Sakazuki finally couldn't hold back. Although he also hated these slave traders, as an admiral, he could not just watch someone cause trouble here.
"This is territory under Marine Headquarters' jurisdiction. It's not your place to judge these people!"
As Sakazuki's words fell, the magma he controlled seemed to break free of its shackles at that moment and surge violently as it rushed toward the scorching dragon breath.
The two waves of heat collided instantly, but in the blink of an eye, the scorching dragon breath that Gerd had expelled was swallowed by the magma.
"How interesting. I never expected that an Admiral who carries the banner of justice would actually protect a bunch of slave traders?"
Facing this scene, Gerd let out a mocking remark. However, as it came from her mouth in her dragon form, the sound resounded throughout the entire Sabaody Archipelago.
But after mocking Sakazuki once, Gerd did not continue paying attention.
Her massive dragon body twisted directly, and in the blink of an eye, she surrounded the auction houses. Then her enormous dragon tail was raised high.
"Bang!"
With a single sweep, the auction houses were overturned, and the terrifying impact sent countless clouds of dust flying.
But this was not over. Her dragon tail swept again toward the iron cages holding the slaves.
With a light slash, all the iron cages were smashed apart. Then Gerd shouted loudly at the stunned crowd: "What are you standing there for? Run!"
All of these actions were completed in the blink of an eye.
And as this voice that resounded throughout the entire Sabaody Archipelago fell, all the freed slaves finally reacted.
Excited yet ferocious expressions immediately appeared on their faces.
"Run!"
"Don't let our savior's help be in vain!"
"Please leave your name, savior. Such great kindness, I will never forget it!"
At this moment, all the slaves went mad. Some rushed toward the slave traders who had previously beaten them, while others charged toward the outside.
And seeing this scene, the slave traders also showed terrified and tense expressions.
"Don't run! You damned slaves!"
"Stupid Marines, don't let them escape! These are slaves bought by the Celestial Dragons!"
"Catch them... Ahhh... my lord, I'm sorry! Here are the keys, please don't kill me!"
However, after shouting a few times and seeing the slaves charging toward them, the slave traders finally realized that now was not the time to worry about that!
Even if they wanted to detonate the slave collars, it was already too late.
These lowly slaves, filled with rage, would kill them!
…
At this moment, the Straw Hat crew also noticed the situation before them.
Nami's eyes immediately lit up. She turned her head to look at Luffy beside her, her expression filled with excitement.
"Luffy..."
Before she could finish speaking, the others also reacted. Together, they all looked at Luffy.
And Luffy, who was usually a bit slow, seemed to have a firm look appear in his eyes at this moment, instantly understanding what everyone meant.
Although the thought that he had to run away again made him angry and helpless, as the captain... He had to take responsibility for his crew.
Without any hesitation, Luffy took a deep breath, raised his head, and let out a long roar. "We're... going to retreat!"
As Luffy's voice fell, the Straw Hat crew all revealed smiles, exchanged glances, and then turned toward Teach's direction.
Just as they were about to say something, they instead saw an already empty spot and Teach, in the distance, twisting his hips as he fled wildly.
Black lines immediately appeared on everyone's faces.
However, they did not say anything more, and all of them began running in different directions.
At this moment, for freedom and dreams, countless people began to run madly in all directions.
Fortunately, that tail swing from Gerd earlier had smashed all the walls apart. Otherwise, with so many people wanting to escape, it would not have been easy at all!
"What exactly are you doing?!"
At this time, Sakazuki's furious voice sounded once more.
Countless terrifying, scorching magma surged out in all directions, transforming into massive walls that enveloped the surroundings, sealing off every direction and encircling all the slaves who had just gained freedom and were filled with excitement.
And this was not the end.
Sakazuki's cold voice rang out again. "All marines, start capturing the slaves now. Anyone who dares to resist... Kill them on the spot!"
This ruthless order caused the slaves, who had only just begun to feel excited, to tremble all over once more. They looked despairingly at the terrifying wall of fire and the marines surrounding them.
But just as they were at a loss as to what to do, suddenly... a massive fist smashed toward that wall of fire.
Even though the fist let out sizzling sounds under the scorching flames, it still did not stop.
As a furious roar of "Ahhh!" rang out, everyone finally noticed whose fist it was.
They saw that the boy wearing a straw hat had his fist burning, yet the other party still did not stop. Even though his face was twisted in pain, he did not care. Instead, he took a deep breath and roared loudly.
"Freedom cannot be stopped! You bunch of bastards! I'm a man who's going to become the King of the Pirates!"
As the boy with the straw hat's voice fell, the wall of fire in front of him was instantly smashed into a crater by that enormous fist.
Gazing at those eyes filled with determination and hope for the future and freedom, at this moment, it was as if everyone had been infected.
Something seemed to surge up within their hearts, dispelling the chill from their bodies, rushing through their limbs, into their minds, toward the future they could see.
At this very moment, it was as if everyone had once again seen hope.
Countless slaves who had originally been in despair also stood up.
"That's right, even the Marines can't stop me!"
"I finally managed to escape. How could I possibly go back again?!"
"Damn marines, are you worthy of the justice you bear?!"
"Brothers! Charge!"
When the final shout fell, countless slaves gritted their teeth, revealed ferocious expressions, and charged toward the magma wall blocking them.
Even though the scorching flames made them feel death, even though the marines surrounding them made them feel fear, at the moment when freedom resounded, so-called fear and death could no longer stop them.