Out on the vast ocean, a fiery Dragon Man slashes through the sky at such incredible speed that it leaves hardly a trace in the eye, just a fleeting fiery shadow.
"Ah, where is it?!" With a weary expression, Vlad, arms crossed, exclaimed in frustration, "Where is it? When will I ever find it?!"
"Damn!" Vlad curses, "It's tough to find a needle in this New World ocean!"
Vlad has been away from Dressrosa for several weeks without intending to return to Skypiea and reunite with his crewmates. It's still too early to return to paradise.
For these weeks, he has been wandering the seas of the New World. He is not aimlessly drifting; he is searching for a significant place, at least one that holds considerable importance for himself.
The island's name is Zou, a famous kingdom in the New World enveloped in a dense veil of mystery. Even among the myriad wondrous New World countries, Zou stands out as an extraordinarily unique island.
Vlad has exerted great effort to find this island, wandering the seas of the New World for several weeks, searching between Dressrosa and the territories around it to no avail.
"As expected," Vlad sighs, "Being there years ago doesn't mean it's still in this sea region now!"
This is because the island known as Zou is not stationary; unlike typical islands, it is truly a fantastical island, like something out of a fairy tale. Zou is an island that moves, constantly in motion, on the back of a thousand-year-old elephant named Zunisha, making it a dreamlike island.
Being on the back of a living creature means there's no magnetic field, and naturally, it can't be located with a compass. For someone like Vlad, who has never visited, it's akin to finding a needle in a haystack!
"Seriously, super troublesome!" he laments, "Just like when I was looking for the Golden Lion! Though, it was a bit easier back then."
Although searching for the entire East Blue was tough when looking for the Golden Lion, the East Blue is still much smaller than the New World. Unlike Zou, the search scope didn't exceed half of the New World. Back then, it was undoubtedly easier because, at that time, he had the help of Mr. Eneru, a human radar. With Eneru's assistance, it was much easier to locate the Golden Lion. Although Vlad's Observation Haki is not necessarily weaker than Eneru's, in terms of specialization, Vlad's Observation Haki, especially in range, is nowhere near as extensive as Eneru's, who could enhance his with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Finding an island in the vast ocean is no simple task.
Fortunately, the New World isn't vast, and the potential locations where Zou could appear are limited. Though the search is extensive, it is still possible to find it with enough patience.
"Whew—" Vlad sighs, resigned to continue his slow search.
Then, as time slowly passes, another month goes by. It's now the latter half of 1519 in the Sea Circle calendar, with little time left until the stormy year 1520 begins. Time is running short for Vlad.
Like many days before, Vlad continues his search across the vast ocean today. Then, a turning point finally arrives.
"Huh?" Vlad's swift form suddenly stops, his giant wings flapping to keep him suspended mid-air, "What's that sound?"
Vlad hears something, but nothing is visible. For nearly two months, while searching for Zou, he has kept his Observation Haki active, continuously draining and recovering. After two months, he feels his Observation Haki has improved slightly, at least in range, but he still can't quite reach Eneru's level of using Observation Haki to hear sounds.
Yet, the sound isn't an illusion; Vlad indeed hears something—a massive sound coming from a great distance, clearly reaching his ears.
"What is it?!" As he listens intently, Vlad's ears perk up, "That sound, is it crying?"
It's a profoundly sad sound! Vlad can tell it's full of deep sorrow, carrying intense internal pain.
"It's not a human voice!" Vlad quickly concludes. It doesn't sound like a human—voices can't carry that far and aren't that loud.
"Could it be—" Vlad's eyes widen as he realizes a possibility.
"That would be great!"
"Roar!!!" Flames burst forth as the fiery Dragon Man cuts through the clouds, speeding towards the horizon.
...
On the ocean's surface, an extraordinary scene unfolds. Just as walking in shallow water stirs ripples, imagine the scene if a giant were to walk through the sea.
Giant waves, towering waves, merely from walking, bring forth monstrous waves, the terrifying form akin to an island.
Four massive legs toy with the waves, like colossal pillars stretching from the seabed to the sky.
It's an elephant, a giant elephant walking through the sea, its feet on the ocean floor, its back entering the clouds, a true colossus, a living fossil, a contemporary legend.
On its back, shrouded in mist, lies the place called Zou!
There, Vlad has finally found his destination.
"Wow!" Like a shooting star from heaven, Vlad floats quietly before the giant elephant, silently watching the mighty creature walk forward, stirring great waves in silence.
"This is..." Vlad speaks with utter amazement, "Zunisha!"
"Is it—" Vlad gazes at the elephant's head, its hollow eyes partly obscured by decaying flesh, "Are you crying?"