Chapter 15 — Storm Island
"Storm Island!"
An old Marine sailor stared at the strange island rising from the sea ahead, his eyes full of amazement.
"No matter how many times I see it… it still feels unbelievable."
"You've been here before?" Shinji Ikari asked.
The old sailor nodded.
"Of course, Captain Shinji. This is the third time I've seen this island."
He rested his hands on the railing while watching the enormous tornado twisting into the sky.
"You should know that the Grand Line has islands with all kinds of climates and ecosystems. Most of them still follow certain natural rules."
"Compared to the chaos of the New World, things here are relatively orderly."
"But this island…" he said, shaking his head.
"Some things here are beyond human understanding."
He pointed toward the massive storm rising from the center of the island.
"Every three years, a storm appears here that reaches all the way into the sky."
"Dark clouds gather, and a tornado forms at the center of the island."
"But strangely enough, that terrifying phenomenon attracts countless adventurers."
Shinji listened carefully.
The sailor's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"They say that whenever the storm forms… rare treasures appear in the eye of the storm."
Shinji glanced at him.
He could feel the deep curiosity hidden in the old sailor's heart.
The man's name was Jack, and he had spent many years sailing with the Navy.
Perhaps this was the first—or maybe the second—time he had witnessed the storm of Storm Island.
But the wonder in his eyes was genuine.
Most people believed pirates were the ones fascinated by the unknown.
Yet sometimes, Marines were no different.
Curiosity existed everywhere.
The difference was simply how far someone could go.
"Jack," Shinji asked quietly, "do you want to see the treasure in the eye of the storm?"
Shinji leaned against the railing as he spoke.
Earlier, the civilians rescued from Yan Feng had mentioned something.
The reason they had traveled so far across the sea—
Was to witness the once-every-three-years Storm Festival.
Or perhaps…
To search for the legendary treasure.
Jack shook his head.
"Captain Shinji, that treasure has been rumored for decades."
"If it really existed, the powerful people of the sea would have taken it long ago."
"I'm just amazed by nature itself."
He looked at Shinji with admiration.
"Captain Shinji, your promotion was incredibly fast."
"In such a short time, you defeated someone like Yan Feng."
"At this rate, in three years you might even become a Vice Admiral at headquarters."
Jack laughed softly.
"I'll probably never become an officer."
"But as long as I can protect civilians… that's enough."
"And seeing a natural wonder like this is already more than I could ask for."
The wind grew stronger.
Jack's short blond hair fluttered as he stared at the storm with a peaceful smile.
A legendary treasure was beyond the reach of someone like him.
But Shinji looked toward the horizon with firm determination.
"Jack," he said quietly,
"One day my name will echo across the seas."
"And you won't stay where you are forever either."
Jack blinked in surprise.
There was something about Shinji's confidence that made people believe him instinctively.
Nearby, Koby and Helmeppo felt their blood stir as well.
A group of ten Marines stood beside Shinji, watching the raging tornado together.
They were the weakest members of the battleship crew.
Handpicked by Garp—
And trained personally by Shinji.
Without realizing it, Shinji's actions were gradually changing them.
Giving courage to people who once hesitated to move forward.
Storm Island — Harbor
Compared to the terrifying tornado towering over the island's center—
The harbor was strangely lively.
Crowds filled the streets.
Visitors from across the seas had gathered to witness the Storm Festival.
The event consumed enormous amounts of supplies, bringing prosperity to the port town.
The rescued civilians stared in shock.
They had expected a strong hurricane.
But not a tornado that pierced the sky.
Just as Garp's battleship docked—
Several ships quietly began leaving the harbor.
Garp glanced at them briefly.
Then he gave a simple order.
"Open fire."
Boom!
Cannons roared across the port.
The fleeing ships exploded instantly.
"Are these idiots planning to take advantage of the chaos to attack civilians?" Garp grumbled.
After cursing, he walked casually toward a nearby restaurant.
Meanwhile—
The people trying to escape stared in horror at their destroyed ships.
"Damn it! Why is a Vice Admiral's battleship here?!"
"Wasn't Yan Feng supposed to draw the Navy's attention?!"
"Damn it… we have no choice but to fight!"
The truth was simple.
These people were pirates hiding in the harbor.
They had been waiting for Yan Feng to distract the Navy.
But they had no idea—
Yan Feng was already dead.
Shinji immediately led his team into battle.
Koby fought with punches and kicks.
Helmeppo used his twin swords.
Jack and the others combined guns and blades depending on the distance.
Suddenly—
A large group of pirates rushed toward Shinji's position.
"Over here!"
"There are fewer Marines here!"
"And their leader is just a brat!"
"Hahaha! Look at the badge on his shoulder!"
"He must have a decent rank!"
One pirate sneered.
"Too bad."
"Brats like him are everywhere on the sea."
"They're just stepping stones for us!"
The pirates charged forward.
Leading them was a man with a 30 million Berry bounty.
His nickname was Poison Wolf.
He had only one eye.
Two poisoned blades hung in his hands.
He was known for his brutality across the nearby seas.
"Kill them!" Poison Wolf shouted from the rear.
"Leave no survivors!"
He ordered his crew forward first.
Then—
Shinji disappeared.
"Shave!"
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Poison Wolf.
"Tempest Kick!"
Whoosh!
The invisible blade of air slashed across the pirate captain's stomach.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!"
Poison Wolf screamed as cold sweat poured down his face.
Before he could counterattack—
Shinji's next strike cut off his head.
The pirate captain died instantly.
Shinji stood silently over the corpse.
"Leave no survivors," he said calmly.
Repeating the same words Poison Wolf had spoken moments earlier.
Soon—
Shinji stood alone atop a pile of pirate corpses.
The remaining pirates roared in anger—
But none dared approach him.
Without hesitation, Shinji jumped down and rejoined his team.
Koby looked shaken.
"Shinji… they weren't our match."
"Did you really have to kill them all?"
Helmeppo frowned.
"You're becoming too ruthless."
Shinji stopped walking.
Then he turned toward them sharply.
"Shut up."
"These people live by killing others."
"Do you really think they're innocent civilians who just happened to sail the sea?"
He continued coldly.
"First—none of them were strong enough to beat me."
"Second—if I let them live, the Marines I trained would die instead."
"And third—"
"Stop letting your emotions control your judgment."
With that, Shinji turned away and walked toward the remaining pirates.
"Come with me," he said.
"The battle isn't over yet."
Jack and the others quickly followed him.
Koby and Helmeppo hesitated briefly—
Then rushed after him as well.
Shinji was younger than most of them.
He wasn't even as tall as they were.
Yet somehow—
His back inspired absolute trust.
He looked like someone who could carry everyone forward.
(End of Chapter)
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