The moment the training ship's gangway was lowered, even before Orion had fully stepped out of the cabin, the fervent emotions that had built to a peak in the port exploded like a volcanic eruption.
The thunderous cheers converged into a visible wave of sound, causing the sea surface to ripple continuously.
As Orion descended the gangway under the gaze of thousands, the moment his feet touched the dock, the once-orderly crowd instantly spiraled out of control.
"Orion, look over here!"
"Oh my god, he's walking toward me!"
Countless people surged forward like a tidal wave.
Morgan and his elite Fleet Admiral guard swiftly formed a human barricade, attempting to hold them back, but they seemed utterly insignificant against this frenzied torrent.
The human wall was instantly breached.
Several young women, dressed flamboyantly, shrieked as they charged to the front, their eyes gleaming with near-delirious fervor, reaching out to throw themselves at Orion.
However, before their hands could even brush the hem of his clothes, an exquisitely beautiful figure silently moved to block their path.
Hancock continued to intimately hold onto Orion's arm, only subtly shifting her posture as if unintentionally.
"Ouch!"
The woman at the forefront slipped, tumbling forward in an extremely awkward manner, inadvertently tripping several companions behind her.
In an instant, they all collapsed into a tangled heap.
A haughty, cold smirk lifted the corner of Hancock's lips; she couldn't even be bothered to spare these "impudent women" a sidelong glance.
The minor disturbance did little to affect Orion.
After the city security forces, led by the mayor of the Fire Nation, urgently intervened, the chaotic order was barely restored.
Orion gazed at the overwhelmingly excited crowd before him, a gentle smile gracing his features as he raised a hand to wave at the people.
That simple gesture alone reignited the entire scene.
"Ah—The Fleet Admiral smiled at me!"
Among the crowd, a young woman closest to Orion saw his smile and her expression first erupted into ecstasy, followed by sheer bliss, before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed straight backward, fainting dead away from happiness.
Several of her companions, one after another, also slumped to the ground, each wearing an unmistakable look of utter satisfaction.
This spectacle made the Fire Nation's first mayor, who had come to greet them, twitch with alarm.
He quickly directed the security team to carry away these "fortunate" individuals, fearing an even greater uproar.
Under the mayor's personal escort, Orion and his party finally made their way through the crowds unscathed, and settled into the Fire Nation's most luxurious Flame Hotel.
The fervent crowd lingered, unwilling to disperse, still tightly encircling the hotel.
...
On the training ship.
Ace leaned against the ship's railing, gazing at the now-empty port in the distance, and let out a long sigh of relief.
That earlier scene had been far too intimidating; he had no desire to be surrounded by that mob of frenzied women.
Just as he was idly scanning the sea, a strange object floating on the water's surface caught his attention.
It was a fruit, entirely orange-red, covered in spiral patterns.
Ace blinked in confusion at first, then a thought struck him like lightning.
A Devil Fruit?!
Without a moment's hesitation, he dove headfirst into the sea, swimming vigorously toward the fruit and scooping it up.
Back on the deck, Ace placed the dripping-wet fruit before him, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
To eat, or not to eat?
He thought of Fleet Admiral Orion's terrifying, world-shattering power, of Zoro's unwavering dedication to the ultimate sword path.
Then he looked at himself—aside from decent physical skills and a recently awakened but uncontrollable Conqueror's Haki, he didn't have much to boast about.
After a moment of hesitation, Ace's eyes hardened with resolve.
He picked up the Devil Fruit, opened his mouth, and took a fierce, large bite.
"Ugh..."
An indescribable flavor exploded in his mouth, and Ace nearly vomited on the spot.
Gritting his teeth against the nausea, he forced the fruit pulp down.
The moment it entered his stomach, a scorching heat surged from within his body, instantly spreading through his limbs and bones.
The next second.
Flames burst uncontrollably from his body.
Strangely, Ace felt no burning pain; instead, the fire felt exceptionally warm, as if it were a natural part of him.
He tentatively extended his right hand, and with a mere thought a small flame obediently danced at his fingertip.
It worked!
Ace's heart swelled with wild joy.
He raised his hand, pointing at a lone trash can on the shore, and flicked his finger.
The tiny flame shot out, tracing a graceful arc through the air before landing precisely inside the trash can.
Boom!
The trash can was instantly engulfed in raging flames, completely incinerated in less than two seconds.
Witnessing this, Ace was overjoyed.
He turned to face the vast, boundless sea, took a deep breath, gathered the surging power within him into his right fist, and violently thrust it forward!
"Fire Fist!"
A massive fist over five meters in diameter, composed of pure flames, shot roaring from his knuckles!
The burning colossal fist, like a falling meteor trailing a long tail of fire, slammed fiercely onto the sea's surface.
BOOM—
The sea instantly exploded into a gigantic crater, with towering flames soaring into the sky, dyeing the heavens a blazing red!
...
The night passed without incident.
By the evening of the next day, the highly anticipated Flame Festival officially commenced.
As night fell, the entire Fire Nation transformed into an ocean of light, a world of flames.
All the city's lights were extinguished, replaced by countless blazing torches.
Countless citizens, dressed in splendid attire with flame tattoos painted on their faces, poured into the streets from all directions, holding torches.
Streams of torches converged and flowed through the city's streets, eventually merging into the central Flame Plaza.
The scene was as if the Milky Way had descended to the mortal world—awe-inspiring and magnificent.
Orion was invited to the central platform of Flame Plaza as the most honored guest, tasked with personally igniting the first main torch symbolizing the festival's beginning.
However, just as the mayor handed the flame to Orion—
A figure descended from the sky like a burning meteor, landing steadily on the platform.
It was Ace.
"Fleet Admiral," Ace said with a confident smile, bowing slightly to Orion.
"How about letting me light the torches of Flame Plaza?"
Orion looked at the young man whose demeanor had drastically changed with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
It had only been a day, and he had already learned to steal the spotlight.
"Oh?" Orion asked with interest. "How do you plan to light them? I must remind you, there are eighty-eight massive torches surrounding this plaza. Lighting all of them alone is no easy task."
"Fleet Admiral, just watch!"
Ace smiled confidently and said no more.
He slowly raised his hands, fingers spread wide.
In the next moment, clusters of orange-red flames, like living spirits, flew from his fingertips.
Eighty-eight trails of fire traced brilliant arcs across the night sky, shooting unerringly toward the eighty-eight giant ironwood totems surrounding the plaza.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the continuous roars, the eighty-eight towering torches, each dozens of meters high, were ignited almost simultaneously!
The soaring flames illuminated the entire night sky as bright as day.
The interns watched in stunned silence.
"So... so amazing!" Luffy was the first to jump up, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Hey! Ace!" Zoro strode over with a displeased expression. "We agreed to train and grow stronger together, but you went and secretly ate a Devil Fruit behind our back!"
Ace turned back and smiled at Zoro. "Sorry about that, Zoro. With this Devil Fruit power, I'm probably the strongest intern now."
Before the words faded, he leaped onto the top of the tallest torch at the center of the plaza.
Raging flames surged from his body, enveloping him entirely and transforming him into a colossal flame giant towering between the sky!
Ace spread his arms wide, declaring to the hundreds of thousands of fervent citizens below.
"I will become the Flame King of this Flame Festival!"
"You cheated, Ace!" Luffy shouted indignantly, jumping up and down below.
"Little brother," Ace looked down at him and laughed heartily, "Go become the King of the Adventurers! The Flame King can only be me!"
The citizens of the Fire Kingdom, who already worshipped flames, fell into complete frenzy after witnessing Ace's miraculous performance.
"Flame King!"
"Flame King!!"
"Flame King!!!"
Tens of thousands of people chanted in unison, instantly pushing the festival atmosphere to its peak.
Joyful music began to play as enthusiastic citizens rushed forward, pulling the somewhat dazed intern into the central square.
Hand in hand, they danced merrily around the roaring bonfire.
Laughter, singing, and cheers merged into a sea of joy, echoing under the fire-lit night sky for a long time.