Chapter 332: Storm on the High Seas

This was actually a precaution set up by Karl.

After returning to Cake Island, Karl carefully went over everything that had happened these past few years.

He realized that major events couldn’t be changed, but the small details could.

And the next big thing on the horizon was the showdown between Roger and the Golden Lion.

If the main events couldn’t be altered, then it meant Roger would still manage to break free.

Karl knew Roger’s escape was a fixed part of history, but that didn’t mean he planned to just sit by and watch.

He decided to make his move with the minor details. For example, he’d had his eyes on the Float-Float Fruit for a while.

Sending Zikt and Opera was only the first step of Karl’s plan.

He hoped this storm would give the Golden Lion’s fleet even more trouble—maybe it’d even change Roger’s fate.

Dark clouds and rolling thunder built above, and the sea below grew wilder by the minute.

Every now and then, colossal waves—some taller than a hundred meters—came crashing into the Golden Lion’s fleet.

The waves slammed into the ships like massive palms, trying to flip them over and drag the pirates into the unforgiving sea.

Chaos erupted throughout the Golden Lion’s fleet. The pirates, terrified and frantic, tried to steady their ships, but the waves were just too powerful.

Some ships took direct hits, their hulls damaged as seawater started surging into the cabins.

Rayleigh, Jabba, and the others could feel the storm’s wrath, but they stood firm.

They knew this storm might be their ticket out. As long as they held on, the worst would eventually pass.

“Hold steady, everyone!” Rayleigh shouted, his voice ringing out sharp and clear over the raging storm.

Jabba swung his axe again and again, hacking at the massive waves, trying to carve out a safe path for their ship.

“Jabba, hard to port!” Roger’s voice cut through the chaos, firm and resolute.

“On it!” Jabba called back, a thrill of excitement coloring his tone.

Jabba had thought they’d be in for a brutal fight, but he never expected the heavens themselves to lend a hand at just the right moment.

To their left, a gigantic wave had cleared out an open stretch of sea, almost as if it had carved out an escape route especially for them.

Jabba raced to the helm, gripping the wheel tight, and steered their ship straight for that opening.

The waves were powerful, but under Jabba’s hands, the ship darted through them like a nimble fish weaving between currents.

Seeing this, the rest of the fleet jumped into action. They adjusted sails, braced the hulls, and did all they could to make it through the deadly waves.

“Roger, look!” Jabba shouted, pointing ahead, his voice full of excitement.

Roger followed Jabba’s gaze. Up ahead, the storm seemed to be breaking, and the sea was finally opening up.

He nodded, signaling Jabba to keep going.

“Everyone, heads up! The storm will soon be behind us—we need to get out of this sea as fast as we can!” Roger commanded, his voice carrying over wind and water.

The crew all snapped to attention at Rayleigh’s order. They knew as long as they held on, they’d see the end of this storm.

The farther the fleet moved from the center, the calmer the sea became.

Sunlight began to break through the clouds and spilled onto the sea, bringing a faint warmth to the battered waves.

The crew started repairing the battered ships, checking their gear, and preparing to move on. The storm had shaken them, but they’d mostly escaped unharmed.

“Jabba, we owe you one. We made it out because of you,” Roger laughed, clapping Jabba on the shoulder in gratitude.

“It was nothing. Everyone pitched in,” Jabba replied, modest as ever.

With the storm behind them, the sea calmed. The crew busied themselves with cleanup, gearing up for the next leg of their adventure.

“Roger, where to next?” Jabba asked.

Thanks to the storm, they’d gone way off their original course and now had to figure out which way to go.

“We’re heading for Laugh Tale. Once we set foot there, we’ll be the real kings of the seas,” Roger answered.

The crew cheered at Roger’s words, their faces lighting up with excitement.

Laugh Tale—that was the place they’d all dreamed of, full of mysteries and challenges just waiting for them.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Jabba shouted.

The crew responded at once, quickly re-rigging the sails and preparing to set off. At Rayleigh’s signal, the fleet sailed slowly out of the harbor, their bows aimed at the New World.

As for the Golden Lion, that once-mighty pirate captains was swallowed up by surging waves, dragged right beneath the churning sea.

He fought and thrashed in the water, looking for all the world like a trapped beast torn apart by unstoppable forces of nature.

Luckily, his crew hadn’t given up on him.

Even as the storm raged, they risked their lives to dive beneath the waves, pulling the Golden Lion back from the edge of death.

By the time they dragged the Golden Lion back on board, he was barely conscious, his body covered in wounds, a ship’s wheel sticking out of his head—the storm had left its mark.

Nearly a hundred ships had made up the Golden Lion Pirates before, but now, after the storm, just a handful remained.

Those battered ships drifted across the endless sea, lost and leaderless.

All the riches and glory the Golden Lion Pirates had built up over more than a decade—almost everything was gone in a single battle.

After days adrift at sea, the fleet finally spotted a deserted island in the distance.

The island was barren and lonely, but to them, it was a precious refuge. The surviving ships gathered close, hoping to find fresh water and some food to keep them going.

The fleet crept toward the shore, waves thumping dully against battered hulls.

Once they’d landed, the crew wasted no time getting ashore. They scattered to look for fresh water and food—they knew their survival depended on finding supplies quickly.

“Ugh!”

The Golden Lion slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry and his head felt like a jumble.

“Captain, you’re awake.”

A familiar voice sounded by his ear—his loyal crewman, Indigo.

“Where are we? What about Roger?”

The Golden Lion’s voice was hoarse. He cradled his aching head and forced the question out.

“Captain, did you forget?” Indigo said, unable to hide a trace of helplessness.

“A sudden storm struck at sea. Most of the fleet was lost. As for Roger… we have no idea where he is now.”

Indigo didn’t have the energy for any of his usual theatrics. The gloom was obvious in his whole demeanor.

His playful grin was gone. Only deep worry and exhaustion etched his face.

Eighty percent of the crew had been lost to the sea. The team’s morale had hit rock bottom.

The surviving pirates sat in a circle around their captain, their eyes clouded with confusion and fear.

“Where are we now?”

The Golden Lion tried to sit up but the pain in his body forced him to give up.