Chapter Three: The Burning of the Sacred Land
“What is he doing?” Mary Gerold was utterly confused.
Hancock and Sandasonia were equally clueless, both staring blankly at Chu Yang.
The uneven dungeon stone slabs suddenly cracked open, and through the crevices, trees and vines grew wildly and savagely, flooding the dungeon like a tidal wave.
The once impenetrable prison gates became as fragile as tofu, quickly shattered by the forceful growth of the trees.
The sudden transformation left the three sisters dumbfounded, frozen in place, fearing some monster had appeared within the dungeon.
Under Chu Yang’s control, the trees formed a path for people to escape. Standing outside the gate, he shouted, “Hurry and come out!”
Hancock, snapping out of her trance, emerged from the dense forest and asked hesitantly, “Are you a Devil Fruit user?”
“There’s no time for that now!” Chu Yang dodged the question and urged, “Quick, lead everyone to escape!”
“Thank you!” Hancock cast a deep, lingering look at Chu Yang, as if imprinting his image in her mind, before leading her two sisters away.
In a short time, Chu Yang used Wood Release to break all the prison doors.
The long-imprisoned slaves surged out, fleeing the dungeon en masse.
A dark tide of people formed, terrifying from a distance—and this was exactly the effect Chu Yang desired.
After the last prisoner escaped, Chu Yang set fire to this place steeped in sin. With abundant timber as fuel, the flames spread rapidly.
Under the cover of night, Chu Yang lit fires one after another, using Wood Release to spread the blaze throughout Mary Geoise.
Unbeknownst to Chu Yang...
Elsewhere in the city, another figure was doing the same.
In the darkness, a tall silhouette looked imposing under the glow of flames.
His unusual red skin and distinct features marked him as no ordinary human.
Fisher Tiger!
A lifelong advocate of freedom, Tiger dreamed of becoming a traveler. However, shortly after setting out, he was captured by slavers and enslaved.
For three long years, Tiger endured inhuman abuse and witnessed the depths of human greed and evil, leaving him deeply disillusioned with humanity.
Yet, more than hatred, Tiger longed to liberate other beings suffering the same fate as himself.
This was why, after successfully escaping the Holy Land, he had returned again.
Tiger was determined to free all the slaves here.
Holding his noble ideal, Tiger had just released some slaves and set their cages ablaze when he saw flames blazing on the other side of the city!
Who was it?
Someone even faster than me?
Watching the fire spiral out of control, Tiger realized that if he didn’t hasten the rescue, everyone would burn alive.
“Who the hell set this fire?” Tiger cursed in frustration as the flames chased him relentlessly.
Fortunately, from his time as a slave, Tiger knew the layout of the Holy Land well. Though time was short, he managed to rescue most of the slaves.
The remaining slaves fled amidst the chaos.
Having achieved his goal, Tiger prepared to escape the Holy Land.
But nearby, a squad of Navy soldiers appeared and surrounded him.
“You’ve got some nerve, releasing so many slaves on your own!” a Navy colonel, clad in the uniform’s greatcoat, roared furiously.
Tiger retorted with righteous indignation, “They were innocent people, trafficked here by slavers. As the Navy, you not only fail to protect the weak but also aid the wicked. It’s a disgrace!”
The colonel sneered, “I don’t have time for your nonsense. Compared to releasing slaves, your crime of burning the Holy Land is far worse. Someone died. Surrender now!”
Tiger was momentarily stunned before shouting, “I didn’t start the fire!”
“Still denying at your deathbed! If you won’t surrender, don’t blame me for forcing your hand!” The colonel ignored his protests and ordered his men to attack.
In an instant, dozens of firearms aimed at Tiger fired simultaneously.
Tiger, unfazed, unleashed Fish-Man Karate.
He seized the air itself, transforming it into a violent gust which swept outward with a powerful swipe.
Countless bullets wobbled under the force, falling to the ground like raindrops.
The colonel’s expression darkened; Tiger’s skill exceeded his expectations.
“Daring to infiltrate the Holy Land alone to commit arson—you truly are no ordinary Fish-Man,” the colonel said coldly.
Seeing the colonel’s certainty, Tiger deemed it pointless to explain. His mission was to free the slaves; now, it made little difference.
When ranged attacks failed, the colonel ordered his troops into close combat.
As a Fish-Man, Tiger’s physical capabilities were ten times that of a normal human. He knew these soldiers couldn’t defeat him.
But that didn’t matter—delaying was enough. Reinforcements from the Navy’s elite would arrive soon to deal with him.
The colonel only wanted a share of the glory, not a life-or-death fight with Tiger.
Meanwhile, Tiger noticed the commander holding back, sending only low-level soldiers against him. He understood the strategy instantly.
“Let’s end this quickly!”
Tiger surged forward, seeking to break out, but was repeatedly trapped by overwhelming numbers, as if his feet were stuck in quicksand.
The colonel stood outside the crowd, smugly saying, “Stop wasting your effort. It’ll be better for everyone.”
Tiger’s face darkened. The longer this dragged on, the fiercer the fire grew, signaling that a powerful Navy officer was approaching.
“If I’m going back to slavery, I’d rather die here!” Tiger gritted his teeth, glaring at the soldiers. Even in death, he vowed to take a few with him—especially the colonel leading them.
Just as Tiger prepared for a desperate battle, the ground beneath him began to tremble violently.
Massive trees erupted from the earth, overturning the Navy’s formation instantly. Countless soldiers were flung into the air.
Surrounded by the sea of trees, the colonel panicked, shouting, “What the hell is this?!”
The next moment, he was swallowed by the forest.
The sudden scene was terrifying, forcing Tiger to remain alert as he watched the eerie trees.
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