Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Training Ace, Creating Supernatural Powers? Golden Crow Burning Heaven Cultivation Technique

Chapter 71: Training Ace, Creating Supernatural Powers? Golden Crow Burning Heaven Cultivation Technique

As Chiba finished speaking, Ace looked up, his expression a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. Upon seeing that familiar face, Ace's eyes widened. "Chiba…?"

But his initial surprise quickly faded. A shadow fell over Ace's face as he muttered, "I never thought we'd meet again under circumstances like this."

Chiba chuckled. "What's wrong? Do you regret not taking my advice to become a pirate instead of joining the Marines?"

"No, I don't regret my choice. I only regret being too reckless, getting caught by Blackbeard, and ending up in Impel Down."

A heavy sense of remorse washed over Ace's face. Suddenly, he remembered something, and his expression changed drastically. "Blackbeard captured me to lure you out! Why did you really come? This place is too dangerous—you should return to Marine Headquarters immediately!"

Chiba grinned. "Look at that. You've still got a little sense in you, caring about your big brother. But don't worry. That bastard Blackbeard—I'll handle him."

"But in a way, it's good you've hit a rough patch like this. Maybe you won't be so reckless in the future."

"In… the future?" Magellan, who had been observing silently, frowned. What did Chiba mean by that? Did he really intend to break Ace out of prison?

Magellan prepared himself, secretly activating his Venom-Venom Fruit abilities in case he needed to strike. However, Chiba showed no signs of aggression or any intention to attack.

"What exactly is Chiba planning?" Magellan wondered, his brow furrowing with uncertainty.

Chiba turned to him with a friendly smile. "Director Magellan, you know how much I love research, right?"

He gestured towards Ace, who was locked up tightly. "Since he's confined here, would you mind if I 'studied' him a little?"

Magellan hesitated but quickly recalled the many benefits he had received from Chiba. Given Chiba's terrifying talent and boundless potential, he was someone who could easily ascend to the rank of admiral or even higher in the Marine hierarchy. Naturally, Magellan didn't want to offend such a promising figure. Letting him study Ace seemed harmless enough, so he nodded.

"Of course, but I must remain nearby. I hope you'll understand, Lord Chiba."

Chiba laughed lightly. "Director Magellan, you're certainly diligent. But don't worry—I won't make things difficult for you. Stay by my side as much as you'd like."

"Thank you, Lord Chiba, for your understanding." Magellan felt a wave of relief, grateful that Chiba wasn't putting him in a difficult position.

Chiba turned to Ace with a mischievous smile. "My foolish, reckless brother… before they execute your sentence, would you mind lending me your powers one last time?"

Magellan's confusion deepened. Chiba had spoken as if Ace had a future, but now he was talking about Ace's impending execution. What was Chiba's true intention?

Ace, too, was puzzled, trying to make sense of Chiba's cryptic words.

In the days that followed, Chiba conducted a thorough "study" of Ace's body. Eventually, at Chiba's request, Magellan even agreed to partially release the seastone restraints, allowing Chiba to study Ace's Mera-Mera Fruit abilities.

Ten days later…

[You have conducted detailed research on Ace's body. You have examined his blood, bones, and the Mera-Mera Fruit's powers. Drawing upon your past experiences and current insights, you have created a new supernatural technique: the Golden Crow Burning Heaven Cultivation Method.]

[Golden Crow Burning Heaven Cultivation Method: Absorb the sun's energy and manifest the Golden Crow. When fully cultivated, this technique can summon the Golden Crow to burn mountains and boil seas. With mastery over nine Golden Crows, it can form the Golden Crow Burning Heaven Array, capable of incinerating everything in its path.]

A torrent of information flooded into Chiba's mind. Diagrams detailing the flow of energy and techniques appeared in his consciousness. Marveling at this powerful new ability, Chiba smirked. "This supernatural power is incredible. I've gained quite a bit from you, Ace."

However, Chiba frowned thoughtfully. "The Golden Crow Burning Heaven Cultivation Method is far too strong. Even I might struggle to control the formation when it's fully unleashed."

For safety, Chiba decided to tone down the technique. He simplified the method, limiting it to conjuring up to eight Golden Crows, which could then form a weaker Golden Crow Burning Sea Array—ten times less powerful than the full version but still formidable.

Chiba placed a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder, channeling true energy into him. This helped open up Ace's meridians, initiating him into the Golden Crow cultivation method.

Ace felt a surge of unfamiliar energy within him. As someone who practiced physical techniques, he quickly recognized the movement of true energy in his body.

"Chiba… are you teaching me a new technique?" Ace realized, following Chiba's guidance to control the energy as it circulated through his meridians.

Soon, Ace noticed a subtle yet powerful flame taking shape within him—a three-legged crow formed from sunfire energy, barely visible but intensely hot.

As the technique continued to work, the flame crow grew larger, its temperature rising. With his Mera-Mera Fruit powers supplementing it, the three-legged flame crow rapidly gained strength. Ace was confident that, before long, he could master the first level of this new technique. The power of this flame crow… was terrifying.

Even more exciting, this was no longer dependent on his Devil Fruit and thus wouldn't be vulnerable to Blackbeard's Dark Fruit. With this new strength, Ace felt a surge of hope. He could seek revenge on Blackbeard one day.

Ace's gaze softened as he looked at Chiba, eyes glistening with gratitude.

Chiba smiled and placed a hand on Ace's shoulder again, transferring another technique—the Giant Elephant Suppressing Power—to him. The energy continued to flow, fortifying Ace's body, enhancing his strength beyond what he thought possible.

Ace was overwhelmed, knowing that Chiba was expending his own energy to help him grow stronger. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes, but he silently accepted Chiba's gift, vowing to repay this kindness one day.

Chiba continued to support Ace's training over the next few days, helping him awaken latent energy within his body. At the same time, he imparted advanced methods for cultivating Armament Haki and Observation Haki, techniques that multiplied Ace's training efficiency.

Weeks passed, and Ace's potential grew exponentially.

One day, Chiba returned to Ace's cell on the sixth level, holding a bottle of sake.

From a distance, Ace sensed his presence, opening his eyes with a grin. "I could smell that sake from a mile away!"

Chiba laughed. "Nice Observation Haki there, Ace."

Ace swallowed hard, eyeing the sake bottle eagerly. "It's been ages since I had a drink—mind sharing?"

Instead of immediately handing it over, Chiba asked, "Ace, do you know why you lost to Blackbeard?"

Ace frowned. "His Dark Fruit countered my flame powers."

"True. But Devil Fruits are only part of the equation. Your own strength, your mastery of Haki, your cultivation of supernatural powers—those are what matter most."

"Oh, enough with the lecture. I get it! Now hand over the sake!"

Chiba chuckled and tossed the bottle to him. Ace took a huge gulp, laughing. "Ah, that's the stuff! I haven't felt this alive in ages!"

Nearby, a merman who shared Ace's cell was watching enviously. "Hey, Brother Ace, let me have a sip, too! My mouth's drier than the Sahara!"

Ace laughed and tossed the bottle to him. The merman grabbed it eagerly, drinking in big swallows.

Chiba's gaze lingered on the merman, recognizing him instantly.

The merman was rotund with a thick, black beard, a lightning-bolt scar near his left eye, two large fangs protruding from his lower jaw, and a sun tattoo on his chest—the mark of the Sun Pirates. He wore a yukata and clogs.

"This is my friend here, Jinbei," Ace introduced.

"Jinbei the Knight of the Sea? I've heard of you," Chiba replied with a respectful nod.

[•———•———•———•]

𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:

• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮

• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝

• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲

𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟭𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!

👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

💬 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩! 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 $30—𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 10% 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩! 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚: 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥.

𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙋𝙏 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣-𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

👉𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧/𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥