Pirate: I, Ace, am the King of Eclipse!

“You’re here to fight.” Ace stepped over the plates on the ground and walked straight to the center of the open space. “I just finished eating, so I’ll stretch my legs a bit. But everyone’s lunch is here, and you can’t afford to pay for it if you break it. Let’s find a more spacious place.”

Enel's temple twitched. The person who had delivered himself to his doorstep was simply taken away by Ace. His raised hand froze for a moment, and he could only grit his teeth and dissipate the lightning.

Urki pulled up the iron pillar, his laughter echoing through the forest: "This old monk couldn't have asked for more!"

A few minutes later, the group arrived at the ancient ruins of Appayado. This area had been ravaged by the great battle between Ace and Enel, leaving only low, crumbling walls, making it the perfect place to roam freely.

"Be careful, benefactor." Uroki gripped the hexagonal iron pillar with both hands, his leg muscles tensed, and his feet stomped a crack in the rocky ground. "My physical exorcism is no small matter!"

A section of the ground collapsed with a deafening roar, and he used the recoil to propel himself forward. His nearly four-meter-tall body, carrying the iron pillar, charged forward with surprising speed. The hexagonal prism spun half a circle before crashing down on Ace's head, creating a deep, rumbling sound as small pieces of gravel tumbled along the ground in the distance.

Ace didn't use the advanced Armament Haki he had used against Zephyr. He wanted to see first just how capable this person who dared to come to the island alone was.

Sabo and the others remained at the edge of the ruins, not interfering. Leona casually brought over the tray containing the remaining roasted meat, lest it be stolen by wild beasts on their way back. Urouge caught sight of this and laughed even louder; Eclipse and the others clearly did not consider his challenge an attack requiring full alert.

He straightened his stance, his right fist striking directly at the iron pillar. His fist lacked both Armament Haki hardening and flames; it relied solely on the power accumulated through years of honing his body.

"boom!"

A fist struck steel, and a shockwave rippled out from the point of contact. The rock beneath their feet collapsed inward, cracks spreading rapidly in all directions, and dust billowed up from the ruins.

Uroki's smile faltered for the first time: "Empty-handed?"

The next instant, the force from the iron pillar slammed into his arms. His hands split open instantly, blood slid down the pillar, and his arms, shoulders, and chest went numb. His massive body was violently thrown through the air, carving a trench dozens of meters long in the ruins, before finally coming to a stop after crashing into a broken stone pillar.

Urki coughed up blood, a dull pain shooting through his chest with each breath. The shockwave from earlier had shattered several of his sternums, passing through his arms.

The hexagonal iron pillar flew out of his hand, tumbling and crashing down two sections of the low wall. Urouge's arms trembled uncontrollably, the cuts from his tiger's mouth extending to his palms. He had originally thought Ace would only block this attack, but upon actually facing it, he realized that he couldn't even make his opponent move half a step.

"Your speed and strength are passable, but your body can't withstand this punch." Ace flicked his wrist and looked at the collapsed stone pillar. "You dared to come directly to our door, so you must have more to rely on than just these things."

The onlookers thought the first round was over. But a burst of laughter mixed with coughing suddenly erupted from the ruins.

"Hahahaha... It hurts, it really hurts!"

Urki braced himself against the broken pillar and stood up. His monk's robe was soaked with blood, his wounds had not healed, but his muscles bulged before everyone's eyes. His veins stood out, his skeleton stretched outward, and his height increased accordingly.

"Since I have already tasted hell, then I will use this pain to transform into hell!"

In just a few breaths, he swelled from a nearly four-meter-tall strongman into a mountain-like giant. His monk's robe was stretched to the point of tearing, and the hexagonal iron pillar that he used to carry on his shoulder fell into his hands, now held like a short stick by an ordinary person.

The physical damage he had suffered earlier was not in vain. The more severe the injury, the more his strength and size expanded, and this strength would be returned to his opponent in the next attack, perfectly corresponding to the name of cause and effect.

As his body shape changed, the pain from his fractured sternum amplified. With each breath, a dull, grinding sound came from deep within his chest, but his ability transformed this pain into new strength. The island soil beneath his feet, which had once supported him, began to sink, and nearby crumbling walls collapsed one after another under his weight.

Ace looked up at him and quickly understood the use of this ability: "As long as I don't kill you on the spot, the impact I take can be converted into power and returned to me in the same way?"

“That is indeed the case, benefactor.” Urki raised the iron pillar, its shadow covering a large area of ​​the ground.

Ace flexed his fingers and resumed his fighting stance: "Then you're more useful than I thought. I'll have to hold out a little longer from now on."

The entire Eclipse team is currently in dire need of intense training, but it's difficult to find suitable opponents on the Sky Island. Urouge, who can get stronger after being beaten and can keep pushing the pressure up, is practically a training partner who's delivered himself to their doorstep.

Sabo saw Ace staring at Urouge and sighed silently for the newly arrived, disobedient monk.

This fight has probably only just begun.

Chapter 75 The Backlash of Cause and Effect, The Fanaticism of the Broken Monk

Apayado, ancient ruins area.

Before the dust had even settled, the swollen Urouge had already blocked out a large portion of the sunlight. Veins bulged on his two thick arms, and his torn monk's robes were reduced to just a few strips hanging from his waist. His previously split hand was still bleeding, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, looking down at Ace with a widening grin.

"The more pain this body ingests, the heavier the karmic retribution it will have to repay to the benefactor."

Urki released the hexagonal iron pillar, letting it crash to the side. He had already tested weapons; if his opponent could withstand the blows with his bare fists, then he would settle the matter directly with his body.

"Namo..."

As he uttered the Buddhist chant, he shattered the rocky ground with his foot. His massive body pressed forward, his right fist pushing through layers of air, aiming to smash down on Ace's face.

"Karma and retribution!"

Ace did not retreat. His blood surged through his body, and Armament Haki covered his right arm and fist. He took half a step forward, and his jet-black fist slammed into the giant fist that was wider than his own body.

The two forces froze in mid-air for a moment, then the white aura exploded. The remaining pillar within dozens of meters was cleaved in two by the shockwave, the broken ends shattering into fragments. The ground beneath Ace's feet sank a layer, his feet sinking into the mud, cracks spreading outwards from him.

Urouge's punch was two or three times heavier than when he swung the iron pillar earlier. The injuries he had sustained were transformed into brute force by his Devil Fruit ability, pressing down on him with each strike of their fists.

The outermost few stone pillars that hadn't yet fallen tilted simultaneously upon impact. The cloud-like, soft ground was compacted, and even moisture seeped from beneath Ace's feet. Instead of immediately releasing the force, he used his body as a nail, rooting himself firmly to the spot, using this punch to confirm the upper limit of Urouge's expanded power.

"Sure enough, the more serious the injury, the faster it heals." Ace's shoulders jerked, he shook off the arm pressing down on his fist, turned around and unleashed a whip kick.

Armament Haki-infused in the instep slammed into Urouge's ribs, the dull thud echoing through the ruins. Urouge's upper body was thrown to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't retreat. He twisted his waist using the momentum, followed by a left hook that slammed into Ace's chest.

Ace's chest jolted, and his shoes slid several steps across the ground. Two shallow ruts were left between them, and pebbles still bounced around the edges of his shoes.

That punch was indeed heavy; without Armament Haki protecting his chest, he would have undoubtedly taken a rib hit. Ace looked down at the fist mark left on his clothes, and when he looked up again, Urouge was already closing in despite his injury to his side. For this monk, being hit and attacking were essentially the same thing.

Under the shade of the tree, Sabo held the alloy staff and observed for a moment: "Each burst of power will increase the burden on his body. His ability can convert damage into strength, but it doesn't erase his injuries. If it continues to increase like this, before the enemy falls, his own body may collapse first."

"Just use lightning to turn him into charcoal, why bother with this low-level hand-to-hand combat?" Enel took a bite of his apple, showing disdain for the brutal punches on the field.

Geno pushed up his goggles and sneered at him: "What do you know, you squishy guy who'll go down after one hit? Treat every muscle as ammunition, that's what you call romance."

Several arcs of electricity crackled across the apple in Enel's hand. Had their attention not been focused on the battlefield, the two would likely have already started fighting.

Ace stopped and looked at Urouge again. That whip kick, imbued with Haki, would have broken the ribs of an ordinary pirate, but the monk opposite him was able to continue to compress the pain into his muscles, forcing out even greater power.

Such an opponent, as long as you control your strength and don't kill them outright, can exert increasing pressure with each counterattack. It's perfect for honing your physique and domineering spirit.

“Big monk, you really can take a lot of damage.” Ace lowered his hands, but the Armament Haki on his fists was no longer pressed tightly against his skin. The dark luster flowed outwards along his knuckles, slowly gathering where it didn’t touch his skin. “But no matter how thick your muscles are, they can’t protect what’s inside.”

Physical impacts landing on the outer layer only continue to feed the power of karma. To bypass the thick flesh, one must inject Armament Haki into the body and explode it from the inside.

This is precisely the advanced Armament Haki technique that Ace has been practicing repeatedly lately.

"I've just figured out a move, let me test its effectiveness on your body."

He exhaled and his figure sprinted along the ground. Seeing him approach, Urki clasped his hands together above his head, like a giant hammer slamming down.

"It's not over yet, benefactor!"

Two massive fists blocked his path. Ace rushed to the point of impact but suddenly stopped half a step, twisting his body to the side with the force of the punches. The giant fists grazed his shoulder and slammed into the ground, causing the entire rock layer to collapse downwards. Ace had already cut into Urouge's abdomen, close to his arm, in a blind spot.

The increased size and power slowed Urouge's turn. He caught a glimpse of the figure beneath him out of the corner of his eye, but his arms were too late to retract.

Ace stood in the shadow cast by his abdomen, his right fist thrusting upwards. The movement was small; the fist stopped just before making contact with the muscle.

"Flowing Cherry Blossom - Shatter!"

Armament Haki, gathered at the front of his fist, suddenly penetrated his body.

The outer muscles only slightly dented with a fist, but a series of muffled thuds emanated from Urouge's body. The domineering aura bypassed the flesh and bones, exploding between the internal organs, as if countless hammers were striking his lungs from all sides simultaneously.

Urki's laughter abruptly stopped. His eyes bulged bloodshot, and he spat out a large amount of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs. His white wings folded up in agony.

While karmic retribution can withstand external physical impacts, it cannot handle the damage that occurs directly within the body. The body, in self-preservation, halts its ability to react; its mountain-like muscles rapidly contract, and its swollen skeleton returns to its original shape. In the blink of an eye, he returns to his nearly four-meter-tall form.

After losing his ability to support himself, the injuries that had accumulated earlier surged back. His split hand, injured waist and ribs, and internal organs damaged by the Flowing Sakura tremor all flared up at the same time, and he couldn't even take another step.

His tall body swayed twice before crashing to the ground in the mud.

Ace withdrew his fist, standing still and reflecting on the changes that occurred when the Haki pierced his body. The power no longer remained on the surface; it was delivered to the target along the intended direction before detonating. This attempt had allowed that feeling to remain within his body. He wouldn't need to start from scratch to use it again in the future.

He wiped the sweat from his arms and squatted down next to Urki.

Urki's chest heaved like a broken bellows, and his mouth was covered in blood. The excruciating pain made it difficult for him to even lift his fingers, but he still managed a smile: "He didn't even give this old monk a chance to absorb it, directly sending the power into my internal organs... This move is truly unreasonable."

He coughed up blood, looked up at the clouds above, and said, "I have no complaints about being defeated by you. Since I came to challenge you first, please make your move."

The rules of survival on the floating islands are never gentle. Losing means losing your life, and Urki was already prepared for that.

Ace didn't kill him. Someone so fearless and only interested in greater power would be a rare combat talent in the New World; it would be a waste to leave him wandering between a few sky islands.

Crimson flames erupted from Ace's palm. He pressed his hand against Urouge's bruised chest, and the Vermilion Bird Flame immediately enveloped the wound and seeped into his body. Ruptured and bleeding organs began to repair themselves, and broken bones were mended in the flames. Urouge's severe injuries healed rapidly, leaving only the exhaustion from overexertion weighing on his limbs.

Urouge watched as the bruises on his chest faded, and the metallic scent of blood in his breath quickly diminished. The injuries that had just prevented him from getting up were now nothing more than the exhaustion from depleted strength. The fact that the same hand had been used to heal and destroy him was even more surprising than the earlier attack on Ryuo.

Death did not come; instead, the pain receded inch by inch. Uroki turned to stare at the crimson flames on his chest: "To be able to pull this old monk back from the brink of death... what do you want from keeping me here?"

“It’s such a waste for your body to remain in the sky, where there are only a few mud islands.” Ace stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, and extended his right hand to him. “Come with me to Qinghai.”

Urki looked at the hand but did not answer immediately.

Ace continued, "The Marine Headquarters has admirals who can punch through mountains, and the New World has four emperors who reign supreme over the seas. With the Eclipse, you'll never lack opponents, nor will you lack battles that could cost you your life."

The Navy, the Four Emperors, and the core forces of the World Government. Behind each name stands a monster powerful enough to overshadow today's battle.

“Since you call yourself a broken monk, you probably don’t like those rigid rules that weigh people down.” Ace pushed his hand forward a little more. “Get on my ship and we’ll smash them together. How far we get depends on whether you can hold on.”

Urouge was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. He had only come for the news of the Golden Bell and Enel's defeat, but he never expected that this cause and effect would lead him to a path leading to the Blue Sea, the Four Emperors, and even the World Government.

“To refuse would be to betray the Buddha’s arrangements.” Urouge raised his calloused right hand and firmly grasped Ace’s hand. “Please take care of me from now on, Captain.”

Half an hour later, smoke began to rise again from the forest clearing.

The fierce battle had exhausted Urouge's strength, but it had also completely whetted his appetite. The remaining steaks on the grill were quickly devoured, yet he still held the plate. Leona stared at him for a few seconds, then picked up her twin swords, her face dark, and disappeared into the forest. She returned shortly after, dragging back another prey.

"Is this all the members of the Eclipse Pirates now?" Urouge asked, eating as he looked at the people sitting around the fire. Each one of them seemed completely out of place in their peaceful life in the clouds.

Bucky moved the soup over to Sabo's side and muttered, "Why is that big monk always laughing? It makes me feel really uncomfortable."

“You’ll get used to it.” Sabo glanced at Urouge, who was ordering his fourth plate of grilled meat. “Which of Ace’s companions was ever normal?”

Bass wanted to argue, but his gaze bypassed Enel, Leona who was carrying her prey back, and Geno who was dismantling the iron pillar. Finally, he wisely took a sip of soup.

Urki thus became a new member of the Eclipse. In the training that followed, everyone gained another whetstone—a force that could turn damage into counterattacks and increase pressure as the fight progressed. The already intense training pace was pushed even higher.

Enel was the first to approach him that day, wanting to make up for the fight they missed at lunchtime; Leona, on the other hand, was interested in his enhanced durability and planned to practice her dual swords on the hexagonal iron pillar. Buggy, who had been gloating, was thrown into the training ground by Ace the next day and could only run around the two battle maniacs for his life.

Chapter 76 The three-month deadline has arrived; time to prepare for departure to the Infinite Land (2-in-1)

Apayado, the Island of the Gods, a deep forest basin.

The three months flew by in a cycle of training, eating, and short naps.

A muffled thud suddenly echoed through the forest at dawn. A figure, enveloped in scattered blue lightning, was sent flying backward. Even after landing, the force of the fall continued, carving two deep furrows, each more than ten meters long, into the scorched earth.

Enel barely managed to stand, his chest heaving. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand; sweat and dust clung to his face, making him unrecognizable from the pristine, godlike figure he had been three months ago.

"Again!"

Instead of releasing his lightning from a distance, he kicked off the mud beneath his feet and charged towards Sabo. Lightning crackled around his fists and arms, but he used it only to increase his speed and explosive power.