New World, open sea.
A Marine warship with a rabbit-shaped prow sailed steadily beside a sleek, rune-powered magic vessel.
On the warship's deck, Admiral candidate Momousagi Gion frowned slightly as she studied the latest news reports and bounty posters. Her normally calm eyes flickered with disbelief.
"Fairy Tail… what an incredible guild."
She couldn't help but mutter the words aloud, her voice tinged with admiration and unease.
Ever since Vice Admiral Tsuru's reports, Gion had known that Fairy Tail was preparing to ally with the Whitebeard Pirates to confront Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors.
But reality had proven far more astonishing—they hadn't formed any alliance at all.
Fairy Tail alone had crushed Kaido's crew.
And even then, Gion knew the group that went into battle wasn't their full force.
Her gaze shifted toward the magic ship sailing nearby.
Three Fairy Tail members stood aboard—Bonney, Ulu, and Urutia. Even without the fiery woman Bonney (who seemed to do nothing but eat these days), the other two were both terrifyingly powerful—each strong enough to rival an admiral.
"And even that wasn't their strongest lineup…"
If Fairy Tail gathered all its members in one place, Gion was certain they could take on not just one but two Emperor crews at once.
No—that wasn't speculation.
One look at the new bounty list was proof enough. Those numbers… those names…
Even the government was forced to acknowledge Fairy Tail as a power equal to the Four Emperors.
Gion's brows furrowed further.
"But why… why now?"
Why had the World Government suddenly issued new bounties for all of them—even the cat and the duck in the guild?
A faint sense of dread tugged at her chest.
Aboard the Magic Vessel
"Seriously, what's with those government bastards? We're out here doing good deeds, and they're acting like we're the worst criminals alive!"
Bonney grumbled between mouthfuls of food, shoving another piece of roasted fish into her mouth in frustration.
Ulu and Urutia, however, seemed unfazed by their inflated bounties. Their attention was elsewhere—on the newspaper headline about the destruction of Pirate Island Hive.
"The Hive… destroyed? By one person?" Bonney asked, blinking. "You two know this guy?"
"I've met him once," Ulu replied with a calm nod. "He invited me to take on a mission together once before."
Urutia's eyes narrowed.
"Kildarth. He's an S-class wizard from Fairy Tail—the kind you never want to fight."
"Wait, what?" Bonney blinked, frozen for a second. "S-Class… Fairy Tail… hold up, isn't he one of us?"
"That's right," Urutia said with a faint smile.
"Looks like he's joined our ranks too."
Ulu nodded knowingly.
"It seems he and Karna appeared at the same time. Another powerful ally."
Back in Wano Country
When the news spread that Kildarth, Fairy Tail's S-class wizard, was the mysterious powerhouse who annihilated Pirate Island Hive, everyone inside the General's Mansion was left speechless—then overjoyed.
With another monster-level ally added to their guild, Fairy Tail's strength had soared again.
Sugisawa Yuuto, however, wasn't satisfied.
"Kildarth's arrival strengthens the guild," he thought. "But our overall power can still grow—and so must I."
As guild master, he couldn't afford to fall behind.
That's why he had already made up his mind.
Today… I'll awaken the Flame Dragon King.
Deep within the General's Mansion
In a quiet courtyard, Ace stood before Sugisawa Yuuto, the warm morning light gleaming on his flame-tattooed arm.
"We've already fulfilled your request," Yuuto said calmly. "The people of Wano now have enough food to survive."
"Yeah!" Ace grinned brightly. "Thanks a lot, President!"
"Then you already know what comes next," Yuuto said with a faint, almost teasing smile.
Ace swallowed hard, suddenly nervous.
He knew exactly what the guild master meant. Payment time.
And he was broke.
He patted down his pockets in panic—nothing. Not a single berry. Cold sweat formed on his temple.
He'd eaten plenty of free meals in his life, but this time, he knew he couldn't run away from the bill.
"I told you," Yuuto said, voice smooth but sharp as a blade. "This commission comes with a heavy price."
"I—I'm sorry, President Sugisawa Yuuto!" Ace stammered, bowing low. "I don't have money right now, but I'll find a way—"
Yuuto raised a hand.
"I don't want money."
Ace blinked, startled.
"Huh? Then what do you want?"
Yuuto's eyes glowed faintly red.
"Your power—the Logia Mera Mera no Mi."
For a moment, silence. Then Ace burst into laughter.
"That's all? You scared me! If that's what you want, take it! I thought you were gonna charge me millions!"
Yuuto glanced sideways at Erin, who had been standing silently nearby.
Both were stunned. They'd been ready to take the ability by force if Ace refused.
"Fire Fist Ace," Erin said, arms crossed. "Without the Mera Mera no Mi, you'd lose your title. That fruit is your strength."
Ace smirked.
"You're wrong. The fruit doesn't define me."
He clenched his fists, flames flickering across his knuckles.
"Relying on a Devil Fruit has held me back. What really matters is Haki. Sabo made me realize that again."
Ace had sparred with Sabo several times since reuniting, just like when they were kids. Back then, he had no fruit power—and even now, with his flames, Sabo could still match him easily.
He knew it in his bones: without the fruit, he'd lose at first. But given time, he'd surpass his limits again.
As he thought that, a sudden realization struck him. His face drained of color.
"Wait! President Yuuto… I already ate the fruit. Doesn't that mean it only respawns after I die? You're not planning to kill me, right?!"
Yuuto chuckled.
"Relax. I have a way to extract a Devil Fruit's power without killing its user. But it may… hurt a little."
Ace let out a sigh of relief.
"If it keeps me alive, then go ahead. Do it!"
Yuuto nodded to Erin.
The sorceress raised her hand and murmured an ancient incantation. A swirl of runic light enveloped Ace's body.
Moments later, a blazing sigil—like a burning sun—was pulled from his chest, crackling in midair.
With a graceful motion, Erin guided the flame rune toward Yuuto. It sank into his body like molten fire merging with steel.
The air rippled. The ground trembled.
"Flame Dragon King Mode… activate!"