Chapter 28: The Power to Change the Celestial Phenomenon

"Are you going to take action?" Nami's voice trembled with excitement as she handed the wooden stick hanging at her waist to Leo.

She had long dreamed of witnessing the true power of the Celestial Stick, but her physical strength was too limited to sustain it for long. Now, seeing Leo ready to wield it, her anticipation grew.

Without a word, Leo nodded firmly and accepted the stick in his hands.

Luffy had intended to inflate his rubbery body and jump into battle, but seeing Leo step forward confidently, he quietly moved to the side, trusting Leo's abilities.

Leo held the wooden staff with seriousness, then explained to Nami, "I have embedded four permanent magics into this stick, each representing a form of weather—wind, thunder, rain, and snow."

"As a navigator, these powers are perfectly suited to you."

Suddenly, Fenbudi's loud shout pierced the tension.

"Fire!"

At once, several gun barrels on the Marine ship fired shells toward the Going Merry.

"First up—Ray!"

Snap!

With a flick of the stick, Leo summoned a massive bolt of lightning more than ten meters thick that appeared out of nowhere, striking a flying shell mid-air. The moment the lightning touched it, the shell vaporized instantly.

The remaining thunder roared downward, slamming into the sea below the waterline. Moments later, several giant fish floated belly-up to the surface.

Usopp's mouth hung open in disbelief, his eyes wide as saucers. He had seen Nami use the wooden stick to summon lightning before, but the power was never this overwhelming—never thicker than an arm.

Everyone on the ship watched in awe, even from a distance; their hair seemed to stand on end, as if electrified by some unseen force.

Zoro's hand instinctively clenched the hilt of his sword. He had felt the sting of death during the previous attack, but now, the sheer force of Leo's thunderpower made his grip tighten with renewed resolve.

The last time Zoro had felt such fear was when he was utterly exhausted from days of starvation and endless battles.

Luffy, however, remained calm as ever. His rubber body insulated him from any shock, and the lightning's crackle only made him feel a little dizzy. Glancing at the sea, he thought about how nice it would be to swim in the clear waters, admiring the fish beneath the surface.

On the Marine ship, Fenbudi and his men stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Is... is that lightning?!" they exclaimed, hardly able to believe what they were witnessing.

Leo's voice was calm but carried an ominous edge. "Next, wind and rain."

Immediately, the wind within a ten-mile radius ceased, and an oppressive stillness gripped the area—the calm before the storm.

Then, a gentle breeze swept in from the sky, dark clouds rolling in thick and fast. In a matter of seconds, the breeze grew into a powerful gale.

Under the heavy rain, the sea churned violently.

Before Fenbudi or his men could react, towering waves over ten meters high crashed into the Marine ship, buffeted by ferocious winds.

Bang!

The impact sent several Marines flying into the ship's railings with bone-jarring force.

Behind the initial wave, layer upon layer of crushing swells relentlessly followed. The ship's mast snapped under the assault, the sails flapping uselessly in the storm.

The Marine soldiers scrambled in panic, dodging rolling cannonballs on the deck as chaos erupted.

Nami's sharp scream cut through the roaring wind, halting Leo's swing.

Looking back, Nami, Luffy, and the others were also being tossed about by the monstrous waves. Only Luffy and Zoro remained standing, though both wobbled unsteadily.

Leo's wooden stick swept softly through the air, releasing a gentle green current that enveloped the Going Merry and the nearby sea restaurant.

As the airflow touched the surrounding waves and wind, they naturally diverted around the ship, sparing them from the worst of the storm's fury.

Pah pah pah!

The rain poured down on the Marine ship like a relentless waterfall. Within minutes, the waterline on the ship dropped by two to three meters.

The Marines frantically tried to bail out water, but it was a losing battle. With the ship taking on so much water, escape became impossible.

Leo swung the Celestial Stick upward with a forceful arc.

Suddenly, the world around them seemed to shrink—then quickly returned to normal.

A massive wave, fifty to sixty meters high, swept over the Marine ship, swallowing it from view.

As swiftly as it had come, the dark clouds and raging wind vanished from sight. The turbulent sea calmed, returning to its previous peaceful state.

Nami's eyes shone with admiration as she stared at the stick in Leo's hands.

For a skilled navigator like her, the power to control weather was second only to the legendary temptations of Pele herself.

Meanwhile, Zoro's two younger crewmates lay collapsed on the deck, expressions frozen in shock and fear.

Usopp, ever the strategist, immediately considered the tactical advantage. "With this stick, I won't have to fear naval battles anymore!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Luffy laughed, clapping his hands together. "Leo, you're amazing!" he said, thrilled by the spectacle.

To Luffy, watching Leo wield such power was thrilling and fun.

Zoro glanced toward the direction where the Marine ship had disappeared and released the grip on his sword. His palm was pale from the strain he'd exerted earlier.

Though having someone as strong as Leo on the ship was a relief, the overwhelming power they had just witnessed left Zoro feeling powerless.

For the first time, he truly realized his limitations in the face of nature's fury.

Once the threat from the Marines had passed, the Going Merry quickly sailed toward the Baratie, the famed floating sea restaurant.

As usual, the Baratie's unique code ensured no customer was ever refused.

After docking securely, the Straw Hats entered the restaurant.

The moment they stepped inside, the diners turned to look at them with wide eyes filled with fear.

"This is a restaurant, right? Just bring me something delicious!" Luffy announced boldly, already salivating at the smell of food.

Paddy, the head chef, dressed in his signature black uniform with a pink scarf, approached cautiously, rubbing his hands nervously.

He looked like a burly sailor, resembling Popeye, but the fear in his eyes betrayed his unease.

He had witnessed the battle outside and sensed this crew was far different from previous customers. If he wasn't careful, trouble might follow.

"Don't worry," Leo said softly, noticing Paddy's hesitation. "We're not unreasonable people."

There was a forced smile on Leo's fierce face, an awkwardness bubbling just beneath the surface.

Relieved, Paddy nodded slowly, convinced that this group had no hostile intentions.

Before Paddy could speak further, Leo pulled out a large stack of Baileys and shook it playfully in front of him.

"Order whatever delicious food you like. We're here to eat."

Paddy's fear melted into genuine smiles, and the atmosphere lightened.

As the Straw Hats settled in, the promise of a hearty meal and the warm camaraderie of friends offered a welcome reprieve after the intense battle with the weather—and the Marines.

pàtreøn (Gk31)