Chapter 14: Weakened Version of Luffy Two Years Later

Golden Lion Shiki: "The development level of your Devil Fruit is only intermediate? Fire Fist Ace, what level are your other skills?"

Fire Fist Ace: "Why are you asking this?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "No reason. I just figured out why you lost."

Fire Fist Ace: "…"

Although Ace wanted to refute him, he had no solid argument. The truth was undeniable—his skill levels were too low.

His Flame-Flame Fruit was already his best-developed ability, yet it was only at an intermediate level.

His Haki, physical combat, and marksmanship were all still at low levels.

As for swordsmanship? He hadn't even started learning it.

But this wasn't entirely his fault—he was simply too young.

He went to sea at seventeen, with strength comparable to Luffy at the beginning of his journey. Back then, he had been just another weakling in the Grand Line.

Then, by pure luck, he had found the Flame-Flame Fruit.

After experiencing the absolute power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit, he had dedicated himself to mastering its abilities.

By the time he entered the New World at eighteen, his talent had allowed him to quickly reach a level comparable to the Warlords of the Sea, even matching Jinbe in combat.

At that time, he was as strong as Luffy during the Battle of Marineford.

Then he joined the Whitebeard Pirates.

Ace—who had been desperate for belonging—finally found family.

For the first time, he felt loved.

For the first time, he felt like he had a place in the world.

And because of that…

His desire for strength faded.

Under Whitebeard's banner, Ace learned about Haki and started training with it.

But compared to his early days, his growth slowed dramatically.

There were fewer life-or-death battles.

The Whitebeard Pirates didn't emphasize strict training.

Without intense pressure, his improvement stagnated.

By the Battle of Marineford, Ace was essentially a weakened version of Luffy two years later.

After all, while Luffy had spent two years training nonstop on an isolated island, Ace had spent his final years in relative comfort aboard the Moby Dick.

His talent wasn't greater than Luffy's.

His training had been far less intense.

Of course his strength couldn't match Luffy's post-time skip level.

With that kind of power gap, it wasn't surprising that he had lost to Blackbeard.

And it was even less surprising that he had been killed by Akainu.

Whitebeard: "Damn you, Golden Lion! You sure love running your mouth!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hehe! Whitebeard, for someone who claims to care about his sons, you sure haven't given Lucas anything yet."

Whitebeard: "I was thinking. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Ding! Whitebeard has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent - Advanced, Hidden, Explicit] to group leader Lucas!

Fisher Tiger: "Mr. Newgate's talent is both hidden and explicit? I thought I was the only one like that!"

Pirate King Roger: "Two types of talents? Interesting! What's going on here? Whitebeard has hidden talents like us, but also explicit talents like Charlotte Linlin and Kaido?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Really? I thought you, Whitebeard, were just like me and Roger—slowly building strength over time. Never thought you'd be a born monster too!"

Whitebeard: "Get lost. I'm nothing like Linlin or Kaido."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Are you sure? This doesn't add up! By the way, Tiger, you also have an explicit talent?"

Lucas: "I only used Charlotte Linlin and Kaido as examples to explain explicit talents. That doesn't mean all explicit talents are like theirs."

"Fisher Tiger is a fishman. His explicit talent comes from his natural ability to survive underwater."

"Whitebeard, on the other hand, is 6.66 meters tall. His explicit talent is the immense physical strength granted by his giant-like physique."

As Lucas accepted Whitebeard's red envelope, a surge of strength erupted within him.

He now possessed Whitebeard's natural physical talents—as if he had grown up with the same body.

Whitebeard: "@Lucas, after inheriting my talent, will you also grow into a giant?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hahaha! That would be hilarious!"

Lucas: "You're overthinking it. I gained your talent, not your bloodline."

"Just like how I inherited the Flame-Flame Fruit ability, but I'm not a Devil Fruit user myself. I'm still immune to seawater and Seastone.

"That means a new Flame-Flame Fruit will eventually respawn in the world."

Whitebeard: "If that's the case… does that mean you can also become a dual-fruit ability user, like Teach?"

Lucas: "If I receive the power through the chat group, it doesn't matter if it's two fruits or a hundred—I can handle them all."

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! That's interesting. You must let Teach know you have multiple Devil Fruit abilities!"

Ding! Whitebeard has sent an exclusive red envelope [Tremor-Tremor Fruit Ability - Top Level] to group leader Lucas!

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