Summary:
The Thousand Sunny is thrown into the air by a huge tidal wave when the volcano erupts. The crew spots an island, but Nami tells the crew that no compass needle points to this island, which is strange even for the New World. Luffy says he doesn’t care and exclaims that he wants to go to the island. Nami tells him that there is no way to get closer as it is blocked by a sea of fire.
Luffy finds Den Den Mushi crying and ringing the bell. Luffy is about to pick up the phone when Robin tells him to stop. She tells him that there is a 50/50 chance that the call is a trap that the marines use to tap phones on ships to find their location. Luffy picks up the phone and the man on the other end says that his crew is still being killed, one by one by the samurai. He adds that he doesn’t care who comes as long as they help. The island he’s calling from is called Punk Hazard. Before he can say more, there is a slashing sound and the subject cries out in pain and says he’s been stabbed, ending the transmission. Robin reminds him that it could still be a trap, and Franky asks if it could be the island behind the fire. Robin says it’s the only possible island within broadcast range for the Den Den Mushi baby to pick up. Luffy decides to save the man.
Elsewhere, the Marine is very upset after hearing about Punk Hazard. Tashigi asks Smoker if he also heard the transmission. Smoker is angry because he assumed that Luffy would choose Raijin Island after leaving Fish-Man Island and never thought that Luffy would go around all three. Tashigi reminds Smoker that Punk Hazard is closed and abandoned after the incident that happened there four years ago, and he finds it strange that there are people there. Smoker agrees that it looks weird, but it’s the only thing he has to work with. Smoker tells the crew that they are leaving.
Usopp, Robin and Zoro go to the island with Luffy as decided by the straw drawing. Nami uses her Clima-Tact to create a milky way for Mini Merry II to travel through the flames. When the ship reaches Punk Hazard, the pirates pull the Mini Merry II ashore. In front of them is a giant fence with various warning signs and danger stripes around the perimeter decorated with World Government and Marine Corps emblems, as well as a third emblem, a skull with horns; Zoro cuts part of the door and they go through. Robin notes that the island looks like it hasn’t always been on fire, and wonders if there’s been a recent natural disaster. It looks like a former world government base, with the buildings completely melted. The group finds a huge skull, even bigger than a giant. Something growls behind them. The crew is stunned as they cannot believe that what they are seeing actually exists. The crew looks into the eyes of the fire breathing dragon who then asks the crew who they are.