The turbulent winds of the New World howled around the ship, but the loudest sound on the deck was the heavy, agonizing groan escaping Nami's lips. She clutched a massive sack of currency to her chest, her knuckles turning white from the strain. With trembling hands, she finally handed over the required payment. It was a staggering sum of 50,000,000 Berry. All of that hard-earned treasure was exchanged for just 5 seemingly ordinary umbrellas. The financial loss hit the navigator harder than any physical blow ever could, leaving her sulking in the heavy rain.
Nearby, the Heart Pirates were holding their own quiet discussion. After a brief debate about the necessity of the purchase, they decided to part with their funds as well, buying 2 umbrellas for their crew. Law and Reiju planned to land on the island together to investigate, while Bepo and the remaining crew members were ordered to stay behind and guard their submarine.
Having completed her highly profitable transaction, the mysterious old woman stepped back onto her small, fragile-looking wooden boat. Without saying another word, she drifted away into the turbulent, dark waters, quickly vanishing into the thick fog and pouring rain.
The Straw Hat crew wasted no time. They quickly opened their newly purchased umbrellas, peering up at the dark fabric. At first glance, there was nothing special about them at all. They looked and felt completely ordinary. However, Franky and Reiju possessed far more technical knowledge than the rest of the crew. They immediately noticed the subtle differences in the craftsmanship.
"The material of this canopy is highly unusual. It isn't just insulated and non-conductive. It actually seems designed to completely repel and avoid lightning strikes."
Franky's mechanical eyes widened with genuine surprise as he rubbed the fabric between his large metal fingers. It was clear that the cyborg had never encountered this specific type of advanced material before in all his years of shipwright work.
"Can it really avoid lightning? Is it actually that magical?"
The rest of the crew held their umbrellas higher, looking up at the sky with deep skepticism. They still could not see any difference between these expensive tools and the cheap ones sold in the East Blue.
"There's only one way to find out. Try it and you'll know."
Sanji stepped forward, his cigarette glowing faintly in the dim light. Without warning, he launched himself into the air and kicked outward, generating a powerful arc of electrical energy that shot toward the sky. It was a reckless move, but it immediately provided the answers they needed. As the fierce thunder and lightning from the storm clouds plummeted toward the ship, they reacted to the umbrellas. Right before the deadly strikes could make contact, the lightning bolts made a sharp, unnatural turn. The electricity scattered, landing violently in different positions on the water far away from the deck. The umbrellas acted like an invisible shield, actively pushing the lethal current away. It was incredibly obvious that the sudden diversion of the lightning was not something Sanji had controlled.
"It really made the lightning dodge! That's amazing!"
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper immediately forgot their fear. Their eyes sparkled with bright, starry excitement as they watched the deadly electricity bend around them.
"Don't just throw lightning around casually, you idiot!"
Nami's fist slammed directly into the top of Sanji's head, driving him straight into the wooden deck. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. The cook's sudden electrical display had nearly terrified her to death.
"Ah, being touched by Nami-san's beautiful fist... I'm so incredibly happy!"
Sanji lay on the floorboards with a blissful, foolish grin plastered across his bruised face. The rest of the crew simply stared at him, collectively taking two cautious steps back. It was painfully clear to everyone that the chef enjoyed the punishment far too much, and they all silently agreed that his strange obsession with the navigator was only getting worse.
With the umbrellas proven effective, the next order of business was to discuss the actual landing operation.
Luffy, Sanji, and Carl did not require umbrellas to survive the island's hazards. That meant there were still 8 crew members who could potentially land using the 5 protective items. A decision had to be made regarding who would brave the storm and who would stay behind to guard the Thousand Sunny.
As the one who suffered the massive financial loss to buy the equipment, Nami immediately took charge of the decision-making process.
"We are drawing lots. The winners go to the island, and the rest stay here to watch the ship."
Fortunately, most of the crew did not mind the outcome either way. Guarding the ship in the New World was an important job. Usopp and Chopper, however, were desperately praying to the heavens to lose the draw. They wanted nothing more than to stay safely on the ship, far away from the terrifying, lightning-blasted wasteland ahead.
The drawing process was fast, and the results were immediately revealed. The group selected to go ashore consisted of Nami, Usopp, Jinbei, Jango, and Mr. 3.
Nami and Usopp stared at their marked lots in absolute horror. They simply could not believe their terrible luck. They were the two people who wanted to avoid Thunder God Island the most, yet they had drawn the lots forcing them directly into the danger zone. Chopper, on the other hand, let out a massive breath of relief. He wiped the nervous sweat from his furry forehead, thanking his lucky stars. As a self-proclaimed coward, avoiding an island entirely made of deadly thunder was the greatest victory he could ask for.
Within minutes, Luffy and his landing party were ready to disembark. There was no extensive preparation required for their captain. They simply gathered their chosen weapons and packed a basic supply of fresh water and food rations.
Carl stood near the railing, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before turning to the rubber captain.
"Luffy, my stomach isn't feeling too well right now. You guys go on ahead without me, and I'll catch up with you later."
"Oh, alright! Let's go then!"
Luffy flashed his signature, heartless grin. Without a second thought about Carl's sudden illness, he jumped over the railing and dropped straight into the small landing boat waiting below. Nami and the others exchanged a puzzled look, but they did not suspect any hidden motives. They followed their captain over the edge, dropping into the small vessel. Law and Reiju silently followed right behind them, ready to face the storm.
The Thousand Sunny could not sail any closer to Thunder God Island. The ship's massive mast would act as a giant lightning rod, guaranteeing total destruction. Therefore, the crew had to rely on the much smaller, unpowered rowboats to navigate the final stretch of violent waters.
The small boat slowly approached the dark, jagged shores of the island. Nami and Usopp huddled close together, nervously raising their extremely expensive umbrellas high above their heads. The deafening cracks of thunder shook their bones, but the magical fabric did its job flawlessly. The lethal bolts of white-hot lightning curved aggressively away from the umbrellas, crashing harmlessly into the ocean waves nearby. Seeing the protection in action finally allowed the terrified sniper and navigator to breathe a heavy sigh of relief. As long as they stayed under the canopy, they would not be roasted alive.
Luffy and Sanji, however, did not have that luxury. Both men stood near the bow of the boat, completely exposed to the elements. The dense, violent thunderstorms rained down on them mercilessly.
Sanji remained completely unbothered. Because of his own unique physical modifications and electrical combat abilities, the lightning strikes simply washed over him without causing any damage. He calmly puffed on his cigarette while the sky exploded around him. Luffy was equally immune. His natural rubber Devil Fruit body grounded the massive electrical currents instantly. He laughed loudly as the lightning struck his straw hat, completely ignoring the danger. Still, to any normal observer, the sight of two men standing casually while being repeatedly submerged in apocalyptic lightning was deeply horrifying.
Back on the deck of the Thousand Sunny, the atmosphere was much quieter.
Chopper gently tugged on the hem of Carl's sleeve, looking up with genuine medical concern in his wide eyes.
"Teacher Carl, don't you have a stomachache? Why aren't you resting or going to the bathroom? Please, let me examine you to make sure it isn't serious."
Carl looked down at the small reindeer and smiled warmly, gently patting Chopper on top of his pink hat.
"Don't worry, Chopper. I'm completely fine."
Marie, who had been leaning against the mainmast nearby, crossed her arms and spoke with a perfectly calm, deadpan voice.
"Brother-in-law Carl is lying."
Chopper's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief. He staggered backward, clutching his furry cheeks in shock.
"Eh? Teacher Carl was lying just now? You mean he didn't actually have a stomachache at all? He just made it up on purpose? But why would he do that?"
The reindeer could not fathom why Carl would deliberately deceive Luffy and the rest of the crew. The remaining partners on the deck shared Chopper's intense curiosity, but none of them felt a sense of alarm. They trusted the older man completely. If Carl chose to lie about a stomachache, he obviously had a solid tactical reason for doing so. They knew he would never do anything to harm the Straw Hat crew.
Carl finally dropped the act, his expression turning serious and focused as he explained his true objective.
"I was thinking about the situation carefully just now. That strange old woman sells lightning protection umbrellas in the middle of a deadly sea. Where exactly does she live? Is it possible that she is an actual resident of this impossible island? Rather than wandering aimlessly into the storm, I believe it is much better for us to secretly follow her. If we track her movements, we might be able to discover the true secret hidden on this island."
"That makes perfect sense. Let's go after the old woman then."
Zoro nodded in immediate agreement, resting his hand on the hilt of his swords. It was a sound strategy. Finding an old woman selling highly specific survival gear in the New World was highly suspicious. Instead of exploring the chaotic, dangerous perimeter of Thunder God Island, tailing the merchant was the smartest way to uncover the truth behind the eternal storm.
With the new plan firmly decided, they wasted no time standing around the deck.
Carl expanded his Observation Haki, locking onto the fading presence of the old umbrella merchant. Franky took charge of a secondary boat, preparing the engine for a stealthy pursuit. Bepo and the remaining Heart Pirates watched the Straw Hats mobilizing from their submarine. Although they did not know the exact details of Carl's plan, they decided to follow along without hesitation. The New World was an incredibly dangerous sea. In a mysterious territory like this, staying close to a powerful and strategic fighter like Carl made everyone feel much safer.
Franky steered the boat slowly and quietly, ensuring the engine noise was masked by the booming thunder. The old woman in the distance did not realize she was being followed by the capable pirates.
They navigated through the treacherous waters for what felt like hours. The boat carefully circled a massive portion of Thunder God Island's jagged perimeter before the old woman finally shifted her course toward the rocky shore.
As they pulled closer, Carl and the others noticed something truly astonishing. There was absolutely no thunder striking the coastline in this specific area. The dark clouds swirled violently overhead, but the deadly lightning simply refused to fall here. The old woman safely dragged her boat onto the dry rocks. Carrying her remaining bundle of umbrellas, she began staggering slowly down a hidden dirt path that led deeper into the island.
"Momoo is currently guarding the main ship. Let's hurry up and move out."
Carl issued the command instantly. He instructed Franky to fish the giant sea cow out of the Sunny's massive aquarium and throw him directly into the sea to ensure the vessel remained secure. Once the defenses were set, the group quickly disembarked. Over on the Heart Pirates' side, the massive Jean Bart volunteered to stay behind and guard the yellow submarine. With their ship secured, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and Kaku hurried across the rocky shore, moving swiftly to fall into formation behind Carl and Zoro.
A clearly visible, worn path extended through the dense, dark foliage of the island. The group moved forward in total silence, keeping their footsteps light to avoid alerting the old woman. They cautiously rounded a large, jagged mountain ridge.
As they cleared the rocky obstruction, the entire group froze in their tracks, completely shocked by the impossible scene rising before them.
A magnificent, ancient castle loomed high on the distant mountain peak. The stone architecture was massive and intimidating, half-hidden by the swirling storm. The area surrounding the grand structure was filled with an incredibly dense concentration of violent thunderstorms. The raw electrical energy striking the mountain was almost comparable to the devastating power of Carl's own thunder pool techniques.
However, one detail stood out above all the chaos. The exact location where the castle sat remained perfectly untouched. The sky directly above the stone spires was a chaotic web of electricity, but not a single bolt struck the roof. The ancient fortress was being completely protected by an invisible barrier that pushed the lightning away.
"I can't believe it. I didn't expect that creepy old lady to actually be a resident of this island! To think that people can survive and live in a place like this. I have to say, the New World really is a magical and terrifying place!"
Franky and Brunson stared up at the fortress, unable to hide the awe in their voices.
"So... does the old lady actually live inside that giant castle?" Tashigi asked, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to process the sheer scale of the structure hiding in the eternal storm.