The Going Merry rocked against the icy waves as the dark hull of Wapol's ship pushed through the fog like a monster from the deep. Snow fell in heavy sheets, blanketing the sea and the deck in white. Wind howled between the two vessels, carrying with it the sound of creaking wood and the sharp clang of steel as Wapol's soldiers readied their weapons. The air was sharp and dry, freezing the moisture on their coats as they moved. Each breath came out in clouds. The blizzard muffled every shout and every footstep across the frozen planks. It was a clash of elements—cold, steel, and the foreboding scent of battle.
"Lower your sails!" Wapol bellowed, his thick pink armor glinting through the frost. His voice cracked through the gale, cruel and commanding. "This island is mine—anyone who tries to set foot on it will be swallowed whole!"
Zoro's hand went to his swords with calm precision. His stance was solid despite the rocking deck, eyes never leaving the enemy ship. "Tch. What's with this guy?" he muttered, sizing up the flamboyant tyrant. His fingers twitched against his hilts, muscles taut with anticipation.
Usopp ducked behind a barrel, peeking over the top. "Drum Island... wasn't this the place that banned all pirates years ago?" he asked, eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief. The cannon fire and the mention of royalty sparked alarm deep in his gut.
Sanji exhaled smoke through clenched teeth. "Yeah. That's also why there's no doctors. The king drove them out. That must be him." His gaze darkened, falling briefly toward the lower deck where Nami lay. A knot formed in his chest.
Wapol patted his round belly and grinned like a glutton at a feast. "I am the great Wapol, rightful ruler of Drum Kingdom! I'll devour any fool who stands in my way!" His booming laughter shook the snow-laden air. His soldiers echoed the jeer, stomping in rhythm as they banged their weapons against the deck.
Luffy stepped forward to the ship's edge, face grim beneath the shadow of his hat. "We're not here to fight your war. We're here to find a doctor." His voice rang out cleanly over the wind. Behind him, the crew said nothing—but their silence was louder than any threat.
Wapol raised a hand with a dramatic flourish. "Too bad!" he sneered, then snapped his fingers.
One of the soldiers lit the fuse of a deck-mounted cannon. A thunderous boom split the storm as a cannonball screamed through the air, missing the Going Merry by mere feet before exploding into the sea. Water erupted in a geyser, drenching the ship.
"They're actually firing on us?!" Usopp yelped, skidding across the soaked deck. "I'm too young to be frozen into fish food!"
"Zoro!" Luffy barked.
"On it!" Zoro wrenched the wheel hard, fighting the resistance of frozen ropes and shifting winds. The ship veered just in time to avoid another volley. Ice scraped against the hull as the rudder groaned under pressure.
Sanji dashed below deck and reappeared moments later with rope and timber. "We take even one good hit, we're done," he said, voice firm as he began reinforcing the ship's sides. His hands worked quickly, despite the red welts forming in the cold.
"Keep moving!" Luffy yelled. "We've got to reach the island—no matter what!"
Through the swirling snow, the jagged cliffs of Drum Island emerged like sentinels. Towering spires of rock jutted skyward, coated in snow. A rocky inlet sliced through the coast like a wound.
"There's a cove just under that ridge!" Usopp shouted. "We can take cover there!"
Zoro guided the ship into the narrow inlet. Ice screeched against the hull, but within the cliffs, the sea calmed. Sound dampened to near silence, the fury of the storm fading behind natural walls of ice.
"We'll anchor here," Zoro said.
Luffy jumped ashore, gripping the anchor rope and lashing it around a solid rock. "We move fast. We get Nami to help now."
Below deck, Sanji wrapped Nami in thick coats and gently secured her to a sled fashioned from planks and rope. Her cheeks were flushed with fever, and her breathing was shallow.
"Hang in there, Nami," he whispered. "Just a little longer." He lifted the sled with care and brought her up.
At that moment, another blast echoed through the cove.
But it wasn't from the ship.
It was Wapol.
Standing at the prow of his vessel, he unhinged his jaw and chomped down on one of his own cannons. The metal vanished into his maw with a grotesque crunch. Seconds later, his right arm transformed into a fleshy, steam-hissing cannon barrel.
"What the hell is that?!" Usopp shouted.
Sanji gritted his teeth. "His Devil Fruit... Baku Baku no Mi. He can eat anything—and become it." He stepped protectively in front of Nami.
Wapol aimed the monstrous arm. "Now disappear!" he roared.
He fired.
The blast lit up the snow, iron and flame roaring toward the cliff inlet. The cliff face exploded on impact, spraying stone and snow dangerously close to the Going Merry.
Luffy stepped forward, anchoring himself in front of the blast zone. His coat flapped violently in the wind. For a heartbeat, the crew stared at him—wordless, but burning with trust.
"You'll pay for that," he said, voice low and deadly.
To be continued...
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