Chapter 14: Over the Edge
The Wave Strider hurtled up the steep incline of Reverse Mountain, the crew bracing themselves against the force of the current. Nadia's knuckles whitened around the helm as she fought to keep the ship centered in the raging waterway. Ryu and Ren worked in tandem, adjusting the sails to catch the wind just right, muscles straining as they held the ropes tight.
"We're almost there!" Nadia's voice rang out over the roar of the water. "Stay sharp!"
Seraphina grit her teeth as another barrel slipped loose, tumbling across the deck. With a swift motion, she slammed her hand down onto it, her palm radiating heat. The barrel sizzled beneath her touch, the wood smoldering as it stayed anchored in place. "Not losing another one!"
Ren gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched as the ship surged higher. The peak was just ahead, mist swirling like a shroud around the narrow passage. The Grand Line was so close he could almost feel it. His fists tightened around the rope, his mind flashing back to Kai's words: "There's no turning back once you enter."
Ryu glanced over at Ren, sweat dripping down his brow. "You ready for this?"
Ren met his gaze, a determined gleam in his eyes. "We have to be."
The current suddenly swelled, the ship lurching upward with terrifying speed. The crew grunted, muscles burning as they held their positions. Nadia's hair whipped around her face, her focus unyielding as she kept the helm steady.
"Here it comes!" she shouted.
In an instant, the Wave Strider crested the peak. For a fleeting moment, everything seemed to hang in suspension — the ship poised at the top of the world, the Grand Line stretching out beneath them like an endless, churning sea.
And then, they dropped.
The ship plummeted down the other side of Reverse Mountain, the wind screaming past them as the crew held on for dear life. Water sprayed in all directions, the ship hurtling down the deadly descent. Nadia struggled to maintain control, her arms shaking as she fought the wheel. Ryu and Ren clung to the rigging, eyes wide as the mountain walls whipped by.
"Steady!" Nadia bellowed. "Stay steady!"
Seraphina crouched low, her knees bending to absorb the shock as the ship bounced off a swell. A massive wave loomed ahead, a wall of water rising like a monster's maw. "Nadia!" she cried.
"I see it!" Nadia barked back. "Brace yourselves!"
The Wave Strider crashed through the wave, the impact jarring every bone in Ren's body. The ship groaned, wood creaking as it shot through the foamy abyss. Ren clenched his teeth, his fists aching as he held onto the rope, eyes locked on the horizon.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the current spat them out, sending the Wave Strider soaring into the air before slamming back down onto calmer waters. The crew gasped for air, chests heaving as they struggled to catch their breath.
Ren staggered to his feet, his legs wobbling. They had made it. Before them stretched the vast, untamed sea of the Grand Line — a realm of endless possibilities, dangers, and dreams.
Nadia slumped against the helm, her breaths ragged. "We... we did it."
Ryu threw back his head and laughed, a wild, exhilarated sound. "Hell yeah! We're in!"
Seraphina pushed her soaked hair back, her silver eyes glinting as she looked to Ren. "So... what now, Captain?"
Ren took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "Now?" He clenched his fist, feeling a strange pressure within his knuckles, almost like a warmth radiating beneath his skin. His heart raced as he clenched and unclenched his fist, a subtle black sheen flickering over his hand for just a moment before fading. Was that... Haki?
His eyes widened, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Now, we conquer the Grand Line."
—
The crew took a moment to regroup, gathering on the deck as the Wave Strider sailed into calmer waters. The air was still cool from the mountain descent, but the sea was calmer, and the Grand Line stretched out like a vast, unpredictable frontier.
Nadia approached Ren, her brows furrowed. "You okay?"
Ren nodded, though his hand was still tingling. "Yeah... just feeling the adrenaline, I guess."
Ryu crossed his arms, his grin as wide as ever. "Can you believe it? The Grand Line! We actually made it!"
Seraphina leaned against the mast, her eyes on the horizon. "Yeah. But this is just the beginning."
Ren flexed his fingers, that strange warmth still lingering beneath his skin. Whatever that feeling was, it felt like power. Real power. And he would need it for what lay ahead.
—
Timeline Update:
It has been 62 days since Ren set sail.
Luffy has set sail 1 day ago.