Admiral and copy his Devil Fruit power."
<div>
<div>
Noir frowned. "How did they know I need physical contact to copy abilities?"
<div>
<div>
Cretin gave him a strange look, then raised her hand. "Paramecia-type Devil Fruit abilities usually require touch as a medium."
<div>
<div>
Oh…
<div>
<div>
So it wasn''t because they discovered my System''s Talent Copy Card, but because they deduced the Devil Fruit''s activation condition…
<div>
<div>
Noir couldn''t help but feel a mixture of amusement and frustration. The System''s limitations had inadvertently become a logical assumption in the eyes of the Marine higher-ups.
<div>
<div>
Ace, finally recovered, was now bouncing around the ship excitedly. As a fire user, his recovery had been much slower than the others.
<div>
<div>
"So this is the underwater world! Awesome!"
<div>
<div>
"And this is a coated ship! Amazing!"
<div>
<div>
Cretin, watching Ace''s antics with a raised eyebrow, asked, "You must be Fire Fist Ace, am I right?"
<div>
<div>
Noir nodded. "I want him to join our plan."
<div>
<div>
Cretin lowered her voice, her tone firm. "Absolutely not! No matter how strong he is, he''s not like you, Noir."
<div>
<div>
Ace, overhearing the conversation, protested. "I''m not any weaker than Noir!"
<div>
<div>
Noir''s eyes gleamed. "I have my reasons. The plan is still a few days away. I have a condition."
<div>
<div>
Cretin, suppressing her curiosity, asked, "What is it?"
<div>
<div>
Noir slung an arm around Ace''s shoulders. "Let my buddy meet your leader."
<div>
<div>
Cretin was about to refuse outright. Ace, equally confused, asked, "Why, Noir? What leader? Who are these people?"
<div>
<div>
Noir smiled at Cretin. "After he meets... maybe Ace will change his mind."
<div>
<div>
Turning to Ace, Noir''s expression turned serious. "Ace, do you remember your brothers?"
<div>
<div>
Ace nodded. "Of course. Luffy."
<div>
<div>
"And another one."
<div>
<div>
A deep sadness welled up in Ace''s eyes. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Sabo..."
<div>
<div>
"He''s dead."
<div>
<div>
Cretin''s ears perked up. She stared at Ace in disbelief. "You''re Sabo''s brother? The blond one, always wore a top hat, played with pipes?"
<div>
<div>
Ace''s eyes widened. He nodded at Cretin. "Yeah! Were you Sabo''s friend? I don''t think I''ve met you before..."
<div>
<div>
Cretin quickly shook her head. "What are you talking about? Sabo is alive."
<div>
<div>
Ace froze, stammering, "But... Luffy and I searched for years. No one could have survived that cannon blast..."
<div>
<div>
Cretin explained, "Our leader rescued Sabo from the Celestial Dragons'' attack in the East Blue and brought him to the Revolutionary Army to be raised."
<div>
<div>
Tears welled up in Ace''s eyes. His voice cracked as he asked, "If that''s true, why didn''t Sabo come looking for me and Luffy?!"
<div>
<div>
Cretin shook her head. "Sabo lost his memory in the attack. He doesn''t remember anything."
<div>
<div>
"But… Sabo often says he hears two voices, like they belong to people who are very important to him."
<div>
<div>
Ace''s tears finally overflowed, streaming down his cheeks. He covered his face and burst into laughter.
<div>
<div>
"Forgetting us... amnesia... it doesn''t matter. He''s alive! That''s all that matters!"
<div>
<div>
"Hahahaha!!"
<div>
<div>
The others watched in silence as Ace alternated between laughter and tears, his emotions overwhelming him. Noir stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
<div>
<div>
"So, what do you say? Will you come?"
<div>
<div>
Ace straightened up, wiping his tears. His voice was firm.
<div>
<div>
"I''ll go! I want to see Sabo!"
<div>
<div>
Noir sighed in relief. In the original story, Ace, unaware of Sabo''s survival, had died protecting Luffy.
<div>
<div>
Helping Ace reunite with Sabo would be a way to mend a regret from his past life.