Chapter 41 The Dragon's Lair Regains Its Light
On the sun-drenched sea, dozens of Marine warships formed a huge encirclement.
White sailboats, adorned with the Marine emblem, had Marine Soldiers neatly lined up on their decks.
Nelson Loy, a large, burly, elderly fat man with a scarred face, was the East Blue Marine Admiral.
He wore a Marine Admiral's uniform, decorated with golden tassels and intricate badges, making it look luxurious and exaggerated.
Due to his obesity, he always sat in a massive chair.
He developed an extreme interest in the 'Dragon Bone Eternity', seeing it as the key to extending his lifespan, and would stop at nothing to obtain it, even abusing the power of the Marine.
Nelson, sitting in a huge chair, sneered, holding an ornate monocular, his gaze fixed on the going merry ahead.
"The Straw Hat Pirates... and that Millennium Dragon, none of you will escape today," Nelson's voice was deep and cold.
"Aim all cannons. If anyone lets them get away, I'll make sure they stay at the very bottom of the East Blue forever!"
On the going merry, Luffy stood at the bow, hands on his hips, his face full of excitement: "So many warships! How awesome!"
"Idiot! Are you planning to go head-to-head with the entire Marine fleet?" Nami shouted, looking distraught, "In this situation, we should be trying to escape!"
"Escape? Are you kidding me!" Zoro gritted his teeth, his hand on his sword hilt, looking coldly at the approaching Marine fleet.
"With so many people surrounding us, I can't back down even more."
East Blue Admiral Nelson Loy ordered the fleet to open fire, and cannonballs rained down on the going merry.
The roar was deafening, and the waves caused by the exploding cannonballs made the ship sway violently, making it difficult for anyone on deck to stand steady.
"Hey! These guys want to blow us to smithereens, don't they!" Usopp yelled, clutching the mast, "This is too crazy!"
Nami gritted her teeth, desperately steering the helm: "If it weren't for my skills, you'd all be fish food by now!"
"Bang!" A cannonball flew straight towards the going merry.
"Don't let it hit the ship!" Lin Ning said coldly.
"Leave it to me!" Zoro roared, and his wado ichimonji slashed out a sharp sword light.
The cannonball was directly split in half in mid-air, and the exploding sparks flew in all directions.
Luffy burst out laughing: "I'll go too!" He took a deep breath, puffed out his stomach, letting the cannonball hit him, and then bounced it back.
"Bang--" The bounced cannonball directly hit the mast of a warship.
"Tch! Don't steal my thunder." Sanji stepped on the railing, leaped, and kicked a cannonball with his toe in mid-air.
A cannonball was directly kicked away by him, smashing onto the deck of another warship.
Although the three tried their best, the opposing fleet was too numerous, and cannonballs continued to pour down as if they were free.
Lin Ning stood at the bow, holding his halberd, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "This is endless."
He took a deep breath, and his Conqueror's Haki instantly erupted.
Unlike the usual wide-range release, this time Lin Ning precisely controlled the Conqueror's Haki.
All cannonballs approaching the going merry exploded in the air, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.
"Too strong!" Usopp watched, dumbfounded, "Is this the power of Haoshoku?!"
Lin Ning turned to look at Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, his tone low:
"Next, the three of you will destroy this entire fleet, and I will guard the ship."
The three were startled, then an excited expression appeared on their faces.
"Really?" Luffy rubbed his nose, a wide smile on his face, "Sounds interesting!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on his lips: "I alone am enough!"
"All three of you go, consider it daily training!" Lin Ning's voice was devoid of emotion, "Act now."
The three exchanged glances, all showing invigorated expressions.
Sanji was the first to act. He stepped on the railing, leaped into the air, pushed off with his legs, and awkwardly stepped through the air using Moonwalk.
"Hey, Sanji, your Moonwalk isn't very practiced yet!" Luffy shouted.
"Shut up! Don't distract me!" Sanji roared, stumbling a bit but steadying himself, and charged towards the leftmost warship.
He raised his right leg high and kicked down fiercely: "Diable Jambe!"
"Boom!" The warship's deck was directly kicked through, and the entire ship instantly tilted. Marine Soldiers screamed and scattered, and finally, the ship sank into the sea.
"Well done!" Luffy laughed, then turned to Zoro, "Let's go too!"
"Hey, what are you trying to do?" Before Zoro could react, Luffy grabbed him, "Hey! Luffy! Don't mess around!"
"Gum-Gum Rocket!" Luffy laughed as he launched Zoro, who screamed repeatedly in mid-air: "Bastard! I'll cut you down!"
Despite being caught off guard by Luffy, Zoro quickly adjusted, drawing the wado ichimonji from his waist.
He unleashed a massive slash in mid-air: "One Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"
"Crack!" The warship's hull was directly sliced in half, seawater poured into the breach, and the entire vessel rapidly sank.
"Looks pretty good!" Luffy grinned proudly, then used the power of his Rubber-Rubber Fruit to launch himself into the sky above the main ship.
He struck a combat pose in mid-air and roared: "Gum-Gum Axe!"
Admiral Nelson, on the main ship's deck, saw Luffy's elongated rubber leg descending from the sky and turned pale with fright: "Stop him! Stop him!"
"Boom!" Luffy's extended leg heavily cleaved the main ship, splitting the entire vessel down the middle, which then rapidly sank into the sea.
The remaining Marine Soldiers watched the main ship sink, stunned, their faces filled with terror.
"Who are these three monsters?!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
The remaining warships of the fleet quickly turned to flee, but under the pursuit of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, only a few of the dozens of warships managed to escape.
Just as the battle ended, the old Millennium Dragon on the raft suddenly let out a long roar.
The sound was deep and powerful, as if summoning something.
"What's wrong with it?" Nami looked at the old Dragon on the raft with a puzzled expression.
"It's greeting its companions." Lin Ning's gaze sharpened slightly, "Its voice can travel very far."
No sooner had he spoken than countless colossal figures appeared on the distant horizon.
A flock of Millennium Dragons flew in from the sea-sky boundary, their wings emitting a faint golden glow in the sunlight.
"So many Millennium Dragons?!" Usopp watched, dumbfounded, "Why did they all come?"
"They come here every thousand years." Lin Ning's voice held a touch of emotion, "This is their habitat."
With the arrival of the Millennium Dragons, the sea level began to change. The seawater slowly receded, revealing the Lost Island hidden beneath the surface.
Ancient stone pillars, dilapidated buildings, and scattered dragon bone fossils appeared before everyone. This relic, as if dormant for a millennium, finally saw the light of day.
The Millennium Dragons flew towards the Lost Island; some slowly descended, while others circled directly above the ruins.
Their roars were deep and prolonged, as if celebrating their return to their homeland.
The old Millennium Dragon on the raft raised its head, looked at the Lost Island, and a flicker of contentment passed through its eyes.
It used its last strength to stand up. Apis stayed close by its side, tears streaming down her face:
"Don't die! Grandpa Dragon...!"
The old Dragon lowered its head and gently nudged Apis with its nose, seemingly comforting her.
Finally, it lay down on the Lost Island, slowly closed its eyes, and stopped breathing.
Just then, a newly hatched small Millennium Dragon peeked out from behind a pile of stones, blinking its clear, large eyes at Apis.
She paused, then a relieved smile appeared on her face: "I understand. My mission is to protect this place, to protect you all."
Lin Ning and his group stood on the going merry, watching Apis. Luffy waved and laughed: "Apis, goodbye!"
"Thank you all!" Apis's eyes were full of gratitude as she waved back vigorously, "Have a safe journey!"
The going merry slowly sailed away from the Lost Island, gradually heading towards Reverse Mountain, the entrance to the Grand Line.Chapter 42 The Soaring Current of Upside-Down Mountain
Sunlight spilled across the boundless sea, shimmering, with a few flying fish occasionally leaping out of the water before quickly diving back into the blue waves.
The going merry slowly advanced, pushed by the sea breeze, its white sails hoisted high, carrying Lin Ning and his companions back onto the course towards the Grand Line.
Luffy lay on the bow, hands propped on the deck, his face full of anticipation:
"The Grand Line… we're finally almost there! I wonder what kind of adventures await us!"
"Don't get too excited too soon."
Nami stood by the helm, her gaze intently fixed on the sea ahead,
"To enter the Grand Line, you first have to pass Reverse Mountain. That's not an easy task."
"Reverse Mountain?" Usopp, sitting on the deck, shuddered at the name.
His face instantly filled with tension, "That sounds like nowhere good!"
"Hmph, you're scared already?" Zoro sat nearby, arms crossed, a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth,
"I'm rather curious just how dangerous this place is."
Nami glanced at Zoro, her tone serious: "Dangerous? Of course. Don't any of you take it lightly.
The channel of Reverse Mountain is not a place ordinary people can pass through."
"Nami, tell us about it!" Luffy turned his head excitedly, his face full of curiosity, "What exactly is Reverse Mountain like?"
Nami secured the helm, then stood hands on hips in the center of the deck, her tone serious:
"Listen carefully, Reverse Mountain is the entrance to the Grand Line, and also the convergence point of the Four Seas.
The waters of the East Blue, South Blue, West Blue, and North Blue all gather at Reverse Mountain, then climb to the summit through a countercurrent channel, and finally flow into the Grand Line."
"countercurrent?" Usopp's expression grew even more nervous, "Water can flow uphill? How is that possible!"
"There are too many things in this world you can't imagine."
Lin Ning leaned against the ship's rail, his gaze calmly fixed on Usopp,
"The upstream channel is just the first test at the entrance to the Grand Line."
Nami nodded and continued: "There are five channels inside Reverse Mountain.
Four of them flow upstream from the Four Seas, converging at the mountain's summit.
The last one is the channel that flows from the summit into the Grand Line.
What we need to do is follow the East Blue channel upstream, then rush down the channel that flows into the Grand Line."
"That sounds so exciting!" Luffy's eyes lit up, so excited he almost jumped, "Going upstream then rushing down, that's amazing!"
"Amazing my foot!" Nami glared fiercely at Luffy,
"This isn't as simple as you imagine! The currents at Reverse Mountain are extremely turbulent and terrifyingly fast. One slight mistake, and the ship will be smashed to pieces!"
Zoro rubbed his chin and asked in a deep voice, "Besides the turbulent currents, what other troubles are there?"
"Whirlpools and undercurrents."
Nami's expression grew even more serious,
"The channel hides a large number of irregular whirlpools and undercurrents, these things will suddenly change the ship's direction of travel.
If the steering isn't precise enough, the ship will deviate from the course and directly crash into the Red Line."
Sanji lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled a smoke ring: "Meaning, Miss Nami, our lives are entirely in your hands."
"Do you even need to say that?" Nami rolled her eyes at him, "Leave the ship handling to me, you guys just do what you're supposed to do — like not getting in the way."
"Nami, don't worry!" Luffy raised his fist, his face full of confidence, "Whatever difficulties come, just leave them to me! I'll use the power of the Rubber-Rubber Fruit to protect the going merry!"
Lin Ning snorted, his tone cold: "It would be good if you just didn't hold us back."
"Lin Ning!" Luffy glared at him, "You're getting more and more annoying!"
As they spoke, a massive mountain range gradually appeared on the distant horizon.
Like a towering wall reaching into the clouds, the mountainside was surrounded by water, looking from afar like a miracle of nature.
"That's the Red Line and Reverse Mountain!" Nami pointed ahead, a hint of tension in her voice, "We're already there!"
"Wow!" Luffy's eyes widened, shouting excitedly, "So tall! So big! Is this the entrance to the Grand Line?"
Usopp clutched a pillar, trembling all over: "Can we really pass through a place like this?"
"Don't be afraid, just charge through." Zoro gripped the sword at his waist, a hint of excitement in his eyes,
Lin Ning looked at the mountain ahead, his gaze slightly narrowed: "Remember, everyone listen to Nami's command, don't move around randomly."
"Hold the course! Don't let the ship deviate from the channel!" Nami shouted, gripping the helm tightly, forcefully controlling the going merry's direction.
Suddenly, the water ahead began to spin violently, and a huge whirlpool appeared in the center of the channel.
"Whirlpool!" Usopp shrieked, hugging the mast, "Get away!"
"Shut up! You're so loud!" Nami gritted her teeth, quickly adjusting the direction.
She steered the going merry past the edge of the whirlpool, narrowly avoiding being sucked in.
"That was close!" Luffy rubbed his head, letting out a sigh of relief, "We almost got pulled in!"
"There's more ahead!" Lin Ning reminded coldly, his eyes fixed on the water, "Stay calm, don't make a fuss."
Indeed, another whirlpool appeared ahead, the water spinning madly, kicking up waves.
Nami quickly adjusted the helm, but just then, an undercurrent suddenly appeared underwater, pushing the going merry's bow directly towards the center of the whirlpool.
"Oh no!" Usopp's face turned pale with fright, "We're going to be sucked in!"
"Don't worry! I'm here!" Luffy leaped up, stretching his arms, gripping the mast tightly, then yanked hard, forcefully pulling the bow back.
"Well done!" Lin Ning glanced at Luffy, a hint of approval in his tone.
After a series of thrilling maneuvers, the going merry finally broke through the obstacles of whirlpools and undercurrents, arriving at the entrance to Reverse Mountain.
"Look over there!" Nami pointed ahead, a hint of excitement in her voice, "That's the channel leading to the summit!"
Everyone followed her Guidelines, and the sight before them made everyone's eyes widen.
A narrow, long stream of water rushed directly from sea level to the summit of Reverse Mountain, the current turbulent and violent, like an inverted waterfall surging towards the sky.
The sides of the channel were steep rock walls, covered with sharp stones, looking incredibly dangerous.
"It's breathtaking..." Zoro murmured, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
"This is the entrance to Reverse Mountain!" Luffy jumped up excitedly, "I'm going up! Grand Line, here I come!"
"Don't celebrate too soon." Nami's gaze was firm, "This section is the hardest, you'd better be on your guard."
Nami took a deep breath, gripped the helm, and shouted loudly: "Everyone get ready! Objective — Reverse Mountain summit!"
The going merry accelerated in the turbulent current, rushing straight towards the summit of Reverse Mountain, going against the flow.
The ship's hull continuously climbed with the current, the speed so fast it made one's scalp tingle, the sea breeze whistled in their ears, and the entire ship shook violently.Chapter 43 Island Whale
The turbulent current roared like a Dragon, lifting the Merry and rapidly ascending the Reverse Mountain waterway.
The ship swayed violently in the rapids, water splashing everywhere. Nami and Usopp clung tightly to fixed objects on the ship, terrified of being thrown off.
"Ahahaha! So fast!" Luffy stood at the bow, gripping the ship's rail, his face full of excited smiles. "It's like flying!"
"Flying your head!" Nami gripped the rudder tightly, gritting her teeth, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. "Can you stop causing trouble! Hold on tight!"
"Nami! Look ahead!" Usopp suddenly pointed forward, his voice tinged with fear. "What is that?!"
Ahead in the waterway, a massive rock blocked the center of the channel like a barrier. The current crashed against the rock face.
It stirred up towering waves, and the rapids surged in all directions, making a rumbling sound.
"Oh no! It's a giant rock that rolled down from Reverse Mountain!" Nami's face instantly turned pale, and she rapidly spun the rudder. "Hold on! I'll steer the ship around it!"
"There's one there too!" Zoro suddenly shouted, pointing to the right.
Another huge rock emerged from the water, forming a narrow gap with the rock on the left.
"Make a decision quickly!" Sanji roared. "If we hit it, the ship is finished!"
"No choice!" Nami gritted her teeth, her eyes fixed on the direction of the current. "We can only rush through the middle!"
The Merry lurched violently, and the entire ship plunged into the narrow waterway.
The rapids slammed against the hull, making deafening crashing sounds. The edges of the rocks almost scraped the ship's body as everyone held their breath.
"It's too narrow! We can't get through!" Usopp screamed, clutching the mast. "We're going to crash!"
"Don't be afraid, watch me!" Luffy leaped up, grabbed the mast with both hands, and pulled hard.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!" The Merry's bow suddenly lifted, narrowly clearing a protruding rock.
"Well done!" Nami shouted, quickly adjusting the rudder to get the ship back on track.
"That was close..." Sanji let out a long breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "This place really isn't for normal people."
"Don't relax! There's still more ahead!" Lin Ning stood at the bow, his gaze fixed on the distance.
The current became even more turbulent, and the ship was lifted by the rapids, as if it was about to be thrown into the sky.
The wind howled in their ears, waves crashed against the deck, and everyone's body trembled.
"Hold on tight! We're almost at the summit!" Nami shouted.
"So exhilarating! Hahaha!" Luffy's laughter echoed throughout the ship. His hat was blown off by the wind, but he nimbly caught it.
Suddenly, a huge whirlpool appeared in the current ahead. The center of the whirlpool was like a giant mouth, furiously devouring everything.
"A whirlpool!" Usopp's face turned pale. "It's over! We're going to be sucked in!"
"Not so easy!"
Lin Ning tightened his grip on the halberd in his hand, and with a gentle flick, a sharp gust of wind pressure swept towards the edge of the whirlpool, forcibly correcting the ship's direction.
"So strong..." Zoro murmured, looking at Lin Ning's calm back, secretly amazed.
"Don't just stand there! We're almost at the top!" Nami concentrated fully on controlling the rudder, and the Merry was pushed by the current towards the exit at the summit.
The moment they reached the summit, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
The Merry was thrown high, suspended on the water at the summit. The group finally saw the entrance to the Grand Line—it was a huge waterway.
It cascaded down from the summit like a waterfall, leading to the unknown distance.
"This is the Grand Line..." Luffy's eyes widened, his face full of shock. "It's magnificent!"
"It's beautiful." Nami let go of the rudder, letting out a soft breath. "We're finally here..."
Before everyone could finish marveling, the Merry suddenly lost its balance, and the entire ship plunged rapidly down the waterfall-like waterway.
"Ah ah ah ah! Hold on!" Usopp's scream instantly rang out, and he was completely hanging from the mast.
"Hahaha! This is amazing!" Luffy stood at the bow, shouting loudly.
"Amazing your head!" Zoro cursed, gripping the ship's rail tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. "Nami! Can't you control it!"
"Shut up! This is a gravity problem, what can I do!" Nami roared.
The Merry rushed down the mountain like an arrow shot from a bow. The wind howled in their ears, water splashed everywhere, and everyone held their breath.
Just then, a low tremor came from ahead, a muffled sound as if from deep within the earth, making the deck tremble slightly.
"What's that sound?" Zoro gripped his sword hilt, looking ahead vigilantly.
Sanji stood by the ship's rail, shading his eyes to look into the distance, and suddenly shouted: "Nami! There's a mountain ahead! A huge mountain!"
"A mountain?" Nami was startled, turning to look at Sanji. "Impossible! That should be Twin Capes, how can there be a mountain?"
"But I really saw it!" Sanji pointed ahead, his voice filled with urgency. "It's right at the exit! Look quickly!"
The group looked up, and instantly they were all stunned.
At the exit of the river, a huge "mountain peak" stood tall. Its black silhouette obscured the sky and covered the entire exit of the waterway.
It was like a giant barrier, completely blocking the river channel.
"Is that really a mountain?" Usopp's face turned pale, and he shouted, clutching the mast, "We're going to crash into it! The Merry will be ruined!"
"Luffy, do something quickly!" Nami screamed, the rudder in her hands completely useless.
"Who cares!" Luffy jumped up, waving his fists and shouting, "Just charge through!"
"Luffy!" Lin Ning interrupted Luffy. His gaze was fixed ahead, a red light flashing in his eyes. "That's not a mountain."
"Not a mountain? Then what is it?" Zoro asked, frowning.
"It's a whale." Lin Ning's voice was low, his tone calm. "A giant island whale."
"A whale?!" Nami's face was filled with shock.
As soon as she finished speaking, the "mountain peak" slowly moved. Water splashed up from both sides of its body, accompanied by a low roar that made the air tremble.
Its huge figure was revealed—it was an enormous whale, its dark skin gleaming wetly in the sunlight.
Its massive tail fin swayed gently on the water, like a giant fan, each movement stirring up huge waves.
"So big..." Usopp's teeth began to chatter. "This is too terrifying!"
"At this speed, we're going to crash into it!" Sanji shouted.
"What do we do?" Nami's face was pale with anxiety. She gripped the rudder, but was powerless. "The Merry will be smashed to pieces!"
Just as the Merry was about to crash into the island whale.
"Let me!"
Lin Ning stepped to the bow, a chilling Killing Intent flashing in his eyes.
Lin Ning took a deep breath, his body trembled slightly, and the next moment, a powerful Conqueror's Haki erupted from him!
The air instantly solidified, then visible Qi waves surged, and the water around the Merry suddenly rose in huge waves.
The wind suddenly became deafening, and everyone on the ship felt a heavy sense of oppression.
The Conqueror's Haki pressure rushed directly towards the island whale ahead. The whale's huge eyes suddenly widened, and its body trembled slightly.
The next second, it let out a low wail, and its entire body fell over weakly.
"Boom!"
The whale's massive body crashed into the water, stirring up colossal waves.
The waves, like giant walls, rushed towards the Merry. Everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with terror.
"It's over! We're really doomed now!" Usopp collapsed onto the deck in fear.
"Lin Ning!" Nami shouted, "Think of something!"
"Don't worry." Lin Ning's lips curled slightly. He gripped the halberd in his hand, his gaze sharp, and leaped into the air.
In mid-air, Lin Ning swung the halberd, striking down forcefully. A fierce slash shot directly towards the giant wave.
"Boom!"
The slash instantly split the giant wave in two. The waves slid past on both sides, and the Merry landed steadily on the calm water.
"So... so amazing!" Usopp's eyes widened, watching Lin Ning descend from the sky, his gaze full of adoration. "Lin Ning! You're a god!"
"Lin Ning, you saved us again this time." Nami let out a sigh of relief, a slight smile on her lips.
"It's nothing." Lin Ning said gently, returning to the bow, his gaze looking into the distance.
Just as everyone was celebrating their escape, a tall figure appeared by the lighthouse at Twin Capes.
He leaned against the lighthouse, a pipe in his mouth, his deep gaze fixed on the Merry.
"Conqueror's Haki, huh..." He murmured softly, a hint of emotion in his voice. "He's truly an extraordinary young man."Chapter 44 Luffy's Promise with Laboon the Whale
The turbulent river channel finally calmed down, and the going merry rushed out of the rapids, steadily sailing into an open sea.
The surrounding water was quiet and smooth, the sky was blue, seagulls circled leisurely in the air, and the sun shone on the sails, giving a long-lost sense of tranquility.
"It's finally calm!" Nami wiped the sweat from her forehead and breathed a sigh of relief, "The exit of Reverse Mountain has finally been safely passed."
"Wow, it's so beautiful ahead!" Luffy stood at the bow, excitedly pointing into the distance.
The group looked up and saw two towering capes in the distance, standing symmetrically on both sides of the sea like guardians.
"Is this Twin Capes?" Usopp hugged the mast, a hint of surprise in his eyes, "It feels like a huge gate."
"It does look like an entrance." Zoro stood to the side, his gaze calmly sweeping around, "It seems this is the true starting point of the Grand Line."
Nami held the helm and nodded lightly: "Twin Capes is the exit of Reverse Mountain and the first stop into the Grand Line.
Legend has it that this is the starting point for countless adventurers, and also the end for many ships."
"End?" Usopp's face instantly stiffened, "Are you saying there's danger here?"
"Of course." Nami glanced at him, her tone serious, "Do you think passing Reverse Mountain means you're safe? This is the Grand Line; everything is full of unknowns."
Lin Ning stood at the bow, arms crossed, his gaze calmly watching the sea between the capes.
Just as everyone was observing Twin Capes, a figure walked out from beside the distant lighthouse.
It was an old man wearing a floral shirt and shorts, with a strange hat on his head.
His beard was white, his face full of wrinkles, but his eyes held a shrewd and capable glint.
"Welcome to Twin Capes." The old man smiled slightly, his tone relaxed, "You adventurers, it looks like you've just passed Reverse Mountain, haven't you?"
"Who are you?" Luffy jumped to the edge of the deck, asking excitedly, "Are you someone who lives here?"
"I am Crocus." The old man chuckled, a hint of humor in his tone, "The guardian of the lighthouse, and also a doctor."
"A doctor?" Nami raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in her eyes, "A doctor here? There's no one living here, is there?"
"That's not something you need to worry about." Crocus waved his hand, pointing to the distant lighthouse, "I guard this place simply to provide a little support to those who need help, and to accompany an old friend."
"Old friend?" Zoro frowned, just about to ask further when the ship suddenly rocked.
Everyone turned to look, only to see a huge dark shadow slowly emerging from beneath the water, blocking a large portion of the sunlight.
As water splashed, a giant whale appeared beside the going merry.
Its body was as massive as a small island, its dark skin covered in scars, especially on its head, where scars crisscrossed, looking shocking.
"So big..." Usopp froze, "Is that the whale from earlier?"
"Is this the old friend you mentioned?" Lin Ning turned to Crocus, his gaze calm, "Why is it like this?"
Crocus nodded, a hint of tenderness in his eyes: "Its name is Laboon, an island whale.
It originally sailed with a pirate crew, but that crew, to protect it, left it at Twin Capes and promised to return for it."
"And what happened?" Nami asked softly.
"They broke their promise." Crocus sighed, a trace of loneliness appearing on his face, "For all these years, Laboon has been waiting here, trying to ram open the Red Line, wanting to find its companions.
The scars on its head are all from hitting the mountain."
"It's waited this long and still hasn't given up?" Zoro's voice lowered, a hint of complexity in his eyes.
"It's for a promise." Crocus said softly, "That is Laboon's perseverance."
After hearing Laboon's story, Luffy stood quietly at the bow, his gaze fixed on the giant whale.
His fists were clenched, and a flicker of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Hey, Laboon!" Luffy suddenly shouted, his voice carrying a seriousness different from usual, "Let's fight!"
Laboon slowly turned its head, its huge eyes filled with confusion.
"Take this punch!" Luffy jumped onto the whale's head, Armament Haki enveloping his fist, and punched Laboon hard.
"Bang—!"
The enormous sound shook the entire sea, water splashed, and waves instantly surged in all directions.
Laboon's head tilted back slightly, then it let out an angry roar.
"It's angry!" Usopp screamed, terrified, hugging the mast, "Luffy will be eaten by it!"
A hint of anger flashed in Laboon's eyes; its tail suddenly thrashed, raising a huge wave, and its head slammed towards Luffy.
"Come on!" Luffy showed no fear, crossing his hands to block his chest.
"Boom!"
The enormous impact instantly sent Luffy flying; his body shot out like a cannonball.
He directly crashed into the rock wall of the Red Line, making a huge sound.
"Luffy!" Nami shrieked, her face instantly turning pale, "Is he alright?"
"Don't worry." Lin Ning said calmly, "He is a Rubber-Rubber Fruit User; this level of injury won't harm him."
Sure enough, Luffy slid down from the rock wall, rubbed his head, and grinned: "That hurt! You're quite strong, Laboon!"
Laboon paused slightly, seemingly not expecting Luffy to still be able to stand up.
"But, that's not enough!" Luffy straightened up, pointing at its eyes, and shouted: "We haven't decided the winner yet! So we have to keep fighting!"
Laboon watched Luffy quietly, a hint of confusion and bewilderment flashing in its huge eyes.
"Hey, Laboon, listen up!" Luffy took a deep breath, the smile on his face gradually fading, and his tone became serious, "Even though your companions are dead, I will always be your opponent!"
A ripple of emotion flashed in Laboon's eyes; it shook its head slightly, as if responding to Luffy's words.
"So, after we circle the Grand Line, I will definitely come back for you!" Luffy's voice carried an undeniable power, "At that time, we'll fight again! Let's see who's stronger!"
Laboon stared at Luffy, letting out a low roar, its voice conveying relief and acceptance.
"It's a deal!" Luffy grinned, shouting loudly, "You have to remember, wait for me to come back! Until then, you're not allowed to ram the mountain again!"
Laboon gently swayed its tail, its giant figure slowly sinking into the water, as if agreeing to Luffy's promise.
"Luffy, that's so your style." Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, his lips slightly curved, "Solving problems with a fight."
"But it worked this time." Zoro, arms crossed, a hint of admiration in his tone, "That whale really seems to have been convinced by him."
Lin Ning stood at the bow, his gaze deep as he looked at the calm sea, and said in a low voice: "Sometimes, sincerity and determination are more powerful than any weapon."
At this moment, two figures suddenly emerged from the sea and swam towards the shore.Chapter 45 Record Pointer
On the calm sea, water suddenly splashed, and two figures swam out of the sea, climbing onto the shore.
The two were a man and a woman, soaked to the bone, their clothes clinging to their bodies, looking utterly disheveled.
"Ah, I finally made it!" The man gasped, wiping the seawater from his face.
He looked thin, with yellow curly hair coiling on both sides, and short, messy hair on top of his head.
He wore a green suit jacket, paired with a yellow bow tie, and a crown, looking both comical and strange.
The woman standing beside him shook her sky-blue ponytail, her light blue dress clinging to her body from being wet.
It outlined her well-proportioned figure, making her look both somewhat charming and disheveled.
"We finally made it," she took a deep breath, her tone calm, but her face showed vigilance, "Who are you guys?"
"Shouldn't we be the ones asking you?" Nami put her hands on her hips, her brows slightly furrowed, a hint of wariness in her eyes,
"Strange people emerging from the sea, what are you doing?"
"Ahem!" The curly-haired man straightened up, cleared his throat, and struck a pose he thought was handsome, "I am Mr.9, belonging to… well, a mysterious organization!"
"I am Miss Wednesday," the blue-haired woman also spoke, her voice cold, "Our mission is none of your concern."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Usopp hugged the mast, his expression tense, "These two don't look too good!"
"What exactly are you here for?" Nami asked with a cold face.
"Company secret, no comment," Mr.9 said with a feigned air of profundity, "Anyway, it's not something you should know."
"Secret? That's hilarious!" Crocus, who was nearby, puffed on his pipe, his eyes full of disdain, "You guys are clearly here to hunt Laboon, aren't you!"
"Hunt Laboon?!" Luffy jumped up, his face full of anger, "You want to lay hands on Laboon?"
"Uh… that…" Miss Wednesday's eyes also flashed with a hint of panic.
"Tell the truth!" Crocus snorted coldly, "Your tricks can't fool me. You say it's for a mission, but you actually want to kill Laboon for meat, right?"
The two, exposed, looked at each other and could only nod helplessly.
"We couldn't help it," Miss Wednesday lowered her head and sighed,
"We live in Whiskey Peak, and the people there are running out of food… If we could bring back Laboon, we could feed many people."
"Even so, you can't harm Laboon!" Luffy clenched his fists, his voice full of anger.
Just as the atmosphere was tense, Nami suddenly frowned: "Wait… what's wrong with my compass?"
Nami suddenly noticed that the log pose in her hand was spinning wildly, unable to fix a direction.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, her face full of panic, "It's broken? No way! This is my most precious tool!"
"Broken?" Usopp leaned over to look, his face instantly tensing up,
"Without a log pose, how do we go? Won't we get lost at sea?"
"Hahahahaha!" Crocus laughed so hard he almost fell over, his pipe nearly dropping from his mouth,
"You guys, you dare to run to the Grand Line without knowing anything, truly a newborn calf not afraid of tigers!"
"What do you mean?" Nami looked up, glaring at Crocus, a hint of defiance in her tone,
"This log pose worked fine in the East Blue, why doesn't it work here?"
"Because the magnetic field of the Grand Line is completely different from ordinary sea areas," Crocus patted the lighthouse beside him, a hint of a smile in his voice,
"Every island here has a unique magnetic field, and ordinary log poses are completely unusable. Navigators sailing in this sea area must use a log pose."
"A log pose?" Nami's eyes showed confusion, "What is that?"
Crocus raised his wrist, revealing a transparent glass sphere, with a flexible needle suspended within it, like a feather floating in water.
The sphere was fixed by a metal bracket, connected to an exquisite leather wristband, both simple and sturdy.
"This is a log pose," Crocus explained, "It can record the magnetic field information of an island,
After charging is complete on the current island, the log pose will automatically point to the next island."
"Charging?" Usopp tilted his head, "What's that?"
"The island's magnetic field needs a certain amount of time to influence the log pose," Crocus said patiently,
"Depending on the island, the charging time will vary; some can be completed in a few hours, while others might take days or even longer.
Only when the log pose is fully charged can it point to the next destination."
"So that's how it is…" Nami gently stroked the log pose in her hand, her eyes showing a complex expression, "Without this log pose, we can't move forward at all."
"That's why I said, you are adorably ignorant," Crocus shook his head with a smile.
Just then, the soaked Mr.9 suddenly interjected: "Oh, our ship is destroyed."
"What do you want?" Zoro glanced at him, a hint of coldness in his tone, "Do you want to blame us?"
"Of course not," Miss Wednesday quickly spoke, she pulled out a log pose from her embrace and handed it to Nami,
"This is our log pose; if you can take us back to Whiskey Peak, this is yours."
Nami's eyes lit up immediately; she took the log pose, holding it in both hands and examining it carefully.
The transparent glass sphere emitted a crystalline glow under the sunlight, and the suspended needle gently swayed, exuding a mysterious power.
"This is a good thing," Nami exclaimed while looking at it, "With it, we can continue our journey on the Grand Line!"
She unhesitatingly put the log pose on her wrist, carefully as if it were a jewel.
"Wait, they are not good people," Crocus said coldly, puffing on his pipe, "Do you really trust these guys?"
Luffy waved his hand casually: "It's fine! Don't bother with small matters!"
Usopp frowned, looking uneasy: "Do we really have to take these two guys? They seem to be full of bad intentions."
"Since you've decided, then a word of caution," Crocus put away his smile, pointing to the distant sea,
"The Grand Line has seven sea routes. This is the entrance, and your log pose will automatically point to one of these routes based on the magnetic field."
"Seven?" Nami frowned, "Why are there seven?"
"The islands on each sea route of the Grand Line are different," Crocus said,
"Once a route is chosen, you must proceed island by island in order until you reach the destination at the end of the route.
That place is the 'Final Island' Raftel."
"Oh—so that's how it is!" Luffy looked enlightened, but the next second he grinned, "What if I don't like this route?"
"Then there's nothing to be done," Crocus sighed, "Once a route is chosen, it cannot be changed. Unless you can circumnavigate the entire Grand Line and start over."
"Circumnavigate?" Luffy laughed even louder, "Alright! If I don't like this route, I'll just go around and come back then!"
"I give up on you," Zoro muttered, "Only you could come up with such an idea."
Nami looked down at the log pose on her wrist; the needle was steadily pointing in one direction.
She looked up into the distance and said in a deep voice: "Whiskey Peak is in that direction, let's set off."
"Alright! Hoist the sails!" Luffy jumped to the bow, waving his arms and shouting, "New adventures, here we come!"
The going merry slowly sailed forward with the sea breeze, and Laboon also bid farewell to the going merry in the sea.
Crocus stood by the lighthouse, watching them depart, murmuring:
"The path ahead, that's where the real adventure begins…"