A thunderous roar tore through the sky.
The startled residents lit their lamps one after another and poked their heads out of their windows to look outside.
In the alley, just as blazing flames surged out from both ends of the entrance, a shadow shot out from within.
Sabo clutched a bulging sack in both hands. The instant he rushed out of the alley, flames erupted behind him. The rolling heat wave from the explosion sent Sabo tumbling head over heels. He rolled several times across the ground before finally coming to a stop in the middle of the street.
The bulging sack he had been carrying also fell from his hands. After rolling several times along the ground, Luffy poked his head out from its opening.
After groggily shaking his head, Luffy looked around at his surroundings. When he spotted Sabo's somewhat bedraggled figure, the tension on his face immediately turned into a delighted smile.
"Sabo!"
"Why are you lying on the ground?"
As he spoke, Luffy also noticed the commotion in the alley. He turned his head to look back, and towering flames were reflected in his pupils.
"That idiot Ace!"
To get Luffy out safely, Sabo had only used his Devil Fruit ability to turn himself into an element when snatching Luffy away. Even so, the shockwave caused by Ace's attack had still affected Sabo somewhat.
Muttering complaints about Ace's recklessness, Sabo slowly got to his feet. After dusting himself off, he turned back to look toward the alley now engulfed in flames.
Under Sabo and Luffy's gazes, a streak of fire suddenly shot upward from the inferno. The next second, Ace landed on a nearby rooftop.
Ace crouched down and glanced at the sea of fire below. Apparently hearing Sabo's complaints, he flashed Sabo and Luffy