A distant roar echoed over the island as the last of Caesar's vapor beasts fell. The Straw Hats stood among the drifting mist, weapons and fists lowered, catching their breath.
"That was way too close," Usopp panted. "Next time we visit a mystery island, let's turn around!"
"Those things didn't act like natural creatures," Robin said, brushing frost from her sleeve. "They were engineered."
"Se-re-re-re... That's right!"
A distorted voice cackled through loudspeakers hidden in the cliffs. The crew looked up in alarm.
"Welcome, welcome! You've entered the laboratory of the magnificent, irreplaceable genius—Caesar Clown!"
"Who?" Luffy asked, squinting.
"He's a rogue scientist," Robin said darkly. "Formerly employed under the World Government."
"And a total lunatic," Franky added.
Caesar's voice droned on. "You're lucky! Few get to see my lab and live! Though I suppose that last part might not apply to you! Se-re-re-re!"
Before they could react, Franky pulled out a bundle of wooden straws. "Alright," he said, holding them out. "We draw to see who investigates the flare. Quick and fair."
Luffy immediately reached for one. "I want the short one!"
Zoro tugged one silently. Usopp hesitated, then picked one too, followed by Robin.
Franky looked at the straws. "Shortest ones are... Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and Usopp."
"Aww man," Sanji grumbled. "Why does mosshead get to go?"
"Because I drew faster," Zoro said, smirking.
"We'll stay and guard the ship," Nami declared, crossing her arms. "Come back if things look bad."
Just then, a blast of freezing wind howled from the mountainside. A mysterious flare shot into the sky—red and glowing. Usopp pointed at it.
"There! That flare came from the frozen side! Maybe someone's in trouble!"
"I'll go check it out," Luffy said immediately.
Zoro nodded. "I'll back him up."
"I'm not letting you two go alone," Robin added.
"And I'm not letting you go without backup!" Usopp declared, already running after them.
The rest of the crew—Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Brook, and Franky—stayed behind to secure the ship and scout for other threats.
As Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and Usopp made their way toward the burning plains, the rest of the crew stayed behind to secure the ship and scout for other threats.
The hot side of the island crackled under their feet. The group noticed strange, unnatural fires and molten ground as they pressed forward.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled violently back near the ship.
Trapdoors exploded open beneath those left behind. Gas-filled vents hissed and mechanical arms sprang from the earth, binding Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Brook, and Franky in heavy restraints.
"What the—?!" Sanji shouted, struggling. "We're being ambushed!"
"Se-re-re-re!" Caesar's voice echoed again. "Didn't think I'd let all of you wander freely, did you?"
Nami tried to zap the arms with her Clima-Tact, but knockout gas filled the air. Chopper collapsed. Brook's ghostly wail echoed as he was dragged into a metal container.
"Don't worry," Caesar sneered over the loudspeaker. "You'll be fine. Just a little test group!"
Franky fired a rocket, but it ricocheted off a barrier. "Coward!" he roared before being subdued.
Burning Plains – Punk Hazard Side
Luffy led the way across the scorched terrain, steam rising from molten cracks in the earth. "Man... this place is crazy hot!" he said, wiping sweat from his brow. Robin shaded her eyes from the glare. Zoro stomped forward, sword at the ready. Usopp fanned himself with his hat.
"I-I-I thought we were just in the cold part of the island! How is this even possible?!"
"I-I-I thought we were just on the hot side of the island! How is this even possible?!"
"Shh," Zoro said. "Something's here."
Suddenly, a low growl rolled through the dry, sulfuric air. From behind a mountain, a massive dragon burst into view—winged, snarling, and clearly angry.
"WHAAAAT?!" Usopp screamed, diving behind Luffy.
"A dragon?!" Robin blinked, stunned.
"Awesome!" Luffy shouted. "I wanna ride it!"
The dragon roared and spewed ice-cold vapor. Zoro immediately jumped into action, blades drawn.
"Careful!" Robin warned. "It's charging!"
Luffy dodged and grabbed the creature's snout. "Hey! Calm down, mister dragon!"
The dragon thrashed and roared again. But just then, a voice rang out from below.
"Help meee! I'm just a pair of legs!"
The crew turned to see a severed lower half of a man hopping furiously across the snow, a red stick jabbed into his hip.
"That stick!" Usopp pointed. "It's one of those emergency flares!"
"I told you I wasn't lying!" the legs cried. "Please help! I'm looking for my top half!"
"What kind of crazy place is this?!" Luffy shouted with wide eyes.
"I think we're going to need to regroup," Zoro muttered.
Behind them, the dragon screeched once more and flapped into the air.
"And now it's flying. Great," Robin said dryly.
They watched as the legs danced in place below the hovering dragon.
"We're definitely not on a normal island," Usopp whimpered.
Heatwaves shimmered in the air as two familiar figures emerged from behind a charred boulder—tall, marine-clad, and wreathed in smoke.
"Smoker," Luffy said casually.
"And Tashigi," Robin noted.
"You again," Smoker growled. "Trespassing. Again."
"Hey, we were invited!" Luffy joked.
"No," Smoker raised his jitte. "You weren't."
Behind him, Tashigi readied her blade.
Robin extended arms. "This won't be easy."
"I'll take him!" Luffy shouted.
"Guess I'll clean up the rest," Zoro said, stepping forward.
Snow erupted as the two forces clashed.
Observation Deck – Lab Core
Caesar leaned back in his chair, watching everything unfold.
"Perfect," he grinned. "Straw Hats divided. Marines distracted. And my next masterpiece—soon to awaken. Se-re-re-re!"
Behind him, Kael floated in silence, Hellix Core pulsing.
But still asleep.
Unnoticed by Caesar, a faint pulse flickered again from the Hellix Core. One of the lab's many data panels sparked to life—then another. Automated doors shifted. Monitors blinked erratically.
Deep in the sub-levels of the facility, the lights flickered to red as a sealed bulkhead labeled 'Experimental Wing – Level 5 Access Only' slid open a few inches before halting. Security bots near the entrance turned slightly toward the hallway, their eyes glowing dim purple.
The Hellix Core shimmered in Kael's chest again. A low, mechanical hum began to spread through the lower foundation of the lab—quiet, like the island holding its breath.