Chapter 28:Flames Of liberation

Before Jason departed on his dangerous mission, his mother, Shakky, and his father, Rayleigh, embraced him tightly. "Remember your promise," Shakky whispered, her voice filled with worry. Jason nodded, feeling the weight of their concern settle in his chest.

"I'll come back in one piece," he assured them, his voice steady though his heart raced with anticipation.

After their farewell, Jason set off toward the Sun Pirate ship, where Fisher Tiger was waiting. The fishman captain eyed him as he approached.

"Are you ready?" Fisher Tiger asked, his deep voice carrying a note of finality.

Jason nodded. "Yes. Let's do this."

With that, they set sail under the cover of night, the sea stretching like an endless abyss beneath the stars. Their destination: the Red Line—the towering natural barrier that separated the oceans and where the holy land, Mariejois, lay atop it. The heart of the World Government and the home of the Celestial Dragons, the vile rulers who enslaved countless innocents.

As they neared the base of the Red Line, Fisher Tiger began to gear up. He slung two swords over his back and hefted a bazooka onto his shoulder, his expression grim and resolute. Jason, not to be outdone, checked his own blade before securing it at his waist. The climb ahead of them was no simple task. The Red Line towered thousands of meters into the sky, but both knew there was no turning back.

They said their goodbyes to the Sun Pirate crew, who would wait at the extraction point below. Fisher Tiger gave them one last firm nod before turning to face the towering rock wall.

Using their climbing equipment, they began the arduous ascent. Every foot they gained brought them closer to the heart of enemy territory, but it also reminded them of the risk they were taking. As they climbed, the tension grew, and the enormity of their mission weighed heavily on their minds.

Two hours later, they finally reached the top. From their vantage point, Mariejois stretched before them, the grandeur of the Celestial Dragon city masked by its ugliness and corruption. The City of Gods, home to the most wicked people in the world, loomed in the distance. Jason's heart pounded in his chest as he surveyed the sprawling metropolis.

Suddenly, a familiar sensation washed over him—System task accepted.

A system notification flashed before Jason's eyes, revealing a new task: Rescue slaves and enter the Celestial Dragon's treasury for 15,000 system points.

He silently accepted the mission, his determination sharpening. The system map he summoned showed the layout of Mariejois, with the Celestial Dragon treasury located near Pangaea Castle. But he and Fisher Tiger had a more immediate objective.

Fisher Tiger pointed to a nearby structure, the first strategic point of their mission. "We'll start the fire here. It will draw the guards away from the slave quarters."

Jason nodded. Fisher Tiger ignited the first blaze, and the flames quickly began to consume the building. The fire grew, spreading across the structure. With the distraction underway, they hurried to their first target: the slave quarters.

Bursting into the building, they found the slaves in shackles. The guards inside barely had time to react before Fisher Tiger and Jason dispatched them swiftly. Jason used his Armament Haki to crush the collars on the slaves' necks, freeing them from their explosive chains. The terrified slaves stared at him in disbelief.

"You're free now," Jason said. "Get out of here and find Fisher Tiger. He'll guide you to safety."

The slaves wasted no time, fleeing the building as Fisher Tiger and Jason split up to cover more ground. Jason moved quickly to another part of Mariejois, setting another fire to sow chaos among the guards. The flames roared, casting shadows that danced wildly in the night, and the guards' efforts to extinguish them were futile.

Jason's next stop was another slave quarters. As he entered, he saw ten slaves huddled in fear, their eyes wide with terror. Without hesitation, he used his Haki to break their chains and free them. As they began to escape, he noticed a small girl among them, trembling and clearly overwhelmed by the chaos.

Jason knelt beside her, his voice soft and reassuring. "It's okay. You're safe now. Find a red fishman named Fisher Tiger. He'll protect you."

The girl, though still frightened, nodded and ran from the building. Jason stood, satisfied that she would be safe.

He continued his mission, freeing more slaves and setting more fires to distract the guards. After freeing the captives from five different quarters, he approached the final building on his list. Inside, twelve slaves awaited their fate in chains. Jason moved swiftly, shattering their collars and urging them to run to safety.

Just as he was about to leave, a guard who had hidden in the shadows lunged toward one of the escaping slaves. Jason's Observation Haki flared, and he reacted instantly, his blade flashing as he cut down the guard in one swift motion. The slave, wide-eyed with gratitude, turned to thank him.

"You saved my life," the man said.

Jason nodded, but something about the man's face caught his attention. Recognition flickered in Jason's mind—this man was Gild Tesoro, a future king of the underworld and a key figure in the One Piece world.

This was an opportunity Jason couldn't pass up.

"You," Jason said, extending his hand. "I see potential in you. One day, when you've escaped this nightmare and you're free, I want you to join my crew."

Tesoro hesitated, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. Then, with a newfound determination, he shook Jason's hand. "If I ever escape and we meet again on the seas, I'll join you. I owe you that much."

With their pact sealed, Tesoro ran off with the other freed slaves. Jason watched him disappear into the night, knowing he had just planted a seed for the future.

Now, there was one final task to complete. Jason turned and headed toward the Celestial Dragon treasury, following the map provided by the system. The treasury was located dangerously close to Pangaea Castle, but it was too tempting of a target to ignore. As he approached the building, Jason steeled himself, ready to infiltrate one of the most guarded locations in the world.

The night was far from over, but Jason's resolve burned brighter than the flames he had set.