The Thousand Sunny sailed on the gentle waves, seemingly infected by the anticipation of its impending arrival at Pleasant Island. A few days later, Usopp, on the lookout tower, let out a shout full of surprise, unlike anything he had done before:
"I can see the islands! Wow--! So vibrant! So many balloons! I can hear music!"
The crowd surged toward the bow of the ship, and the sight before them was a sight to behold.
It was a colorful island, as if it were made of candy and rainbows! Towering buildings were painted in bright colors, huge windmills turned slowly, and countless colorful balloons floated in the sky. Even from a distance, you could hear cheerful music carried on the wind, cheers from the crowd, and all sorts of interesting sounds—whistles, bells, and the tinkling of some kind of fountain.
The Log Pose steadily pointed to this source of joy.
"It's a festival! It really is the festival island!" Luffy excitedly jumped up and down on the deck.
"So many colors! So beautiful!" Chopper's eyes turned into stars.
Usopp was also very excited. "That sounds amazing!"
Nami looked at the chart with a relaxed smile on her face, "That's right, this is 'Carnival Island' Vista! It's said to have different festivals and competitions all year round, making it a famous city of fun on the Grand Line!"
Sanji could almost picture himself meeting a beautiful lady at the festival, and pink hearts floated around him.
Zoro, holding his sword, surprisingly didn't object, seemingly accepting the term "match."
Franky was already swaying to the faint rhythm of the music. "Super~ fun atmosphere!"
Brook pulled out his violin. "Yo ho ho ho~ I can already feel the call of music!"
Robin smiled as he observed the island's layout, "Turning the entire island into a celebration venue, what a unique culture."
Jinbe his beard and nodded. "A vibrant place."
Ace smiled and looked at Allen: "Cousin, can you finally relax completely now?"
Allen's senses were like a gentle breeze caressing the island, and he nodded slightly. Unlike the other islands filled with crisis or oppression, Vista Island radiated a pure, passionate, and heartfelt energy of joy. The people's emotions were high and unified; they had all come to enjoy the celebration. "Hmm, at least on the surface, it's a rare place to relax."
The Thousand Sunny sailed into Vista's amusement park-like port. The dock was decorated with ribbons and flags, and staff dressed in various exaggerated cartoon mascot costumes enthusiastically guided the ships to their docks. The air was filled with the tempting aroma of cotton candy, popcorn, and barbecue.
As soon as they disembarked, a man dressed in a sequined suit, wearing an extravagant feathered hat, and sporting a bright smile, who resembled a host, approached them holding a flower-shaped megaphone.
"Welcome! Welcome to Vista! I'm your guide to fun, Pierrot!" His voice was infectious. "Are you all newcomers? Fantastic! You've caught our biggest ' Dream Carnival ' of the year! We have the most thrilling rides! The most delicious street food! The most fun competitive games! And—the most exciting ' Summit Championship '!"
" The Summit Championship?" Luffy's ears immediately perked up.
"That's right!" Pierrot waved his arms exaggeratedly, "During the carnival, there will be competitions in various fields every day—eating contests, shooting, skill challenges, even riddles and dancing! Winning a competition will earn you a ' Joy Medal '! And the person who collects enough medals, or breaks the historical record in any competition, will qualify for the ' Summit Championship ' on the final day! The champion will receive Vista's highest honor—the ' Golden Carnival Horn' —and a mystery grand prize!"
"The mystery prize!" Luffy, Usopp, Chopper (and even Franky and Brook ) all had their eyes transformed into the symbol of Beli (or something similar).
Nami immediately became interested. "Is the grand prize valuable?"
Sanji, on the other hand, was thinking that if he won the championship, he could make a good impression on Lady.
Zoro is somewhat tempted by the title of "Champion".
"So, my warriors, what are you waiting for?" Pierrot spread his arms, pointing towards the brightly lit, bustling depths of the island. "Enjoy the revelry! May joy be with you!"
The deafeningly cheerful music blared again, and colorful confetti rained down from the sky. The Straw Hat Pirates was instantly engulfed by the enthusiastic atmosphere, and filled with their own anticipation, they excitedly rushed into this dreamlike sea of celebration.
Allen followed behind the crowd, strolling along the bustling, laughter-filled streets. Watching his companions instantly join in the fun, shouting and laughing, a gentle smile crept onto his lips. Perhaps, experiencing this kind of pure, carefree joy occasionally wasn't so bad.
However, amidst the deafening cheers and laughter, his keen senses seemed to detect a faint, discordant rhythm that seemed out of place with the joyous atmosphere, a rhythm that vanished in an instant.
Is it just my imagination?