Desert Kingdom

The Gale slowly sailed into the coastal waters of Alabasta. The sea breeze carried waves of heat that hit them head-on, completely different from the coolness of the open sea.

Lin Feng stood at the bow and looked into the distance. Yellow sand stretched across the sky, intertwining with the azure sea in a strange and striking sight.

The rolling heat seemed ready to evaporate the air itself. As far as the eye could see, there was only desolation.

"Is this Alabasta?"

Lin Feng murmured, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.

Recalling the plot of One Piece, Ace should have met Luffy here.

"I wonder if I'll be able to run into them."

The corners of Lin Feng's mouth lifted slightly, revealing an expectant smile.

Behind him, Bart frowned deeply, clearly uncomfortable with the scorching environment.

Bart was used to the coolness of the sea. The heat waves of the desert were a completely new challenge for him.

"Bart, how do you feel?"

Lin Feng turned to look at Bart and asked with concern.

"A little hot."

Bart was a man of few words, but there was a hint of discomfort in his voice.

"Haha, this is only the beginning. It'll get even hotter later."

Lin Feng laughed and patted Bart on the shoulder.

"Let's go. We'll find a place to dock first."

Lin Feng activated the system's cruise autopilot function, and the Gale slowly headed toward a hidden stretch of coast under the system's control.

After docking, Lin Feng set up an alert perimeter to prevent unnecessary trouble.

The two stepped onto Alabasta's soil, and the scorching sand instantly burned through the soles of their shoes.

"At this temperature, you could fry eggs."

Lin Feng could not help complaining as waves of burning pain came from beneath his feet.

Bart silently followed behind Lin Feng without saying a word, though his frown deepened further.

The two ventured deeper into the desert. The blazing sun shone down without obstruction, making them dizzy in waves.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from nearby, and a pack of desert lizards sprang out from behind the dunes.

These lizards were incredibly fast and highly venomous. With their bloody maws wide open, they lunged at Lin Feng and Bart.

"Watch out!"

Lin Feng shouted lowly. His figure flashed as he used Soru, instantly evading the lizards' attack.

"One Sword Style: Iai Slash!"

Demon God instantly left its sheath in Lin Feng's hand. A cold flash passed through the air, and several lizards were cut in half.

[ Ding! Target slain. Reward: Slash Points +10! ]

The system notification rang in Lin Feng's mind.

Bart displayed formidable defensive power, taking the lizards' attacks head-on. His body was like steel, and their venomous fangs could not pierce his skin at all.

The two coordinated seamlessly and quickly dealt with the pack of lizards.

"These lizards are pretty fast."

Lin Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Mm." Bart responded, his expression still cold.

The two continued their difficult trek through the desert and eventually discovered the ruins of an abandoned merchant caravan.

All sorts of goods and bones lay scattered across the ground, showing that a brutal battle had once taken place here.

Lin Feng searched through the ruins and found a damaged map.

It seemed to mark some mysterious location, arousing his curiosity.

"This map looks interesting."

Lin Feng held the map and examined it carefully.

"What's drawn on it?"

Bart leaned closer and asked.

"I don't know, but it looks like a treasure map."

Lin Feng said with a smile.

"A treasure map?" Bart looked confused.

"Haha, I'm joking. Still, the place marked on this map might hold some secret." Lin Feng said.

Following the damaged map's directions, the two found an oasis hidden beneath the dunes.

Lush date palms grew there, and clear spring water flowed gently, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding desolation.

"This really is a nice place."

Lin Feng sighed. Looking at the scene before him, he immediately felt much better.

The two rested at the oasis, replenishing their water and food supplies.

The cool spring water washed away their fatigue, leaving Lin Feng feeling refreshed.

"This water is really sweet."

Lin Feng took a sip of the spring water and smiled.

"Mm." Bart took a drink as well and nodded.

The two rested at the oasis for a while and recovered their strength.

At that moment, a young girl in tattered clothes cautiously approached them.

"Are... are you outsiders?" the girl asked timidly.

Lin Feng looked the girl over. Her clothes were ragged, and there was fear on her face, yet a trace of stubbornness shone in her eyes.

"Yeah, we came from the sea."

Lin Feng said with a smile.

"My name is Kali. You can call me Kali," the girl said, her tone tense.

"Hello, Kali. I'm Lin Feng, and he's Bart," Lin Feng said.

"Why... why did you come to Alabasta?" Kali asked.

"We're traveling, and we're also taking a look at this world."

Lin Feng answered with a smile.

"Traveling?" Kali looked puzzled. "Alabasta is very dangerous right now. You'd better leave."

"Dangerous? Why?" Lin Feng asked.

"Alabasta is at war. The King's Army and the Rebel Army are fighting fiercely, and the people are living in misery."

Kali spoke with sadness in her voice.

"The Rebel Army? Who is their leader?" Lin Feng asked.

"The Rebel Army's leader is a mysterious man named Crocodile. He possesses tremendous power and secretly controls everything," Kali said.

"Crocodile?" Lin Feng froze for a moment, then thought to himself, That old Sandman is really pitiful.

"He was obviously so strong, but he ran into the protagonist's crew right at the start and got beaten by Luffy. By the Paramount War, he could go toe-to-toe with anyone. Pretty interesting." Lin Feng could not help mocking.

"You... you know Crocodile?" Kali asked in surprise.

"No, I've only heard his name."

Lin Feng said with a smile.

"You... you'd better leave. It's dangerous here." Kali urged them again.

"Thank you, Kali. We'll be careful."

Lin Feng said with a smile.

"You... you need to be careful." With that, Kali turned and left.

Lin Feng watched Kali's departing back, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.

"Alabasta seems more complicated than I imagined," Lin Feng said softly, his voice scattered by the wind.

"Lin Feng, where are we going next?" Bart asked roughly from beside him.

"Since we're here, we can't leave empty-handed." Lin Feng curled his lips into a smile. "Let's go to Nanohana first."

Lin Feng calculated inwardly. Nanohana Harbor was precisely where Ace and Luffy first met.

"I wonder if we'll run into them there," Lin Feng muttered quietly.

"Mm." Bart answered in a muffled voice.

Lin Feng started walking toward Nanohana.

Bart silently followed behind him, his heavy boots making dull sounds as they stepped on the sand.

The scorching wind carried grains of sand and lashed against the two of them.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance, an inexplicable anticipation rising in his heart.