"Nika?!!!"
Whitebeard, Shanks, and Kaido's pupils constricted to their limits. Rayleigh, who was sitting not far from Ace and observing the unfolding events, also trembled. They were all individuals who truly stood at the pinnacle of this ocean. Whitebeard and Kaido were once members of the Rocks Pirates, while Rayleigh, following Roger, had reached Raftel, the final island, and seen what Joyboy left there. Shanks, despite not boarding Raftel due to illness, knew many secrets of the sea due to his unique position.
Nika was a name they were all too familiar with. The legendary liberation warrior, born with a rubber body, was revered as "Nika the Sun God" for liberating enslaved people and establishing a huge kingdom 800 years ago. In the previous generation, the one who used the power of Nika was Joy Boy. And now, Ace, standing before them, was able to use Nika's power.
This revelation left the top figures of the sea staring at Ace in disbelief.
"Nika?! I understand now. That's why you can use all Devil Fruit abilities, right? Why you can use Nika's power, Ace. You are a Mera Mera no Mi user and the blood of the captain. It's impossible for you to have eaten multiple Devil Fruits. And Nika..."
Shanks looked at Ace, his expression one of shock and realization. He finally understood why Ace had been able to display up to six Devil Fruit abilities during the public execution. It was the power of Nika. Nika allowed its wielder to turn their imagination into reality and fight as they wished. For Ace, this meant using all Devil Fruit abilities by turning devil factors into reality at will.
However, there must be more to it. While Nika's power allowed the user to do anything they imagined, it likely didn't directly turn devil factors into reality to showcase Devil Fruit abilities. This meant that in Ace's hands, Nika's power, combined with his Mera Mera no Mi, had evolved into something far beyond its original limits.
Ace had taken Nika's power beyond that of the former sun god, Nika. This was an unprecedented feat, one that seemed almost like a joke. While Ace had developed the Mera Mera no Mi towards the power of the sun, Shanks had never imagined using Nika's power beyond its own limits. Nika was one of the strongest forces in the sea, and Ace had harnessed it in a way that surpassed its inherent capabilities.
Moreover, Ace was the bloodline of Gol D. Roger, Shanks' most respected captain. It was impossible for Ace to have consumed two Devil Fruits. Besides, Shanks had witnessed Luffy eating the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. Before awakening, Nika only granted a rubber-like body without the exclusive imagination power. This had led the World Government to disguise it as a Paramecia-type Rubber Fruit.
So, how was it that Ace could now use Nika's power? The notion that Ace might have taken the Nika power from Luffy was unthinkable. Ace, Luffy's brother, clearly harbored deep affection for him. Shanks could sense this through his Observation Haki. Ace would never harm Luffy. Furthermore, Ace lacked the rubber body that Nika bestowed, appearing to have only gained Nika's exclusive power of imagination.
What was this phenomenon...
"Joyboy, are you Joyboy?"
Kaido's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Ace. Joyboy! Kaido had long awaited Joyboy's return, even telling his right hand, the Flame Calamity, that the one who defeats him would be Joyboy. Kaido's dream was to launch the world's greatest war, but deep down, he sought to find Joyboy through a conflict that would shake the entire world. Now, standing before him, was Portgas D. Ace, who wielded a power that surpassed his own. The realization hit Kaido hard: could this man, with the power of Nika, be the Joyboy he had been searching for?
"Ace, Joyboy?" Rayleigh's voice trembled with disbelief. The power of Nika, the legendary liberation warrior, had fallen into the hands of Roger's bloodline, Ace. This revelation left Rayleigh, who had reached the Final Island, Raftel, deeply shaken. Despite his many questions—such as why Ace, a Mera Mera no Mi user, lacked a rubber-like body—Rayleigh couldn't deny that Ace possessed Nika's power and its exclusive imagination.
"Roger, I'll bet my fate on your blood," Rayleigh thought, as he watched Ace with newfound determination. Although he had always supported Ace, this revelation solidified his resolve. Rayleigh, who had seen Joyboy's legacy on Raftel, now saw Ace not just as a powerful pirate, but as someone who could surpass even the legendary Joyboy.
"Joyboy? No, I'm not Joyboy. I'm the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace! The next era will be called the Flame Emperor!" Ace's laughter echoed as he embraced his identity. With Nika's power, Ace felt no need to hide anything. Revealing his abilities was not a weakness but a strategic move. He knew that Rayleigh, who had been to Raftel, would now fully support him. Disclosing his power to the world would only strengthen his position.
Kaido, still processing Ace's declaration, stood up. "Flame Emperor, I'll be waiting for your crusade on Onigashima," he said, laughing. The prospect of facing Nika's power in battle fulfilled a deep-seated wish for Kaido. Transforming into a green dragon, he roared and disappeared into the clouds. Ace watched him leave, unfazed.
"The banquet ends here," Ace announced, standing up with a confident smile. The Entei pirate fleet followed suit, rising to their feet. Rayleigh, however, remained seated, staring at Ace with a contemplative gaze.
"Rayleigh, do you want to follow me and turn the sea upside down?" Ace asked, his grin widening.
"Certainly," Rayleigh replied, standing up with a smile that mirrored his first encounter with Roger. Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes.
"Captain of Squad Zero, take on this title, Rayleigh!" Ace declared, his laughter ringing out.
Thus, Silver Rayleigh, the Dark King, became the Captain of Division Zero of the Entei Pirates Grand Fleet, pledging his strength to the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace.
The banquet hosted by the Entei Pirates, attended by the Four Emperors—Red Hair Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and Kaido of the Beasts—came to an abrupt end. Kaido, who had arrived from the New World in his blue dragon form to challenge Ace's demon-hunting abilities, now departed with a different purpose.
Initially, Kaido had sought to test his strength against Ace, but after witnessing Ace's power, particularly the revelation of Nika's abilities, his intentions shifted. Now, Kaido prepared for a crusade against the man who stood at the pinnacle of the ocean in this era: the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace.
Despite his arrogance and reliance on his near-immortality to act recklessly among various forces, Kaido was not just a brute. His capture of Wano Country was a testament to his cunning and strategic mind. From the strength displayed by the Entei Pirates during the Entei Incident, it was clear that if his Beasts Pirates faced off against the Entei Pirates alone, their chances of victory were slim to none.
Even the Naval Headquarters, the strongest among the three major forces, had been defeated by the Entei Pirates led by Ace before the intervention of the World Government's Five Elders. The Naval Headquarters had fallen into an unprecedented rout, suffering severe casualties. If the World Government hadn't stepped in, the toll on the Naval Headquarters would have been catastrophic.
Acknowledging that his Beasts Pirates could not compete with the Entei Pirates alone, Kaido felt no fear. Instead, he was exhilarated. The prospect of battling against 'Nika,' a power Ace claimed but denied being Joyboy, thrilled Kaido. Facing 'Nika' in this era was his greatest fortune, and he would not let this opportunity slip by.
Kaido needed allies for the upcoming war. His destination: the New World, Totto Land Kingdom, also known as the Sea of All Nations. At its core lay Cake Island, ruled by the formidable Four Emperors, the Big Mom Pirates.
As Kaido soared toward Totto Land, his mind was set on forging an alliance with Big Mom. Together, they would prepare for the inevitable clash with the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace.
The banquet, hosted by the Entei Pirates and attended by the Red Hair Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and Kaido of the Beasts, concluded abruptly as each returned to the New World from Sabaody Archipelago.
Shanks, arriving from the New World, sought confirmation from Flame Emperor Portgas D. Ace. While he knew Ace was Luffy's brother, the revelation that Ace wielded the power of 'Nika' was staggering. Despite the Human Fruit-Phantom Beast Species-Nika form still latent within Luffy, Shanks sensed its impending awakening. The World Government's involvement in delivering this Devil Fruit to Luffy underscored its significance.
Rayleigh's full commitment to the Entei Pirates marked a turning point, positioning them as the only force capable of directly challenging the Naval Headquarters. Known now as the Entei Pirates Grand Fleet, led by Ace, they became the most contentious pirate group in the sea.
For Shanks, understanding Marshall D. Teach's true identity was also critical. Teach's pursuit of the Dark Fruit, possessing multiple Devil Fruits, paralleled Ace's ascent. Shanks anticipated Ace would eventually acquire this formidable Devil Fruit.
The Whitebeard Pirates, unaffected by the currents of the new era, returned to the New World from Sabaody Archipelago with a calm resolve. Aging and in need of constant medical care to sustain his vitality, Whitebeard embodied their collective decline. Despite this, their focus remained on familial bonds over the changing tides of power.
Meanwhile, Marshall D. Teach, lured by the Dark Fruit's power, found himself concealed due to Ace's Nika abilities. Teach's quest for the Dark Fruit, spanning over two decades within the Whitebeard Pirates, seemed futile under Ace's overshadowing influence. Feeling thwarted by fate, Teach pondered whether he was destined never to obtain the Dark Fruit.
On the deck, Teach's confusion was palpable as he gazed out to sea, contemplating his next move. Marco, sensing his turmoil, offered a cautious word of comfort, but Whitebeard, ever the stalwart patriarch, reassured Teach of their familial bond, regardless of his secrets or aspirations.
Ace, observing the departure of the Whitebeard and Red Hair Pirates, smiled knowingly. He understood the inevitable outcomes for both Whitebeard and Teach in this era of shifting powers. With resolve, Ace announced their departure, ready to embark on new adventures.
Under Merry's guidance, the Entei Pirate Grand Fleet, led by Ace and supported by Rayleigh and Shakky, set sail in unison. Their departure sent shockwaves through the Marines, prompting frantic reports to headquarters. Rayleigh, now Captain of the Zero Squad, proudly declared their intent to sail towards Amazon Lily, marking a new chapter in their journey.
As they sailed, the Marines, vigilant yet outmatched, watched in awe as Rayleigh's Haki rendered their surveillance ineffective. The Entei Pirates, now a force to be reckoned with, announced their presence boldly to the world. The era of the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace, had begun in earnest.