The air over Yuba shimmered with the promise of a brutal sun.
Dawn had only just broken, casting golden light across the crumbling stone buildings. Long shadows stretched over the cracked earth, and the morning silence felt fragile—as if even the desert was holding its breath. The ruins were still, save for the quiet rustle of movement. The Straw Hats stood at the edge of the ghost town, packs secured, canteens full, their faces set with grim resolve.
Vivi stood at the front, tying a blue scarf over her head to shield against the heat. She glanced back at her friends and then toward the horizon, where the vast ocean of sand awaited.
"Rainbase is our next stop," she said firmly. "It's where Crocodile is. It's where we'll get answers. We can't afford to hesitate now."
Nami tightened her belt and slung her satchel over her shoulder. "Let's hope the supplies hold."
Sanji clicked his lighter and lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke through a faint smile. "Don't worry. I packed enough for a gourmet desert picnic."
Usopp, dramatically layered in scarves and bandanas, groaned, "We're walking into a frying pan. This is madness."
"It's called bravery," Zoro muttered, adjusting the swords on his hip. "You might want to try it sometime."
While they spoke, Luffy remained quiet. He held the map Robin had given them, his eyes fixed on the distant dunes. His shadow twisted slowly beneath him, unbothered by the sun. Though the others didn't notice, the Shadow System pulsed softly—awaiting command, always aware.
They began their march.
By midday, the desert had become an unforgiving expanse.
The wind blew hot and dry, swirling sand into their faces. The sun sat mercilessly overhead, beating down like a hammer. Each step sunk slightly into the scorched sand. The camels carried their water and gear, plodding lazily behind the group.
Usopp was the first to break.
"I'm done! Leave me! I'll become one with the desert!"
"Get up," Nami snapped, yanking him to his feet. "You've had more breaks than the rest of us combined!"
Zoro and Sanji bickered as they swapped off carrying extra supplies. Vivi walked beside Nami, shielding her eyes with a cloth.
"How far is Rainbase from here?" Nami asked between gulps of water.
"Still a day's journey," Vivi replied. "If we keep the pace."
At the front, Luffy moved like a machine—quiet, focused, each step deliberate. The Shadow System subtly cooled his body temperature, keeping him unbothered by the harsh sun. His lips were dry, but his eyes were sharp.
A vulture circled above them. Zoro looked up briefly.
"We're being watched."
"Just a bird," Sanji muttered.
"Yeah," Zoro said, hand resting on his sword, "but it's watching."
The wind changed.
At first, it was a whisper, then a howl.
Nami's eyes widened. "Storm. Sandstorm!"
The horizon darkened as a wall of beige and red dust came rushing toward them.
"Take cover!" Vivi shouted.
They scrambled.
Luffy grabbed Vivi and Nami, pulling them beneath his cloak. His shadow flickered and shot tendrils into the ground, anchoring them against the incoming blast. Zoro shielded Usopp with his own body behind a dune crest. Sanji managed to push the camels down and tied the supplies tight.
Then it hit.
The sandstorm roared with terrifying force, swallowing the landscape. Sand tore at their clothes, burned their skin, screamed in their ears. Visibility dropped to inches. It felt like the world was being scraped away.
Luffy's eyes were closed, but within, he commanded the Shadow System to wrap around them—a protective bubble masked beneath fabric and wind.
Vivi felt the eerie calm surrounding them even as the storm raged. She looked up into Luffy's face and saw no fear—only silence and strength.
Then, just as quickly as it had come, the storm passed.
That night, they camped beneath a tall rock formation.
A small fire crackled in the middle. Zoro sat sharpening Wado Ichimonji. Usopp huddled under a blanket, still grumbling about "the trauma of a lifetime." Sanji stirred a pot of rice with a stick, smoke drifting into the stars.
Nami looked over the map again. "We're getting close. Just a few hours by foot."
Vivi leaned back against her pack, gazing at the dark sky. "I haven't seen the stars like this in a long time."
Luffy sat apart from them, cross-legged on a rock, eyes closed. His shadow moved slightly beneath him, flickering with faint life. Though he said nothing, the others could feel his awareness—like a watchful guardian.
Vivi whispered, "Do you think we'll be able to stop him? Crocodile?"
No one answered immediately.
Zoro eventually said, "If anyone can, it's him."
Sanji grinned. "Yeah. Luffy doesn't lose."
A moment of peace. Just stars and firelight.
Then—BOOM.
A blast tore the ground just meters from their fire. Sand exploded into the sky.
"Ambush!" Zoro barked, drawing his swords.
Figures emerged from the dunes above—dark silhouettes backlit by moonlight. At least a dozen. Guns, swords, cloaks. Baroque Works.
Vivi scrambled to her feet. "They followed us!"
Nami grabbed her staff, Sanji stepped in front of her. Usopp held up a slingshot, shaking.
And Luffy stood up slowly, brushing dust from his shoulders. The shadow beneath him unfurled like smoke.
His voice was low, calm, but final.
"Get ready."
[End of Chapter 129]
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