Portgas D. Ace—that was the true name of the young man from another world.
"A completely new world?"
Upon learning that he was now in an entirely different dimension, the young man fell into a state of profound daze.
Though his body had died, his heart was still anchored to the world he left behind. His brothers in the Whitebeard Pirates, his troublesome younger brother Luffy, and so many others were things he could not simply cast aside.
To be resurrected only to face an alien world caused even the usually boisterous Ace to fall into a strange, heavy silence.
Shiraishi couldn't explain why the "Will of the World" had chosen this specific youth. However, since they had met here, it meant the gears of their respective fates had begun to mesh and turn.
Slowly lifting his head, Ace felt the steady thrum of his beating heart. His voice carried a trace of lingering confusion: "Can I... ever go back?"
"Yes. Current technology isn't sufficient, but it will be possible after future technical upgrades."
The Dragon Vein power of the offshore base hadn't reached its peak threshold yet. Only by obtaining a more potent energy source in the future—such as extracting the physical form of the Ten-Tails—would it be possible to fully shatter the space-time barrier.
There was, of course, another possibility: the gauntlet Shiraishi had thrown into the other world might convert enough chakra to act as a beacon. With the powers of two worlds resonating, a stable space-time bridge could be maintained far longer.
"Why did you choose to revive me?"
Shiraishi didn't have a concrete answer. Why do many things happen in this world? He simply withdrew the Dragon Ball into his sleeve and replied, "Perhaps it was felt that you deserved to keep living."
Traces of Inorganic Reincarnation fluid still clung to Ace's skin. Although he was deeply uncomfortable with being covered in Shiraishi's "spit," he endured it as he felt the mysterious liquid rapidly mending years of accumulated internal injuries and hidden scars.
"Until you return to your original world, you must follow my lead," Shiraishi stated firmly. A man of Ace's origin and identity was a massive variable, and Shiraishi didn't want to draw too much attention from the Sage of the Six Paths' lingering chakra.
"That's fine by me. I'm actually pretty hungry anyway."
Ace was a straightforward man. Having been saved by this stranger and knowing his status as an outsider, he realized that wandering aimlessly would likely cause trouble.
Furthermore, Shiraishi had saved his life; until he could find a way home, Ace was more than willing to stay by his side and find a way to repay the debt.
Gratitude and honor—that was the essence of "Fire Fist" Ace.
"How much of your original power can you use now?"
At the mention of power, Ace shook his head. "The power of the Devil Fruit in my body is gone... but I feel like I can still use the flames."
As the words left his mouth, Ace threw a punch into the air. A massive "Fire Fist" erupted, the pillar of flame scorching the sea surface.
It was as if he were a being born for the flames; though the Devil Fruit was gone, he had inherited the "Legacy of Sage Fire."
Devil Fruits were the treasures of the sea, incarnations of sea devils. To eat one was to gain power at the cost of being hated by the ocean.
Before Ace's body entered Shiraishi's world, the "Mera Mera no Mi" had already returned to its source in his original world upon his death.
However, Ace's body had been assimilated with the fruit's power for years. The moment he was revived in this world, the fire element within the local natural energy fused directly into his cells.
A Natural Sage Body of Fire Control.
His "Haki" and perception had not faded with the cross-world transit. Combined with his naturally robust physique, Ace was now in a state similar to the First Hokage—a perfect Sage-like body.
However, the sheer intensity of the "Fire Fist" made Shiraishi's expression change. He flickered forward, activating the Ancient Crane Sage Seal to intercept the burgeoning heat, preventing the base from being damaged.
"Whoa! So strong!"
Though it was only a glimpse, the speed and technique Shiraishi displayed made Ace's eyes sparkle with excitement. He thought this guy was incredibly cool.
"Do you want to go home or not? If you blow up this base, you'll be stuck here forever."
"Ah... sorry, sorry!"
Having felt his new power—which felt even more liberated than his Devil Fruit abilities—Ace hadn't been able to resist testing it.
Shiraishi had blocked it, but the sheer scale of the flame was comparable to Madara Uchiha's Great Fire Annihilation. This confirmed Shiraishi's suspicions: Ace was a powerhouse.
What was even more startling was Ace's healing rate; he was constantly and effortlessly absorbing natural energy from the air to restore his physical form.
Even for Shiraishi, surviving a fatal heart wound wouldn't result in such immediate vitality. Ace looked as if he hadn't just been on the brink of death an hour ago.
"Can you... Please stop sleeping?"
Midway through Shiraishi's explanation of the Shinobi Continent's basic geography, Ace had simply fallen asleep standing up. Shiraishi's face turned grim, and he flicked a bolt of pressurized air directly at Ace's forehead.
"Ow! Sorry... I do that sometimes. Haha!"
After summarizing the world's situation and seeing that Ace was still a bit overwhelmed, Shiraishi handed him a forehead protector. "Wear this before we go."
Ace looked at the metal plate. He recognized it as a symbol similar to a pirate crew's jolly roger. Because of that recognition, he hesitated. Shiraishi noticed the hesitation but didn't press him; he actually respected the young man's loyalty to his "Whitebeard" family.
"Don't worry, it's just to avoid trouble. A Hidden Village isn't exactly a pirate crew; it's more like a guild for bounty hunters."
The explanation eased Ace's mind. He nodded and wrapped the protector around his upper arm, partially covering his "ASCE" tattoo. "Even without the headband, you saved my life. I'll do whatever I can to repay you while I'm in this world."
"Fate has its own plans."
Activating the technique, Shiraishi and Ace vanished from the offshore headquarters and reappeared instantly in the Land of Wind.
Stepping out into the outskirts of the village, Ace was stunned. "Whoa! Is this space-time power? From the ocean to a desert in a second?"
The guest from another world wasn't as shocked by the concept of "Reverse Summoning" as one might expect; evidently, similar abilities existed in his home world.
The Hidden Sand Village was currently ablaze with lights. Under the night sky, the urban center looked exceptionally prosperous.
Taking in the massive, modern-looking metropolis, Ace was speechless. "This is what you called a 'Bounty Hunter Association'?"
"Yes," Shiraishi replied. "Though besides managing the village, we also oversee the Land of Wind's infrastructure... naval construction... military fortresses... basic school education... and so on."
Ace stared at him with a deadpan expression, unsure how to respond. This is not a bounty hunter guild!
Because the teleportation point was near the White Snake Residence, they had to walk past it. The moment they entered the vicinity, the White Snake Princess sensed a "piece of meat" even more delicious and vibrant than Shiraishi.
"Hehe... Shiraishi, where on earth did you find such an exquisite physical specimen?"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.