One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Ace observed everything around him through his Observation Haki, and the smirk on his face grew wider and more brazen.

He wasn't at all surprised that the Marines and the World Government had uncovered the truth about his bloodline. After all, from the moment his name—Portgas D. Ace—echoed across the seas, it was inevitable.

The Marines and World Government only needed to thoroughly investigate the island where Gol D. Roger spent his last days to uncover the name Portgas D. Rouge. With such clues, their vast intelligence network would easily reveal the truth about his lineage.

So, Ace wasn't fazed when Akainu announced his heritage to the world. He watched it unfold with calm detachment. For Ace, his bloodline was simply another source of strength, much like his Mera Mera Fruit powers, his comprehension of the world, and his other abilities. 

To experience turmoil over one's bloodline would suggest a lack of strength. Take the Ace from the original timeline, for example—he despised his lineage as the son of the Pirate King and even rejected the Conqueror's Haki inherited from that bloodline. How foolish. To hate one's own lineage, to deny it, is to deny an unchangeable fact of one's existence. It's akin to playing into the World Government's propaganda, rejecting one's very being. Such a person is already destined for defeat.

But this Ace, who had traveled through time and replaced the Ace of the original story, had never rejected his bloodline. He knew he was a time traveler from Earth with extraordinary comprehension, and he embraced the power that came with being the son of Gol D. Roger—a born ruler, with the natural kingly disposition of Conqueror's Haki.

He was the man destined to become the king of the world.

The Mera Mera Fruit, his heightened understanding, and his Pirate King lineage were merely tools he controlled to achieve his ultimate goal. That was the mindset of a true king.

It was this bloodline that had drawn 'Pluton' Rayleigh into action. Though Rayleigh and the former Roger Pirates valued inherited will more than blood ties, Ace's lineage couldn't help but influence the thoughts and decisions of these legendary figures. His bloodline sparked in them a natural sense of connection and expectation.

So, what happens when the Pirate King's bloodline is combined with his will?

It creates an irresistible pull for figures like Rayleigh.

Rayleigh and others might have known about 'Joyboy' from reaching the final island of Raftel, and they had likely discovered even more secrets, such as Shanks' gamble on Luffy, who had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Model: Nika. But for Shanks and Rayleigh, who were unaware of the narrative of the original story, it remained a gamble.

After all, even if someone consumed the Mythical Nika Fruit, before its awakening, it would only grant them a rubbery body. The most crucial aspect—the ability to manifest the power of 'Nika,' the god of liberation, and make imagination a reality—would not be apparent until after awakening.

Whether Luffy would awaken this power was uncertain, at least for everyone except Ace, who was completely sure of it.

As Shanks had said, he gambled his arm on the new era. It was a huge gamble for Shanks and Rayleigh alike. In the 800 years since the World Government was founded, no Joyboy had reappeared. But now Ace offered them another visible option—his own inherited Pirate King bloodline, along with his knowledge of Joyboy's potential, passed on from Luffy.

Maybe that still wouldn't be enough to completely convince Rayleigh or Shanks to fully back Ace. After all, they had seen the truth of Raftel, and Shanks harbored a deep attachment to the true Joyboy. But that didn't matter. Ace was simply giving them another possibility, one that would pull them onto the stage he had built.

Whether they liked it or not, Ace had already forced Rayleigh, Shanks, the Marines, the World Government, and even the rest of the Four Emperors—Kaido, Whitebeard, Big Mom—onto his stage. The entire world had been drawn into the play Ace had orchestrated.

Ace was the mastermind of it all.

The world had no choice but to move to Ace's rhythm.

And what if, in the end, Shanks and Rayleigh chose Luffy over him? Well, Luffy—this era's Joyboy—was Ace's younger brother and his future right hand. Luffy's power still belonged to him.

Ace's smile broadened.

No matter what ambitions other forces harbored, their actions would ultimately serve Ace's ends.

The true measure of a king lies not in manipulating or controlling people's hearts, like Crocodile's machinations in Alabasta or Doflamingo's tactics in Dressrosa, but in guiding all forces to a single outcome. Manipulation, after all, comes from insecurity and fear—fear that the power one wields will slip out of control. 

But a true king is not concerned with controlling every detail, as long as the result is in their favor. As Ace saw it, no matter how people felt or what decisions they made, the world would inevitably shift in his direction.

This was Ace's grand strategy. This was the stage he had constructed.

After all, can people really be rational all the time?

Take Rayleigh, for example. He couldn't seem to resist Nami's sweet calls of "Uncle," and now, grinning from ear to ear, he was unleashing his Conqueror's Haki as he slashed at Kizaru with all his might, forcing the Light-Light Fruit user into a corner.

Ace's smirk grew even wider. As expected of 'his' Nami.

Rayleigh was completely won over by her charm.

Human behavior can't always be explained by reason alone. Rayleigh probably didn't even fully understand why he was so pleased, why he was attacking Kizaru with such reckless abandon.

It was similar to Issho, the man wielding a staff blade while using his Gravity Fruit powers to drive Kizaru to desperation. In the original timeline, this man would later distinguish himself in the World Conscription and rise to the rank of Admiral, codenamed 'Fujitora.' Ace had been pleasantly surprised to see Issho here, and thanks to his Observation Haki, he had overheard Issho's conversation with Rayleigh.

Issho's behavior was driven by admiration for Ace's ideals. Though he hadn't fully committed, his sword had been drawn almost unconsciously, as if it were fate. And there was no regret in that action.

Human behavior is rarely dictated by pure logic alone.

Ace had already forced the world onto his stage. Now, all that was left was to watch as they danced to his tune.

There comes a moment when, without even thinking, victory feels inevitable.

But what's more remarkable is that after acting on pure instinct, you still hold true to your original intentions and never regret your actions.

In that sense, Ace couldn't help but admire the honest and powerful man from the original timeline.

His eyes shone with appreciation.

Naturally, such a powerful and upright fighter had to be brought under his command.

And Ace had already achieved that.

A smile played at his lips—he was genuinely pleased to have won over such a formidable ally.

Why was Ace so certain that Issho would join him?

Because Issho had said he would, and when the strong speaks with such confidence, his words become reality.

This was the confidence of those on the top of the pyramid.

The unexpected awakening of Vivi and Kaya's Devil Fruits was yet another pleasant surprise.

After learning of his bloodlines, these two girls had remembered the World Government's relentless propaganda against the Pirate King's lineage. In response, they had turned that oppression into their own strength, using the insights they gained to complete their Devil Fruit awakenings.

Ace, through his Observation Haki, heard everything Vivi and Kaya said, and a warm smile formed on his lips.

Those two girls were so endearing.

How should he reward them for their incredible awakenings?

His eyes gleamed with something playful.

As for their concerns about the world denying his existence?

Ace knew better.

The world didn't deny his worth; it was now serving 'his' will.

His lips curled into a confident smile, exuding Haki.

"What are you grinning at, Gol D. Ace?" Akainu barked, his expression growing more sour by the second.

Akainu had intended to shake Ace's resolve by revealing his bloodline to the world. After all, Ace had kept his true heritage hidden for years, even from his own crew. Akainu believed that exposing the truth would destabilize Ace emotionally, having grown up in a world that rejected his very existence.

Even though Akainu was a man of iron will, known for his extreme sense of justice, he recognized that Ace was one of the most formidable figures standing atop the seas. If he could disrupt Ace's state of mind, he might gain the upper hand in their battle.

Akainu was willing to use any means necessary to uphold his version of justice—no matter how ruthless.

But the current situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Despite Akainu's attempts to provoke Ace by repeatedly using the name "Gol D. Ace," Ace remained completely unaffected. In fact, his Haki only grew more intense. And to make matters worse for Akainu, after Ace's lineage was revealed, 'Pluton' Rayleigh appeared and directly intervened against Kizaru. 

And then there was that mysterious middle-aged man with unimaginable strength, as well as Nami, the user of the Thunder Fruit. According to intelligence reports, Nami had only been at the level of an admiral candidate, yet now she had reached the threshold of an admiral's power.

All of this caught Akainu completely off guard.

The situation was spiraling out of control.

Even with the powers of the Light-Light Fruit, Kizaru was facing three top-tier opponents, each with multiple powerful abilities, including the terrifying Thunder Fruit that severely limited his speed.

If reinforcements didn't arrive soon, Kizaru would be defeated. And if that happened, Akainu himself would be in danger.

For an admiral to be defeated so publicly—this was unthinkable for someone like Akainu, who embodied "absolute justice."

"Gol D. Ace?" Akainu sneered, trying to push Ace further.

But the aura of Conqueror's Haki swirling in Ace's eyes only deepened, its purple-black glow intensifying.

"What's wrong? Don't like that name?" Akainu taunted coldly.

"You've got it wrong, Akainu," Ace responded, the grin on his face widening into a full, commanding laugh.

"I am the Flame Emperor!"

"This era will be known as the Era of the Flame Emperor!"

'Boom!'

Ace's laughter echoed as a torrent of scorching flames erupted from his body. The temperature in the air skyrocketed, warping the very atmosphere around him under the intense heat. The space itself became a sea of fire.

Akainu's scowl deepened. He now understood—his provocations about Ace's name and bloodline had meant nothing to him. This man wasn't tied down by his past; he was carving out a new era for himself.

The Era of the Flame Emperor.

"The Flame Emperor reveals his power!" Countless onlookers from around the world gasped as they watched the flames roar on their screens.

"You want to save Kizaru?" Ace stood in the center of the raging inferno, his voice filled with mirth as he looked at Akainu.

"Then come and try! Let me burn away that magma of yours, Akainu!"

With that, the world held its breath as the terrifying flames of the Flame Emperor roared higher, and Ace prepared to face down Akainu with unshakable resolve.