pertwk Chapter 303 A Fateful Reunion, The Secret of Pang Island
Chapter 303 A Fateful Reunion, The Secret of Pang Island
Chapter 303 A Fateful Reunion, The Secret of Pang Island
Three days later at Marineford, Sengoku stood at the port, watching two warships slowly sail in.
At the bow of a warship, Akainu Sakazuki stood upright, with Bai Qi behind him, clad in heavy black armor and with an ancient sword hanging at his waist.
Both remained silent, but their silence was not empty; rather, it was like two volcanoes about to erupt, suppressing a violent energy within.
On another warship, Aokiji Kuzan stood side by side with Socrates, who was dressed in a white robe of ancient Greece.
Aokiji's expression was calmer than usual, while Socrates looked around curiously, occasionally pointing to a building or soldier and asking questions.
"The names of the heroic spirits are—Bai Qi and Socrates—" Sengoku muttered to himself, "They really are two extremes."
Crane stood beside him and said softly, "But perhaps this is exactly what the Navy needs now: ultimate military strength and ultimate intelligence."
Sengoku nodded: "Notify all officers of vice admiral rank and above to assemble in the conference room in one hour. The Second Holy Grail War—the Navy officially enters the war."
He gazed at the distant horizon, where the storms of a new world were brewing.
And the navy finally grasped its own sword and ruler.
Fishman Island, Coral Hill Port. "Are we really leaving?" Jinbe stood on the pier, looking at the Sunny making its final preparations.
Luffy nodded vigorously, a bright smile spreading across his face beneath his straw hat: "Yeah! Fishman Island is settled, time to head to the New World!"
Behind him, Brook was saying goodbye to the musicians of Fishman Island, Nami was checking the Eternal Pointer, Zoro was inspecting the ropes, and Sanji was replenishing the ship's refrigerator with Fishman Island specialties.
Everything seemed ordinary, except for a few special passengers on the ship.
Gol D. Roger sat cross-legged under the main gun, drinking heartily the fine wine of Fishman Island.
"A new world—" Roger murmured to himself, "I wonder what it's like now."
In the shadows beside him, a tall figure in a black robe stood silently.
The old man in the mountains, Wang Hassan, stayed by his side, silent as if he were part of the ship's hull.
"Hey, Kojiro, are you really coming with us?"
On the other side of the deck, Luffy was yelling at Sasaki Kojiro, who was leaning against the railing.
The ronin-dressed heroic spirit lazily raised his eyes: "My mission is to handle this island incident, and after that, I will naturally go to the Crusades to report back."
"I heard you're also going to the New World, so I'll just stop by for a bit."
"The Cross Society—" Jinbe pondered, "I really thank you for your help this time—otherwise, I'm afraid—"
"In that case, give our suggestions more consideration," a deep voice said.
Diamanti emerged from the shadows of the dock.
This Don Quixote family official was dressed in civilian clothes, followed by a dozen or so members of the Crusades.
He placed his hand on the longsword at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the people on the Sunny before finally settling on Sasaki Kojiro.
"Lord Kojiro, the ship is ready and can depart at any time."
Kojiro nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."
Luffy looked Diamante up and down curiously: "You're one of Doflamingo's men?"
Diamanti's expression remained unchanged: "Strictly speaking, I am now a member of the Crusaders. Doflamingo has allied with Hawkeye to form a force against the World Government and the conspiracy behind the Holy Grail War."
"We have just liberated Saturn Island and are on our way to the next stronghold."
He paused, then looked at Luffy.
"Straw Hat Luffy, nice to meet you. I was injured earlier."
"It's an honor to see a member of the Red Team from the First Holy Grail War summon the Pirate King Roger. Your exploits in Alabasta have spread throughout the seas."
Luffy scratched his head: "Really?"
"Of course there is." Diamanti rarely showed a smile.
"Fighting your way out of Loguetown from the naval encirclement, and clashing with Enel's Heroic Spirit Indra on Skypiea—those are old stories. In short, you are now one of the most remarkable participants in the Holy Grail War."
He then changed the subject: "So, shall we travel together for a while? The Crusaders have a temporary base in Punk Hazard, where Lord Kojiro is going to meet up with Hawkeye. If you're going to the depths of the New World, you'll also pass through there."
Roger then stood up and walked to the side of the ship: "Punk Hazard—I remember it was a government research base?"
"It used to be," Diamanti said. "It was abandoned after the gas leak a while ago. But now, there are some new residents there."
He gave Kojiro a meaningful look.
Kojiro yawned: "I've heard there's a woman there who plays with ice and has excellent swordsmanship. I'd like to go and have a go with her."
"A woman who plays with ice?" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Is she amazing?"
"You'll find out when we get there." Kojiro sheathed his sword. "So, are we coming or not?"
Ten minutes later, both ships departed from Fishman Island port simultaneously.
With the Sunny in front and the Crusaders' ships behind, they set off into the depths of the New World.
Three days later in the New World Seas, someone exclaimed, "Wow, the weather in the New World is so weird!"
Nami shouted at the navigator, waving her weather stick incessantly, trying to dispel the thick fog that suddenly surged ahead.
The Sunny was rocking violently in the waves; if it weren't for the stability improvements made by Franky, it would probably have capsized long ago.
"This area has always been like this!" Diamanti's voice came from the ship behind.
"The area near Punk Hazard is even more eerie! Be careful, we're about to enter the icy sea!"
The temperature plummeted as soon as he finished speaking.
One second it was sultry fog, the next it was biting cold.
The sea began to freeze, and tiny ice crystals flew through the air, reducing visibility to less than ten meters.
"Everyone on alert!" Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword, his three blades poised to strike.
Roger stood at the bow, squinting into the depths of the icy mist: "Something's coming."
The ice shattered as soon as the words were spoken.
A yellow whale-shaped submarine broke through the ice, kicking up a cloud of ice shards.
On the submarine's side, a heart-shaped emblem composed of smiling and crying faces is faintly visible in the icy fog.
"That is—" Diamanti's pupils contracted.
The submarine hatch opened.
A man wearing a spotted beanie and a long black trench coat was the first to step out.
He had three long swords hanging at his waist, and three bright red command seals on the back of his right hand were clearly visible even in the icy mist.
Behind him followed a silver-haired man dressed in very modern, even somewhat futuristic, clothing.
He held a snake staff, the two snakes at the top of which seemed to writhe as if they were alive, their eyes so sharp they could see through human bones and internal organs.
"My God, that guy is—I can't mistake him! Trafalgar Law!" Diamanti gritted his teeth and spat out the name, "The traitor of the Don Quixote family."
Luo stood on the submarine deck and saw both ships.
His gaze first fell on Diamanti, his brow furrowing slightly, then shifted to the Sunny, and when he saw Roger at the bow, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Finally, his gaze settled on Sasaki Kojiro, the ronin swordsman who was leaning lazily against the railing, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
"Diamanti," Luo said calmly, "long time no see."
"A traitor still has the nerve to greet me?" Diamanti sneered. "What, after hiding for so many years! You finally dare to show your face?"
Roger didn't answer the question. He looked at Roger: "Wait, Diamanti, that gentleman—if I'm not mistaken, is it Lord Gol D. Roger?"
Roger grinned. "Oh? You know me?"
"Who doesn't know Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, the most prominent Heroic Spirit in the First Holy Grail War?"
As Law spoke, his gaze swept towards Luffy.
"So you must be Monkey D. Luffy. The straw hat who turns the world upside down, I never expected to meet you here."
Luffy blinked: "You seem to know a lot about me?"
"Intelligence among participants in the Holy Grail War, especially among the core members of the Red Team, is shared."
Luo gave a brief explanation, then turned to Kojiro.
"As for this one—Lord Sasaki Kojiro, the Heroic Spirit of Hawkeye Mihawk. So, the Crusaders and the Straw Hat Pirates have formed an alliance?"
Diamanti was about to speak when Kojiro spoke first.
"Lord Luffy hasn't agreed yet—" The ronin swordsman finally straightened up, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I'm just hitchhiking. However—"
He stared at the healer behind Luo: "The one behind you has a very special aura. He's not a combat-type Heroic Spirit, but he has an exaggerated concept of life. Interesting."
Asclepius, the god of medicine, raised his serpent staff, his voice as steady as an ancient text.
"Thank you for your praise. I am Asclepius, the god of medicine. You have an old injury; your left scapula was fractured at the third joint, but the recovery is going quite well."
Kojiro was slightly taken aback. This injury was inflicted during the battle against Hassan and his men some time ago, but Merlin quickly healed it, and most people were unaware of it.
"This is the God of Medicine," Luo said, placing his hand on the hilt of his knife.
"Well then, enough of the pleasantries. Diamante, make way, I need to pass. I've formed an alliance with Doflamingo; you can ask him if you don't believe me."
"You think I believe what a traitor says?" Diamanti drew his sword.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Just then, Roger suddenly spoke up: "Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
The Pirate King walked to the side of the ship and looked into the depths of the icy mist: "Over there—in the direction of Punk Hazard, something is calling out."
""
He paused, then added, "No, not a call. It's a wail, the wail of many lives, and—the scent of ice and snow."
Almost simultaneously, King Hassan's black robe fluttered without wind. Brooke whispered.
"His Excellency King Hassan said—there is death gathering there. Not natural death, but—man-made death."
Kojiro frowned: "I sensed it too. Sword energy, icy sword energy, and—some kind of ominous magic."
Luo and the God of Healing exchanged a glance. The God of Healing nodded: "Indeed. There is a large-scale life reaction on that island, but it is very chaotic. And—there is an ice and snow-type magic source, at least at the level of a Heroic Spirit."
Everyone fell silent.
Ice fog flowed across the sea, its chill penetrating to the bone.
Finally, Diamanti spoke up: "Punk Hazard is now occupied by a woman named Monet."
"She's a Snow-Snow Fruit user. That guy used to be Doflamingo's subordinate, but recently—that guy suddenly started acting on his own—I don't know why."
He looked at Luo: "You sensed it too, didn't you, Luo? There's something you're looking for on that island."
Luo's pupils contracted slightly: "What did you say?"
"Stop playing dumb," Diamanti sneered. "Medical God, just from the name, you're obviously a doctor. Aren't you just looking for a way to resurrect the dead?"
"And Punk Hazard—once the government's largest life science research base. Although it's abandoned now, it might still contain the information you need."
Luo fell silent. His hand gripped the hilt of the Ghost Crying Blade tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Luffy looked at this and then at that, then suddenly grinned and said, "Let's go take a look together!"
"Straw Hat Master," Law said in a deep voice, "you don't understand what kind of place that is. Punk Hazard is now known as the Land of the Dead. The gas leak killed everyone on the island. Now there are only ruins and undead there."
"That's why it's worth going!" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Isn't that what adventure is all about?"
Roger laughed heartily and patted Luffy on the shoulder: "Well said! Kid, you've got the style of your old man!"
He looked at Luo: "Young man, since we all share the same goal, why don't we cooperate for now? Anyway—"
A sharp glint flashed in the Pirate King's eyes: "You're going to Punk Hazard too, aren't you?"
Law and Luffy stared at each other. After a long while, he sighed.
"Okay. But there are three rules. First, you must follow my orders on the island; I have studied the intelligence on Punk Hazard."
"Second, you are not allowed to interfere with my objective. Third—"
He looked at Luffy and Kojiro: "If we encounter enemies, the participants in the Holy Grail War should prioritize dealing with Heroic Spirits."
"Deal!" Luffy readily agreed.
Kojiro yawned: "I'm only interested in masters of swordsmanship."
Three ships—the Sunny, the Crusaders, and the Polar Diving—formed a makeshift fleet in the ice fog and slowly sailed toward Punk Hazard.
Luo returned to the submarine, with the God of Healing following behind him.
"Master, cooperating with those people is very risky," the God of Healing said calmly.
"That heroic spirit named Roger, although he appears to be generous and easy-going, I can sense that he contains a power within him that is enough to change the world."
"I know." Luo stood in front of the control panel, watching the island's outline getting closer and closer on the radar.
"But we need allies now. Besides Doflamingo, the Beasts Pirates are also hunting me, and on the Navy side—Akainu and Aokiji have reportedly regained their Heroic Spirits. Going it alone won't get me far."
He paused. "And, that straw hat kid—we have to trust him."
The Healer paused for a moment, then asked, "So, what are your plans once you arrive in Punk Hazard?"
"First, find the information." Law's eyes deepened. "If we can get hold of that Vegapunk thing, perhaps we can—revive Mr. Corazon."
He clenched his fist: "I'm going to try, no matter what."
In the central laboratory building of Punk Hazard, Monet stood in front of the broken observation window, gazing at the white, snowy world outside.
Her Snow-Snow Fruit ability transformed the abandoned island into a frozen kingdom, with every snowflake under her control.
But at this moment, her brows were furrowed.
"They're here," she whispered.
Behind her, a figure emerged from the shadows.
She was a woman dressed in a pure white robe, with long, ice-blue hair. Her beauty was almost ethereal, and she exuded a chilling aura.
"Three ships, the aura of six heroic spirits." The woman's voice was as clear as the clash of ice crystals.
"Monet, your task is simply to stay here and collect remaining samples. There's no need to clash with those people."
"But, sir—" Monet turned around and bowed respectfully.
"Among those people are Law, Luffy, and members of the Crusaders. If they discover the secret here—"
"Then let them find out," the woman addressed as "Adult" said calmly. "Anyway, the experiment has already moved to the next stage. This island will soon lose its value."
She walked to the window, her icy blue eyes gazing at the distant sea.
"Moreover—among the Heroic Spirits coming from that direction, there are a few that are quite interesting."
"Do you know him?"
"No," the woman smiled, "but I can feel the blood of freedom and exploration flowing through his veins. It's the scent I hate most—"
She raised her hand, and a crystal-clear ice flower condensed in her palm.
"Prepare to welcome our guests, Monet. This time, nothing else matters."
The ice flower shattered in her hand, turning into countless points of light and dissipating.
Outside the window, the wind and snow intensified.