"Oh ho ho~ This island... isn't it a ghost island?" Luffy exclaimed with excitement.
"It sure looks like it," Sanji nodded, "It's creepy enough!"
"Ghost island?!" Usopp and Chopper screamed in unison, trembling as they begged, "Luffy, let's listen to Brook and get out of this nightmare place!"
"Yeah, Luffy! Let's leave fast!" Chopper added, his voice shaking.
Even though Usopp believed in Kai and the crew's strength, he was naturally terrified of ghosts. Sure, Kai had crushed that ghost earlier with ease, but what if Kai wasn't around when they needed him? Usopp felt uneasy, doubting his own safety if things went sideways.
Seeing Luffy not respond for a while, Usopp nervously asked, "Hey, Luffy... you're listening, right?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm listening," Luffy turned back with a grin that sent a shiver down Usopp's spine. It was clear there was no way they were leaving. Usopp could feel his hopes sinking—there was no persuading Luffy now.
Just as expected, Luffy finally shouted, "Let's go check out the island!" But then, catching himself, he quickly added, "Not that I want to explore or anything... it's just that Brook's our friend! And as friends, we should help him get his shadow back. Yeah, that's it!"
Hearing this, Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke calmly. "In the past, Luffy would just say what he wanted straight up, without caring about what anyone thought."
"Now he's making excuses, even if they're terrible ones. Kinda weird, huh?" Zoro remarked, glancing over at Kai.
"Hey, Kai," Sanji said, smirking. "Who do you think Luffy learned these shallow tricks from?"
Kai's eyes narrowed, a chill in his voice. "If you're itching for a fight, just say so."
Sanji's smirk faded as Kai shot him a look that promised a future "lesson" in respect. Kai decided Sanji needed a reminder about respecting his elders on this ship.
As Kai pondered this, a thought crossed his mind, and a sly smile crept across his face. They were ready to head for the island now, despite Usopp and Chopper's objections.
Though Nami originally sided with Usopp and Chopper, she eventually said, "I'll only feel safe if I stick with Kai. Without him, nowhere feels safe!"
Usopp and Chopper both begrudgingly agreed that she had a point. So, the crew made a "unanimous" and not-so-happy decision to proceed to the island.
[Ding! Check-in complete at Devil's Three-Masted Ship. Upgrade: Indestructible Body to Advanced Level!]
"Huh?" Kai was briefly surprised by the familiar sound of the system in his head. He hadn't expected the system to treat the ship as an island. "This system's... really something."
He mused to himself how he would give this system a glowing review if he ever met its creator. As he reflected, a strange energy surged through his body, transforming him from within. After a moment, he examined himself and was amazed.
His body now shimmered with a golden glow, and the raw power flowing through him was immense. He wasn't entirely sure how strong he had become, but one thing was clear: his body was now on par with the might of Kaido himself. Without the ability to use advanced Haki, no one could even scratch him.
Joy spread across Kai's face—he felt even more confident in this unpredictable world.
While Kai was lost in thought, the crew reached a narrow alley. Suddenly, Luffy, who was leading the way, stopped and squinted into the darkness. "I think there's something up ahead!"
Hearing this, Usopp and Chopper started trembling again.
"L-Luffy, don't scare me like that!" Usopp stammered. "What could possibly be here—"
Before he could finish, a growl echoed from the shadows, and a large figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Σ(⊙▽⊙"a!)
"Ahhh!!!" Usopp shrieked, his voice shaking. "I-It's the three-headed dog from hell!"
"Calm down, Usopp," Kai said with a smirk. "It's not a three-headed dog from hell. Look closer—one of the heads on the right is a fox."
"Huh? Oh yeah, you're right," Sanji confirmed after a closer look.
"Hahaha... maybe it's a hybrid!" Luffy laughed.
"You know, that's actually possible..." Zoro mused.
The three-headed dog, meanwhile, was growing increasingly angry. They were terrifying! How dare these people laugh at them! The nerve!
With a deep growl, each head lunged and bit down on Luffy, swallowing him whole.
"Luffy!" the crew shouted.
But inside the beast's mouth, Luffy remained calm. "Come on now, be a good boy," he said, patting the beast's snout. "Let go, will ya?"
For reasons unknown, the three-headed dog obediently released Luffy from its jaws.
"Haha, see? He's a good boy!" Luffy said with a grin.
"You're asking for it!" Luffy added, his expression darkening, and before the dog could react, he threw a powerful punch straight at its heads.
"Ow!" the beast yelped.
Everyone watched, half-stunned, half-amused.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Master! Something terrible has happened!" Perona's frantic voice echoed through the room as she ran towards Moria's quarters.
Her shouting woke the figure lying in the massive bed at the center of the room. Slowly, the shadowy figure sat up. Seeing Perona's panic, he asked curiously, "Perona, why are you here? Have you found some high-quality prey?"
Moria's eyes glimmered with excitement at the thought.
"Master, I did encounter prey, but this time they're too dangerous. Neither Absalom nor I could handle them," Perona explained, recalling how Kai had shattered her ghost with ease. "When my ghost was destroyed, I saw one of them strangling Absalom. I don't even know if he's still alive now!"
Moria's face twisted in fury. "What?! How dare they lay hands on my subordinates! I'll make them regret it!"
"Have you identified who they are?" he asked, barely containing his rage.
"I've sent the zombies to check. The results should come back any moment now," Perona replied.
Just as she finished speaking, a voice called from outside the room, panic evident in its tone.
"Master! Lady Perona! We've found them!"
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Power Stones would be appreciated if you liked the story.