Ace sighed inwardly. It was his first time experiencing what Luffy must have felt facing him.
Luffy ate a Devil Fruit but couldn't defeat him, who didn't have one. Now he ate the 'stronger' Mera Mera no Mi, yet similarly couldn't defeat his captain, who also had no fruit.
Moreover, he could beat Luffy because he was three years older. But his captain... judging by appearance, seemed about his own age.
Ace walked over and sat cross-legged: "I lost fair and square. You're my captain now. I'm Ace, Portgas D. Ace!"
Deuce realized his status had plummeted twice in one day… first to junior, then to junior's junior. He could only say helplessly: "I'm Masked Deuce."
Setsuna also introduced himself: "I am Chiaki Setsuna."
"What a strange name." Ace muttered, then looked at Setsuna with sincere eyes. "Captain, I will definitely help you become the Pirate King!"
However, Setsuna yawned: "I have no interest in being a pirate. If you want to become one, I don't mind having a Pirate King as a subordinate."
Ace's mouth dropped open: "How can the Pirate King be someone else's subordinate?"
Setsuna slightly shook his head. He truly couldn't understand Ace's logic. He's clearly hating Roger, yet still wanting to become a pirate. Was it just to prove he could surpass Roger?
Setsuna retorted: "Why not?"
Ace was silent for a moment, thinking of Luffy's answer: "Because the Pirate King is the freest person on the seas."
"Then there you go." Setsuna snapped his fingers. "Being someone's subordinate is also the Pirate King's freedom, isn't it? How can you assume the Pirate King's freedom?"
Ace opened his mouth, about to speak but hesitated, finally could only ask: "Then what do you want to become?"
Setsuna thought for a moment, then said: "If I must say, then Gourmet King."
"Eh? Gourmet King?" Ace sighed. "Did I just acknowledge a cook as my boss?"
Setsuna retorted: "You, a robber, look down on a legitimate profession?"
Deuce patted Ace's arm. His mouth was full of meat, so he could only signal Ace to hurry up and eat.
"Oh right, I'm so hungry." Ace suddenly realized he had only eaten half a Devil Fruit. Hunger instantly surged through his body. He was so hungry he actually collapsed on the ground.
Setsuna wasn't sure how to evaluate this, 'What delayed senses! If others didn't mention it, he truly wouldn't feel hunger?'
Deuce quickly tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into Ace's mouth, then Ace instantly regained full vitality.
"So good! So delicious! Captain, your dream is indeed the best." Ace decisively chose to support Setsuna's dream.
"Then eat more. After eating, I'll issue my first captain's order." Setsuna twisted his neck.
Ace ate while asking: "Alright! What order?"
"Of course, revenge. Some bastard was racing an 'island' in the sky, causing me to be hit down. This grudge must be settled." Setsuna's tone was unpleasant.
"There really are floating islands?" Ace was excited.
Even Deuce was shocked. He thought Setsuna had been tricking Ace before.
"Of course there are. Otherwise, how did I fall from the sky?" Setsuna shrugged.
"Then let's go now!" Ace impatiently stuffed his mouth with food. But he quickly realized: "But how do we fly up?"
"You ate the Mera Mera no Mi, right? Just elementalize and ascend."
"But when I elementalize, I can't take you with me." Ace said troubledly.
"Don't worry about that. I can fly myself." Setsuna said, floating up.
"So cool! How is that done? Truly worthy of being my captain." Ace was increasingly able to accept his position. He asked eagerly: "Then shall we go now?"
Deuce weakly raised his right hand: "I'm just office staff. Can you not leave me alone here?"
"That is indeed a problem. But we're going to fight. Taking you might be more dangerous." Ace looked troubled.
Though Setsuna didn't much care about Deuce, he was Ace's first crewmate after all. Discarding him casually wasn't good.
"I have a way. Follow me." Setsuna said, walking out of the valley towards the beach.
Though not fully understanding Setsuna's intention, Ace and Deuce quickly followed.
Arriving at the beach, Setsuna removed the 'armband' wrapped around his left arm. It was actually a small snake.
"With Titan protecting you, you won't have to be afraid."
Seeing the snake no thicker than a finger, Deuce was somewhat amused and exasperated: "Though I'm not strong, I'm not that weak..."
Before he finished, Setsuna lightly tapped Titan a few times, then threw it into the sea.
The next moment, the calm sea surface churned violently.
An enormous 'sea serpent' emerged from the sea, joyfully slapping the water's surface.
"Gi... giant Sea King..." Deuce felt his mouth go dry. This size was enormous even among Sea Kings.
"You two be careful! I'll handle..." Ace was about to raise his hand when Setsuna pressed it down. "What are you trying to do to my partner?"
"Partner?" Ace couldn't believe it, gesturing. "You mean this Sea King is that little snake just now?"
Setsuna nodded: "This is Titan's true form."
"So cool!" Ace's eyes shone. He ran forward a few steps, stroking Titan's scales like a pervert, then turned to Deuce: "Haha, Deuce! With this big guy protecting you, you don't have to be afraid."
Deuce's legs trembled, 'Could I say I was even more afraid now than before?'
"Titan, you can remove restrictions and feast. But remember, he is not food." Setsuna smiled, patting Deuce's shoulder.
Titan cheered. This sea was simply an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Leaving Titan and Deuce behind, Setsuna shot into the sky like a rocket.
"So fast!" Ace's fighting spirit was ignited again. He wanted to race Setsuna, transforming into a streak of fire and shooting skyward.
The two kept ascending, and the air grew thinner.
They only stopped at ten thousand meters high.
It was Ace's first time seeing the high-altitude scenery. He looked around curiously: "Captain, I don't see those floating islands you mentioned?"
Setsuna said: "I told you, I was hit down. That floating island naturally moves."
Recalling the direction of impact, Setsuna pointed southwest: "Fly this way."
The two flew along the direction for half a day before finally seeing over a dozen islands suspended in the air.
"There really are Sky Islands! And so many!" Ace excitedly shouted. This experience was truly rare.
"Let's go. It's time to meet the owner of these islands." Setsuna directly headed towards the largest island surrounded by the others.