Isaac Newton in One Piece

The ship sailed smoothly now, the waters of the Grand Line oddly serene after their chaotic ascent of Reverse Mountain. Isaac lay slumped against the mast, his breathing shallow and labored. Blood still stained his shirt from his earlier exertion, and Nolan knelt beside him, carefully wiping the blood from his face with a damp cloth.

"You shouldn't go pushing yourself like that," Nolan muttered, his voice a mixture of frustration and concern. He checked Isaac's pulse again, noting that it was steadying but still far from normal. "Whatever you did back there—changing the ship's trajectory midair—it was too much. Your body isn't built to handle that kind of strain yet."

Isaac gave a weak chuckle, his voice hoarse. "Didn't exactly have a choice, did I? It was that or we all take a dive into the rocks. Besides, I'm fine… just give me a few hours."

"Fine?" Nolan shot him a glare. "You had blood pouring out of your nose and eyes. That's not fine, Isaac. That's you nearly killing yourself."

Isaac tried to wave him off, but the motion was feeble. "I'll live, I always do."

Meanwhile, a few paces away, Kieran and Mira sat on a crate near the ship's railing. The wind played with Mira's hair as she leaned back, staring up at the open sky. Kieran, sharpening the blade he'd taken from the ships armour, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"You seem surprisingly cheerful for someone who nearly died ten minutes ago," Kieran remarked, his tone dry.

Mira smirked, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "It's the Grand Line. Almost dying is probably going to be a regular thing here, right?"

Kieran shrugged, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Can't argue with that. Still, Isaac's power… I've never seen anything like it. That green glow, the way he moved the entire ship... it's insane."

Mira nodded, her gaze drifting to Isaac, who was still slumped against the mast under Nolan's care. "Yeah, he's something else. But he's stubborn. He'll push himself to the brink if it means keeping us alive."

"That's why we've got to get stronger," Kieran said, his tone more serious now. "We can't keep relying on him to pull us out of every mess. He might not survive the next one."

Mira tilted her head, considering his words. "Guess that's true. But hey, at least we're alive, right? And we've got you to keep us fed and patched up."

Kieran snorted. "Don't think cooking's going to save us from sea monsters or bounty hunters."

"It'll keep us from starving," Mira countered with a smirk. "And that's half the battle."

The two lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only sounds the gentle creaking of the ship and the distant cries of seabirds. The seas of the Grand Line stretched out before them, a vast expanse of possibility and danger.

Back near the mast, Nolan finally finished tending to Isaac and sat back with a sigh. "You're lucky, you know," he said quietly. "If you didn't have me here, you'd probably be dead by now."

Isaac smirked faintly, his eyes still closed. "Guess I chose my crew wisely, huh?"

"Guess you did," Nolan muttered, shaking his head. Despite his exasperation, a small smile tugged at his lips. They had survived the Reverse Mountain and made it to the Grand Line. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

…

The ship glided steadily across the Grand Line under Mira's careful, albeit occasionally reckless, steering. The salty sea breeze ruffled her hair as she stood at the wheel, humming a tune to herself. Every so often, she glanced up at the sky, judging the direction of the wind, or down at the compass she had placed on the helm.

Behind her, Nolan was sprawled across the deck with an old navigation manual in one hand and the map they'd taken from the pirate ship in the other. His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to make sense of their location.

"Why is this so complicated?" Nolan muttered, scratching the back of his head. "Nothing matches. It's like this place doesn't follow normal rules."

Mira called over her shoulder, her voice tinged with amusement. "Welcome to the Grand Line, genius. They say even the weather's got a mind of its own here. Good luck figuring it out."

Nolan grumbled but didn't respond, his focus returning to the map. He traced the lines with his finger, cross-referencing with the notes in the manual. "There's got to be a pattern… something."

On the other side of the deck, Kieran was in his own world, practicing with the sword he'd taken from the pirate ship. The weapon gleamed in the sunlight as he moved through a series of strikes and parries, his movements becoming sharper and more fluid with each repetition. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, but he didn't stop.

He muttered to himself as he trained, imagining opponents in front of him. "Faster… stronger… one clean strike. Don't waste energy."

Nearby, Isaac lay slumped against the mast, finally allowing himself some rest after the ordeal on Reverse Mountain. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, exhaustion evident in his features. The faint traces of dried blood on his face and shirt served as a reminder of how close he'd come to his limits.

Despite the activity around him, Isaac didn't stir. The rhythmic rocking of the ship and the distant sound of the waves provided an oddly soothing backdrop, allowing him to sleep undisturbed.

Mira glanced back at him briefly, her expression softening. "Good. He needs the rest," she said under her breath before returning her attention to the helm.

The hours passed in a quiet rhythm: Mira steering with a confident grin, Nolan muttering curses at the incomprehensible map, and Kieran's sword slashes slicing through the air with increasing precision.

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink, Nolan finally stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "I think I've got it," he announced.

Mira raised an eyebrow, her hands steady on the wheel. "Got what?"

Nolan pointed to the map triumphantly. "The nearest island. It's not far from here. Maybe a day's sail if we keep this course."

Kieran paused mid-swing, wiping sweat from his brow. "An island, huh? Wonder what kind of trouble we'll find there."

"Hopefully a place to resupply," Mira said with a smirk. "And maybe some decent beds. I'm getting tired of sleeping on deck."

"Let's not get too hopeful," Nolan said, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

Kieran sheathed his sword and leaned against the railing, watching the sun sink below the horizon. "Whatever's there, we'll handle it. We've got this far, haven't we?"

Mira chuckled, her gaze fixed ahead. "Yeah, we have. And it's just the beginning."

As the crew settled into their respective tasks, the ship sailed on, carrying them toward whatever awaited them on the next island. For now, the Grand Line was calm, but they all knew that could change in an instant.

…

As the night crept in, Nolan sat at a small table in the cabin with a stack of weathered books and notes sprawled in front of him. Kieran lounged nearby, idly sharpening his sword as per usual, while Mira leaned over Nolan's shoulder, trying to peek at the text.

"Whiskey Peak," Nolan read aloud, his finger tracing the lines of a battered guidebook he'd found in the pirate ship's hold. "Also known as Cactus Island. Says here it's a relatively small place, but it's famous for its hospitality. Apparently, it's a popular stop for pirates entering the Grand Line."

"Hospitality for pirates?" Kieran raised an eyebrow, pausing his sharpening. "That doesn't sound… normal."

"Right?" Mira chimed in. "Why would anyone want to make pirates feel welcome? Sounds suspicious if you ask me."

Nolan shrugged, flipping the page. "It says the locals are known for throwing grand feasts and celebrations for visitors. Guess they've got their reasons."

"Or they've got a scheme," Mira muttered. "Bet there's more to it than free food and drinks."

Kieran leaned back against the wall, his yellow eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Anything about the terrain? That could tell us more about what kind of place we're heading into."

Nolan scanned the page, then gestured to a crude sketch of the island. "The island's named after its landscape. There are giant rock formations shaped like cacti scattered across it. Makes it pretty unique. Also says the terrain's rugged in some places, but the town itself is on flatter ground."

"Giant cactus rocks," Mira mused. "That sounds… weirdly cool. Think there's treasure hidden in one of them?"

"Knowing this world? Probably," Kieran replied.

Nolan turned another page, his expression darkening slightly. "There's also a warning here. Says the island's reputation for hospitality might be misleading. Some visitors don't leave in the same condition they arrived."

"Called it," Mira said, crossing her arms. "Definitely a scheme. They lure pirates in, then rob them blind, or worse."

Kieran chuckled softly. "Good thing we've got Isaac."

"Still," Nolan said, his tone serious, "we should stay on guard. If it's true that the locals have a hidden agenda, we don't want to be caught off guard."

Mira smirked. "Don't worry, doc. We've got a genius captain, a swordsman, and me. If anyone tries something, we'll handle it."

Kieran glanced at Nolan. "What about supplies? Anything about what we can expect there?"

Nolan skimmed the remaining notes. "Says they've got plenty of food, water, and other essentials. That's good news for us. But it also mentions that some traders there are known for… underhanded tactics."

"So we don't trust anyone," Mira concluded.

"Exactly," Nolan said, closing the book with a sigh. "But we need to resupply, so it's worth the risk. Just… keep your eyes open."

The three exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Whiskey Peak might hold surprises, but they were ready for anything.

"Think Isaac will wake up by the time we get there?" Mira asked, tilting her head toward the captain's cabin.

"He better," Kieran said with a smirk. "He's gonna want to see this place. Cactus-shaped rocks and shady locals? Sounds like his kind of adventure."

Nolan chuckled softly. "Let's just hope it's not more trouble than it's worth."

The three settled in for the night, the ship cutting steadily through the waves as they sailed closer to the mysterious island of Whiskey Peak.

…

…

As the horizon revealed the towering cactus-like rock formations of Whiskey Peak, the crew stood at the bow, taking in the surreal sight. The massive stone spires loomed over the island, their jagged shapes reaching skyward like ancient guardians. The town nestled between them appeared vibrant, with colorful banners waving in the breeze and lanterns glowing even in the daylight.

"We're here," Mira announced, gripping the wheel. She steered the ship carefully toward the docks, her golden eyes sharp as she scanned for a clear spot to anchor.

"Looks lively," Kieran commented, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Too lively, maybe."

Nolan nodded, his gaze fixed on the bustling activity below. "It's just like the guidebook said—grand welcome, lots of people. But let's not forget what else it mentioned."

As Mira brought the ship to a halt and dropped anchor, they turned to Isaac, who was sitting on a crate near the ship's mainmast. His face was still pale, and faint bruising lingered under his eyes from the overexertion at Reverse Mountain. He leaned back slightly, his hands resting on his knees.

"You're not coming, are you?" Nolan asked, already knowing the answer.

Isaac shook his head. "Not yet. I need more time to recover. If I push myself too soon, I'll just be a liability. You three can handle scouting the island without me."

Mira crossed her arms. "You sure about that, Captain? We could use your brain if things go south."

Isaac smirked faintly. "My brain will still be here when you get back. Just be careful. Stay together, keep an eye out for anything unusual, and don't get too comfortable."

"We've got it covered," Kieran assured him. He gave Isaac a confident nod before turning to Nolan and Mira. "Let's get moving. The faster we find what we need, the faster we can get back."

Mira hopped down from the ship, her boots hitting the dock with a thud. "Alright, let's see what this place has to offer. Food, supplies, maybe a little gossip. And if we're lucky, no trouble."

Nolan hesitated, glancing back at Isaac. "If anything happens, you'll call for us, right?"

Isaac nodded, waving him off. "Go. I'll be fine. Just don't get yourselves killed."

With a final glance, the trio descended onto the dock, their eyes scanning the lively scene ahead. The streets were filled with vendors hawking goods, musicians playing cheerful tunes, and townsfolk laughing and chatting as if the world beyond their island didn't exist.

Isaac watched them go from the deck, his sharp gaze following their figures as they blended into the crowd. Once they disappeared from view, he leaned back against the mast and sighed. His body ached, but he knew rest was necessary. For now, he had to trust his crew to handle the task at hand.

"Whiskey Peak," he murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."