บท 7: Embers Of Freedom

Have you ever wondered what you would do when physics gives you the middle finger and mystery introduces you to its glorious hole ready for you to dive in and take a good scoop of...

I got sidetracked!

Anyways, right now I'm looking at a waterfall?, a reverse waterfall? A water-rise! Yea that sounds better. The water was climbing the so called grand line and falling on the other side. I tried to figure out the reason, but didn't even know where to start.

Kreig said it's because of the magnetic field. When I asked for elaboration, he explained how different places have different magnetic fields which sound bullshit.

There is no way there could be entirely different magnetic fields unless there is more than one core in a planet, and he's saying there are different magnetic fields for each island!

It's been so many years but no one has ever completed the exploration of this planet? The answer I got was that there was only one guy named Gold D Roger who managed to accomplish that and achieved the title of pirate king.

I didn't even know where to begin. Rather than a pirate he seemed more like an explorer and adventurer. Speaking of adventurers, almost 70% of the pirates in this era were just explorers and adventurers. The government seems obsessed with keeping knowledge about this world restricted and declared them as pirates to justify their actions of silencing them.

And how did this Roger guy explore the entire planet? He just travelled around the world on a straight line and reached the last island using indestructible stones called Poneglyphs . There must be other islands outside the grand line right?

The only reason why the government would declare them as pirates is to make sure they can rule over this world. The Red Line is another enigma in this world. The god's children stay there. It sounds like a place entirely for the higher ups.

A group of islands connected together which is closed off and monopolized by the so called divine beings, and an island which is outside the government's reach "laughtale". People trying to get to the island but failing to achieve that, while the government doesn't wish to take over this island even though they have the power to do that.

Pfft

Yea right.

It's obvious that the marines want to take over this island but the government won't allow that. The place most secured by the marines is currently Mary Geoise and they want to keep it that way. The security of their land is prioritized more than a place where the fabled one piece is, which can destroy their rule?

One piece is just bait set up by Roger to motivate people to search that island. The pursuit of freedom by sailing the seas and reaching the island to do something he couldn't do. He wanted the people to know something forbidden, there is no weapon over there. The weapon is probably somewhere near Mary Geoise .

The more I learn, the more I see the similarity to mythologies of gods. The weapons named after gods of Greek mythology, and the stories about pursuing freedom for humanity resembling the legends of the greek god Prometheus.

I would've passed it off as something stupid if not for the existence of 'Devil Fruits.' Apparently I lost my ability to swim because of this thing. I should have some new power but I still don't see anything different yet.

Now I suspect that the government was trying to hide information about some holy war between gods and demons.

Is some god ruling over this world? I read that gods rely on 'faith' for their power and till now the few marine ships we've raided had a lot of crazy marines.

They had a very good nature before we approached them. However their attitude took a 180 degree change when they saw us pirates. The blind faith and strong hatred they emit is concerning.

I already saw a goddess brainwashing the people in an entire planet so I'm more inclined to that possibility.

Seeing them foolishly follow their twisted morals and rushing to us in order to eradicate us 'pirates' was quite uncomfortable. It made me want to just...flip the entire board game these people are playing. I was quite close to killing this planet but I held myself back. I still needed to know what my future self wanted me to find in this world.

I'm not sure how strong these yonkos are but the fact that they haven't banded together to reach their goals prove that they know something others don't.

Well I guess I just need to get these poneglyphs and find someone to translate it for me. The Devil child should be able to help me there....scratch that. It's too much work. I'll just cause enough problems so that all big figures in the world will have to step up if they want to stop it.

I'll get away from this crew after I learn all I can from the captain. The guy is always subconsciously resisting my jutsu, wonder how long he'll hold on until he becomes a mindless puppet.

*Chuckle*

As we reached an island, we decided to go our separate ways and come back in 8 hours when the log pose would be full. The crewmates were given a few thousand berries and the captain along with most of the crewmates went to the bar/brothel.

I being the genius man I am, decided to go back to the ship and train. The captain may be physically weaker than me but his perception was freaky, almost like those birds at the news agency.

Opening the door to the training room I saw numerous amounts of wooden spikes, ridiculously big weights and some more torturous training machines.

Well...rip.

When the crew came back, they became slack jawed at the scene before them. The weights that even their captain couldn't lift was being used by a kid. They knew the kid was strong but wasn't this too strong?

"Oh you guys came back huh..well whatever let's eat now."

Ignoring the bewilderment of the audience, Kel went on his own to eat his fill.

He however had to hold that off when he saw the marine ship coming towards them at a distance.

It was the ship of marine captain sharinguru.

We could easily escape right now but I wanted to test my strength right now. I've only fought sea kings and fodder marines. The adrenaline rush during a fight where you can die any second. I want that rush and it seems the crew was also reluctant to run away.

The bloodthirsty grins plastered on their faces told me how much they missed fighting stronger people. After all, they are adventurers and what kind of adventure would it be if there were no risk involved.

Boldly hoisting out flags we charged towards the ship in front, ready to spread our legends.

"Makarov pirates, it's useless to resist, surrender or else we will commence attack. You cannot escape!"

"""""""""""Quit the chitchat and get ready to die!"""""""""""

*Rumble*

The ships got closer and we got aboard the other ship to start. Sounds of weapons clashing reverberated everywhere. There was no need for words. A slash of the sword could tell an entire tale. A fist could show us how strong the faith we had in ourselves. The guns were useless in front a crew with abundant experience.

Our side sustained a few minor injuries but no one was killed while the marines were in a precarious situation, most of the soldiers were average while the two devil fruit users were just enough to give me an entertaining fight.

The captains were still fighting each other while I was busy with an annoying logia. The bastard was definitely weaker than me but I just couldn't hit him with my punches.

So I tried to use the power I've been sensing inside me ever since I came here. Guiding the 'heat' to my fists just like chakra manipulation, I concentrated it on my fists right up to my elbow. The 'heat' solidified and took on a dark shade. It felt euphoric, I could feel a separate consciousness blended in this power, it felt as if I blended with nature but also completely going against it. It made me want to accomplish the impossible, the abstract terms it hinted about like 'fate' and 'will' was something that made me realize that there is more to this power.

It wasn't a simple source of energy, it felt like the merged consciousness of countless beings following my will. I felt immense potential from this power.

As I adjusted from my revere I dodged the incoming blow and finally managed to hit the cockroach. His eyes popped out from the defense negating effect of the abstract energy along with the minor [Compression], cracking his skull and killing the slime logia.

The fight came to an end when the marine captain had to retreat while shamelessly sprouting lines of a third rate villain. His techniques were quite absurd honestly. He escaped by kicking the air tens of times to propel himself away.

I would've been impressed if not for my [Space Hardening] technique I developed to fight those sea kings back when I was alone in the ocean.

As the fight ended, the sun came up and the sky slowly cleared. I saw horizon in front of my eyes, beckoning me to find out what it has to offer. The various species, the tyranny which people wish to be free from, the last island which might hold my answers, the gods above and demons below.

People and the other races pursuing the tale of a dead man with the embers of freedom, a group of men with the name 'D', an endless abyss waiting to consume my sanity and infinite time on my hands.

I wonder what the endgame is?

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next stop: idk

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