A foul stench drifted through the air as the Thousand Sunny's ramp lowered onto the scorched half of the island. The crew stepped onto the blackened ground, heat shimmering off the surface.
"This is horrible," Chopper coughed, pulling his scarf tighter. "The air's poisoned!"
"And it's hot enough to melt metal," Franky added, touching a smoldering rock. "We'll need to move fast."
"It's like the island's on fire and frozen at the same time," Usopp said. "Why does this always happen to us?!"
"Because we're pirates," Zoro muttered, scanning the cracked terrain.
"This wasn't on the Log Pose," Nami noted. "Something's wrong with this place. It's not even supposed to exist."
Robin's gaze swept across the warped horizon. "An island not listed in any records... That means it was intentionally hidden."
"Sounds like fun," Luffy grinned, jumping down and stretching. "Let's go!"
"We are not splitting up!" Nami shouted. "We need a plan!"
"Too late!" Luffy had already begun running ahead.
The crew groaned collectively.
Interior – Scorched Sector
The crew advanced cautiously, stepping through cracked metal pathways scorched by extreme heat. Lava flowed in trenches between iron walkways. Not far ahead, frost glittered, creeping over the scorched zone like a frozen tide.
"This place is unnatural," Chopper said. "It's like fire and ice collided."
"Why would someone build anything here?" Brook asked. "Yohoho, it's like a sauna and an icebox had a baby!"
They came upon a massive iron gate sealed into the cliff face. It hummed with residual power.
"This wasn't built recently," Zoro noted, tracing his fingers along the welds. "Maybe Government work?"
Robin nodded. "The architecture is similar to older military research labs."
"Robin, do you need protection while you study it?" Sanji offered, hearts in his eyes.
"She's fine," Nami interrupted flatly. "Eyes on the door."
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A loud screech echoed from below as a hidden elevator began to rise behind the gate.
"Did someone trigger it?" Usopp asked, panicking. "Was it me? Did I blink wrong?!"
"No, it's being activated from somewhere else," Franky said, narrowing his eyes. "We're being watched."
Observation Deck – Hidden Lab
Caesar Clown cackled in delight, eyes wide with manic glee.
"Se-re-re-re! They took the bait! Pirates just walk right into danger, don't they?"
He watched from behind a cracked security console, surrounded by shattered monitors and flickering lights. Beside him, tanks of experimental gas burbled with ominous purpose.
"They have no idea where they are," Caesar sneered. "This island... is mine now! My domain! My experiment zone!"
He turned to the large containment chamber behind him. Kael floated inside, suspended in green fluid, completely unconscious. Tubes pulsed from his limbs into the Hellix Core at the base.
"Hmph. Still asleep? Tch. How boring," Caesar said, waving dismissively.
"You're no fun when you're quiet. But don't worry, Project Hellix. The chaos you need is about to begin!"
He flipped a switch, and alarms rang throughout the complex.
"Let's give them a welcome! Release the gas beasts! Se-re-re-re-re-re!!"
Outside – Lava Ridge
A low hiss sounded from cracks in the ground. Three monstrous shapes emerged—vaporous beasts with glowing eyes and writhing limbs of dense gas. They howled with distorted, echoing screeches.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Usopp screamed, backing away.
"It's made of gas!" Chopper cried. "It's alive but has no heartbeat!"
"Great," Sanji muttered. "Can't kick what I can't touch."
Luffy's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll punch the air harder."
He rocketed forward with Gear Second, steam coiling around him, and punched one creature dead in the core. It dispersed, but reformed seconds later.
"They come back," Robin warned. "They're regenerating."
Zoro slashed at one, only for it to slither around his blades.
"This isn't working," he growled.
"I've got this!" Franky shouted. He opened his arm cannon. "FRANKY RADICAL BEAM!"
A blinding blast of energy tore through one beast, destabilizing its form.
"One down!" Franky yelled. "Gotta overload their vapor structure!"
Usopp launched a round of Green Star explosives. "How about tear gas versus gas!?"
Brook spun with his cane. "I shall serenade them to their afterlife! Soul Solid Slash!"
A freezing arc cut through another gas beast, slowing it enough for Chopper to bash it with Heavy Point.
"Nice hit, Doctor!" Brook grinned.
"All of you, keep them away from Robin!" Nami ordered. "She's figuring out the symbols!"
Robin studied the inscriptions near the iron gate.
"These aren't ancient runes," she said. "They're warnings. This lab stored biological weapons—gas-based. These creatures were made here."
Usopp gasped. "Who in their right mind would live here?!"
Robin's expression darkened. "Someone who doesn't fear death."
Inside the Lab – Core Sector
Kael's pod remained sealed. The Hellix Core flickered once. Caesar walked past, mumbling to himself.
"They're so easily entertained... All this power, and still I get no recognition! Vegapunk got the fame. Riven got the mystery. But me? I got brilliance!"
He slammed a button on his console.
"Come on, Straw Hats! Show me what you're made of! Shururururu!!"
Kael remained still.
His breath slow. His mind silent.
But the Core... pulsed again.
Waiting.