Inside the green space,
Within the massive hull of Pluton, a spatial gate, opened by the Door-Door Fruit ability and with edges flowing with green energy ripples, hung steadily.
Inside the gate was a deep, swirling, star-dotted, strange space. The Straw Hat crew stood within this stable interdimensional area, curiously observing the blurry, unidentifiable scene outside the gate.
"So... where exactly is the other side of the door? Are we really completely unsure this time?"
Nami hugged her arms, a little nervous, as she looked at the chaotic stream of light outside the door. "Even though we've opened random doors before, we always had a general idea of the direction... This time, there's not even a single point of reference."
"Super—it seems so." Franky fiddled with the measuring instrument on his arm; the screen was a jumble of garbled code. "The parameters are completely random, and I can't detect any specific coordinates! Super—exciting!"
Chopper hugged Usopp's leg tightly and whispered, "I... I completely don't know what's on the other side... What if we fall into a volcano as soon as we go out..."
Although Usopp's calves were also trembling, he still feigned composure and patted his chest. "Don't... don't worry! With me, the great Usopp, here, no matter if the other side is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair..."
"Wahahahahaha!!!"
Luffy suddenly burst into an incredibly excited laugh, interrupting Usopp's bragging. He pressed down on his Straw Hat, his rubber arms waving exaggeratedly, his eyes sparkling with infinite anticipation:
"That's how it should be! Idiot! This is a real adventure!!"
He suddenly jumped in front of everyone, pointed at the mysterious doorway, and loudly declared:
"If we knew where the other side was and what was there every time we opened a door, then what kind of adventure would that be?! How is that different from walking according to a map? It would be too boring! It's only interesting when you have no idea what's going to happen, like this!"
His enthusiasm instantly infected everyone, as if the unknown was no longer a danger, but the most tempting treasure.
Ron stood to the side, and hearing this, an approving smile curved his lips. He crossed his arms, his gaze also falling on the door leading to the unknown, his steady voice carrying a hint of imperceptible interest:
"That's right. Unpredictable, full of possibilities... That kind of adventure is interesting."
"Let's go!!" Luffy was the first to let out an excited yell, his rubber arm suddenly stretching out to grab the ship's railing, eager to propel himself forward.
Amidst Luffy's excited shouts, the Pluto Battleship slowly sailed out of the spatial gate,
The Straw Hat crew followed him, one by one, rushing out of the stable, rotating spatial gate, anticipating any novel sights that might appear behind the door, perhaps a sunny new island, or mysterious ruins where treasures lay dormant.
However,
When everyone's feet truly stepped onto the land on the other side of the door, none of the anticipated scenes appeared.
Instantly, boundless, suffocating darkness, like a cold tide, completely swallowed them!
It wasn't the natural darkness of night, but a dense, seemingly substantial, viscous pitch-black!
An impenetrable black mist enveloped the surrounding space, completely blocking all light, truly making it impossible to see a hand's breadth in front of one's face.
Even the breathing sounds of companions nearby seemed somewhat blurry and distant in this extreme silence and darkness.
"Wh-what's going on?! Why did it suddenly get dark?!"
"It's so dark! I can't see anything!" Chopper cried, hugging Zoro's calf, which was closest to him, tightly.
Sanji immediately tried to light his lighter, but the flame, which usually ignited instantly, only flickered a few times before being immediately swallowed and extinguished by the eerie black mist, unable to provide any illumination.
"Damn it! There's something wrong with this mist!"
In this chilling absolute darkness and dead silence, Nami's voice, filled with an uncontrollable terror, rang out, full of ominous conjecture:
"Th-this place... why is it so dark? So cold?"
She subconsciously hugged her arms, her voice slightly distorted, "Pluton... that spatial passage from Pluton... it wouldn't... it wouldn't have brought us to some... underworld, would it?!"
Her guess, like a huge stone thrown into still water, caused the already nervous and uneasy hearts of the others to sink sharply!
Even Luffy, who was usually fearless, temporarily quieted down, sensing the surrounding environment.
Ron's steady voice rang out in the darkness, trying to calm everyone:
"Don't panic. The underworld wouldn't have such real, damp mist."
In this dense black mist that swallowed all light, Usopp's own calves were trembling, and his teeth chattered,
But upon hearing Nami's "underworld" guess and Chopper's terrified whimpers, his "dignity" as a "brave sea warrior" compelled him to step forward yet again!
He forcibly puffed out his chest and cleared his throat loudly, trying to make his voice sound disdainful and confident, though the end of his words inevitably wavered a bit:
"Hmph... Hmph! Wh-what's there to be afraid of! It's just a little dark, isn't it?! Miss Nami! Chopper! There's no need to be scared!"
He even exaggeratedly patted his chest, making thudding sounds:
"Don't forget! I, the great Usopp, am a man known as the 'Ghost Exorcist'! What kind of demons and ghosts haven't I seen?! Even if a talking skeleton suddenly jumped in front of me..."
The more he spoke, the more smoothly he did so, as if he truly feared nothing: "...I, the great Usopp, wouldn't even bat an eye! There's nothing to be afraid of!"
Under the influence of extreme fear and Usopp's past "glorious achievements," plus the darkness that made it impossible to see and weakened their judgment,
Many people unconsciously chose to believe his nonsense, especially Nami and Chopper, who kept nodding.
That's right! Usopp is very strong!
Usopp says it's fine, so it must... probably... might be fine, right?
Just at the moment this trust was established—
Ding! A suitable moment for showing off has been detected!
Host's quote: 'Even if a talking skeleton suddenly jumped in front of me, I wouldn't even bat an eye!'
Quote being randomly fulfilled...
Fulfillment result: Skeleton Musician (Living)! Fulfillment begins!
The system's prompt tone was cold and swift.
Almost the instant the prompt sounded, an extremely eerie, trembling laugh, as if from the depths of the netherworld, abruptly pierced through the thick mist and rang directly in everyone's ears:
"Yohohoho—Yohohoho—!!"
This laugh was ethereal and bizarre, sending shivers down their spines!
....
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