Chapter 12: Sabaody Archapalego
Far above the Grand Line, at an altitude of 10,000 meters, lies a mysterious place known as Sky Island.
At such heights, the air is thin, and ordinary people would struggle to breathe. But for those who can adapt, training in this extreme environment brings rapid improvements in both physique and endurance. Most importantly, at this altitude, the heat generated by the Shashao Fruit reaches its maximum enhancement every single day.
If Ace could train here for a full year, his body, Haki, and Devil Fruit abilities would all undergo a monumental transformation.
"This would be the ideal place to trick Rayleigh into flying up and teaching me how to master Haki," Ace muttered with a smirk, pulling down his hat to shield his eyes from the blazing sun. He was already plotting how to convince—or con—the legendary Dark King into becoming his teacher.
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Half a month later, the temperature of Ace's flames had risen to 640 degrees Celsius. His physical fitness had improved as well—no surprise, considering he spent an hour each day suspended under the blazing sun at 3,000 meters. It was intense training, both physically and mentally.
Finally, after weeks of skybound training, the Spade Pirates' ship arrived at the shores of the Chambord Islands.
The Chambord Islands were a rare entertainment paradise in the Grand Line. The moment the ship docked, the restless crew—who had been stuck on board for nearly a month—rushed out like a pack of wild beasts. In seconds, they scattered to indulge in restaurants, casinos, bars, and even the infamous Happy Street.
Before long, only Ace and a few loyal crewmates remained on the ship.
"Gambi, Wores, you guys go relax too," Ace said. "But keep an eye on those idiots. I'm heading out to meet someone."
"Meeting someone? Want us to come with you?" Gambi asked.
"No need," Ace waved it off with a grin. "If things go well, this person might just become my master."
"Master?" Gambi and the others exchanged confused glances but didn't pry further.
"How long are we staying here?" Wores asked.
Ace rubbed his chin. "Depends on how things go. If I'm lucky, it'll only take a day or two."
But truthfully, he wasn't sure. The man he was looking for—Silvers Rayleigh—was elusive. Sometimes, after losing a bet, the old man would let himself get auctioned off just to rob whoever bought him. He was unpredictable, eccentric… and dangerous.
"Wait for me here. No matter what happens, I'll come back to meet you guys," Ace instructed.
"Got it," the crew nodded before heading off in different directions.
Ace leapt off the ship and adjusted his hat. "Let's head to Xia Qi's Ripoff Bar first… I think that was in Area 13."
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Shakky's Ripoff Bar, Area 13
When Ace arrived, the bar was in chaos.
Inside, Shakkii, the bar's owner and a former pirate herself, was dealing with a rowdy group of thugs who had tried to dine and dash. Their captain had a bounty of over 50 million, but that meant nothing to a retired pirate of Shakki's caliber.
In just two or three swift moves, she flattened over a dozen men and stripped them of every last Berry they had. True to its name, the Ripoff Bar lived up to its reputation.
After tossing the unconscious pirates outside, Shakki turned around—just in time to see Ace enter.
She offered a charming smile. "Welcome, sweetheart. Care for a drink?"
"Rum, please." Ace pulled out a chair at the bar, sat down, and placed his hat on the counter. "Actually, I'm here looking for someone."
Shakki poured the rum, then lit a cigarette. Taking a slow drag, she said, "Let me guess. You're the Supernova kid with the Burn-Burn Fruit—Portgas D. Ace, right? You've made quite a name for yourself."
Ace raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
"Oh yes. Your bounty jumped from 55 million to 155 million just seven days ago," she said, pulling out a wanted poster and sliding it across the bar. "Word is, after eating the Shashao Fruit, you defeated a promising Marine Rear Admiral. Quite impressive."
Ace looked at the poster and gave a soft chuckle. "I didn't expect it to go up that much."
"Defeating Vergo and mastering a high-level Logia is enough to make the World Government nervous," Shakki said, exhaling smoke. "They're watching you now. If you keep this up, your identity will be exposed soon. Unless… you follow your original path and join Whitebeard."
Ace's eyes narrowed. "That's one option. But I'd rather carve my own path. I don't want to be someone's son—I want to stand equal to the Four Emperors."
"Time is running out," he muttered to himself, then looked up at Shakki with a smile. "Senior Shakki, I'm here to see Rayleigh. Is he around?"
Her demeanor shifted. The air grew heavy with caution.
"You know the old man?" she asked, voice serious. "You here for revenge? Or to repay a debt?"
Rayleigh's retreat in the Chambord Islands wasn't exactly a secret among the major powers, but few dared disturb him. Unless they were old friends like Shanks, those who sought him out usually had a death wish—or something important to prove.
"Let me give you a word of advice," Shakkii said, blowing out a puff of smoke. "If you're here to repay a favor, bring a lot of Berries. If you're here for revenge, it's not too late to run. That old man may be rusty, but… he's still strong. Stronger than you can imagine."
Ace laughed softly. "You misunderstand. I'm not here to cause trouble."
He tapped the bounty poster gently.
"You know my name, right?"
"Portgas D. Ace," she said, pointing at the paper. "A rare surname."
Ace nodded. "That's my mother's surname. I've never really liked talking about it… but I guess I can't avoid it anymore."
He took a deep breath and said, "My mother was Portgas D. Rouge. My father… was Gol D. Roger."
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