"Haven't you already sat down, you charming lady?"
The woman chuckled, bringing a glass of wine to Cheng Xiaoyu's lips: "Thank you for today, I'll drink to you."
There's a good saying: when you're chasing a girl, have you ever considered that she might be chasing you too?
...
After a few rounds of drinks, Cheng Xiaoyu returned to the hotel with a slight buzz.
As soon as he pushed open the door, a soft body pounced on him, pushing him into the room.
"Click!" The door was locked.
"Kalifa? Is something wrong?" Cheng Xiaoyu smelled a familiar perfume, asking the obvious.
Kalifa had wavy blonde hair, a fiery figure, paired with fishnet stockings, her eyes hazy, and her breath like orchids.
"What? Don't you welcome me?"
In the darkness, Cheng Xiaoyu chuckled softly, "How could I not? You're a former secretary, and I heard you're very good at blowing bubbles?"
Kalifa smiled charmingly, her finger lightly tracing his lips. "Whether I am or not, you'll know if I blow them for you later…"
...
The next morning.
Cheng Xiaoyu walked out of the hotel feeling refreshed, stretching lazily.
Last night's "bubbles" were indeed excellent, leaving him with a lingering taste.
The taste of a mature woman… truly wonderful…
"Yo, hello there!" A hearty voice called out.
Cheng Xiaoyu turned his head and saw a young man wearing a cowboy hat and freckles on his face, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Ace?"
Cheng Xiaoyu recognized him at a glance: Portgas D. Ace, a Logia user of the Mera Mera no Mi, and like himself, a Pirate with a bounty of 500 million berries.
He was Pirate King Roger's biological son, Whitebeard's adopted son, and Luffy's elder brother.
Ace grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.
"I'm looking for a Pirate named Blackbeard Teach. Have you seen him?"
"Yes, in Mock Town, about two weeks ago," Cheng Xiaoyu replied indifferently.
"Thanks." Ace nodded, turning to leave.
"Wait." Cheng Xiaoyu called out to him.
"Is there something else?" Ace frowned.
"You can't beat him," Cheng Xiaoyu said bluntly.
Ace paused, turning back to look at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Literally."
Cheng Xiaoyu shrugged, "Blackbeard Teach's strength is far beyond your imagination. Going to him is just seeking your own death."
Ace's face darkened, and a flash of anger flickered in his eyes.
"He violated the Whitebeard Pirates' rules! I must make him pay the price!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates' rules?" Cheng Xiaoyu scoffed, "What is that? In this world, only strength is the sole truth."
Cheng Xiaoyu sighed, this kid was truly stubborn. "Forget it, I can't stop you. One day you'll understand what I mean."
"You said I can't beat him, what about you?" Ace suddenly turned, looking at him provocatively.
Cheng Xiaoyu laughed heartily, his eyes full of confidence. "Sorry, you're not my opponent either. Do you want to try?"
"Hahaha, what an arrogant person. Two years ago, when I first set sail, I was as arrogant as you. This vast ocean never lacks strong individuals."
Ace looked at Cheng Xiaoyu in front of him, a strange sense of familiarity welling up in his heart.
He remembered when he first formed the Spade Pirates, how foolish he was, fresh out of the gate, to challenge the world's strongest man, Whitebeard!
If Whitebeard hadn't held back, he would have died a hundred times over.
Cheng Xiaoyu merely smiled faintly, not minding Ace's words.
"My name is Cheng Xiaoyu, Captain of the Shadow Pirates."
"Oh, I remember now, Cheng Xiaoyu of the Shadow Pirates. It was in this morning's newspaper. Did you take down Shichibukai Moriah? It seems you're not to be underestimated either," Ace said with a smile.
"The Marine got there so fast? Then my bounty should be increasing soon!"
What Cheng Xiaoyu most anticipated now was an increase in his bounty; he desperately needed points to exchange for the items he wanted.
"Shichibukai? I rejected their invitation shortly after setting sail. It's meaningless!"
Ace disdainfully curled his lips; the Shichibukai title was insignificant in his eyes.
"Then how about we find a place to spar?" Ace was eager to try; he hadn't encountered such an interesting opponent in a long time.
"I have no problem."
A glint of excitement flashed in Cheng Xiaoyu's eyes; just thinking about fighting Ace made his blood boil.
He naturally wouldn't rush to extract Ace's shadow now, as the time was not yet right.
He knew very well the important role Ace would play in the future Summit War—he was the fuse for that war.
To maximize benefits, the Summit War must happen…
The two exchanged smiles, everything unsaid.
Soon, the two arrived on a deserted small island.
It was far from any town, rarely visited, and perfect for a hearty battle.
"How about here?" Ace looked around, nodding with satisfaction.
"Not bad." Cheng Xiaoyu stretched his limbs, making cracking sounds.
"Then let's begin!"
Ace grinned, striking a combat pose. "Then come on!"
Before he finished speaking, fierce flames ignited at his fingertips.
"Fire Gun!"
"Biubiubiu!"
Several scorching fireballs shot towards Cheng Xiaoyu like bullets.
Cheng Xiaoyu stood still, unmoving, and the fire bullets passed directly through his body, like passing through air, causing him no harm.
"Ace, can't you show your true strength? Who isn't a Logia user?"
"Is the Shadow Fruit a Logia type?"
"Of course!"
"Then how about trying this, Fire Fist!"
Ace's arm was engulfed in even more intense flames, striking Cheng Xiaoyu like the iron fist of a fire god.
A scorching heatwave rushed forward, and the air itself became distorted!
"Shadow Eightfold Gate!"
Cheng Xiaoyu let out a low roar, and eight massive Shadow Gates appeared out of thin air, forming an unbreakable barrier in front of him.
This was a defensive move for long-range attacks that Cheng Xiaoyu had comprehended as his level increased.
The eight colossal Shadow Gates overlapped, like a rotating Shadow vortex, completely swallowing Ace's Fire Fist.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed, and the shockwave spread, kicking up a cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, Cheng Xiaoyu still stood unharmed in his original spot, the eight Shadow Gates slowly dissipating.
"Ace, your 500 million bounty is because your level is only 500 million. My 500 million bounty is because the wanted poster hasn't been updated yet!"
Ace's face darkened, clearly provoked by Cheng Xiaoyu's words.
He was about to launch another attack when he found his hands and feet entangled by shadows that had appeared unnoticed, rendering him unable to move.
"Shadow Bind!"
Cheng Xiaoyu's figure vanished instantly, and the next second, a dagger formed from condensed shadow was pressed against Ace's neck.
The cold touch made Ace shiver involuntarily.
"I lost."
Ace sighed helplessly; he knew that if Cheng Xiaoyu had truly wanted to kill him, that last strike would have been fatal.
Cheng Xiaoyu put away the Shadow dagger, his figure reappearing in front of Ace. "Just a friendly match."
Ace moved his restrained hands and feet, looking at Cheng Xiaoyu with complex emotions in his eyes.
He had to admit that Cheng Xiaoyu's strength far exceeded his imagination.
"You're very strong," Ace praised sincerely.
"You've developed your Mera Mera no Mi very well," Cheng Xiaoyu smiled faintly, "but your Haki training is still far from enough."
The two exchanged smiles, and the previous tension instantly dissipated.
"Do you want to join my Pirate crew?" Cheng Xiaoyu suddenly asked tentatively.
"I refuse!" Ace replied very directly.
"Although you are strong, I am the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division. Once a Whitebeard Pirate, always a Whitebeard Pirate."
"And, I still have to settle the score with Blackbeard."
Cheng Xiaoyu sighed; he knew he couldn't persuade Ace, so he said nothing more.
"In that case, I wish you good luck." Cheng Xiaoyu extended his hand and shook Ace's.
"You too."
"If you ever die, would you consider becoming my shadow?"
Ace froze, then burst into laughter, "Cheng Xiaoyu, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Cheng Xiaoyu didn't reply, just smiled mysteriously, and slowly raised his right hand to snap his fingers.
"Come out!"
As he let out a low roar, the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed, becoming dim.
Immediately after, a chilling scene unfolded.
One, two, three…
Countless dark figures surged from Cheng Xiaoyu's body, rapidly solidifying into form.
The figure wrapped in black lightning, with an arrogant expression, was none other than "God" Eneru!
The bloated figure, controlling a giant shadow, was Gekko Moriah!
There were also the massive, mountain-like Red and White Ogres, as well as the sharp-bladed, heroic Kuina, and the simple-minded, deeply resentful Gin, the cunning Kuro, the master lock-picker Sanji…
Ace's eyes widened, his jaw nearly dropping.
He had just been wondering how Cheng Xiaoyu could form such a powerful Pirate crew all by himself!
"These… these are all your shadows?" Ace stammered, a storm raging in his heart.
"That's right," Cheng Xiaoyu said calmly, as if stating something insignificant, "My Pirate crew has no people, only shadows."
Ace looked at the powerful Shadow Legion before him, his heart a mix of emotions.
He had to admit that Cheng Xiaoyu's ability was simply too bizarre and powerful.
"Hahaha!" Ace suddenly burst into laughter.
"If that day truly comes… maybe!"