Chapter 10: The Flames of Injustice

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The oppressive heat hung heavy over Gray Terminal. The sun was setting behind the hills, casting long shadows across the piles of discarded debris and ramshackle homes that made up the forgotten outskirts of the Goa Kingdom. For years, Gray Terminal had been home to the poor, the forgotten, and the abandoned—people who had no place in the pristine kingdom of nobles just beyond the walls.

In the depths of the Gray Terminal, Vulcan, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy sat huddled together in their treehouse, an uncomfortable tension filling the air. Though the brothers had spent countless days planning wild adventures and dreaming of becoming pirates, today felt different. There was a darkness looming over them, and it wasn't just the setting sun—it was the fear of what was to come.

Sabo's face was grim, his usual bright expression replaced by one of deep concern. "Something's going on," he said quietly, staring down at the distant lights of the Goa Kingdom. "The nobles… they're planning something big."

Vulcan leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he watched Sabo carefully. Sabo had never spoken so seriously before, but over the past few weeks, he had become more and more worried about what was happening in the kingdom. As the son of a noble, Sabo had a keen understanding of the politics that governed Goa, and his hatred for the aristocracy had only grown stronger over the years.

Ace scowled, resting his arms on his knees. "Let them plan whatever they want. It's not like they care about us."

Sabo shook his head. "It's different this time, Ace. I overheard my father talking to some other nobles. They're planning something big—something that will destroy Gray Terminal."

Luffy, sitting beside Ace, blinked in confusion. "Destroy it? Why?"

Sabo's fists clenched, and his voice grew bitter. "Because they think it's an eyesore. The Celestial Dragons are coming to visit, and they don't want them to see this place. They're going to burn everything down tonight."

Vulcan's calm expression hardened. He had always known the nobles were selfish, but this was different. This wasn't just arrogance—this was cruelty on a scale that threatened the lives of hundreds of people living in Gray Terminal.

"They're really going to destroy everything?" Vulcan asked, his voice steady but with a sharp edge. He looked at Sabo, who nodded grimly.

"Tonight," Sabo confirmed. "They're going to set the whole place on fire and let it burn to the ground."

Sabo's Farewell

A heavy silence fell over the group as Sabo's words sank in. Luffy, usually full of energy and optimism, furrowed his brow. "We can't let them do that! We've got to stop them!"

Ace, always the hothead, stood up, his fists clenched. "We'll fight them! We can't just sit around while those jerks burn everything down!"

But Vulcan shook his head, his expression thoughtful. "We can't fight them head-on, Ace. There are too many, and we're just kids. If we go in without a plan, we'll be caught in the fire too."

Ace's scowl deepened, but he knew Vulcan was right. Charging in blindly wasn't the answer.

Sabo, still looking troubled, stood up and walked to the edge of the platform, staring out over the kingdom. "I'm leaving tonight," he said quietly. "I'm going to set sail and leave this place behind."

Vulcan, Ace, and Luffy all turned to look at Sabo in surprise. "What?" Ace asked, his voice rising with disbelief.

"I have to get out of here," Sabo continued, his voice resolute. "I can't stand living in that horrible kingdom anymore. I don't want to be a noble, and I don't want to be part of the system that's destroying this place. If I don't leave now, I'll never be free."

Ace's eyes flashed with anger. "You can't just leave us behind! What about our dream? What about becoming pirates together?"

Sabo turned to face Ace, his expression pained. "I'm not giving up on our dream, Ace. I'm doing this for us—for our freedom. If I stay here, my father will drag me back, and I'll be trapped in that life forever."

Vulcan, watching the exchange, understood Sabo's decision. He had always known that Sabo's hatred for his noble background ran deep, and now the situation had reached a breaking point. Still, he couldn't let his brother run off without considering the dangers.

"If you're going to leave, we'll help you," Vulcan said firmly. "But be smart about it. The fire is going to spread fast, and we can't risk being caught in the flames."

Sabo nodded, grateful for Vulcan's level-headedness. "I know. That's why I have to leave before the fire starts."

The brothers spent a few more moments together, saying their goodbyes. Ace's anger softened into reluctant acceptance, and Luffy's tears brimmed in his eyes as he hugged Sabo tightly.

"You better come back, Sabo," Luffy sniffed. "You promised."

Sabo smiled and ruffled Luffy's hair. "I will. And when I do, we'll all be free, just like we dreamed."

With a final wave, Sabo left, disappearing into the night to set sail for the unknown.

The Fire at Gray Terminal

As soon as Sabo left, the flames began to rise. The smell of smoke filled the air, and the crackling of distant fires grew louder. From their hideout, Vulcan, Ace, and Luffy watched in horror as the flames spread across Gray Terminal, devouring homes and towers of discarded junk.

"They're really doing it," Ace muttered, his fists clenched tightly. "Those bastards are burning everything."

From the distance, Vulcan noticed something strange—a group of figures moving through the smoke, not causing destruction, but helping the people trapped by the flames. He squinted, recognizing one of the figures as a man with a distinctive cloak—Monkey D. Dragon, though Vulcan did not know his name.

"They're saving people," Vulcan whispered. He pointed toward the figures. "Someone's helping them escape."

Luffy followed Vulcan's gaze, but his thoughts were elsewhere. "What about Sabo? He's out there, isn't he?"

The News of Sabo's Death

Days later, after the fires had burned out and the nobles had resumed their comfortable lives, the brothers heard the devastating news: Sabo's boat had been destroyed by a Celestial Dragon. Word spread quickly through the kingdom that the Dragon had fired a cannon at a small boat sailing too close to his ship.

When the words reached Vulcan, Ace, and Luffy, it felt like the world had stopped. The three of them stood there, the realization hitting them all at once.

"Sabo…" Ace whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "No… Sabo can't be dead…"

Luffy's eyes filled with tears, his lips quivering as the words sank in. "Sabo… he promised…"

Before Ace or Luffy could react, Vulcan's body moved on its own. The calm he had maintained shattered in an instant, replaced by a blinding rage he couldn't control. With a roar of fury, he turned and swung his fist into the nearest tree.

The tree snapped under the force of Vulcan's punch, its trunk splintering with a deafening crack as it toppled to the ground. But Vulcan didn't stop. He moved to the next tree, his fist crashing into it with the same devastating power. The tree shuddered and collapsed, crashing to the forest floor.

"NO!" Vulcan shouted, his voice raw with anger and grief. His fists flew with relentless force, each blow sending another tree crashing down around him. The pain shot up his arms, but it didn't matter. His knuckles were bleeding, his muscles screaming for relief, but he didn't stop.

Ace and Luffy stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock. The sight of their brother—normally so calm and composed—was terrifying. Ace finally snapped out of it, rushing forward and grabbing Vulcan by the arm.

"Vulcan! Stop it!" Ace shouted, struggling to hold him back. "You're going to hurt yourself!"

Luffy, tears still streaming down his face, ran forward and grabbed onto Vulcan's other arm. "Please, Vulcan! Stop!"

But Vulcan barely heard them. His breath was ragged, his chest heaving with the force of his emotions. Blood dripped from his knuckles, staining the forest floor. The anger, the guilt, the overwhelming pain—it was too much.

He swung his fist one more time, the last tree collapsing with a loud crash before Vulcan finally sank to his knees. His body trembled, his head hung low as silent tears fell down his face. The rage had subsided, but the pain remained, deeper than any wound.

"Sabo…" Vulcan whispered, his voice breaking. "He's gone…"

Luffy sobbed harder, still clinging to Vulcan's arm. "Sabo… he's gone…"

Ace knelt beside them, his own grief crashing over him like a wave. He wrapped his arms around Vulcan and Luffy, pulling them into a tight embrace. The three of them sat there, huddled together, their hearts shattered by the loss of their brother.

"We couldn't protect him…" Ace whispered, his voice thick with guilt. "We couldn't do anything…"

The three brothers remained like that for what felt like hours, holding each other in the quiet of the forest. The world around them was still, as if mourning the loss with them.

Carrying the Weight

As the sky darkened, Vulcan and Ace remained sitting, both of them staring at the ground in silence. The weight of the day, the loss of Sabo, and the destruction of Gray Terminal hung over them like a heavy cloud.

Ace wiped his eyes, his face set in a hard expression. "We can't let them win, Vulcan. We can't let them get away with what they did."

Vulcan nodded slowly, though his heart still felt like it had been torn apart. He glanced down at Luffy, who had fallen asleep in his arms, his face streaked with tears. The weight of responsibility fell onto Vulcan's shoulders again, heavier than ever before.

"We'll keep fighting," Vulcan said quietly. "For Sabo. And for Luffy."

Ace gave a small nod in agreement. With a soft sigh, Vulcan stood up, shifting Luffy onto his back and carrying him carefully. His knuckles were still sore and bleeding, but the pain seemed distant now.

As they began walking back to their hideout, Vulcan couldn't help but look up at the sky, searching for something—anything—that might make sense of the loss. But there were no answers. Only the silent promise that, one day, they would be strong enough to keep their promise to Sabo.