Chapter 4: Escaping the Holy Land, Contemplating the Future

The fire caused by Chu Yang using a large amount of combustibles far exceeded the scale of the fire in the original plot. Now, the entire Mary Geoise is engulfed in a sea of flames.

The situation is so severe that the Celestial Dragons are too preoccupied to even pursue Fisher Tiger.

Even Aokiji, who had just arrived, joined the firefighting efforts immediately.

Coupled with the slaves fleeing in every direction, the Holy Land's forces are stretched thin.

On the top-floor courtyard at the highest point of Pangea Castle, a lonely figure is quietly watching the flames burning everywhere in the city.

As the true master of the Holy Land, Imu feels no shame; instead, a playful smile plays on the corners of her lips.

After attaining the most supreme power in the world, she has rarely encountered anything this interesting in her long life.

Especially in the last century, the boredom had made her lose interest in everything.

Today... it counts as a decent amusement.

Imu watches the development of events with interest, like a bystander who has nothing to do with the matter.

As for how many slaves will escape or how many Berries will be lost, she doesn't care in the slightest.

Just as Imu is enjoying this spectacular "bonfire," Chu Yang and Tiger have already fled the perimeter of the Holy Land and reached the edge of the Red Line.

Chu Yang didn't expect this Fish-Man to keep following him.

He had only helped him because that group of Marines happened to be blocking his escape route; having no other choice, Chu Yang had to strike.

That last attack consumed almost all of Chu Yang's chakra.

If it weren't for his astonishing recovery ability bolstered by Wood Release, he likely would have passed out long ago.

On the way, Tiger also kept sizing up Chu Yang.

The abilities Chu Yang displayed earlier made Tiger suspect he was a Devil Fruit user.

As for what kind of ability it was, while Tiger was curious, he wasn't stupid enough to pry.

Their relationship hadn't reached the point where they could exchange secrets.

The two walked to the edge of the cliff. Chu Yang looked at the sheer, ten-thousand-foot-high rock wall below and the raging waves at the very bottom, and he swallowed subconsciously.

He didn't have a fear of heights.

But at such a terrifying altitude, even a normal person would feel their legs go weak just by looking.

"I remember there being elevator ships..." Chu Yang looked around. He remembered there were specialized elevator ships responsible for transporting people to and from the Red Line.

"The elevator ships are usually guarded by a large number of soldiers, but now those soldiers are all busy fighting the fire in the city. There shouldn't be anyone watching. As long as we find an elevator ship, we can leave Mary Geoise smoothly."

Upon hearing that Chu Yang was looking for an elevator ship, Tiger immediately spoke up: "I know where it is!"

Chu Yang looked at him in surprise. Isn't this just a Fish-Man slave who just escaped from prison?

How would he know these things?

Seeing that Chu Yang seemed not to believe him, Tiger explained: "I saw the elevator ships when I climbed up from below earlier."

"I see..." Chu Yang nodded, then suddenly startled, "Wait, where did you climb up from?"

Tiger pointed to the abyss beside him.

Now Chu Yang finally realized who the Fish-Man in front of him was.

There has only been one person in all these years capable of climbing to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise with his bare hands: the hero who liberated the slaves—Fisher Tiger.

Knowing Tiger's identity, Chu Yang couldn't help but look him up and down, only then realizing why he looked so familiar, especially that bright red skin.

Tiger felt his scalp tingle under Chu Yang's intense gaze and quickly said: "Little brother, don't worry, I definitely didn't lie to you."

"I know." Chu Yang asked curiously: "Did you come up to set fires too?"

Having already been misunderstood once, Tiger couldn't bear this grievance and immediately explained: "I didn't set the fire. I just took the opportunity to rescue some of the slaves..."

As he spoke, Tiger felt something was off and asked suspiciously: "Hmm? Why did you say 'too'?"

Chu Yang's expression changed, and he hurriedly changed the subject: "No time for idle chatter now. If we stay any longer, the Marines will catch up. Hurry and take me to the elevator ship."

"Ah, right, right, right." Tiger snapped out of it and led Chu Yang along the cliff. After a while, the two successfully found the access point for the elevator ships.

Just as Chu Yang expected, there were very few soldiers guarding the entrance. Four stood alone, and they were knocked down by Tiger one punch at a time, with no power to fight back.

Tiger couldn't help but sigh: "The defenses here are so weak; it should be about the same elsewhere. I hope those innocent civilians can leave this hell and return home safely."

What a truly good person with a heart for the world...

Chu Yang, who prefers to look out for himself, admired Tiger, and this thought was sincere.

There wasn't a hint of mockery in it.

Taking advantage of the night, the two boarded an elevator ship and left the Red Line, returning to the embrace of the sea.

Directly below Mary Geoise is a small town that serves as a landing point for the elevator ships.

People traveling to and from the Red Line usually gather in this town.

Because there were no guards, the arrival of Chu Yang and Tiger didn't alert anyone. Walking on the quiet streets, Tiger suddenly asked: "Little brother, are you planning to go home?"

Go home?

Where would a transmigrator have a home?

Chu Yang gave a wry smile: "My home is gone; I can't go back."

Tiger assumed Chu Yang's family had been destroyed by human traffickers and felt great sympathy for his plight, then asked: "Then where do you plan to go next?"

Right, where am I going next?

Chu Yang fell into deep thought.

I need to find a place to learn some useful skills!

Whether it's Haki or Taijutsu, Chu Yang needs to learn something as soon as possible, otherwise, the next time he meets his other clones, he'll waste another opportunity to meet.

Although "freeloading" makes one happy, freeloading off oneself is meaningless.

What should he learn?

In Chu Yang's view, the most valuable skill in the One Piece world is undoubtedly Haki.

The power of Haki is unquestionable, and its enhancement of combat capability is, to a certain extent, even superior to Devil Fruits.

Moreover, Haki doesn't have the obvious weaknesses that Devil Fruits do.

But the problem is, where can he find someone to teach him Haki?

Although there are many powerhouses in the New World who understand Haki, with Chu Yang's current abilities, even with Wood Release, he would likely just be throwing his life away.

As for outside the New World, the only place Chu Yang could potentially access is the Amazon Lily Kingdom, where Hancock resides.

There is a ban on men there, and without the protagonist's halo, Chu Yang would die if he went in—at least for now.

Besides Haki, the next best things are swordsmanship and Taijutsu.

At this stage, the only place to learn top-tier swordsmanship is the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue—in other words, becoming a fellow disciple of Zoro.

It is simply unrealistic for Chu Yang to return to the East Blue from the Grand Line alone.

As for Taijutsu, Chu Yang really doesn't see anything worth learning. Aside from the Six Powers of the Marines, the overall level of Taijutsu in the One Piece world is not as good as that of the Naruto world.