"Captain Ace, you're back!"
"Huh? Who's this cute little girl?"
The Spade Pirates were taken aback when Ace returned with a girl in tow. With no female members aboard, the arrival of Kerla immediately stirred curiosity—not out of any improper thoughts, just pure surprise.
The addition of Kerla brought fresh energy to the otherwise all-male crew. The air felt lighter, more animated. After all, Kerla wasn't just anyone—she was a member of the Revolutionary Army, rescued by Ace from Sabaody Archipelago, and currently carrying top-secret research notes stolen from none other than Dr. Vegapunk.
That information alone was enough to warrant serious action from the World Government. If they discovered it, they wouldn't hesitate to dispatch an Admiral again—and this time, it wouldn't be a minor response.
So, despite Ace's original intention to visit Madam Shyarly at the Mermaid Café on Fish-Man Island, he decided against it after rescuing Kerla. They spent just one night on the island before quietly departing.
---
🌊 Entering the New World
Once they passed beyond Fish-Man Island, the crew officially entered the New World—the second half of the Grand Line, a sea known for its erratic climate, dangerous seas, and above all, for being the territory of the Four Emperors: Red-Haired Shanks, Big Mom, Kaido, and Blackbeard.
To survive here, one needed more than power. You needed territory, allies, and enough influence to resist being crushed.
Standing at the bow, flames dancing faintly around his shoulders, Portgas D. Ace stared into the endless, volatile sea.
"We're finally here... the New World."
"Ho ho ho, we're back again!"
"This time, we won't retreat in shame!"
"Yeah! This time, we'll help Captain Ace rise to the top—to become the Pirate King!"
"Long live Captain Ace! Long live the Pirate King!"
The crew's spirits were ablaze. This wasn't their first time stepping into these waters. The last time, Ace—still newly arrived in this world—had miscalculated and retreated after suffering defeat.
But now, stronger and more determined, the Spade Pirates had returned with renewed ambition.
Ace raised his voice, "Our first goal is to find an island we can claim as our base."
He turned to Kerla. "You've handled intelligence work for the Revolutionary Army. Do you know of any nearby islands suitable for building a base?"
"There are many islands," Kerla responded without hesitation. "The New World has lots of islands—many with extreme environments—but some are still suitable for human habitation."
"You misunderstood," Ace said, narrowing his eyes. "I mean islands that we can occupy. Somewhere we can use as our headquarters."
Kerla stared at him. "You want to take an island for yourself? Are you insane?"
"Nearly every island in the New World is already under the control of the Four Emperors or other powerful pirates. The few that aren't are either uncharted or so extreme they're impossible to live on."
"To establish a base here means declaring war on one of those factions. With all due respect… it's too early for you."
Ace grinned. "Then we'll take one anyway."
He turned back to the crew. "Little ones! Are you scared?"
"Captain Ace, who are we fighting first?"
"The Donquixote Family?"
"Or maybe a Yonko?!"
Ace looked at Kerla and smiled. "See? My crew is fired up."
Kerla looked at them all as if they'd lost their minds. Sabo… are you sure leaving me with these lunatics was a good idea?
She glanced back at Ace. Despite her concerns, she began to think—if anyone could survive in an extreme place, it was Portgas D. Ace, the Flame-Flame Fruit user.
"…Actually," she began hesitantly, "there's one island nearby that might work. It's uninhabited and isn't claimed by any Yonko or major pirate crews."
Ace's eyes lit up. "Really? That's great! Whose territory is it?"
"No one's," Kerla explained. "The island is called Burning Island… or Sun Island, depending on who you ask. It's constantly burning with natural flames. The environment is extreme, but for someone like you…"
"Burning Island?" Ace echoed the name.
It reminded him of Punk Hazard, the battlefield of a legendary ten-day duel between Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji. That island had become a frozen inferno—half ice, half magma.
But this was something different.
More than anything, what caught his attention was the phrasing: "Uninhabited."
He turned to Kerla with narrowed eyes. Her awkward expression told him everything—she had no desire to fight the Emperors and wanted to steer clear of conflict.
She was offering him a way out. A compromise. A base without bloodshed.
Ace sighed. Clever girl.
Just then, a News Coo swooped down and dropped a fresh issue of the World Economy News Paper onto the deck, scattering pages in the wind and breaking the tension.
---
🔥 To Be Continued...
Next Time:
Can Ace survive the scorching challenges of Burning Island?
What secrets lie beneath its flames?
And how will the Four Emperors react to the Spade Pirates claiming territory?
---
✅ Canon Fixes and Notes:
"Charlie" → Shyarly, the fortune-telling mermaid
"Shampoo Land" → Sabaody Archipelago
"Kerra" → Kerla (spelled as per canon)
"Don Quixote" → Donquixote Family (led by Doflamingo)
"Four Emperors" terminology updated and names specified
Vegapunk, News Coo, World Economy News Paper references added properly
"Burning Island" treated as an original location, distinct from Punk Hazard
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