"Are you sure the location on the screen is really Drum Island?"
The doubt from the Straw Hat crew clearly irritated Igaram. As the chief advisor of Alabasta, he took pride in his knowledge.
"But most of that island is just ordinary citizens and a single 'witch doctor.' It's hard to connect that with something like a 'god-tier Zoan user.'"
He then went on to explain the tyrant king of Drum Island—Wapol—a Paramecia user of the Munch-Munch Fruit. Under him served a subordinate with a standard Zoan Ox-Ox Fruit ability. Neither of them had anything to do with the so-called "god of Zoans."
Having once seen them during a world conference, Igaram even reminded Nefertari Vivi of how Wapol had bullied her. After hearing this, the Straw Hats quickly formed an impression:
Just a group of scum—ruling over their people while exploiting and harming them.
"Another Devil Fruit user… there really are a lot of them on the Grand Line."
Roronoa Zoro sighed as he practiced his swordsmanship. Back in the East Blue, he rarely encountered such enemies. But now—especially after facing agents like Mr. 3—he was beginning to feel his limits.
He hadn't yet reached the level of cutting steel.
Against ordinary pirates, he was still dominant. But against higher-level opponents, fights were becoming difficult. These strange and varied Devil Fruit abilities made him realize how much stronger he needed to become.
Since leaving Whiskey Peak, he had been training relentlessly—refining both his body and his Three-Sword Style.
He refused to lose again.
And more importantly, he refused to become a burden to Monkey D. Luffy.
In the first half of the Grand Line, Haki users were still rare—but in the latter half, Haki would become the standard. For swordsmen and fighters alike, it was the key to true power.
"I've decided! When we reach Drum Island, we're definitely recruiting a doctor!"
Luffy stood on the sheep figurehead, arms wide, shouting toward the sea.
No illness would stop his adventure.
The weather of the Grand Line shifted abruptly.
Moments ago, it was bright and sunny—now snowflakes fell from the sky, and icy winds swept across the sea.
Fortunately, the Going Merry could still sail.
As they approached Drum Island, the temperature dropped further. Luckily, Nami had the foresight to buy winter clothes earlier. Everyone bundled up to stay warm.
"I wonder what Shanks is doing… I beat up his friend Buggy the Clown. He won't blame me, right?"
The crew collectively rolled their eyes.
That wasn't how it happened at all—Buggy had used them. And besides, a pirate with a bounty of 3 billion Berries wasn't someone Luffy could casually "bully." His own bounty was just a fraction of that.
Meanwhile — The New World
The Red-Haired Pirates had just left the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The meeting between Shanks and Edward Newgate ended poorly.
Shanks had underestimated Whitebeard's pride.
Even a simple request—to bring back Portgas D. Ace—was refused. Whitebeard insisted Ace needed to grow through his own trials.
But Shanks knew—
If the storm was too fierce, that "young tree" might be cut down by Marshall D. Teach.
Still, he had done all he could.
Now, everything depended on Ace himself.
Fortunately, Shanks had placed his hopes elsewhere—on Luffy. From what the mysterious screen revealed, that once-insignificant boy would rise step by step, defeat powerful enemies, and perhaps inherit Gol D. Roger's will.
Maybe… even become the next Pirate King.
Just then, a report came in—
A small boat was approaching.
The visitor was none other than the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk.
"Now that's a rare guest."
Mihawk boarded the ship—not to fight, but to ask about someone.
"Are you asking about Artoria?"
Shanks, who had connections within the World Government, made a quick call via Den Den Mushi. After a short conversation, he returned with an answer:
"She hasn't been deployed. She's currently at Marineford. But that might change in a few months."
Mihawk nodded.
"I'd like to test her strength."
To him, she was already worthy of standing among the greatest swordsmen. And among swordsmen—there must be a victor.
Shanks stopped him from leaving.
"Stay. Watch the screen—and join the banquet."
After all, the duel could wait.
But the future?
That was far more interesting.
Back on Drum Island — Drum Castle
High atop the snowy peaks lived a "witch doctor"—Dr. Kureha, already 139 years old.
By her side was a strange creature—
A reindeer, standing on two legs, wearing a pink hat, with a blue nose.
Tony Tony Chopper.
"Doctor… do we have someone like a 'god of Zoans' on this island?"
Kureha didn't answer.
She simply stared at the screen outside the window.
A sense of unease crept into her heart—
The same feeling she had…
On the day Hiriluk died.
Something bad…
Was about to happen.
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