"What the hell are you saying?!"
Sabo clutched Sterry by the collar, gripping so tightly that the boy could barely breathe, on the verge of passing out. But Sabo showed no intention of letting go.
His eyes burned with fury as he shouted,
"There are still so many people living there! If you burn Gray Terminal, they'll have nowhere to go! They survive because of that place!"
Sterry's eyes rolled back. Struggling for air, he managed a faint, choking plea:
"L-let… go…"
Sabo, gritting his teeth, finally threw him aside.
Sterry gasped, sucking in air like it was the most precious thing in the world. Under Sabo's intimidating glare, he scowled and muttered,
"I told you already! They're going to burn away this kingdom's filth, and that includes the people!"
Sabo's face went pale. His body trembled.
"Even the people…?"
He turned to the window, staring out at the pristine streets, the neatly trimmed greenery, the well-dressed citizens passing by.
It all felt so… hollow.
"What the hell is wrong with this world…"
With a click, he flung the window open and leapt out.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?! You realize how many floors up we are?!" Sterry shouted in disbelief.
But all he could do was watch as Sabo landed effortlessly, sprinted into a side alley, and vanished like a shadow. Every move was practiced and fluid, like it was second nature.
"Tch… whatever," Sterry grumbled, slamming the window shut and pretending nothing had happened as he left the study.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Not far from Sabo's house was the military headquarters of the Goa Kingdom.
Sabo crept silently onto the roof and spotted a brightly lit meeting room.
He slipped to the edge of a window, pressed himself flat against the wall, and listened in.
"Is the deployment for tomorrow finalized?! We can't afford a single mistake!"
"Our side's ready. The question is whether the pirates can ignite the trash heap without problems."
"They're already spreading fuel and explosives all over the Gray Terminal."
Voices overlapped one after another, and Sabo heard every word, each one like a dagger to the chest.
"So it's true… this insanity is actually happening."
Up until now, he still held onto a sliver of hope that it was just a rumor.
But now, there was no denying it.
Back at home, Sabo sat in silence. He couldn't focus on reading anymore.
That night passed without sleep.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Deep in the southern forests of Mt. Colubo.
"998… 999… 1000."
Ace stood up after finishing his push-ups.
"Alright, warm-up's done. Time for the real fight."
He touched the wound on his chest. Though it still bled if he exerted himself too much, it no longer affected his movement.
He glanced at the dense woods ahead. A flame of determination flickered in his eyes as he picked up his weapon and stepped forward without hesitation.
The forest loomed tall and wild, giant trees stretching to the skies, tangled roots and thick foliage forming a vast, living labyrinth.
The sun blazed red above, its heat baking the land, soaking into the air itself.
Ace arrived once more at a familiar clearing, surrounded by broken trees and debris. The faint scent of blood still lingered.
"Hey, big guy! I'm back!" Ace shouted.
BOOM. BOOM.
The earth rumbled. Heavy footsteps made the entire forest tremble.
From behind the brush, two lantern-sized eyes emerged.
"ROARRRR!!!"
A massive white tiger, over ten meters long, burst from the jungle. Its fangs were bigger than a human, and its tail whipped behind it like a chain.
But something was off, its hind leg looked twisted, clearly injured.
"You're here!" Ace grinned, pulling a metal pipe from his back and gripping it tightly.
The tiger growled low, wary.
Ace narrowed his eyes. "What, not going to attack first today?"
He charged forward, shouting at the top of his lungs.
The forest exploded into chaos. Dust and debris flew. Branches shattered. The air itself seemed to vibrate.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
When it was over, Ace stood panting, his clothes torn to rags, bruises and cuts covering his entire body.
Blood dripped from his forehead, ran down to his chest, and pooled with the older wound before falling to the dirt.
The tiger wasn't much better off. Its head was covered in swollen bumps, its injured leg now completely broken. One eye was swollen shut.
Ace re-sheathed the pipe behind his back.
"That's enough for today. Go rest up, I'll be back again."
With that, he leapt into the trees like a ninja, vanishing into the forest.
The tiger raised its head and let out a long, sorrowful roar.
As if to say, "Please… don't come back."
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Night fell.
The stars tonight were larger and brighter than ever.
They didn't twinkle, they watched, like silent eyes overseeing the chaos to come.
Gray Terminal burned.
"Wake up! Everyone run!"
"The fire's coming from all sides!"
"Forget the house! Just run!"
"Dammit! We're trapped, we're all gonna die!"
"No way!"
"Head for the coast! The sea!"
"No use! The coast is blocked too!"
Screams and panic echoed through the junkyard slums, but none of it slowed the fire. Flames circled Gray Terminal, trapping everyone inside.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
In his castle room, Sabo sat frozen, staring out the window.
Tears streamed silently down his cheeks.
Tears of helplessness.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
In the deep woods, Ace stepped out of his tent, looking north.
The night sky there was too bright, red, like a wound across the heavens.
High atop the tallest peak of Mt. Colubo, Luffy grabbed a metal milk bucket and poured himself a huge mug.
He drank it in silence, eyes fixed on the fire in the distance.
There was something in his gaze, sympathy, maybe. Or maybe just resignation.
Thousands choked on smoke. Hundreds burned alive.
Just as all hope was lost, a sudden wind blasted through the flames, carving out a path.
At the end of that path stood a massive ship, hidden in the inferno.
On the deck stood a man wrapped in a heavy cloak. The left side of his face bore a mysterious tattoo.
He stood proudly at the bow, raising a hand and calling out:
"Those who are willing to fight for freedom, get on this ship!"
From afar, Luffy watched everything clearly.
He watched his father, Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, disappear with the ship into the horizon.
Did he refuse to stop the fire to keep his identity hidden?
Did he open a path to save lives out of compassion?
Did he turn refugees into soldiers for the sake of revolution?
Luffy shook his head and smiled bitterly.
He raised his mug of milk.
Gulp.
Good thing,he had no interest in any of that.
==========
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