They were walking, carrying boxes, when I caught up to them. A long gray hooded cloak covered my whole body—I felt like an assassin.
"I can't believe it—after one loss you guys became chore boys," I said, falling in step behind them.
"Sora!" Luffy exclaimed. Ace looked back and smiled. I waved. "Anyway, what's the plan, Ace?" I asked.
"Yeah, Ace—I don't like that Sabo isn't around," Luffy added.
"For now we live with it," Ace said. "I don't like it either, and I want to rescue Sabo, but I don't know what's really best for him. Let's see how things go. He's fine. For now, let's make some money for the pirate savings. What's your plan, Sora? Do you want to make extra money working for Bluejam with us while we wait?"
"No. I'm gonna go train and do some secret stuff. Don't think he'll like me—since I actually killed some of his men," I replied.
Ace and Luffy shared a confused look. "What secret stuff?"
"I'm gonna be a ninja, and I won't be coming home tonight." I dashed away.
The fire starts tomorrow, so I have to hurry and destroy as many boxes as possible to limit the damage—without changing the story too much. Dragon and the Revolutionaries should be coming to save people. I just need to make sure there's no needless death—and not get noticed. Sneak helped, but it didn't make me invisible, especially if I moved boxes. Maybe I should pour water on some; that should weaken the fire.
Late at night, when everyone slept, I crept around, moving explosives away from where people lived and tossing some into the water. I cleared paths so people could reach the shore more easily. Luckily these pirates were lazy—they weren't even guarding all the boxes. I threw about twenty into the ocean and soaked another batch with water. There were still a lot left. Morning came fast. I'd grab sleep in the forest until evening, then rescue my brothers.
All I could smell was fire and smoke. Damn—this is what I get for sleeping in. I need the system to give me an alarm next time. I was coated in ash. Did the boxes I tossed and soaked do nothing? I dashed through fire, blood and sweat sticking to me. Maybe I should've come here first, I thought.
[DING][SKILL LEARNED] Heat Resistance (Passive)
I sprinted toward Bluejam's ship, where Luffy and Ace were tied to a pole. Running through the flames wasn't easy—and the fire was spreading fast. They were all the way by the shore. I burned a couple of my Dashes to cut through walls of heat. When I finally saw the ship, it was already burning. Was I too late? I kept going. There they were—tied to a pole. Luffy sobbed about the heat while Ace worked a shard of glass against the ropes.
"You guys get fired from your delivery job?" I asked.
"Sora!!!" Luffy yelled.
"Get us free, idiot—this isn't the time for jokes!" Ace barked.
"My bad. You're right." I sliced the ropes with Shiro. Then I put Shrio back in my inventory.
"Damn it! We didn't want to get involved with this fire. That Bluejam is crazy," Ace snapped.
Wind picked up. The fire worsened. Embers stung; Luffy cried when they touched him. "It's hotttt! How are we gonna escape? I don't wanna die!"
"We'll leave you behind if you don't stop complaining," Ace shot back.
"I'm guessing Bluejam started these fires?" I asked Ace, playing dumb.
"Yeah—him and the nobles. Someone big from the World Government is coming and they offered to make him a noble in return!" Ace said as we braced to run.
"I see—disgusting pigs who don't like their own garbage. Alright—let's get out of these flames."
"It's not hot," Luffy muttered, sucking in tears and snot, trying to hype himself up. "DAMN, it's getting bad." Fire was everywhere. Bluejam's ship blazed, and breathing got harder.
Maybe I should've thrown more boxes into the ocean and not worried about getting caught, I thought as we ran through fire and smoke.
"I can't breathe—yes I can. The air is hot—no it's not," Luffy insisted, forcing his spirits up.
"It's going to be alright—we're here with you, Luffy," Ace said. "Keep running." But the flames were too high; it was hard to tell where we were.
I underestimated how bad a fire can get—how big it gets when it has endless fuel, I thought, while sprinting through the Terminal with the boys.
"I wonder if the old dudes got out," Luffy asked as the world burned.
"Luffy, this isn't the time to worry about other people. Sora, do you know the way to the exit?" Ace asked.
"No. Same boat. These flames are too high—I can't tell where we're going," I said.
"We're doomed!" Luffy yelled.
"Who said you brats could get away?" a cranky voice called behind us. Bluejam and the rest of his crew trudged through fire toward us.
"Why are you still here after setting the fire? You're supposed to have escaped by now!" Ace shouted.
"The nobles must've double-crossed, and him he fell for it," I laughed.
"Shut up, you little shits!" he roared, eyes bloodshot, a vein bulging on his scalp. Then he smiled. "We're hopeless, you know? We've got an unforeseen dilemma. Humans are strange creatures, aren't they? When you hit rock bottom, you can't stop laughing." His whole crew grinned with slack jaws; some even lolled their tongues.
"They're acting weird," Luffy said, confused.
"They're just being their true selves—clowns," I said, feeling a stab of pity.
"Luffy, Sora—let's go!" Ace yelled.
"Don't let them get away!" Bluejam ordered.
"Damn, they surrounded us while they were talking," I growled.
"We worked together—we're friends! We're gonna have to die together," Bluejam said.
"We don't wanna die with you—not in a million years!" Ace snapped.
"Sorry—we don't want to die with clowns," I added.
"That's so cold. And I wasn't talking to you, little shit. But since you're here—you haven't told me where you keep your treasure. I'll save it for you before the fire gets it. So tell me where it is," Bluejam demanded.
"Your life's in danger and all you care about is treasure?" Ace asked.
"If you don't care, then tell me where it is."
"You've gone mad."
"If you're not gonna get it, it'll be reduced to charcoal like my ship. What a waste," Bluejam ranted, slipping.
"He's not just a clown—he's a mad clown," I said, shocked.
"Don't be ridiculous! The treasure is—" Luffy started, but Ace cut him off.
"Alright, I'll tell you," Ace said. I blinked; I knew the big beats, but I'd forgotten small moves like this. It caught me off guard.
"Ace! You and Sabo spent a lot of time—" Luffy began.
"Sabo would understand," Ace said. "What matters now is our lives."
"Ace…" Luffy's eyes welled up.
Ace gave them the location. Luffy was ready to cry again. "It's alright. This isn't the end," Ace told him.
Hands grabbed us again—even I got caught.
"What are you doing? I told you where it is!" Ace yelled.
"That's right—this isn't the end, which means you could be lying. You're coming with us," Bluejam said.
"No way! Then it'll be too late to escape! Why don't you go on your own?!"
Bluejam shoved a gun in Ace's face. "Don't mess with me. I'm determined to make a comeback—even if it means stealing from kids. And your brother is one of 'them'—the ones who think they're special and look down on us like we're trash."
"Sabo doesn't think like that," Ace replied.
"He's the same as them, fool! He was with you three—just feeling superior!" Bluejam spat.
"That's not true!" Luffy shouted.
"His parents are loaded—he doesn't worry about anything! It was a pastime for him. He was looking down on you, laughing to himself," Bluejam raved.
"Stop talking about Sabo!" Ace yelled.
"Yeah! Sabo just wants to be free!" Luffy said.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to be a noble? Now you're whining because they rejected you. Sounds like you're projecting. Sabo's a million times better than you," I said.
The thug holding Luffy threw him down and swung a sword. Luffy tried to block with his iron pipe, but the blade sliced through it like butter.
"Luffy!" Ace and I yelled, straining against the grips.
"I'm gonna kill you," the man snarled, raising the blade over crying Luffy.
"Don't touch Luffy!!!!" Ace roared from the bottom of his lungs. The air shifted. The world went blue. Even the flames seemed to change color. Time slowed.
Drop. Drop. Drop. Bodies thudded around us as pirate fodder collapsed.
Only Ace, Bluejam, and I were still standing. We rushed for Luffy.
"Luffy, are you alright?!" Ace shouted—then Bluejam grabbed him and hurled him to the ground. "What did you do?!" he barked.
I called Shiro to my hand, ready to fight.
[DING][QUEST] Defeat Bluejam
Bluejam planted a big boot on Ace's chest and leveled the gun at his head. "You wanna make a fool out of me, too? Don't move, brat, or I'll shoot," he snarled, glaring at me.
Then his finger tightened on the trigger.
Slash.