With all obstacles cleared ,Joshua and his crew continued their journey. With them being at the end of the West sea border it didn't take long for them to enter the near grandline zone. However, in this time frame they travelled, the weather has started to get more dreadful and the ocean undercurrent became more frequent and terrifying.
This is expected, as long as your approaching the grandline borders you will be greeted by the several different unknown natural disasters. Which you will be unable to predict and because of such occurrences many have fallen before even getting to set foot in the grandline. However, even though this is also a major factor of it, if one does not strong enough boat and good strength you can also meet your downfall here.
At this moment Joshua and his crew is still currently facing a storm which like no other in the West sea area. The boat sways continuously in the ocean as heavy waves from it slaps the sturdy monster as it rocks through such thing. The sails of the ship has repeatedly being tormented by the harsh blowing of the winds and the heavy downpour of rain from the sky.
Right then and there, a bolt of lightning angrily flashed across the sky, in that same breath, the ocean which have already been troubled galloped in the air. Water from the surface of the sea started to build up and with its accumulation, it strengthen, until it reached 15m high wave which moves to the approaching ship.
" Guzen tighten the sails."
"Laffitte steady the ship."
Joshua calmly gave out his orders as he looks on the wave whose height is taller than the ship. He waved his hand in the air and the violent winds which have been blowing heed to his command. Then right before the ship, the winds gathered in the air and a row of five torndoes started to develop both in size and power and when it moved off, the height it accumulated was about 20m.
They moved through the air in unison and the ocean which was right beneath it began to sink as a whirpool happen. Then...
baam...
The wind tornadoes slam in the huge wave stopping its ongoing movements, the ocean surface jerked instantly as the happens. The wave struggled to move forward but the wind tornadoes strengthen itself as it noticed its defiance. The pebbles of water began to wrap around it until it became streams and the wave which wanted to destroy the ship started to deteriote.
The rotated winds which is now have loads of water around it swept away in the distance clearing the path for the the ship to continue travel onwards.
"We haven't even entered the grandline but we have met upon many horrible phenomenoms like this over the past periods," Guzen who has just finished tighten the sails of the ship said as he walks over to his fellow mates with flashes of red in his eyes.
Joshua and Laffitte did not reply to his statement but their silence also represented their agreement. With them being close to the grandline, intervals of dreadful natural occurences have continue to come their way and the power and might they come with, makes you even wonder if they gave already set foot in the grandline.
Even so under the power of Joshua and the predicaments of Laffitte, they faced and overcame all these situations which would have already killed many who journeyed to the great route.
"However, judging from this it also means we are on the right path," Laffitte lightly said as he took out a a bracelet out from his pocket which had a glass orb on it. Its colour was of a light blue shade, the needle which was floating inside of it, was connected to the middle of the orb which was held by a thin wire.
"Laffitte , what is this?" Guzen eyes immediately landed on the object which had the needle inside of it pointing straight ahead.
"This is a log pose, a device which must be used if we're going to travel in the grandline," Laffitte answered as he looked on the nagivational device with a wide smile on his face.
The log pose, this is a vital component which must be used when sailing around the grandline, normal maps or compasses which is used in the four seas, cannot be used if your going to enter this area. This is so, because of the special magnetic wave length formulated from each island and the role that the log pose poses, is that, it records the magnectic waves of an island which would direct you where to sail to, if want to come in contact with an island.
However, once you set foot on a island, the log pose would reset and time will be needed for it to pick up the magnetic waves of a another island.
"Laffitte did you get this from the sliced warship" Joshue eyes flashed with black light as he looks on the log pose. Even though he was fighting Strawberry he was still observing his surroundings and because of this doing he was able to sense Laffitte who was moving around in the air in a slealth format. Even though he noticed it he didn't pay keen attention to this but looking on the log pose it seems, it was this he was after.
"Hehehee... yes captain," Laffite lightly chuckled as he replied in a low voice.
Joshua just just nodded in response, Laffitte might not have entered the grandline but that doesn't mean his knowledge is only enclosed in the West sea. Laffitte who is an excellent nagivator would obviously know what a log pose is. Cause as a navigator the information and data you have gathered should be widespread even if your locked in a small part of the world.
"Thats why you left the ship when the boss was fighting," Guzen nodded in understanding as he flicked the the gun around his hands. When Lafitte was leaving the ship he has noticed it. He was puzzled by such actions however, didn't ask, as he continue to watch the fight. But why he did that, is now finally cleared.
"Even though I did cut the warship in half, it seems like the log pose did not take any damage," Joshua frowned. He chopped the warship in half how has the log pose not damaged, was it in a secret compressed area or was it...
"Captain where you sliced the warship the log pose was not near that region, " Laffitte clarified unhurriedly.
"I see," this is what he also thought of. Right when they were talking Joshua eyes flickered he has sensed appraoching there way quite fast.
"Something is coming."
"What is coming..."Guzen and Laffitte expression became slightly gloomy when they heard this. Is it the navy...
No, it can't be, they have just basically killed the navy offense team, even if they navy has high intelligence network they should not be able to respond so quickly.
So what is it...
Seeing Joshua walking to the forefront of the ship, they also followed.When they look in the sea where a shadow keeps getting bigger and bigger, their eyes shrank a little.
The surface of the water bubbled like a mountain and streams of water continue rundown of the thing which made repeated slaps on the ocean layer until it burst right through. There forshadowing all three persons was a serpentine like beast whih had smooth green body with waves of black which was right around it. It bloodshot shrap eyes was totally in tuned with numerous fangs which was exposed by the opening of its mouth.
"Sea beast," Guzen eyes flashed with a bit of suprise, they have not encountered such creature since they have came to these parts.
"It quite large," laffitte nonchantantly commented as he looks on the creature which was around 28m long. With the abilites of Joshua and Laffitte, they have not being washed away in the calm belt which border the north and south of the grandline. In such place there lies the horrible sea kings which inhabits the world's ocean, but judging from its height and figure its propabaly a some loose, small sea creature.
They might have not entered the grandline yet, but it doesn't mean they cant meet such things in these unpredictable waters.
Roar....
The beast angrily roared and because of its instantenous flare, the drool from its mouth weirdly dropped from his mouth to several different areas of the sea. It shoot straight at ship mercilessly and even though it did that, noone moved until they saw Joshua condense a flame sword in his hand.
He slashed at the falling sea creature, the flames ran right though the middle section its body at a quick speed. Constant burning took place and the beast wailed in pain, it which was about to smash into the ship, was divided right into two . With the flames separating its body no blood dropped from it and its split body fell on both sides of the ship causing instant splashes to happen in the ocean.
The ship rocked oddly and Guzen and Laffitte who were on it looked on everthing indifferently. Cause this is just one of the many things which can happen when going to the grandline.
"We should be entering a fog now," Laffitte said as he placed the bracelelt on his hand and just after saying that. So they sailed through the dreadful storm into a fog which released a depressed and creepy aura.
Things like this simply can't trouble the three figures as they wait silently to see what spectacle awaits them. Then right that moment something magnificent appeared before which made their eyes flashes with intense glow of light.
Before them was a huge mountaineous structure which seems to run right up to the gate way of heaven and cuts along the four cardinal points of the world. The rich red luster is densely imprinted on it and because of the time of day many shades of red are formed which made it stand out and glow with intensity.
Just by inferring from structure, it seemed like an indestructable stronghold which has lived and passed through many things which happened from the beginning of time.
"The red continent," Laffitte said with a slightly sped up voice. Even though he still somewhat maintained his calm, waves still rush pass his heart repeatedly. His constant smiling face his constantly being cracked and reformed as he looks on the marvelous spectacle before him.
"What a sight to behold,"
As for Guzen his face was full of shock, many turbelent waves showered upon his soul. As a person who would have probably stayed in the West sea all his life, his reaction was obvious. Rushes of goose bumbs fill his body, his hands tremble with excitment and his expression has already broken down to a level far worse than a lunatic.
"The red continent, the run right to the east of the North and Westblues seas and along the west of the South and Eastblues," Joshua softly said as he looks on the the glory of nature. The strong and mighty demeanor it released, densely radiated in the entire surrounding showing off how impassable and firm it is. For Joshua who has seen the Straw hats travel through here, there wasn't any much surprise but seeing and experiencing for yourself is different. So they were some small mood fluctuations which occured.
"Right ahead is the upside doqn mountain," Laffitte who has completely calmed down said, then everyone cast their gaze to the water mountain like stream.
....
Meantime, Johsua and his crew was going through a trance of experiences.What he has done before reaching this point, has finally started to spread throughout several different places.