Chapter 233: Mini Merry and the Invisible Person AppearThe thousand sunny floated silently within a cage of pale, giant teeth.In the distance, the silhouette of Thriller Bark, resembling a massive graveyard, loomed faintly in the mist."Um..." Nami swallowed hard. Looking at the eerie, ghastly island in the distance, then at Luffy beside her, who was readying himself for a fight, her reason and courage were locked in a fierce battle."How about... Luffy, we just follow Brook's idea and leave this place first! This island looks extremely, extremely ominous!" Her words clearly betrayed her desire to retreat."Eh? What did you say?" Luffy, with his hands pressed against the railing at the bow, turned his head upon hearing this.The corners of his mouth stretched into an exaggerated arc, his smile so bright it almost reached his ears, and little stars of excitement twinkled in his eyes."That is the absolute look of someone who is 'determined to go'!" The cowardly trio—Nami, Usopp, and Chopper—looked at Luffy's face and let out a despairing retort in unison."Come to think of it, what kind of hellish place is this 'Ghost Island'?" Usopp's voice carried a distinct hint of tears as he clutched his "Evil Spirit Repellent" kit tightly."A-and what about that ghost from earlier! Where did it go? Is it... is it still on our ship?" Choppergrabbed onto Zoro's pant leg, his voice trembling."No, it flew back to the island." Zoro, arms crossed over his swords, gazed calmly at the shadow of the behemoth deep within the thick fog. "It's probably a 'resident' of the island.""Eh? A resident of the island? Is it a ghost?" Chopperwas so scared he hid behind Zoro, exposing his face and... his entire body (he hid the wrong way)."Regarding the tremor from earlier," Robin leaned elegantly against the ship's railing, her finger pointing toward those two massive stone gates that resembled a monster's incisors, "if it was related to the closing of that 'gate,' then we have likely been'swallowed' inside.""We got eaten?" Luffy's eyes widened even further, and far from being afraid, he found the idea extremely interesting."Although the fog is thick and visibility is poor," Robin surveyed the space surrounded by high walls, which resembled a giant mouth, "but just as Markperceived, we are indeed enclosed within something like a 'fence'."The crew members were discussing the situation in a flurry of voices, and for a moment, no one noticed that Luffy had silently jumped down from the railing and slipped into the cabin in a flash."D-does that mean we're currently trapped inside walls?" Merry jumped lightly to the highest point of the railing, trying hard to widen her eyes and peer out, but as far as her eyes could see, there was nothing but high walls and thick fog."Escaping this place is actually quite simple for us." Nami wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, forcing herself to analyze the situation calmly. "Mark's Rainbow Passage can teleport us and the ship out at any time, and the thousand sunny's 'Coup de Burst' is also enough to leap over these rocks..."Her tone shifted, and her brows furrowed, revealing deeper unease: "What I find most incredible right now is... how could such a large 'island' find us so precisely and complete the'swallowing'? It couldn't just be luck, could it?""That is indeed a Super worthy question to ponder!" Franky gripped his steel chin, his sharp gaze piercing through the fog, landing on the massive iron chains—thicker than houses—that connected the stone gates to the main body of the island, as well as the outline of a giant water wheel slowly turning deep within the island."I always feel that the technology driving this island is definitely not simple. With ordinary technology and power, controlling such a massive target is simply a fantasy, unless..." He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished."An ancient weapon?" Mark muttered to himself. His knowledge of One Piece before transmigrating stopped at the Marineford War, and he had only heard bits and pieces about the subsequent plot. He knew very little about the details of Thriller Barkand could only guess based on his intuition for now."In any case, since the island is moving, we cannot drop anchor and stay here, otherwise the hull will crash directly into the stone gates and be damaged." Franky made a technical judgment."Hey! You guy, the way you talk makes it sound like you really want to drop anchor here and go explore the island!" Usopp retorted, baring his teeth, his face full of resistance. "If we don't leave quickly, we're going to be cursed!"Nami and Chopper had already tacitly squatted in the corner of the deck, hugging their knees, a concrete cloud of gloom hanging over their heads. "Everyone, listen to me..." Nami raised her hand weakly. "I think I've suddenly caught a disease called 'Must Absolutely Not Land on That Terrifying Island'...""Me too..." Chopper wore a look of despair, tears glistening in his deer eyes. "I've also caught the same terminal illness...""Bang!" The cabin door was slammed open. Luffy's figure appeared at the doorway. He stood with one hand on his hip and the other proudly giving a thumbs-up, a bright, fully-prepared smile on his face. "Preparation complete—! Let's dock the ship!""Thud!" He slammed a giant landing net onto the deck, making a dull sound. He also had a green checkered net pouch slung around his waist, which seemed to be stuffed with various odds and ends, dressed in a standard "explorer" outfit."Do you have a disease called 'Adventure Preparation Completion Syndrome'?" Usopp jumped up furiously, his finger trembling as he pointed to the twisted and eerie silhouettes of the buildings on the island. "Look there! And over there! Those gloomy, terrifying houses are real haunted houses! The kind that are actually haunted!"He darkened his face, trying his best to make what he considered his most terrifying expression, his voice dropping to a low, raspy tone: "You... don't underestimate the horror of 'evil spirits'!"Luffy completely ignored his warning, grinning to reveal his neat, white teeth, his smile as carefree as ever: "Underestimate? What are you talking about? I've 'prepared properly', you know!"He shook the landing net and pouch in his hand boastfully, his eyes clear and firm. "Look, I even brought the tools! I'm going to catch that ghost from earlier and keep it as a pet! Hehe.""This isn't underestimating, this is completely not taking it seriously at all—! No, it's outside the realm of common sense!" Usopp was so anxious he was scratching his ears and cheeks, feeling his blood pressure skyrocketing."And," the smile on Luffy's face subsided a little. He turned around, his gaze fixed on the thick fog and high walls where Brook had disappeared, his voice clear and forceful. "Most importantly... we have to go bring back that important crewmate who ran off on his own, don't we?"There was not a hint of a joke in his eyes, only the unquestionable determination of a Captain."Luffy! If we let that skeleton become a crewmate, I'll have nightmares at night and won't be able to sleep at all!" Usopp lunged over and grabbed Luffy's collar, making a final struggle. "I object! I firmly object!""That's a Captain's order, Usopp." Mark stepped forward, his tone calm but carrying an unarguable weight."I, I know..." Usopp was like a deflated balloon. He sheepishly released Luffy's collar and even reached out to smooth out the wrinkles. "I was just... just complaining, that's all."Luffy ignored Usopp's inner conflict and took two steps forward. "Sanji! Pirate bento!""The bento is already prepared." Robin, who doted on Luffy the most, had already walked over with a smile, holding a package carefully wrapped in a purple kerchief, emitting the tempting aroma of food.Sanji lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked solemnly at the few who were about to set off: "Luffy, Franky, you must protect Miss Robin well, do you hear me?""Going to explore an unknown island that's like a haunted house? Just thinking about it makes me feel Super excited!" Franky rubbed his hands together, his mechanical arm making a "click" sound, already unable to wait."No way? Robin, you're going too?" Nami looked at the usually quiet archaeologist with some surprise.A mysterious smile played on the corners of Robin's mouth as she gently brushed the hair behind her ear: "I, well... I quite like 'excitement'.""Alright! Then I'll construct the Rainbow Passagenow..." Mark was just about to act when he was interrupted by Franky."Wait a minute! I Super love showing off!" Frankystood with his hands on his hips, interrupting him with a smug look on his face. "At a time like this, of course we should go in a'small boat' that feels more like an adventure! I still have a prized possession I haven't shown you yet!""What is it?" Usopp's curiosity was immediately piqued, and the eyes of the other crew members also focused in unison on Franky."That is—'Soldier Dock System, Channel 2'!" Frankypushed up his triangular sunglasses, a flash of white light reflecting off the lenses."Channel 2?" Luffy tilted his head."That's right! You should feel familiar with it!" Frankysaid, walking to the center of the deck and skillfully opening the hidden hatch leading to the dock.Nami, Usopp, and Chopper couldn't suppress their curiosity and followed him down."Didn't you say before that Dock 2 and Dock 4 were both empty?" Usopp hopped down the stairs and looked up to ask Franky below."Hahaha! I said that on purpose to keep the surprise!" Franky laughed, jumped down the last few steps, and arrived in front of the gate for Dock 2. He pressed the switch, and the heavy hidden door panels slowly slid open."Those who don't want to go ashore can also sit in it first to get a feel for it!""We wouldn't do that even if it killed us!" Nami, Usopp, and Chopper immediately squeezed to the doorway, heads pressed together, peering inside. At just one glance, their faces instantly exploded with immense surprise, as well as a warm sense of nostalgia!Franky returned to the deck, stood before the control panel, and pressed the button with high spirits. "Soldier Dock System—Channel 2, deploy!""Click, click, click..." A pleasant sound of precision machinery operating came from the right side of the ship, and the circular indicator on the deck rapidly rotated from "0" to "3" and then to "2".As the circular door for "2" slid upward, Luffy could no longer contain himself, his rubber neck stretching out long as he craned his head to look down intently. "What? What is it? Come out quickly!"The circular hatch opened completely, and a crisp, pleasant whistle sounded first, followed by the powerful "pfft—clank" sound of a steam engine pushing pistons!At this very moment, Franky shouted its name: "Steam-powered paddle steamer—shopping boat, 'Mini Merry No. 2'!"A small, exquisite white boat with smooth lines slowly drove out from the dock. The iconic sheep-head bow, the familiar curves of the hull, and the clean, brand-new paint... it was almost an exquisite miniature version of the old "going merry"!"It's Merry—!" Usopp held his hands high, letting out a cheer of extreme surprise, tears of excitement even welling up in his eyes.Merry's iconic sheep bow seemed to carry a gentle smile. Although the boat was small, it was designed with four comfortable seats. Nami immediately sat in the driver's seat, gripping the small rudder; Usoppsat excitedly behind her.Chopper was even happier and lunged directly at it, hugging the sheep neck of the miniature going merry tightly, rubbing his furry cheek against it happily: "Even though it's smaller, I can ride on the going merry again! This is great!""Let me see! Let me see!"The ship spirit Merry, who remained on the thousand sunny, also stood on tiptoe in excitement, but unfortunately, she wasn't tall enough to see the scene on the sea.Luffy grinned, reached out, and gently picked up Merry, letting her sit on his shoulders.Luffy stood with his hands on his hips, while Merrygazed at the small boat named after her with wide, curious, and joyful eyes.This heartwarming scene, reminiscent of a father and daughter, made Mark unable to resist taking out a delicate camera from his pocket and, with a "click," recording this unforgettable moment.On the sea, Nami, piloting the Mini Merry II, had completely let herself go.The trembling appearance from being scared by ghosts just moments ago had long since vanished, replaced by the confidence and passion of a top-tier navigator.The small steering wheel seemed to come to life in her hands, spinning smoothly. The little white boat carved beautiful arcs across the water, drifting and cutting through the waves with extraordinary agility."Alright! I'm in the zone now!"Nami shouted excitedly, slamming her foot down on the shopping boat's accelerator pedal.The paddle wheels on both sides of the hull suddenly accelerated, and the white Mini Merry II shot away like an arrow from a bow, speeding rapidly away from the thousand sunny toward the island.However, just as the small boat was happily cutting through the waves, a sudden change occurred!The previously calm water ahead surged without warning, creating a giant wave several meters high. Like a gray-black wall of water, it lunged toward the Mini Merry II!"Wait, wait! This is bad! Nami, stop!"Usopp and Chopper were terrified out of their wits, clutching each other tightly with pale faces.Nami, however, remained calm, a confident smirk even tugging at the corners of her mouth:"Trust in the going merry! And trust in your navigator!"She gripped the wheel firmly, her sharp eyes tracking the wave's trajectory, and she pressed the accelerator even harder.At the critical moment when the giant wave was about to swallow the small boat, Nami yanked the wheel. The Mini Merry II cut into the wave at a thrilling yet precise and clever angle, the hull tilting slightly, racing up along the face of the wave like a surfboard.Then, it broke through the crest of the wave and landed lightly on the calm water on the other side!A close call, but safe! The boat didn't even take on water.On the thousand sunny, Luffy leaned against the railing, wiggling his bottom, clapping his heels together with a "clap, clap," his eyes wide with envy:"My turn! My turn! I want to ride too!"Sanji, as the main person in charge of future supply procurement, was extremely satisfied with the Mini Merry II's performance:"With a boat like this, I'd be willing to go out and buy supplies ten times a day!"Franky rubbed his nose with his mechanical finger, a bit embarrassed, and looked at the restless Luffy:"Hey, Luffy, don't get excited! We'll be able to take the boat over to explore soon! Let them have their fun first!""Franky," Luffy turned his head, his big eyes staring straight at the cyborg, "Is this all the functionality the thousand sunny has?"Franky shook his finger and smiled mysteriously: "No, the thousand sunny still has some trump cards, but they aren't suitable to show right now. Those moves consume too much cola energy; it wouldn't be worth it. Don't worry, at the 'most appropriate time,' I'll definitely bring you a Super surprise!""Franky, I love your ideas the most!" Luffy happily slapped Franky's steel back with his rubber arms, making "thwack, thwack" sounds."You guy, you guy..." Luffy slapped him with every word, and the force was not light, but fortunately, Franky was a cyborg and didn't mind at all.Franky proudly placed his hands on his waist and puffed out his chest: "This week, I am also the best man!"He suddenly stuck his bottom out, slammed his hands together above his head, and struck his signature pose, "Super!""Ah!" Luffy, caught off guard, was knocked onto his back by Franky's hard mechanical bottom.Meanwhile, from the direction of the sea where they had just disappeared into the thick fog, a short, terrified scream from Nami suddenly rang out!"Miss Nami? What's wrong? What happened?" Sanji's expression changed drastically. He immediately lunged to the railing, leaning more than half his body out, anxiously peering into the depths of the fog."What happened to them?" Zoro and Merry also quickly stepped forward, their expressions grave."The fog is too thick, I can't see anything at all!" Merry tried hard to widen her eyes, but her vision was blocked by the heavy mist."They... seem to have already landed on the island." Mark closed his eyes, carefully perceived the situation with Observation Haki, and reached a conclusion."What?" Hearing this, Luffy's head "whooshed" and stretched out over ten meters toward the direction where Nami and the others had disappeared, "Damn it! They landed on the island before me! I haven't even ridden the Mini Merry II yet!"His reasons for getting angry were often just that simple and childish."Thwack!" Sanji unceremoniously delivered a heel-kick to the back of Luffy's head."Idiot! You should be worrying about Miss Nami's safety right now!" Sanji roared at Luffy, baring his teeth."You too, at least care about Usopp and Chopper..." Merry muttered from the side."That scream just now..." Robin said in a calm tone, "Could it be that... they were cursed by evil spirits and died?""Black-bellied woman!" Mark muttered to himself."Stop saying such ominous things!" Zoro pouted, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his temple, clearly affected by Robin's words.Just then, Mark and Ink Meteor turned their heads sharply at almost the same time, their sharp gazes locked onto the bow of the thousand sunny.Mark's originally gentle eyes instantly turned icy, and a touch of scarlet welled up in the depths of his pupils."I'll give you three seconds to reveal yourself." Mark's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable sense of oppression, like cold ice scraping across the deck, "Otherwise, die."Ink Meteor also lowered its body, emitting a threatening low growl in its throat. Its golden pupils were locked onto the seemingly empty air, its muscles tense, entering a battle-ready state."The aura of a wild beast?" Luffy also reined in his smile, looking in the same direction with an unfriendly gaze.Although he wasn't as sensitive as Mark, his beast-like intuition also made him sense something was wrong.Merry's figure flashed, appearing above the bow as if teleporting, and she threw a ruthless punch at that "empty" air!"Pop!" The wind from the punch exploded, creating a crisp sonic boom, and the air itself trembled. However, the fist seemed to have hit empty space.Merry landed lightly back on the deck, shaking her head at her companions, her little face filled with confusion and vigilance."Interesting..." Mark narrowed his eyes slightly, "My Observation Haki can only catch a trace of faint 'malice,' but I can't lock onto a physical form. If I'm not mistaken, this should be..."He paused, glanced at Sanji beside him with some guilt, and then slowly said the name: "Paramecia-type — a user of the 'Clear-Clear Fruit.' An 'Invisible Man.'""You mean...?" The cigarette in Sanji's mouth fell to the ground.He turned his head sharply, staring intently at Mark. The next moment, his figure appeared in front of Mark like a ghost, his hands gripping Mark's collar tightly!"You bastard!! The Clear-Clear Fruit? My Clear-Clear Fruit!!!"Sanji's roar was enough to shatter everyone's eardrums, his handsome face twisted by excitement and the blow of his "shattered dream."He weakly let go of Mark's collar, fell to his knees with a thud, and hugged Mark's thigh, his voice filled with tears: "I don't want the Heat-Heat Fruit! I want to be an invisible man! Give me back my dream, Mark!! You have a way, don't you?! You must have a way, don't you?"Mark's mouth twitched awkwardly, and a bead of cold sweat slowly slid down. He quickly raised his hand to wipe it away and comforted him: "I, I will try my best...""As I thought! You perverted kappa ate the Heat-Heat Fruit!" Zoro held his sword, looking like he had expected it all along.He had been suspicious when he saw the steel spatula in Sanji's hand turn red and soften during dinner, and hearing their conversation now finally confirmed it."Invisible bastard!! Get out here!!!" Sanji jumped up, his eyes burning with raging fury, scanning every corner of the deck like a searchlight, wishing he could drag that invisible guy out and devour him alive."Don't waste your time," Mark perceived for a moment and shook his head, "He has already left. His aura is heading toward the island.""That guy is on the island, right?" Sanji turned sharply, staring intently at the gloomy Thriller Barkin the distance, gritting his teeth, "Hurry! Build the Rainbow Passage! I want to go to the island immediately! To realize my (stolen) dream!""Sanji, you guy!" Luffy suddenly bounced over, grabbed Sanji's shoulders, and little stars of excitement appeared in his eyes again, "Did you get the 'Naked Balloon' ability? So cool! Perform it for me! Jet plane!"Fearing that Sanji wouldn't understand, he imitated the funny pose of a certain Heat-Heat Fruit user, Don Accino, from his memory. He spread his arms, flared his nostrils exaggeratedly, and made a motion of forcibly blowing air out of his nostrils. "It's like this! It's a very interesting, super cool move!""Who would do such a disgusting move!!" Sanjignashed his teeth in anger, more cross-shaped veins popping out on his forehead."Can't you do it?" Luffy picked his nose, looking disgusted."Idiot!! The Heat-Heat Fruit's ability is meant to be used in conjunction with my kicking techniques! It's not for being a circus clown!"Sanji roared, correcting him, then took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and looked toward the island again, "Anyway, let's go up there quickly! The invisible man is secondary... I'm more worried about the safety of Miss Nami and the others.""It's fine." Mark patted Sanji's shoulder, giving him a reassuring look, "Don't forget, although the three of them are cowardly, they are bona fide 'disaster' level. Usopp's explosives, Chopper's Monster Point, plus Nami's thunder... they have more than enough to protect themselves.""Now that you put it that way..." Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, and he returned a knowing look to Mark, "I do feel a lot more relieved.""Then," Luffy stood at the very front of the bow, with his back to the giant "incisors" and the gloomy Ghost Island. He spread his arms, a smile more dazzling than the sun and full of anticipation for adventure blooming on his face, "Exploration team, assemble! Target — the interior of Ghost Island! Let's bring back Brook, and his shadow, together!""Oh!!!" Responding to him were the uneven but equally firm cheers of his companions.Fear still existed, but the determination of his companions and the smile of their Captain were enough to dispel any fog
Chapter 234: The Adventure of the Cowardly TrioAt the bottom of the "moat" of Thriller Bark, the light was sliced thin by the high walls. Only a few scattered, dismal beams of Moonlight struggled to pierce through the purple-black mist, illuminating a single corner.At this moment, in this bone-chilling trench, three figures lay sprawled out, dazed and battered—it was none other than our Cowardly Trio."Ouch, ouch, ouch... My back, my tailbone..." Usopp's groans rang out with startling clarity in the silent ravine.Chopper and Nami had already struggled to their feet, brushing off the rotting leaves clinging to them, their expressions grim."Of course," Nami said, looking up at the mottled stone walls that towered over ten meters high, sucking in a cold breath. "Falling straight down from such a height, we're lucky we didn't fall apart.""W-where are we?" Chopper swiveled its small head, its blue nose twitching nervously as it tried to discern the complex scents in the air.Nami pinched her chin, analyzing the situation. "Judging by the structure... I'm afraid we're already inside that 'Ghost Island'. This must be something like a moat or a defensive trench.""G-Ghost?" Usopp jolted upright as if pricked by a needle, the color instantly draining from his face. "So scary—!!"Chopper and Usopp immediately stuck together like magnets, hugging each other tightly, their bodies trembling uncontrollably as their teeth chattered with a crisp "clack-clack-clack.""Y-you two, stop that! You're only making me more scared!" Even though Nami snarled at them, her own arms, wrapped around herself, were trembling slightly. Waves of cold surged from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, as if she were trapped in an ice cellar."By the way... why did we fall here?" Chopper, having calmed down a little, crawled with Usopp to Nami's feet like two small animals seeking shelter. "What... what actually happened just now?""That..." Nami cleared her throat. "It seems like we were too excited riding the Mini Merry II and I pushed the throttle a bit too hard... After rushing up the slope on the shore, I couldn't brake in time, and we just..." She spread her hands, summarizing it with a "that's just how it is" gesture.Upon hearing this, Chopper and Usopp turned their heads in unison, their faces dark, staring at her with gritted teeth as if to say, "Say that again?""Oh my!" Nami instantly switched expressions, poking her finger against her smooth cheek, tilting her head, and blinking her large eyes. She struck a pose that was incredibly cute and slightly shy, her voice sugary sweet. "Although this is entirely my fault... but, for the sake of how cute I am, just forgive me~!""Seriously... I want to smack you right now!" Veins bulged on Usopp's forehead as he rolled up his sleeves, wearing an expression of deep resentment and utter intolerance.Seeing this, Nami immediately dropped to her knees with a "thump." She pulled out a crude wooden sign with the word "Sorry" written in huge letters from who knows where, held it high above her head with both hands, closed her mouth obediently, and said nothing, looking at the two of them with her big, watery eyes.Such swift "apologetic" behavior and exaggerated conduct caused the anger Usopp had built up to leak away with a "hiss," like a popped balloon. He sighed helplessly and turned to look up at the high walls again. "Still... digging such a deep and wide trench on the shore is too strange, isn't it?""It must be a trap to prevent enemies from landing," Nami said, maintaining her kneeling, sign-holding pose, but her tone had returned to her usual analytical cadence. "We're lucky enough that they didn't put sharpened bamboo spears in it.""So that's it... We landed on these 'things,' which cushioned the impact and saved us!" Only then did Chopper look down, carefully seeing the "ground" beneath them—it wasn't dirt or stone at all, but a dense, piled-up layer of stark white skulls, who knows how thick! It blinked, realizing the truth belatedly.Silence. A deathly silence lasted for about three seconds."S-s-s-s... Skulls, aaaaaah—!!!" The three of them finally realized, screaming and leaping up like ignited rockets, instantly distancing themselves from the "ground" they had just been lying on. It wasn't that there were no lethal traps—the entire bottom of this trench was filled with the bones of countless dead!"C-calm down! Listen to me!" Usopp forced himself not to look at the hair-raising sight beneath his feet, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm his racing heart. "We just need to stay here quietly and wait. When Luffy and the others realize we're missing, they'll definitely come looking for us! This is the safest plan!""But, Usopp..." Chopper's voice was laced with tears. "The location here is clearly below sea level, and I'm a Devil Fruit user... staying in a place like this, I have zero sense of security! What if...""Not only is it dangerous, but it's also hidden, making it hard for our friends to find us." Usopp had to admit that Chopper made sense, and concluded dejectedly.Nami threw away the "Sorry" sign and made a decision. "Then, the final plan—find a way to get back to the shore and wait for Luffy and the others in a relatively safe place!""But... it's so high, and the walls are so smooth, how are we supposed to get up?" Usopp walked a few steps forward along the "path" paved with bones, looked up, and showed despair once again.Just then—"Rustle, rustle..." From the depths of the darkness ahead, a faint sound of claws scraping against bone echoed. Immediately after, six ghostly green lights, like will-o'-the-wisps, lit up at the end of the dim trench, slowly moving in their direction."W-what is that? A dog?" Because Usopp had spent a long time with Ink Meteor, whose pupils glowed with a golden-green light in the dark, he had developed some "immunity" to such glowing beast eyes. Although he was creeped out, he could still remain calm. Chopper and Nami also nervously followed Usopp's gaze.Just then, a cold wind blew, and the thick fog above briefly parted, allowing slightly brighter Moonlightto pour down, illuminating that area. They were able to see the owner of the green eyes clearly."Is it... a dog...?" Nami wasn't sure. It was indeed a dog's head, the outline was clear. But... three dog heads, growing closely together on the same ox-like, sturdy body! This combination was extremely bizarre and challenged common sense!"Could it be...?" Chopper's brows locked tightly, its eyes filled with wariness and fear. "Cerberus!" Chopper trembled, squeezing this bone-chilling name out through its teeth."Cerberus?" Nami and Usopp were confused by this unfamiliar word and looked at Chopper, waiting for an explanation."The three-headed hound of hell..." Chopper's voice was very low. "The monster from legend that guards the entrance to the underworld. Any soul caught by it will be dragged directly into the abyss of the netherworld, never to be reincarnated!""T-then what are we waiting for—!!!" Nami didn't hesitate at all; she turned and sprinted in the opposite direction at full speed! "I don't want to die in a ghost place like this while I'm so young and beautiful!""It's the guard dog of hell!" Usopp and Chopper's reason was also instantly drowned by fear, and they burst forth with astonishing potential, following closely behind Nami. The three of them ran for their lives along the bottom of the trench, which was piled high with white bones!They were extremely fast, and driven by survival instinct, they actually managed to leave the "three-headed dog" far behind for the time being. In reality, with their current strength, if the three of them were to join forces to deal with this seemingly scary creature, it would not be a difficult task. But at this moment, inside Ghost Island, surrounded by bones, and encountering a legendary monster, the multiple psychological shocks firmly held them in the illusion that "if you encounter a ghost, you will die."Usopp glanced back while running, wailing breathlessly, "Why would the hell's guard dog appear here?! Is this place actually...""N-no way... could this be the entrance to hell?" Chopper's voice was tearful; this speculation made it even more desperate."I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it!" Namicovered her ears tightly with both hands while sprinting, refusing to accept any more terrifying information. "Anyway, run! If it catches up, our souls will be snatched away, and we'll become part of this pile of bones at the bottom of the trench—!!!"Usopp used all his strength, his adrenaline surging, and his speed even surpassed Chopper, who was known for being fast. However, as they ran, Chopper's speed gradually slowed down. From the initial headlong dash, it turned into looking back carefully every two steps, the fear in its eyes seemingly replaced by some kind of confusion.Nami and Usopp sensed Chopper's abnormality, so they slowed their pace. While vigilantly looking back at the three-headed dog they had temporarily outrun, they asked anxiously:"Chopper, did you discover something?""What's wrong, Chopper? Has it caught up?"Chopper maintained his running stance while observing, and after carefully confirming for several more seconds, he spoke in a tone mixed with disbelief and certainty:"Hey! Look closely at the head on the side! Although it looks a bit similar, but... the shape of the ears, the outline of the face, especially that look in its eyes... it's clearly a fox!""Huh?"Nami and Usopp slammed on the brakes, nearly falling over on the slippery pile of bones due to momentum.They turned around in unison, squinting their eyes, and using the dim light, they tried hard to focus on the "three-headed dog" chasing them."Sure enough... the more I look at it, the more it looks like a fox!" Usopp even used his goggles to observe.The "three-headed dog" seemed to understand their conversation, as all three heads drooped simultaneously. A low "wooing" sound emitted from its throats, and the fierce glint in its six green eyes vanished, replaced by a sense of immense loss and dejection after having its true nature exposed."It's, it's dejected!" Usopp whispered, shielding his mouth with his palm and leaning towards Nami."It seems it... really cares about that!"Nami followed suit, shielding her mouth with her hand, leaning towards Usopp, and whispering back."Woof woof woof! Awoooo—!!"An angry, humiliated roar erupted from all three throats simultaneously!Ignited with rage, it dug its four limbs into the ground and charged at Nami and the others once again! Its speed seemed even faster than before!"Hmph!"Nami's gaze hardened, the last trace of fear dispelled and replaced by the confidence that comes from seeing through a "bluff.""In other words... you're not some hellhound at all! You're just a monster playing tricks!"The next second, Nami's figure vanished from the spot, leaving behind only a faint streak of golden lightning.She instantly slid to appear directly beneath the chimera's belly, right fist clenched, as dazzling golden lightning crackled and rapidly gathered!"Get... flying!"From bottom to top, a swift, thunderous uppercut landed solidly on the chimera's soft underbelly!"Awoooooo—!!!"A shrill howl echoed through the ravine. The massive body, engulfed by lightning and immense force, flew straight up several meters before crashing heavily back into the pile of bones in the distance. It twitched a few times, with smoke rising from all three heads, and stars spinning in its eyes."If you're not a real hellhound, why are you chasing us? Do you think this is fun?"Nami shook her slightly numb fist, brushed off non-existent dust from her hands, and said indignantly."Oh~! Nami, look! There are stairs over there!"Chopper, with sharp eyes, pointed to the shadows where the ravine wall met the ground not far away.There, a set of stairs built from hewn stone extended up along the ravine wall, the end disappearing into the darkness above, clearly a passage leading to the "surface.""Great! We can finally leave this hellhole!"Usopp took the lead, running toward the stairs, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up! Who knows what else is in this hellhole!""Coming, coming! Wait for me!" Nami and Chopperalso immediately rallied their spirits and followed closely behind.At the exit at the top of the stairs was a heavy, rusted iron gate. Fortunately, it was not locked.The three of them pushed open the creaking iron gate and stepped out cautiously.Outside the gate, it was not the close view of a castle or an open field as they had expected, but an endless, gloomy forest shrouded in even thicker darkness.The branches of the towering ancient trees were twisted and intertwined, like the claws of ghosts reaching toward the sky, and the dense canopy almost completely blocked out the already scarce Moonlight.Underfoot was a wide but uneven dirt road that branched into several paths within the forest, winding into the unknowable depths of the darkness.A cold wind blew through the forest, carrying a hair-raising wail, as if countless lost souls were whispering."It seems... we've entered a forest zone."Nami looked around, her hand unconsciously reaching for the magic clima-tact hanging at her waist, seeking a sense of security, "Which path should we take? I have no clue... If only Mark or Robin were here, they would definitely have a way.""Besides, if there are more creatures like that one just now... or even stranger ones in the forest, waiting for rescue at such an obvious intersection doesn't seem very wise."Chopper nervously looked back at the iron gate they had just come out of and shrank his neck, terrified that something else might crawl out from inside or from the shadows around them."You're absolutely right~"A strange voice, with a slight rasp and a peculiar tone, came unexpectedly from the canopy above their heads!"Ah—!"The three of them jumped in fright, reflexively hugging each other tightly, and looked up in horror.On a thick horizontal branch, a purplish-gray creature, shaped like a giant bat, was hanging upside down by its hind limbs, swaying gently.It had a forehead marked with the number "21," deep dark circles under its eyes, pointed, devil-like ears, and small fangs faintly visible at the corners of its mouth.At this moment, it was looking down at them with great interest, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness."W-what are you?"Usopp mustered his courage and raised his slingshot, aiming it at the creature."Don't be afraid~ I mean no harm."The upside-down creature grinned, revealing a smile that could be considered "friendly," although given its appearance, the effect was closer to terrifying, "I am Hilton, and I am the... well, let's call it the 'Guide' of this forest?""You look like you're out to 'get revenge on society,' okay! Who would believe you mean no harm!" Usopp couldn't help but retort."You... complimenting me like that, I'm actually quite happy!"Hilton was not angry at all; instead, he scratched his head with his wing, a hint of smugness on his face, as if he took it as a compliment.He spoke again, his voice lowered, carrying a certain mysterious allure: "Listen, foreign guests... the nights in this forest will completely overturn your understanding of the word 'forest.' Hidden within the darkness are many... 'interesting' things."As if to confirm his words, a rhythmic, wooden creaking sound, "creak... creak...", came from the dense fog deep in the forest.The sound moved from far to near.Then, a carriage slowly drove out from the cover of the dense fog and gloomy tree shadows, stopping in the middle of the main road before them.This carriage was completely out of place in the eerie surroundings."How beautiful!" Chopper couldn't help but exclaim."How luxurious!" Usopp's eyes widened."Sitting in it... must be so comfortable..." Nami's gaze fell upon the carriage's exquisite interior.The carriage was large, painted entirely in a luxurious dark red, with a streamlined, ornate canopy on top, the edges decorated with golden tassels that swayed and shimmered with the carriage's slight movement.The windows were hung with thick yet exquisite pink velvet curtains, and through the gap that wasn't fully closed, one could faintly see the soft velvet seats inside.The two horses pulling the carriage were tall but somewhat strange, draped in equally ornate trappings, standing silently as if they were statues."If you don't mind..."Hilton remained hanging upside down, pointing with the tip of his wing at the tempting carriage, a solicitous smile on his face, "You can ride in it. It will take you to a safe place—my mansion.""To your mansion?"Alarm bells rang in Nami's heart. This creature calling itself Hilton looked suspicious in every way, and his "goodwill" was truly hard to trust.However... they were currently lost and in a dangerous situation. Perhaps she could pry some information about this island out of it? She was quickly weighing the pros and cons."It's to 'Doctor Hogback's' mansion."Hilton added, his tone carrying a trace of reverence for that name."Ehh—!"The moment Chopper heard that name, he gasped sharply, as if struck by lightning."What's wrong, Chopper?" Nami immediately noticed Chopper's intense reaction and quickly looked at him, while Usopp also cast a questioning glance.Usopp scratched his head: "Hogback... who is that?"
Chapter 235: The Cowardly Trio's Adventure 2The carriage moved slowly through the dead-silent forest, its wheels grinding over damp mud and fallen leaves, emitting a monotonous, dull "creak."The ornate decorations inside the carriage formed a jarring contrast with the desolate and eerie environment outside.Through the occasional gaps in the pink curtains blown open by the wind, one could see, deep within the thick fog on both sides of the road, crooked tombstones and crosses looming in the dim light, telling forgotten stories."Chopper," Nami lowered her voice, leaning forward slightly, her gaze shifting between Hilton, who was hanging upside down opposite her, and Chopper. "Is that doctor named Hogback... really trustworthy? In a place like this...""In the medical world, there isn't a soul who doesn't know his name!"Chopper's eyes lit up instantly. He sat up straight, his hooves gesturing excitedly. "He is a genius surgeon! Legend has it that with his miraculous surgical skills, he snatched tens of thousands of lives from the hands of Death! He is a legend in medical history!""Huh~? Is he that famous?"Usopp seemed uninterested in this; he was more concerned with their current safety. He patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief. "Anyway, whatever. At least we're saved for now."Chopper, however, was completely immersed in his fanboy emotions. He lifted his head, his tone filled with reverence. "Of course he's famous! Whether it's his lofty status or the highest glory in the medical field... he has attained everything a doctor could dream of! Doctors all over the world worship him!""Hmm... looking at it that way," Nami mused, her fingers tapping unconsciously on her knee. She was mostly seeing Chopper's longing expression, which suggested he "must see him," and given that there was no better choice at the moment, "Waiting for rescue in the mansion of such a prestigious doctor does sound safer than being out in the wild.""Yes, yes, yes. Come, don't be shy, have a glass of red wine; it helps to relax the nerves."Hilton, who had been hanging quietly upside down, spoke at the right moment. He produced a large bottle of red wine and several stemmed glasses from behind his back.Removing the cork, the deep red liquid was poured into the glasses. He diligently handed one to Nami.Nami hesitated for a moment before accepting it.The scarlet wine swayed slightly under the warm, flickering lights of the carriage, refracting a mesmerizing luster.She subconsciously looked at Hilton through the wine glass—the curved glass distorted and elongated the already strange face opposite her; the "21" number on his forehead was warped, and his dark circles and fangs appeared even more hideous against the backdrop of the red wine.Chopper didn't notice this small interlude. He lowered his head and recounted in a dejected tone: "But... one day, Doctor Hogback suddenly disappeared completely from the public eye. Some say he had an accident and went missing, others say he was kidnapped by some mysterious organization... There are many theories, but not a single reliable clue. Over time, the name 'Genius Surgeon Hogback' became a legend full of mysteries in the medical world."At this point, Chopper suddenly tilted his head, looking at Hilton with big, sparkling eyes. His whole body seemed to emit little stars of adoration, and his voice became soft and sweet: "Mr. Hilton... the doctor you mentioned, is... is he that legendary Doctor Hogback, right?"Hilton nodded, a smile appearing on his face: "That's right. The good Doctor... is on this island. He is here, conducting some... great research that surpasses human imagination.""R-really? Then... can I get his autograph?"A blush of excitement appeared on Chopper's face, looking like a shy little fan about to meet his idol."I think... that shouldn't be a problem." Hilton's smile deepened, his fangs glinting in the light.Nami, distracted, swirled the red wine in her glass, her other hand unconsciously "swished" open the pink curtain beside her, revealing only a narrow slit, and peeked outside vigilantly.The Moonlight was slightly brighter than before, piercing through the thin fog and barely illuminating a small area of the forest.Suddenly, her gaze froze.On a huge boulder covered in moss not far away stood a massive, clearly outlined black figure.It had its back to the carriage, its posture lazy yet full of power."Ink Meteor? A lion?"Nami muttered to herself, her heart skipping a beat. "No... no way, right? How could there be... in a place like this..."As if it had heard her thoughts, the figure slowly, and extremely creepily, turned its head nearly one hundred and eighty degrees, facing the carriage window directly!The Moonlight clearly illuminated its face—it was indeed a lion's face, but it bore an anthropomorphic, extremely terrifying expression!It bared its teeth, revealing white, neat teeth, and gave Nami a "smile" that was standard yet eerie.Even worse, its thick eyebrows actually moved up and down in an extremely human-like, provocative manner!Nami's complexion underwent a drastic change in an instant: first pale from horror, then turning blue from absurdity and fear. Finally, she felt as if her soul was about to float out from the top of her head—a translucent, mini-Nami-shaped white figure actually floated out of her wide-open mouth!"Ah————!!!"This scream, breaking all limits, was incomparably shrill, instantly shattering the fake peace inside the carriage and scaring Chopper and Usopp next to her out of their wits, causing them to scream along reflexively:"Ah—!!""Waaah—!!"The three of them opened their mouths wide at the same time, their eyes bloodshot and bulging from extreme terror, creating a scene with comedic impact.Nami's hand went limp, and the scarlet wine in the glass "splashed" all over Chopper's furry body."Ah!"The screaming stopped abruptly. Nami looked at the instantly empty glass, a flash of genuine regret crossing her face, before being drowned out by even more intense fear."Hey! What are you doing? You scared us to death!"Usopp regained his composure, clutching his frantically beating heart, looking displeased, but still suppressing his anger as he asked, "W-what exactly happened? What's outside?""J-j-just now... there was a... a lion outside..."Nami's voice was trembling uncontrollably, her teeth chattering."Are you an idiot? You're with Ink Meteor every day, and you're still scared by an ordinary lion? Even jokes have limits, you know!"Hearing this reason, Usopp's anger flared up again, feeling that Nami was simply being unreasonable."B-but..."For once, Nami didn't immediately retort. Instead, she quickly took out her sketchbook and pencil. Although her fingers were still shaking, she drew rapidly.Thanks to the skills honed from years of drawing precise nautical charts, she sketched the image of the lion from that terrifying glimpse in just a few strokes!She not only captured that sleazy eyebrow-raising expression but even outlined the weird bandages wrapped around its forehead and the clear stitches on its face!She pointed at her "masterpiece" with lingering fear, her voice tight: "Look! It, it looks just like this!""Pfft—!"Usopp only took one look before the scene, which surpassed his imagination, made him spit out the water he had just drunk to calm his nerves, and then he roared, "How could such a thing exist!""You don't believe me? Look outside yourself!"Nami pulled back the curtain on her side and pointed outside the window, "Look quickly! Right there on that roc..."Her words stopped abruptly.Usopp and Chopper nervously widened their eyes and looked in the direction her finger was pointing.However, the boulder was empty; where was the creepy lion?But the next second, an even more hair-raising scene appeared!The ancient trees and vines outside the window, which had been still, seemed to have been suddenly injected with evil life!Their branches twisted slowly like tentacles, and cracks split open on the bark, forming weird, twisted "faces" that seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time.The "mouths" of those "faces" opened and closed, but in their minds, the three of them clearly "heard" whispers that seemed to go directly into their souls, overlapping and intertwining, full of greed: "Prey... fresh prey..."The Cowardly Trio widened their eyes in disbelief, suspecting they were having a collective hallucination."Hmm...?" They closed their eyes tightly in unison, rubbed them hard, and then opened them suddenly.Outside the window, the terrifying scene from just a moment ago had vanished.The trees stood quietly in the fog, vines hanging down, and everything returned to "normal," as if that thrilling scene had never happened."Phew..."The three of them let out a long sigh of relief at the same time, looked at each other, and unconsciously wore smiles of having survived a disaster.But this smile lasted less than half a second."Ah————!!!"A scream, louder and more collapsing than any before, exploded inside the carriage."There, there is something! Something very, very terrifying is outside—!!!"The scream seemed to carry substantial impact, making the entire carriage jump a few times.Nami turned sharply to Hilton, holding her palm up in front of her in terror, making a firm "stop" gesture, her voice resolute: "Wait a minute! Mr. Hilton! P-please stop the carriage immediately!""Is something the matter? Why are you all so panicked?"Hilton's expression was calm to the point of being eerie, completely out of sync with the almost boiling atmosphere of fear inside the carriage.He tilted his head, "Are you... experiencing hallucinations?""That was definitely not a hallucination!"Usopp's eyes bulged out of their sockets, his tongue trembling violently like a broken flag in the wind. "T-this forest is too weird! There's definitely a problem! We can't go any further!""It can be a bit strange at first."Hilton's tone remained steady, even carrying a hint of reassurance. "Coming to this forest shrouded in the Mist of Fantasy for the first time, it's very easy to have some... realistic hallucinations due to fear. Many people have had similar experiences.""W-was that just now... really a hallucination?"Hearing this, Chopper's tense little body softened, and he let out a long sigh."Mr. Hilton, I'm very sorry."Nami took a deep breath; she had made a decision. "Could you please turn the carriage around and take us back near the port we were just at? Even if we have to face fear, we will find a way ourselves; we cannot continue forward.""Wuu wuu... Waaah—!"Chopper burst into tears instantly, his disappointment evident. "T-then I won't be able to see Doctor Hogback! I really want to see him! Wuu wuu...""Although it's a pity, Chopper!"Usopp tried to reason with Chopper. "At this time, you have to trust my'special ability'! Something extremely bad is going to happen! You have to believe me!"He pressed his hands on Chopper's small shoulders, forcing him to look into his terrified eyes, and gave a cruel but realistic choice: "Do you want to die to see that legendary doctor, or do you want to leave this island alive, and maybe have a chance later? Choose quickly!"Chopper sobbed, looking at the genuine fear in Usopp's eyes, and then looked at Nami's resolute expression, finally lowering his head and answering in a voice full of grievance: "I... I don't want to die... and I don't want to be afraid.""I see... that is truly a pity."He still wore that scripted smile. "In that case, I will have the servants arrange to turn around. Please wait here for a moment. Carriage, stop."Following his words, the moving carriage slowly came to a halt.Hilton opened the carriage door, closed it the moment he jumped out, and his figure quickly merged into the thick fog and darkness outside, disappearing from sight.Ten minutes passed.Inside the carriage, Chopper lay horizontally on the velvet seat, his little nose twitching, his big eyes filled with tears."Sorry, Chopper..." Nami reached out and gently stroked Chopper's head."I-it's okay..."Chopper replied with a tearful voice, "I-it's all my fault... I don't have the, the strength like Luffy or Zoro to face this kind of adventure alone...""Speaking of which..."Usopp rubbed his knees uneasily, his gaze shifting back and forth between the closed curtains and the carriage door. "Have we... waited too long?""..."Silence permeated the carriage, more suffocating than the thick fog outside.Every second was stretched out, filled with uneasy guesses."How long are we supposed to wait?" Nami finally couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with impatience."That guy... he isn't coming back, is he?"Chopper also sat up straight, looking vigilantly at the carriage door."It's really strange..."Usopp's ominous premonition grew stronger. "It's just turning around, does it need to be arranged for so long? Could it be..."As he spoke, he reached out and pulled open the curtain on his side again, looking towards the direction that should have been the "road" in front of the carriage—"Huh—?"Usopp let out a short, puzzled sound.Immediately after, a scream, higher-pitched, more desperate, and more heart-rending than any of Nami's previous screams, "Ah!!!!!!"
Chapter 236: The Cowardly Trio on the OffensiveBeyond the carriage, between the crooked tombstones, the soil was churning unnaturally.One, two, ten... countless hands wrapped in filthy bandages, with withered and rotting skin, burst from the soil and clawed wildly at the air.Chopper was so terrified he lost his voice; he could only gape in horror, eyes bulging, as he tremblingly raised the cross in his hand, pointing it futilely at the increasingly dense and eerie scene outside the window."No, you've got to be kidding...!"Nami's pupils contracted violently, her hands clasped tightly together, inwardly praying desperately that all of this was still just that damned "hallucination."However, the low, eager roars that followed, along with the heavy, dragging footsteps approaching from all directions, coldly crushed their last shred of hope—all of this was real."Ahhh—!!!" The three of them erupted into panicked screams simultaneously."Zo-zombies—!!""Don't come over here—!!"Their screams did not scare off these uninvited guests; instead, like a spark thrown into boiling oil, it instantly ignited the frenzy of the zombie horde.They moved without any coordination, their limbs twisted at bizarre angles, their rotting faces seemingly displaying a rigid "excitement," their only common goal being to surround and close in on this carriage exuding the scent of the living!In mere seconds, the dilapidated carriage was surrounded, layer upon layer, by the hideous zombies, leaving no way out.The three of them shrieked and jerked their heads back into the carriage!"Swish—!"Before they could catch their breath, a hand wrapped in bandages, withered like kindling, brutally ripped open the curtain, thrust into the carriage, and five stiff fingers gripped Usopp's shoulder tightly!"Ah! That hurts! Let go!"Usopp frantically slapped at that arm, but it felt like pounding against hard, dead wood; it was useless.A tremendous force began dragging him inch by inch toward the window."Save me! Nami! Chopper—!" With half his body already pulled out of the window, Usopp's terrified screams echoed inside."Let... go!!!"In this critical moment, the ferocity hidden deep within Nami, pushed to the limit by fear, finally erupted.She grabbed her clima-tact, and dazzling golden lightning crackled and surged into the staff instantly.She didn't even have time to aim; eyes closed, she began swinging wildly and randomly in front of her!"Ah—!!" "Waaah—!!"Screams erupted immediately, containing both the roars of zombies burned by the lightning and Usopp's cries of pain from being hit by mistake."Let go... give Usopp back!"Nami kept her eyes tightly shut, muttering in terror, but the force and frequency of her swings never wavered, each strike crackling with electric arcs!Under the indiscriminate bombardment of the violent thunderous power, the already decaying carriage finally gave way. With a loud "boom," the carriage structure shattered, and wood splinters flew everywhere!In the end, only a bare floorboard remained, with four lonely wheels, barely maintaining the shape of a "carriage.""Ah~! St-stop... it..."Usopp, sporting a head full of fresh bumps, smoke rising from his mouth, and his body still twitching uncontrollably, used his last ounce of strength to protest."Ah! Usopp!"Chopper rushed over and pulled the limp, smoking Usopp to his side.Nami stopped her wild swinging and carefully opened her eyes.The first thing that came into view was the surrounding devastation—the zombies seemed to have been scared back by that indiscriminate "thunderstorm," cowering at a distance, wisps of smoke rising from their bodies.She blinked, looking somewhat dazed: "Wh-what happened?"Then, she remembered her initial goal: "Right! Usopp!"Nami turned abruptly and saw Usopp's miserable yet comical appearance.Her face instantly switched to a smug "mission accomplished" expression, and with a hint of embarrassment but still perfectly justified, she said: "See, I saved you from the zombies! No need to thank me too much; just pay me 100,000 Berries for the rescue fee later.""You... you're more terrifying than the zombies! You're a devil! Verdict confirmed!"Usopp forced himself to sit halfway up, glaring angrily at Nami, every bump seemingly crying out in accusation."You're alive and kicking, aren't you!" Nami stuck out her tongue playfully, trying to brush it off."Um, Nami! Although... nine out of ten of your strikes hit Usopp on the head, that one hit did scare off the zombies!"Chopper cast a sympathetic glance at Usopp and reminded Nami."Ho ho! Scared of lightning? That makes things easier!"Nami's eyes lit up, and she raised the clima-tactagain, this time with fluid and confident movements.She quickly spun the staff: "Cold Bubble! Hot Bubble! Fill!"Following her command, blue and red bubbles continuously flew out from both ends of the clima-tact, burst in mid-air, and quickly merged into a rolling, small, black thundercloud."Electric Charge—30 Million Volts: Weather!"Nami shouted, whipping the clima-tact toward the thundercloud, and a thick chain of lightning shot out and plunged into the clouds!"Boom-crack—!!"The thundercloud was instantly activated, with electric snakes dancing wildly and thunder rumbling."Watch out for the lightning~!"A smile, mixed with the excitement of fear receding and the satisfaction of revenge, curled at the corners of Nami's mouth as she slammed the clima-tactheavily onto the ground!"Crackle-pop—!!!"Countless fist-sized, dazzling blue ball lightnings poured down from the thundercloud like a rainstorm, striking precisely into the densest area of the zombies!"Awooo—!""Sss-ah—!"Wretched screams rose and fell, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.Amidst the flashing light, the zombies twitched and fell, wisps of smoke rising from their bodies.A moment later, this small graveyard area quieted down temporarily, leaving only zombies lying scattered across the ground, temporarily incapacitated, with wisps of smoke rising."Hmph! That's what you get for trying to scare this navigator!"Nami triumphantly slammed the clima-tact onto the carriage floorboard beneath her feet, striking a winner's pose."Snap!"An ominous cracking sound."Hm?" Nami froze."Boom—!"The already overburdened carriage floorboard, along with the four wheels, finally collapsed completely under Nami's final slam, disintegrating into a pile of broken wood!"Ouch!""Waaah!"Usopp and Chopper were caught off guard and fell flat on their backs.As for Nami, because she happened to be standing on the crossbar connecting the two axles, she sat down as it collapsed, getting stuck right in position, even subconsciously crossing her legs elegantly—only there was no carriage beneath her, making the scene extremely awkward."Well... what do we do now?"Nami maintained her sitting posture, looking around at the completely exposed wilderness, the eerie forest, and the darkness in the distance where more monsters might be hiding; the fear that had just receded rushed back like a tide, making her voice waver.Usopp climbed up, baring his teeth, and brushed the dust off his backside.He looked toward the direction where the path extended deep into the forest, where the outlines of buildings seemed to loom in the mist."At this point... we have no choice but to bite the bullet and keep going. Judging by the direction, that doctor's mansion should be up ahead.""Really? Great!"Chopper immediately forgot his previous fright and became excited again, his little hooves prancing. "Doctor Hogback! I get to see him again!"Over on the thousand sunny, the situation was just as bad.The sudden, massive waves played with the thousand sunny and Brook's broken ship, causing the hulls to pitch and tilt violently, nearly losing control!"The ship is going to be swept away! What are you doing, you idiot!"Zoro gripped the railing tightly, fighting the swaying, and roared at Sanji, who was at the helm."Don't call me an idiot! If you're so good, you try it!"Sanji bit down on his cigarette, his arm muscles bulging as he desperately tried to turn the rudder, but the wheel wouldn't budge as if it had been welded shut. Veins popped on his forehead in frustration. "The rudder won't move at all! Something has it jammed!""Use the outer wheel power to force our way through! This little wind and wave is nothing for the thousand sunny!"Franky gripped the railing amidst the violent shaking and shouted his suggestion."Hehehe, we're going to the island anyway, so why not just let the big waves slap us right onto the shore? That wouldn't be bad!"Luffy sat at the bow, his rubber legs stretched out and wrapped around the base to secure himself. Far from panicking, he actually found the violent swaying quite exciting."Luffy!!" Sanji turned his head and roared at his back, his eyebrows knotted together. "Did you forget about Miss Nami?""An-and Usopp and Chopper..." Merry held onto the rudder's support column tightly, trying to stabilize her small body in the wind and waves, and added a soft reminder."These waves are so annoying... making me dizzy..."Mark's face was green, and he gripped Ink Meteor's mane tightly, looking extremely unwell. "And if I put the ship into the Rainbow Space now, I won't even have a place to stand..."Apparently, our Vice Captain had gotten seasick again."What is that...?"Robin remained calm throughout, her gaze piercing sharply through the churning waves and mist, looking ahead of the ship.In the dim light, an unbelievably huge, spiderweb-like structure shimmering with cold Moonlightstretched across the sea, appearing exceptionally clear and eerie in the dark environment."Spiderwebs... on the sea?" Zoro narrowed his eyes, his hand immediately pressing onto his sword hilt."Plop—!!!"Just then, an unprecedented giant wave slammed like a wall against the stern of the thousand sunnyand the broken ship next to Brook!Both ships were instantly pushed forward as if by a giant, charging toward that huge spiderweb with accelerated speed!"Outer wheels! Start the outer wheels quickly!!" Franky exclaimed."It's too late—!" Robin hadn't finished speaking."Shhh—la—!"Accompanied by a teeth-grinding sound like tearing thick cloth, the thousand sunny and Brook's pirate ship crashed solidly into that massive spiderweb, with multiple parts of the hulls firmly stuck by the sticky, tough spider silk.The ships shook violently a few times, then... eerily came to a stop, no longer drifting with the waves, but just rising and falling slightly with the elasticity of the spiderweb."Damn it!"Franky climbed up from the deck, looking up at the hulls wrapped in layers of white spider silk, and punched the railing in anger. "The hulls are undamaged... but now we can't move at all! We're stuck fast!""Fi-finally... calmed down..."Mark slid weakly off Ink Meteor's back and slumped onto the deck, his face still pale. "Come to think of it... this spiderweb is way too big! What kind of spider could weave something like this..."On the forest path, the cowardly three... er, the temporary expedition team, was moving forward cautiously.Usopp walked along, nervously scanning every shadow around him, muttering incessantly: "This island is too weird, full of creatures that shouldn't exist in reality... zombies, moving trees, three-headed monster dogs..."He subconsciously touched his shoulder where the zombie had grabbed him earlier, his voice starting to tremble again: "Hey, Nami, Chopper... I've been scratched by a zombie.""If I actually start mutating and turn into one of those zombies that bites anyone it sees..."He stopped, turned around, held his hands out flat, mimicking the stiff movements of a zombie, and let out an "Urgh... ah..." growl from his throat."You guys... just kill me! Put me out of my misery!""Fine! Guaranteed 'pain-free'!"Nami crossed her arms, a small cluster of golden sparks crackling at her fingertips, a "kind" smile on her face."Are you a devil?" Usopp immediately returned to normal, baring his fangs as he retorted."You didn't sneak a peek at that 'Zombie Encyclopedia' in the thousand sunny library, did you?"Nami shot him a weird look."Y-you, how did you know?" Usopp muttered, as if someone had stepped on his tail.Then his voice spiked, "The point is! That's exactly what it says in there about zombies! Getting bitten or scratched might infect you, turning you into one of their kind!""I'm telling you," Nami sighed, looking at him with a "you're hopeless" expression,"With a bounty of 230 million Berries, no matter how you mutate, you'd at least be a higher-class variety, right? Like... a vampire?""Bounty and mutation variety are related?" Usopplooked bewildered."Of course they are!"Nami analyzed seriously, "Aren't vampires all elegant nobles?""Then... what about the poor ones?" Chopper asked, looking up curiously."They turn into zombies!" Nami concluded definitively.Usopp imagined himself as a vampire—wearing a black cape, pale-faced, with melancholic yet powerful eyes, and fangs peeking out from the corner of his mouth...It seemed... not entirely unacceptable? He muttered to himself:"Seems like... it might not be so bad?"Before they knew it, the trio had passed through the gloomy forest, and the view before them suddenly opened up.A neatly landscaped estate appeared in front of them.The iron gate was shut tight, and behind it lay a vast lawn and a massive, old-fashioned mansion.The coward trio looked at the scene before them, their expressions varied."Looks like... we've arrived." Nami stopped, took a deep breath, and her guard went back up to the max."Anyway... I'm so thirsty right now. My throat is practically smoking from all the screaming."Usopp stuck out his tongue, his eyes weary."So we really get to see it after all... I'm so excited!"Chopper held his head high, gazing at the mansion windows, his eyes once again filled with expectant little stars."Sigh..."Nami sighed as if resigned to her fate,"At this point, we only have one gamble left. I really can't imagine what kind of 'normal' creature could live here on this creepy island.""Creeeeak—!"Nami stepped forward and pushed open the estate's heavy iron gate, the hinges letting out a teeth-grinding screech."Excuse me—!"She gathered her courage and called out toward the mansion in the gentlest, most polite voice she could muster,"Excuse me, is this Dr. Hogback's mansion?""We are passing by, we're... sailors!We accidentally got lost and don't know what to do. Would you mind if we rested here for a while?"There was no response. Only the rustling of the night wind through the treetops.The three walked across the lawn nervously and arrived in front of the mansion's grand entrance.Nami poked her head forward, puzzled as she examined this strangely shaped gate—It wasn't closed off, but instead, the center was actually a brightly lit, tunnel-like corridor that went straight through the building!"What's up with this house... there's a tunnel in the middle of the gate?" Usopp leaned in to look as well, feeling incredulous."You can actually see the courtyard on the other side of the house!" Chopper, both nervous and a little curious, followed Nami and the others as they cautiously entered the tunnel corridor.The light inside the tunnel was dim, and as they walked, their footsteps echoed, adding to their unease."Nami... do you think, maybe no one actually lives here?" Usopp felt more and more creeped out as they walked, and he began to think about turning back."That would be problematic... going back means facing those terrifying creatures outside again..." Before Nami could finish—"Click."Deep in the tunnel, an old spotlight suddenly turned on automatically, casting a dim but focused beam of light straight onto an old well at the end of the tunnel!"Look! The light inside turned on!" Chopper pointed ahead.The three hurried over to the well, the spotlight casting their long, somewhat distorted shadows onto the brick wall behind them."This well... I wonder if there's any water inside?"Usopp, parched, was drawn to the old-fashioned windlass well beneath the wooden frame.He stared longingly into the bottomless opening, fantasizing about fresh, cool spring water gushing out.Just as Usopp stepped forward, bending down to take a closer look—"Gurgle... creak... creak..."The windlass at the well's mouth suddenly began to turn on its own! The thick hemp rope wound around it was pulled by an invisible force, sliding rapidly downward, the sound of the windlass turning piercingly loud in the silent tunnel.Clearly, something was being pulled up rapidly from the bottom of the well!"Ehh—?" The three recoiled in terror, all taking a step back at once."What... is it this time?" Cold sweat trickled down Nami's temple."Thud!"The rope went taut and stopped moving.As the windlass stopped, a "thing" rose right to the mouth of the well—It was a doll-like girl with short blonde hair, a delicate but unnaturally pale face, and distinct stitches on her cheeks! She held a stack of white porcelain plates in her hands, only her upper body visible above the well.Most terrifying of all, a cold, hollow, young female voice devoid of any human emotion emanated from the doll's delicate yet stiff lips:"Welcome.""Ahhhhhhh!!!" The three were so terrified by this extremely bizarre and horrific scene that they all bristled, their hair standing on end, their souls nearly flying right out of the tops of their heads!"One, two, three."Sindry's delicate face remained expressionless, her pink eyes staring blankly straight ahead.She mechanically raised her hand and, one by one, precisely flicked the porcelain plates from the silver tray toward Usopp, who was standing behind and to the right!"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The white porcelain plates smashed one after another against Usopp's body and head, shattering into pieces."That hurts! Hey! What are you doing!" Usoppcovered his head and dodged."Four, five!" Sindry continued throwing, expressionless."Ah! Why are you only hitting me!!"Usopp scrambled to catch the sixth and seventh plates, only for them to crash heavily onto the ground, and he pointed furiously at the doll."That's right."Sindry's lips moved mechanically,"The mansion cannot host you." Her stiff arms pointed to Nami and Chopper on the side,"You two may enter.""Eh... why?" Nami and Chopper were confused, and Usopp was even more so.Sindry's finger pointed at Usopp again, pronouncing in that same flat tone:"You, just go die.""Nine, ten!" Two more plates came whistling through the air."Damn it! This is too much!"Usopp twisted his body to dodge narrowly, his anger burning. He pulled out his slingshot, intent on teaching this bizarre doll that dared to look down on him a lesson."Wait a second, Miss Sindry—!"Just then, from inside the closed, luxurious, carved wooden door next to the well, a slightly shrill but resonant male voice called out."What?"Nami and Chopper immediately huddled together, eyes locked on that door, their hearts in their throats."Please, no more scary things!" Tears welled up in Chopper's eyes again."Creeeeak—!"The wooden door was slowly pushed open from the inside, and the warm, bright orange light from the room spilled like flowing water onto the ancient floor of the tunnel."Tap, tap, tap..."Accompanied by unhurried footsteps, a tall figure walked out from the light inside the room, gradually revealing himself to everyone."It's fine to have an exception once in a while, Sindry."Dr. Hogback fully revealed his appearance.He wore exaggerated, small, round sunglasses, his nose was long and sharp, his body was as round as a ball, yet it was paired with a pair of thin, bamboo-like legs,His overall look made him appear like a bizarre, anthropomorphic flea dressed in women's clothing.However, his voice strangely carried a reassuring warmth.He walked over to Sindry, slightly raised his hand in a gesture, and explained to the shaken guests:"Apologies for the scare.This woman... um, Sindry, while she was alive, she once wanted to test how deep her fiancé's love for her was, so she smashed every single one of his treasured, expensive plates... In the end, she was naturally kicked out by her furious fiancé."Hogback shrugged, his tone casual as if recounting an anecdote,"So, she became a maid with a complex obsession with 'plates.' Please don't mind it too much.""Like I care!" Usopp rubbed the bump on his head, muttering under his breath, full of grievance.Nami and Chopper looked at this legendary doctor with a mix of curiosity and vigilance.Nami's mouth twitched slightly, and she thought to herself:"This outfit... that tight-fitting, stocking-like clothing, and that curled pinky finger... no matter how you look at it, this is more than just 'a little' perverted...""Chopper, is that the person you were talking about..." Usopp asked in a low voice, shrinking his neck.Chopper, however, was already brimming with stars of admiration, his eyes shining:"This is Dr. Hogback! It's really him!""He looks kind of stupid." Nami couldn't help but comment in a low voice."Hey! Nami!" Chopper immediately bared his little fangs, whispering a warning not to talk about his idol like that."Hurry and bring the guests inside, Sindry." Hogback greeted."Tap, tap, tap."Upon hearing this, Sindry turned stiffly, walking to the door with precise, robotic steps, and then turned back around, saying in a voice without a ripple:"Then, come inside and we shall talk. Today, the three of you are specially permitted to enter." Her gaze swept over Usopp."Yes, yes, yes! Hurry and get inside! It's cold out here." Hogback rubbed his hands together, walking at the very back and urging them on."Although I don't know why I wasn't welcome at first... at least now it's agreed, right?"Usopp rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, walking behind Nami."Yeah, it's still much better than dancing with zombies outside."After saying this, Nami followed behind Chopperand walked through the door radiating warm light.As Usopp, who was walking last, stepped over the threshold—Sindry suddenly, with lightning speed,"Thud!" slammed the door shut!"Hey! I haven't gone in yet—!!"Outside the door in the tunnel, only Dr. Hogbackremained, standing dumbfounded before the closed gate.A cold draft blew through the tunnel, swirling a dead leaf on the ground, which drifted in a circle in front of him, adding a sense of desolation and awkwardness.Hogback pushed up his small, round sunglasses.