The words settled into Ace's consciousness as if they were etched in letters of light upon the wall of his soul. They were not mere data, but innate knowledge flowing through his veins:
> [You have reached the pinnacle of supreme perception; through deep contemplation and deduction, the exclusive skill has been derived: Ash Dragon (Shin-Ittō)!]
[You have reached the pinnacle of supreme perception; through the sound waves of "Portgas D. Rouge," the language of the world of "One Piece" has been completely deciphered.]
Ace's heart pounded violently. "Shin-Ittō?!" In shock, he recalled the origins of this technique from the memories of his past life. In the world of Bleach, "Hadō No. 96" had been the ultimate trump card of the Supreme Commander Yamamoto—a destructive art requiring immense sacrifice.
Could it be that merely recalling those scenes under the influence of his "transcendent perception" had turned imagination into tangible reality?
"So this is my advantage…" Ace murmured inwardly. "A perception that surpasses logic, turning knowledge into power."
It wasn't limited to combat techniques. It extended to the language of this world, which he had fully grasped simply by hearing the whispers of his mother, Rouge. Focusing his inner vision, the details of his new skill became clear:
> [Ash Dragon – Shin-Ittō (Exclusive Skill): A technique derived through the mental simulation of the "Blazing Flame Blade." Eternal flames condense in the arm, forming a hellish blade that cleaves the heavens and scorches the earth.]
(Requirements: Flame Fruit "Mera Mera no Mi." Enhanced version: does not require a charred body or limb sacrifice.)
---
Reforging Power
Ace now realized that these messages were not a mechanical "system," but rather an instinctive translation of his superior mind analyzing his unique state. His eyes gleamed with ambition; his perception had not merely copied the technique, but fused it with the nature of his future Flame Fruit.
Once he obtained the "Mera Mera no Mi," his body itself would become fire. As a natural element (Logia), he would no longer need to sacrifice his arm, nor would he burn his body—because he was the fire.
With this fundamental change, the Flame Fruit would cease to be mere "burning flames," as some would later mock it, and instead become a weapon of mass destruction surpassing even the penetrating power of Admiral Akainu's magma.
"But all of this depends on me reaching the light first."
Ace glanced at his fully formed body within the womb. The space felt tight, but to survive the Marine siege filling the horizon outside, he had to exercise the utmost patience… For the one the world awaited was not merely a child, but the coming "Ash Dragon."
---
"Ah… damn…"
A haze of heavy drowsiness clouded Ace's consciousness. It seemed that deriving a destructive technique on the level of "Ash Dragon: Shin-Ittō" had not come for free—it had completely drained his mental energy. Despite his "transcendent perception," his current body was still that of a fetus requiring nourishment and sleep to grow.
Adjusting his small body within the womb, searching for a comfortable position in that warm world, Ace surrendered to a deep slumber of unknown length…
---
Awakening After Absence
After an indeterminate time, Ace's eyelids began to flutter. He opened his sharp, intelligent black eyes and felt a strange calm surrounding him. "How long did I sleep?" he wondered, trying to shake off the fog from his mind.
The answer manifested instantly before his inner sight:
> [You have reached the pinnacle of supreme perception; your senses are now connected to the pulse of time with extreme precision. Six months have passed since you entered dormancy.]
"Six months?!" Ace was stunned. The expected time of birth was approaching. Though he regretted losing that time to sleep, the knowledge that flooded his mind upon awakening made the price seem trivial.
> [You have reached the pinnacle of supreme perception; during your slumber, your consciousness entered a state of "Absolute Fetal Meditation," resulting in the derivation of the exclusive skill: Genbu's Breath (Dormancy Evolution)!]
[Genbu's Breath (Exclusive Skill): A passive stasis skill. Whenever the body or mind reaches its limit, the user automatically enters a state of "Evolutionary Slumber." Upon awakening, all physical and mental abilities undergo a massive evolutionary leap.]
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Evolution Beyond Limits
A shiver ran through Ace as he analyzed the essence of the skill. "This… this is like the 'Zenkai' ability of the Saiyan race!" he thought in astonishment, before quickly realizing the crucial difference.
In the world of One Piece, where there were no Dragon Balls to revive the dead, the Saiyan ability was a losing gamble. But "Genbu's Breath" was the key to limitless growth. He would grow stronger with every intense training session, and with every battle that pushed him to his limits.
Not wasting any time, Ace began activating his new skill. During the remaining months, he entered another short slumber lasting a month, caused by the energy consumption of aligning his breathing with "Genbu's Breath." When he awoke, he felt an unprecedented solidity in his bones and strength in the fibers of his small body.
---
Time passed like a fleeting shadow, and the silent epic reached its climax… the twentieth month.
Suddenly, the world around Ace trembled. He felt violent movement in the warm waters that had long cradled him. Intense contractions—and a bright light began to appear on the horizon of his limited vision, tearing apart the darkness of the womb.
He heard a trembling voice, weak yet filled with love, whispering his name amidst cries of pain… and the voice of a Marine admiral waiting outside.
Ace was finally born… and the legend of the "Ash Dragon" that would shake the throne of the world had begun.
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> Author's Note:
This journey has only just begun! Your support is the fuel that ignites Ace's flames (follow, rating, comments). If you enjoyed the story, don't hold back your support… the author bows in gratitude!
Following and rating are the key to continuing this work!