At the same time, throughout Mariejois, a tense atmosphere filled the air.
The slaves imprisoned by the Celestial Dragons gathered in hushed murmurs, their eyes wide with uncertainty as they tried to comprehend the situation unfolding before them.
"I heard there's chaos outside. Some reckless brat actually captured the Celestial Dragon Princess!"
"Not just that! Word is he even treated her as a slave!"
Whispers spread like wildfire among the slaves, each retelling growing more exaggerated and emboldened. Confusion and disbelief quickly turned into a restless energy, the tension palpable.
Meanwhile, Qiling stood defiant, surrounded by a sea of Celestial Dragons. Yet, rather than fear, he found herself laughing.
"Boy, no matter what power you wield, it's meaningless. You've made an enemy of the Celestial Dragons, and soon, the entire Navy will hunt you down!"
Two of the Celestial Dragons spoke in their pompous, stilted manner, clinging to their sense of superiority. But to Qiling, they were nothing more than insects.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed through the grand hall. The room fell silent as a towering, middle-aged man emerged, his face twisted in fury.
"K-King...!" The surrounding Celestial Dragons stammered, instantly lowering their heads in deference.
Despite their own noble status, the man before them, King Bill, was in a league of his own. None of them dared to challenge his authority.
His eyes locked onto Ellie. "Ellie, what do you think you're doing? Do you understand your place? You are a Celestial Dragon! How dare you stand with these lowly slaves!"
The sheer arrogance of his words disgusted Qiling, though it was hardly surprising. She had expected this level of contempt. Without hesitation, she pushed Ellie aside. Yet, instead of anger, Ellie only looked more intrigued, a glimmer of something unreadable in her eyes.
"Old man," Qiling scoffed, "what gives you Celestial Dragons the right to rule over others? Is it just the bloodline you inherited? A pathetic excuse for superiority."
King Bill's expression darkened. "You insolent brat! You dare speak to me that way? You'll die for this!"
At his command, the surrounding Celestial Dragons and even the enslaved warriors raised their weapons, preparing to strike. Yet Qiling remained unfazed.
The slaves, their faces filled with despair, had long been broken by the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons. Forced into servitude, they had no choice but to obey—even now, as they were ordered to turn against Qiling.
Qiling's gaze swept over them. "Does it hurt? Being shackled, forced to serve these tyrants? Does it feel good to live like this?"
Among them was Bell, once the proud leader of the Red Flag Pirates. Now, reduced to a mere pet of the Celestial Dragons, he bore the mark of their ownership—an iron collar around his neck.
Bell clenched his fists, his body trembling with suppressed rage. He longed for freedom, but the chains of servitude were absolute.
Qiling stepped forward, her hand resting on Bell's collar. "If you raise your weapon against me, do you think you'll ever taste freedom?"
Bell's breath hitched. Freedom? Could it be possible? Before he could dwell on it, Qiling tightened her grip and—
Snap!
With a surge of power, she shattered the collar.
Searing electricity coursed through Bell's body, pain momentarily wracking his frame. But that pain was nothing compared to the overwhelming rush of liberation that followed.
A slow grin spread across his face. Then, laughter—deep, unrestrained, and filled with unshackled fury.
"Hahaha! HAHAHAHA!"
Bell reared back his fist and slammed it into the thick marble wall, cracking it apart. The sight sent a wave of panic through the room.
King Bill's face paled. "No... Impossible!"
To him, Bell had been an amusing plaything, a prized possession. But now, the "pet" had become a beast.
"You barbarian! Do you realize what you've done? If you so much as lay a finger on me, you'll be—"
Before he could finish his threat, Bell's fist connected with his face, sending him flying across the hall.
Ellie gasped, but before she could react, Qiling pulled her back. Her heart pounded as she looked up at Qiling. At this moment, Qiling's presence was overwhelming—terrifying, yet undeniably alluring.
"With freedom, who would ever choose to be a slave to someone like you?" Bell's voice rang with pride.
Then, he turned to Qiling, his gaze filled with newfound admiration.
"In all these years, I, Bell, have never looked up to anyone. But you—you're the only one with the courage to stand against the Celestial Dragons. If you'll have me, I'll follow you wherever you go!"
Qiling nodded calmly, then wrapped an arm around Ellie, the once-arrogant Celestial Dragon Princess. She looked into Ellie's uncertain eyes.
"Ellie, you must understand—the Celestial Dragons no longer control everything. Now, you have a choice. Will you leave with me, or stay behind?"
Fear flickered in Ellie's expression. She never imagined someone would force her to make such a decision.
"I... I choose to follow Master Qiling," she finally whispered.
The fallen king lay unconscious as Bell effortlessly lifted him over his shoulder.
"In that case," Qiling declared, "let's free every last slave here."
Within minutes, the chains were broken, and the once-imprisoned slaves flooded out, their shackles cast aside. The land once ruled by the Celestial Dragons had descended into utter chaos.
Meanwhile, in another conference room, tension crackled in the air.
"This situation is dire. We must dispatch a team of four immediately to stop them. The Navy must be contacted at once—if we delay, the damage will be catastrophic," a cold voice declared.
A man seated across from her smirked, dabbing his lips with a napkin before placing it neatly on the table.
"Relax. If we stick to the plan, these insects won't amount to anything. The only priority is eliminating the source of this rebellion. As for the others, their lives are inconsequential."
At that moment, the television screens flickered, revealing the silhouette of a shadowy figure.
"Sir, they have the king in their grasp. I doubt they'll back down now," an anxious voice reported.
A strange, eerie chuckle echoed from the figure. Then, in a calm, calculating tone, he spoke.
"It doesn't matter. Kings are replaceable. Your only concern should be neutralizing that brat. Proceed with the original plan—flawlessly."
As soon as the words were spoken, the shadow vanished, leaving the man and woman alone in the office.
"We need reinforcements. It's time to put an end to this rebellion."