October 30, 1501, Age of the Sea Circle
The three Kuja girls looked at Orion with determination, nodding firmly in response to his question. They had been eagerly awaiting the day of their escape, since a few days earlier Orion had told them what he planned to do. Now that the moment had finally come, they were incredibly nervous, silently praying that nothing would go wrong during the process.
Orion had decided not to eliminate Vespasian. A pathetic drunkard who spent his days intoxicated could hardly have any real impact on the world. In Orion's eyes, Vespasian simply wasn't worth killing; doing so would likely bring him more trouble than benefit.
For that reason, he left the man lying there on the floor, lost in his alcoholic stupor, without making a move against him. Still, Orion wasn't about to waste this valuable opportunity to acquire resources. Taking advantage of the low security within the Figarland mansion, he shamelessly looted the place, securing a sizable haul.
He not only obtained a great amount of Berries from the mansion's vault but also acquired valuable weapons and even Devil Fruits. Thinking about all the things he had stolen during this visit to the Figarlands, Orion couldn't help but smile widely as he left the place with the three girls by his side.
"Take these," Orion said suddenly once the girls had entered his Pocket Dimension, handing them three Sanctuary Vines, each capable of withstanding a single attack from someone at the highest levels of power in the world.
Although the item was disposable and could only be used once, it was better for the girls to have them—just in case the original plan failed and they became caught in a conflict. Unfortunately, Orion's supply of these amulets was limited; otherwise, he would have gladly given them a few more.
The girls looked at the bracelet-shaped charms, and without asking a single question, slipped them onto their wrists. After weeks of constant interaction, their trust in Orion had grown immensely. They didn't believe he would ever do anything to harm them, and they trusted him almost blindly, though Orion would have preferred that they remain alert no matter whom they were dealing with.
"And take these too, they're a gift for you," Orion said, pulling out three rings of different colors and handing them to the girls, who once again put them on their fingers without the slightest hesitation.
After the preparations were complete, Orion told them to stay calm inside the Pocket Dimension while he went to fetch Fisher Tiger and the other slaves he planned to save.
He had already discussed this part of the plan with the three Kuja sisters, so they simply nodded and remained alert inside the Pocket Dimension, while Orion opened a gate and vanished from the sphere in an alternate plane, returning to the outside world.
The three sisters watched Orion with great curiosity through the crimson membrane, observing as he sprinted at full speed through the deserted streets. Every so often, Orion would momentarily reenter the Pocket Dimension to avoid spending too much time outside and risking discovery.
In the Domain of the Gods, there were many powerful individuals capable of using Observation Haki at an advanced level. The only reason Orion could move freely through this place without being detected was because it was nearly impossible for anyone to keep their Observation Haki active at all times—unless they possessed an abnormally monstrous talent, like Lucky Roux. But such people were exceedingly rare in the world.
Even among the most skilled Observation Haki users, few could sustain it for long periods; most preferred to use it briefly and precisely at key moments. Orion had exploited this fact, and with the help of his Pocket Dimension—which allowed him to exit the normal spatial plane—he was able to move undetected among his enemies.
Boa Hancock watched Orion run through the streets intently, then lowered her gaze to the shining ring on her finger, thinking to herself,
"Is this what they call marriage?!"
Her two younger sisters had no idea what Hancock was thinking at that moment. Instead, they were looking around the interior of the Pocket Dimension with great fascination. The space was fully furnished—it had a kitchen, a bathroom, a workshop, a study with a vast library, and a massive bed large enough to accommodate several people without issue.
After some experimentation, Orion had managed to make effective use of the vast space within his Pocket Dimension by creating two separate areas. One of them held all his belongings and functioned as his personal base of operations.
The remaining half was the "combat zone" of the Pocket Dimension—the area he used when engaging in battle. Orion didn't want to be restricted from using his Pocket Dimension during fights out of fear of destroying everything inside, so he had created these divisions using his ability Canvas Realm, which he had discovered worked far more effectively within this parallel space belonging to his Space Door ability.
Now, Orion was able to use the combat zone without any issues, since it was completely separated from the rest of the Pocket Dimension. However, if he were to face a particularly powerful opponent capable of forcibly breaking those boundaries, he would still have trouble preventing the destruction of everything within his Pocket Dimension.
For that reason, Orion had to remain cautious whenever he fought, especially in situations like the current one, where people were inside the Pocket Dimension. That was also why he had decided to leave Toki in Pacific Kingdom under Giolla's care—so he wouldn't have to worry about her getting hurt in case of a major battle against a powerful enemy.
While the three girls were absorbed in their own thoughts inside the Pocket Dimension, Orion ran nonstop toward the place where Fisher Tiger was being held. Taking advantage of the moment when the guards were not particularly vigilant, he appeared before the wounded Fish-man.
"Tiger, I've come just as I promised—to help you escape," Orion said with a smile.
Tiger, still exhausted and not yet fully recovered from his torture sessions, lifted his head slightly and met Orion's eyes. The eyes of this human standing before him were so different from those of the ones who had captured and tormented him—so… pure.
A strange feeling stirred within the salmon-skinned Fish-man, born from conflicting emotions. The humiliation and suffering he had endured over the past month were unforgivable for someone as proud as him, yet Orion's presence by his side from almost the very beginning—treating his wounds whenever possible and assuring him that he would help him escape—made it impossible for him to harbor complete hatred toward humans.
Fisher Tiger was no fool; he knew it was absurd to think that every member of a race was terrible. But emotions were not easily controlled, and the immense rage that consumed him made his feelings toward Orion painfully complex.
Even so, he was fortunate that Orion had been there for him, because if the man had never appeared before him, the Fish-man would have been left with nothing but endless hatred toward the humans who had enslaved and tortured him.
"Escape? How are we going to escape?" Tiger asked wearily, his mind still foggy and unable to grasp what Orion intended.
However, Orion didn't have much time to explain, as his Observation Haki told him that the guards around this mansion were far stronger than he had anticipated.
"There's no time to explain now, Tiger. You'll have to come with me—I'll explain later," Orion said hurriedly, and with a thought, he opened a Space Door in midair.
He then cut the chains restraining Fisher Tiger's movements, and without giving him a chance to react, grabbed his arm and threw him inside the Pocket Dimension.
"Hancock, explain the plan to him, please!" Orion called out as he dashed through the Pocket Dimension, emerging again at a different point from where he had entered.
He now had to repeat the same process and rescue as many slaves as possible in the same manner. Over the past month, he had been gathering information with this exact goal in mind, refining every detail of his escape. He knew which mansions had weaker security and could be infiltrated for rescues, and which areas he had to avoid if he wanted to succeed.
This time, Orion planned to rescue roughly a hundred more slaves. Though it was only a small fraction of the total number of captives, it was still far better than nothing.
He set to work immediately, falling once more into his peculiar habit of "kidnapping" people. One by one, new occupants began appearing within the Pocket Dimension, most of them terrified by the sudden and incomprehensible shift in their situation.
Unlike the three Kuja sisters and Fisher Tiger, Orion had never made direct contact with these other slaves, since he didn't want to risk being discovered due to carelessness. He had only investigated them in secret, observing from afar without ever revealing himself. Therefore, when he suddenly appeared before them, conjuring a door out of thin air and throwing them into the strange parallel dimension, most of them were utterly terrified.
Fortunately for Orion, the vast majority of these slaves were in terrible physical condition, meaning they couldn't cause trouble even if they wanted to. In any case, Orion had asked the three young Kuja to maintain order inside the Pocket Dimension, ensuring that there would be no problems.
Though they were still children, their strength should not be underestimated. The women of Amazon Lily underwent rigorous training from a very young age, mastering the basics of Haki early in life. At present, the three girls could already use Haki in a rudimentary form, and Hancock was a true prodigy—capable of overpowering anyone there without much difficulty.
The only reason they had been captured in the first place was because they had been caught off guard. Afterward, they were kept constantly sedated with tranquilizers that made it difficult for them to move their bodies. Otherwise, there would have been no chance whatsoever for an ordinary Celestial Dragon to subdue them. Even a mid-level pirate wouldn't have stood a chance against them.
After Orion made contact with them on the first night inside the Domain of the Gods, he had effortlessly neutralized the tranquilizing drugs' effects, instructing the three Kuja not to confront Vespasian even if they were able to, so as not to complicate the situation.
Now, the three Kuja were in perfect condition, and they had no trouble keeping everything under control, even though a group of slaves nearby had begun to panic.
Moreover, Hancock had already informed Fisher Tiger about the escape plan, allowing him to be prepared.
Orion's original plan was rather simple and did not require them to take any action. They only had to remain calm and wait for Orion to finish abducting all the slaves he intended to help escape. Once that was done, he would use his Space Gate ability to flee.
However, the plan Hancock was now sharing with the Fish-man was Plan B. Orion knew he could not blindly rely on his Space Gate, as on several occasions this ability had been interfered with by his enemies—something that likely would not change until he found a way to improve it.
After absorbing the Maxi Maxi no Mi, which was also tied to the concept of space, Orion believed that his Space Gate should have undergone changes, just as his Pocket Dimension and other space-related abilities had.
Even so, he was not sure whether those changes would be enough to ensure that his ability could no longer be interrupted or intercepted by his enemies. That was why he had designed a backup plan—a much rougher escape, on foot—which he hoped he would not have to use.
Orion had even prepared a trump card as a last resort in case he truly needed to execute Plan B, though he wasn't sure it would be enough to allow for such a massive escape. He would probably have to accept losing the chance to save all the slaves he had decided to free this time.
The process of abducting slaves did not take long. After all, Orion's kidnapping skills were truly top-notch. He even feared that one day the System might generate an ability called "Kidnapping" and assign it to him at an extremely high level—which would clearly be a slanderous way of labeling him…
Finally, once Orion had gathered all the slaves he intended to rescue, he approached the "optimal point" he had chosen beforehand, and without wasting a second, activated his special ability, Space Gate, creating a large portal before him and leaping into it immediately.
However, just as he had feared, things would not be that simple.
Before he could pass through the Space Gate, the portal shattered violently without leaving a trace, and Orion felt an immense pressure invade his body. His Prism Eyes activated involuntarily, and he sensed a piercing, chilling gaze focused entirely on him.
It was impossible for Orion to forget that gaze—the red eyes he had encountered countless times in the past, every time he had used the Space Gate to travel.
The pressure on his body kept increasing relentlessly, and Orion felt his knees buckle, threatening to give out at any moment. He immediately realized that the force crushing his body was none other than an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki—so immense that it was physically hurting him.
For an instant, Orion's vision blurred, but just as he was about to lose consciousness, the image of the three little Kuja—and his promise to protect them no matter what—flashed through his mind like a torrent.
A large vein appeared on his forehead, and gritting his teeth with all his might, he endured the tremendous pressure trying to crush him like an insect. Then, focusing every ounce of his spirit, he roared at the top of his lungs,
"Stop bothering me with your damn Haki, you bastard!!"
Orion's own Conqueror's Haki erupted like a tidal wave, far stronger than it had ever been before. If the System had been active, it would have issued a notification announcing that his Conqueror's Haki had leveled up. It was precisely in these moments of extreme pressure—when his conviction, bound to his desire to protect, was put to the test—that his Haki had the chance to undergo such a qualitative transformation as it did now.
With explosive force, Orion unleashed all his Haki like a tsunami, breaking free from the oppressive aura that had been trying to crush him. Once liberated from the weight pressing him down, Orion turned his gaze toward the distant boundary of the Domain of the Gods and began running toward it at full speed—it was time for Plan B!
The reason Orion had chosen this specific spot to use his Space Gate had not been random. It was the least guarded area closest to the edge of the Domain of the Gods, making it the most suitable location for an escape on foot in case his ability failed.
As for the failure of his ability, Orion had already been prepared for it. Not only because he knew there were people capable of disrupting his power, but also because, according to the information he had obtained from Celestia, the God's Knights possessed a method of spatial transportation, and there seemed to be a kind of barrier surrounding the Domain of the Gods that prevented the use of similar teleportation abilities.
Even so, Orion had wanted to test whether his ability would work, since the nature of his powers was mysterious enough to sometimes bypass the established rules of this world. This could be seen, for example, in the fact that he had no problem with water like other Devil Fruit users, even though his powers were derived directly from these fruits.
Now that the simplest plan had failed, Orion had no choice but to resort to Plan B. He had already started running toward the edge of the Domain of the Gods while pulling out his Den Den Mushi to make a call.
A loud siren suddenly blared throughout the Domain of the Gods, alerting all the Celestial Dragons, who were completely unprepared for an alarm signaling the presence of intruders. Meanwhile, Orion called one of the very few people who could possibly help him at that moment.
Several seconds passed—seconds that felt eternal—before the person on the other end picked up the call.
"Hey, Orion, how did it go? Need my help after all?" said Shanks in a relaxed tone.
Orion felt a flicker of irritation at his somewhat teasing voice and answered bluntly,
"Yes, I need the help I mentioned earlier."
"Alright then, don't worry. Just head toward Pangaea Castle—I'll see what I can do," said Shanks right away before ending the call.
Orion put the Den Den Mushi away and accelerated as much as he could. However, before he could cross the boundary of the Domain of the Gods, a group of people wearing white cloaks and strange masks appeared in front of him, blocking his path: CP0!
...
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