novelhk Chapter 64 The Great Crisis, Springtime on the Winter Island
Chapter 64 The Great Crisis, Springtime on the Winter Island
The golden meteor, transformed from the Dark Night Solar Ship, tore through the clouds at a speed beyond common sense, hurtling toward Alabasta.
At this speed, we should have arrived much sooner.
However, as the airship flew over what should have been a frozen, snowy sea, a sudden change occurred!
Om-! ! !
A massive barrier, resembling ripples of water, appeared without warning in front of us!
The Dark Sun Ship crashed into it, its hull shaking violently with a dull thud, and the sacred light on its surface flashed intensely.
The solar boat seemed to have been thrown into the water with pebbles, its forward momentum abruptly halted!
"What's going on?!" "Enemy attack?!" Everyone on the ship immediately became alert.
Zoro and Sanji instantly assumed battle stances, while Napoleon Roger and Omega Ergodo raised their eyebrows.
"It's not an attack..." Ra's golden pupils scanned the invisible barrier in front of him, a hint of solemnity in his eyes.
"It's some kind of... large-scale 'inherent barrier'. It covers the area in front, forcibly distorts reality, and even blocks the path of the sky."
His voice carried a hint of offended anger, and the sun's rays gathered at the bow of the ship, as if preparing to forcefully blast open the barrier.
"Wait! Your Majesty!" Vivi called out hurriedly, pointing downwards.
"Look! That island...it's the Drum Kingdom! I remember it was supposed to be a winter island covered in snow all year round! How could it...become like this?!"
Everyone looked down in the direction she was pointing, and they all gasped in shock.
Below, one could see an island that should have been covered in snow, its peaks resembling giant drill bits.
At this moment, a strange scene unfolded, full of vitality and lush greenery.
The mountain peaks are devoid of snow, revealing dark rocks and soil. Waterfalls formed by melting glaciers cascade down from the heights.
The original coniferous forest has been replaced by a dense tropical rainforest, complete with enormous vines and towering ancient trees. It's completely different from the biting cold I remember.
Animals that should be hibernating or active in the snow are nowhere to be seen. Instead, a variety of colorful tropical birds flit through the rainforest, and the calls of monkeys rise and fall.
You can even see crocodiles lurking in the warm streams formed by melting snow.
The entire island seemed to have been forcibly dragged from the frigid to the tropics, presenting an illogical tropical scene, full of primal vitality, yet also exuding an unsettling sense of eeriness.
"This...how is this possible?!" Nami exclaimed, but then she coughed violently, her face flushed, and her body trembled slightly.
"Cough cough... It feels so... so uncomfortable..."
"Nami-san!" Sanji immediately caught her, touching her forehead. "She's burning up! She has a fever!"
Napoleon leaned closer to examine it: "It's a bad cold! It's probably due to the drastic changes in humidity and temperature here. You must find a doctor and a stable environment to rest as soon as possible!"
"Doctor..." Vivi looked down at the strange green island.
"The Drum Kingdom used to be a famous medical power with many excellent doctors... although now..." She recalled some rumors about the tyrant Wapol.
"Hey! A barrier is blocking our way, and Nami is sick again!" Luffy pointed downwards.
"Let's go to this island! Let's find a doctor for Nami! And while we're at it, let's see what's going on here!"
Sabo looked down at the island, which defied all seasonal patterns, and nodded decisively: "Agreed! Your Majesty Osmandis, is it possible to break through the barrier or find an entrance to land?"
Ramses II scoffed, pointing his scepter downwards: "Hmph, a mere twisted Reality Marble dares to try and stop the Solar Ark? But..."
He glanced at the weakened Nami and the vibrant yet strangely eerie island below.
"Forced breakthroughs or hovering at high altitudes are not good strategies. I have my own methods."
A soft, warm golden light burst forth from the tip of the scepter in his hand, scanning the invisible barrier below like a searchlight.
A moment later, he pointed to a relatively sparse woodland near the coast on the edge of the island.
"This is the weakest point, and there's a landing spot below. Hold on tight!"
The Dark Sunship adjusted its angle, its hull enveloped in even more concentrated sunlight, and swooped down like a sharp sword in the direction Rascal II had pointed!
The point where the ship's hull made contact with the invisible barrier emitted a screeching sound and flashes of energy, but it eventually managed to tear a hole and land smoothly on the open ground at the edge of the island.
Originally, Ramses II insisted that Vivi stay with him on the Dark Sun Ship. His reasoning was that this land beneath their feet was not worthy for the Pharaoh to set foot on.
But at Vivi's insistence, Rai smiled and accompanied his Master on his journey.
The group set foot on "Spring Winter Island".
Upon setting foot on the island, the stench of decay mixed with flowers hit me, a stark contrast to the cold I had imagined or remembered of Winter Island.
"It's so hot..." Usopp wiped his sweat, feeling like he was in a steamer.
"These plants... they're growing so fast, so lush..." Zoro warily observed the overly vibrant vegetation around him.
"There's pollen in the air... and... a strange sweet smell?" Sanji keenly sensed something was amiss.
Soon, they encountered the island's inhabitants.
An old woman who was trying to clear the wildly growing vines in front of her house was startled when she saw the golden ship that had fallen from the sky. Then her face lit up with respect.
"Distinguished guests, were you... drawn here by this awful weather?" the old woman sighed.
"What a disaster! The snow started melting just now, and the weather suddenly turned as hot as an oven! And then these trees and grass started growing like crazy!"
"All the vegetables in my garden have been ruined by the heat! The house is almost collapsing because of the vines!"
Not far away, several fishermen looked at their small boats with worried expressions. The bottoms of the boats were covered with slippery algae and shellfish, obviously the result of a sudden change in water temperature.
"All the fish have escaped! Some are dead and float to the surface... I don't know why, but if this continues, we can't live like this!"
Another shirtless man was fanning himself while roaring.
"Shut up, you bastards! This must be divine punishment; no one is allowed to disrespect the gods!"
Ramses II scoffed, "It seems the summoned being really into disaster. What kind of god is one if even his followers are afraid of it?"
Just then, a man dressed reasonably well, who looked like a town official, hurried over.
Seeing the demeanor of Sabo and Vivi, he assumed they were investigators sent by the World Government and immediately began to complain.
"My lords! You've finally arrived! Our Drum Island... is finished! In an instant, winter is gone! Everyone is unable to adapt to this heat; many have fallen ill, and the kingdom has become this wretched sight!"
"His Majesty the King had already fled with 20 doctors, claiming to be attending some world conference! Leaving us all behind..."
"The doctor is 20? And he ran away?" Sanji asked anxiously.
"Is there still a doctor on the island? Our companion is sick!"
The official shook his head, his face filled with despair: "The capable doctors have either been taken away by the king, or... sigh!"
"The island is in chaos right now. There's a food shortage, strange diseases are starting to appear, and poisonous insects and giant snakes are hiding in those overgrown plants! The only one who might be able to help is... that monster doctor who lives near the old castle ruins."
His face showed obvious fear when he mentioned "Monster Doctor".
"Monster doctor?" Luffy tilted his head.
"Where is Mr. Dalton?" Vivi remembered that there was an upright former captain of the Drum Kingdom.
"Captain Dalton?" A glimmer of hope appeared on the official's face.
"He's still here! He's leading a group of people who don't want to go with the king, organizing a self-rescue effort at the old castle, protecting the remaining people, and dealing with the animals that came with the forest."
Just then, a commotion and terrified cries came from afar, mixed with the roars of wild beasts!
"Oh no! It's the Labang swarm! They've gone berserk again! Run!" Several villagers scrambled over.
In the rainforest not far away, there were more than a dozen huge, red-eyed rabbit-like beasts.
They are violently attacking the defensive line made of makeshift barricades and wooden stakes!
Behind the defensive line, a burly man wielding a giant axe—Dalton—was fighting back desperately. He was already wounded and clearly outnumbered!
Further behind the defensive line, there was a short, blue-nosed... tanuki?
He was anxiously treating the wound of a villager bitten by a poisonous insect; it was Tony Tony Chopper.
"Dalton?" Vivi recognized the captain of the guard.
The officials had become like frightened birds, only concerned with escaping for their lives.
"Gentlemen! Let's hurry! Those Labang people, deprived of their suitable environment, are starting to get angry!"
"Luffy! Sabo! Help them!" Nami cried out anxiously despite her weakness.
"Hehe! Leave it to me!" Luffy grinned, and his rubber arm instantly extended!
"Master?" Napoleon looked at Saab, the cannons already subtly aimed at the frenzied horde.
"Hmph, a beast that disturbs the peace of Nefertari..." A golden light flashed in Ra's eyes.
Roger, arms crossed, watched with interest the blue-nosed reindeer that was still trying to heal the wounded amidst the chaos.
"Oh? That little guy... he's interesting."
In a twist of fate, Chopper turns around and meets their gaze; his destiny will take a dramatic turn because of the arrival of these uninvited guests.
Meanwhile, on the other side, King Wapol was preparing to attend the World Conference.
He stared blankly at the empty space in front of him, sweating profusely as he shouted.
"Damn it, it's gotten so hot today, and you guys still complain? Believe me or not, I'll throw you all into the sea to feed the sharks!"
Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly; the fish in the fish tank won't know what the glass in front of them is.
If we raise our perspective, to the heights of the holy site, to the windows of Figueirand Palace.
Taigong Wang sat smiling on the edge of the towering red earth continent, using his right hand's God-Slaying Whip as a fishing rod to fish into the endless sea below.
Shamlock stood behind him, behaving politely and without the slightest disrespect.
The Five Elders and his father ordered him to keep the Heroic Spirit calm and, ideally, to cultivate a good relationship with him, in order to achieve this goal.
I'd rather consider this Heroic Spirit as a Celestial Dragon from the bottom of my heart.
"Lord Taigong Wang, what are you fishing for? Your fishing hook is straight..."
Grandfather remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, and he saw a completely new scene.
Above the vast ocean, a huge circular space, resembling a fish tank, surrounds Alabasta and covers most of the first half of the Grand Line.
Grandfather showed no surprise, merely chuckling softly.
"Heaven and earth are the pond, and those who are willing will take the bait."
As soon as the words were spoken, Dilt, Im, Gilgamesh, Merlin, and even Smoke Mirror, who were far away in the world, appeared.
They all smiled knowingly.