"Captain!"
"Rolan!"
"Rolan!"
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the selection. Rewards: Advanced Haoshoku *1, Top-tier Physique *1, Limited Edition Garp Dog Hat *1, Senzu Bean 1000, Ship upgraded to Advanced, System Space 5050.]
"I'm fine!" Rolan said, pulling a senzu bean from his pocket and swallowing it. Within moments, his wounds began to vanish, though his face still carried a faint pallor.
Fuse all cards!
[Ding! Fusion successful!]
Instantly, Rolan's aura surged, more formidable than ever.
"Rolan, are you okay?" she ran to his side, concern etched on her face.
Rolan smiled and lightly stroked her head. "Nami, I'm fine. Fighting Vice Admiral Garp gave me some insights."
The others relaxed slightly as his gaze swept over them. "And you all—how did you fare in the combat?"
They nodded, indicating each had gained valuable experience.
"Nami, thank you for safely guiding the ship out."
Zoro and the others realized the truth: it wasn't Rolan controlling the ship directly, but Nami.
Kuro frowned at Rolan with quiet confusion.
Nami explained, "When I got on the ship, Rolan gave me a Devil Fruit. I now have the Cloud-Cloud Fruit ability."
She elementalized her body, transforming into a cloud before everyone's eyes. Originally, Rolan had planned to steal Enel's Devil Fruit for her, but since the system awarded him the Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit, he prioritized giving it to Nami.
Rolan considered it practical:
1. Nami could naturally sense weather, and with the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, she could also manipulate it.
2. The fruit provided offensive capabilities, from forming dark clouds to discharging electricity, or emulating various Sky Island cloud forms.
3. As a navigator, she could now lift and control the ship efficiently, surpassing Rolan's own Electromagnetic Fruit in energy efficiency.
Kuro and the others nodded, understanding why the ship could still fly so far from Rolan.
"All right, team, prepare yourselves! Next stop: the Grand Line. Compared to it, the East Blue is a cradle of peace. Are you ready?"
Excitement shone on each face.
"Nami, place the ship on the sea. Flying straight there is dull. I want to see the marvel of Upside Down Mountain, the obstacle that blocks nearly eighty percent of ships from entering the Grand Line."
Nami carefully guided the ship down, eventually setting it upon the ocean surface.
---
"Vice Admiral Garp, why aren't we intercepting Rolan's crew at Upside Down Mountain?" a soldier asked.
Garp, picking his nose, chuckled. "Hahaha, you saw that kid's ship can fly! We can't intercept them. They may have already reached the Grand Line."
The soldier hesitated. Garp shook his head, resigned. "Back to Marineford. My vacation ends here."
---
Meanwhile, Rolan's crew slowly approached Upside Down Mountain at sea. They spent the past few days digesting the lessons of their battle.
The sky darkened as a light drizzle fell.
"Hey! A mountain ahead!"
Everyone rushed to the deck. Towering red peaks pierced the clouds.
"This must be the Red Line," Nami murmured.
"What? That's the Red Line?" Zoro's eyes widened at the immense peaks.
Kuro remained calm, his usual composed demeanor intact.
Lina hid behind Nami, clutching her hem in fear. "Nami, make the ship fly! If we keep going, we'll crash!"
Zoro, seemingly inspired, placed a barrel in the center of the group. Rolan understood immediately; it was a symbolic ritual to declare dreams.
One by one:
Zoro: "My dream is to become the World's Greatest Swordsman."
Rolan: "My dream....is for freedom, a world where everyone can live freely."
Kuro: "My dream is to witness the world's flaws and help Rolan establish peace."
Lina: "My dream is to become stronger, stay by Rolan's side, and support him."
Nami: "My dream is to chart every sea in the world… and stay by Rolan's side."
They all lifted their feet together. "Oh!!!"
Just as the ship neared the Red Line, Nami produced a sketch and placed it on the barrel. "Look, this is Upside Down Mountain, the only path for the Four Seas into the Grand Line…"
The scale of it was astonishing, even to Kuro.
"Since there's a ninety percent chance of ship destruction, should we just fly over it?" Lina asked, nervous.
Nami smiled confidently. "Don't worry. If we're about to crash, Rolan will handle it."
Rolan nodded. "The ship is sturdy. Even if it hits the Red Line, it won't be damaged."
Nami moved to the bow, her eyes gleaming. "Look — that's the waterway of Upside Down Mountain."
Everyone crowded to the bow, awe on their faces.
Zoro muttered, "So narrow… how will the ship get through?"
Lina trembled but defended Nami. "We have to trust our navigator, Green-Algae Head."
Nami jumped and lightly punched Zoro. "Of course! I'll get us wherever we need to go!"
The ship surged forward. Storms roared, whirlpools appeared, and a river of water flowed upward before their eyes.
Zoro's eyes went wide. "The water… it's really flowing up!"
Kuro observed carefully. "The ocean currents converge at an opening along the Red Line. Water is pushed upward through the channel, while the remaining currents form whirlpools around the mountain. The river appears artificially created, likely to allow ships from the Four Seas to reach the Grand Line."
Rolan stroked his chin, pondering Kuro's insight.
"Pay attention, we're entering the channel!" Nami called, snapping him out of thought.
Rolan used electromagnetic force to guide the ship through, while Lina floated nearby as a ball of flame, exclaiming, "We're really climbing a mountain! Incredible!"
The Red Line's height was unimaginable, its summit home to godlike beings who looked down on the mortal world. Seawater surged up the channel, sunlight glinting in rainbows across the waves.
Zoro, awed, muttered inwardly, Crossing this mountain leads to the Grand Line… Mihawk awaits there.
Nami's thoughts turned to weather and exploration, Lina to strength and loyalty, Kuro to the complexity of the world beyond the East Blue.
---