Chapter 80: The Island Eater (II)
The Going Merry drifted steadily down the narrow river cutting through the heart of Little Garden. Towering trees and lush greenery lined the banks, their prehistoric majesty dwarfing the small ship. The crew was on high alert, the tension from Dorry and Broggy's warnings still fresh in their minds.
As they approached the river's end, the sight of the two giants standing on opposite sides of the river greeted them. Their massive frames loomed like sentinels, weapons in hand, their expressions resolute.
"Remember," Dorry boomed, his voice carrying over the sound of rushing water. "Sail straight ahead. Do not veer off course!"
"Aye," Broggy added, his tone equally stern. "Not to the left, not to the right—straight ahead!"
Goku stood at the bow, his arms crossed. "Got it!" he called back, his voice firm.
Usopp, standing beside him, echoed nervously, "Y-yeah! Straight ahead! No problem!"
As the Going Merry passed between the giants, their towering forms stood firm, weapons at the ready. Dorry and Broggy's gazes were fixed not on the jungle, but on the vast expanse of the ocean ahead.
Their stances exuded unshakable resolve, the weight of their experience evident in their poised forms. Dorry rested his massive blade on his shoulder, while Broggy's axe gleamed in the sunlight. They were prepared for the monumental task that lay before them: facing the Island Eater.
"Straight ahead, little ones," Dorry boomed, his eyes not leaving the horizon.
"And don't look back," Broggy added, his tone unwavering.
The crew nodded in solemn understanding, their respect for the giants palpable. Goku gave one final wave as the ship sailed into the open ocean, leaving the two warriors to confront their monstrous foe.
The river opened Into the vast expanse of the ocean, and the crew let out a collective sigh of relief. But the respite was short-lived.
"Gin," Goku called over his shoulder. "Keep the rudder steady. We need to stay straight."
Gin nodded, his hands tightening around the wheel. "Understood, Captain." His stance was firm, every muscle in his body focused on maintaining the ship's course.
On the deck, Nami stood with a map in hand, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Despite her usual composure, there was a faint pallor to her face. She approached Goku, her voice quieter than usual.
"Goku, what's our course after this?"
Goku turned to her, noticing the slight flush in her cheeks. "We'll sail straight ahead first," he said gently, "then adjust to follow the Eternal Pose once we're clear of this… situation."
Nami nodded, her gaze dropping to the map. Goku studied her for a moment longer, his brow furrowing slightly. She's pale. Maybe she's just tired after everything with Mr. 3, he thought, deciding not to press the issue.
The crew settled Into a tense silence, their eyes fixed on the horizon. The ocean stretched out before them, calm and seemingly endless. But that calm was deceptive.
It began subtly—a faint ripple across the water's surface, almost imperceptible. Then, the ocean began to rise.
"Hey, is it just me, or is the water acting… weird?" Usopp said, his voice shaky.
Zoro, leaning against the railing, straightened and narrowed his eyes. "Weird doesn't even begin to cover it."
The ocean's surface bulged, forming an enormous dome of water that grew wider and taller with every passing second. The Going Merry bobbed violently on the swelling waves, the crew struggling to maintain their footing.
"What the hell is that?!" Gin shouted, his knuckles white as he gripped the rudder.
The dome grew to an impossible height, blotting out the sun as it loomed over the ship. The crew stared in stunned silence, the sheer scale of the phenomenon rendering them speechless. Then, with a deafening roar, the water cascaded downward, revealing a creature of unimaginable size.
It was a fish—but not like any they had ever seen. Its body was the size of an island, its pink scales shimmering with an otherworldly hue. Rows of massive white teeth lined its gaping maw, each tooth as large as the Merry's mast. Its eyes were black and lifeless, yet they seemed to pierce through the crew with an almost malevolent intent.
Nami clutched the railing, her face pale. "That's… that's not possible. No fish should be that big!"
Usopp's knees buckled as he pointed a trembling finger at the creature. "That thing is bigger than a Sea King! We're gonna die! We're gonna die!"
"Get a grip, Usopp!" Zoro barked, though even his voice carried a note of unease.
Sanji lit a cigarette with shaking hands, the flame barely steady. "That thing's got enough teeth to eat a fleet. How are we supposed to get past it?"
Goku's eyes narrowed as he took a step forward, his usual confidence tempered by the sheer scale of the beast before them. "Gin, keep it steady!" he called out.
"I'm trying!" Gin gritted his teeth, straining against the rudder as the waves rocked the ship.
The massive fish let out a guttural roar, its breath sending ripples across the ocean. The sound was deafening, reverberating in the crew's chests like a drum.
"What do we do, Goku?" Nami asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"We follow the plan," Goku said firmly, his gaze never leaving the creature. "Straight ahead. No matter what."
"But that thing—!"
"It's the only way!" Goku cut her off, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The crew braced themselves as the Island Eater began to move, its massive body displacing water with every shift. The Going Merry rocked violently, the waves crashing against its hull as the beast loomed closer.
The Island Eater's maw opened wide, revealing a cavernous throat lined with teeth so large they seemed like jagged mountain peaks. The ocean around the Going Merry surged violently as water rushed into the creature's mouth, pulling the ship closer to its gaping abyss.
"We're going to be swallowed whole!" Nami screamed, clutching the railing, her voice almost drowned out by the roar of the cascading waves. "Goku, turn the ship around! Now!"
But Goku stood resolute at the bow, his feet planted firmly. His expression was calm, though his clenched fists betrayed the tension running through him. "No," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Trust the giants. We keep going straight."
Nami's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Are you insane? If we keep going straight, we're going to die!"
"Keep going straight… keep going straight…" Usopp muttered under his breath like a mantra, his hands gripping the mast so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Keep going straight, keep going straight…"
Zoro, standing near the mainmast, turned toward Nami, his voice steady but firm. "Let it go, Nami. Goku's right. The giants said to sail straight, so that's what we're doing."
The Going Merry was pulled further into the creature's mouth, the world around them becoming a swirling maelstrom of water and shadows. The roar of rushing waves mixed with the guttural growl of the Island Eater, a sound so deep it seemed to vibrate through their very bones.
Inside the creature's mouth, darkness enveloped them completely. The only light came from the faint glow of lanterns on the ship, which flickered against the damp, fleshy walls.
"We're already inside!" Nami cried, her voice trembling. She turned to Usopp, who was still muttering his mantra. "Usopp, stop saying that! We've already been swallowed!"
But Usopp didn't respond. His eyes were shut tight, his lips moving wordlessly as he clung to the mast.
---
At the river's edge, Dorry and Broggy stood shoulder to shoulder, their gazes fixed on the ocean. The massive outline of the Island Eater's massive form was visible in the distance, a humungous hadow against the horizon.
"It's grown even bigger," Dorry muttered, hefting his massive blade.
"Aye," Broggy replied, gripping his axe tightly. "A hundred years ago, it wasn't nearly this size. It's fed well since then."
The two giants exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions solemn but determined.
"Time to remind it why we're warriors of Elbaf," Dorry said, his voice carrying an edge of excitement.
Broggy nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Aye. Let's send that beast back to the depths."
The two giants raised their weapons high, their massive frames glowing faintly as their battle aura intensified. A strange light began to emanate from their blades, a fiery orange hue that shimmered like molten steel.
"ELBAF SPEAR!" they roared in unison, their voices echoing like thunder across the ocean.
They swung their weapons in a synchronized motion, their combined attack releasing a devastating, fiery projectile. The glowing spear-shaped energy tore through the air, leaving a trail of heat and light in its wake.
The Island Eater's roar turned into a deafening scream of pain as the attack struck its massive body. The fiery spear cut clean through the creature, creating a gaping hole that let sunlight stream into its dark interior.
The crew shielded their eyes as a blinding light filled the darkness. The ship was pulled forward with incredible speed, carried by the force of the water rushing through the newly created opening.
"We're through!" Goku yelled, his voice breaking into a triumphant laugh.
Usopp's eyes flew open, his mantra forgotten. "W-we're alive?! We're alive!"
"Hell yeah!" Zoro shouted, a rare grin spreading across his face.
Nami, clutching the railing for support, looked out at the rapidly retreating form of the Island Eater, its massive body convulsing as it thrashed in pain. "They did it…" she whispered, awe-struck.
The Going Merry sailed out into the open ocean, the sunlight gleaming on its sails as the crew erupted into cheers.
"That was incredible!" Sanji said, his cigarette dangling forgotten from his lips.
"Dorry and Broggy weren't kidding about their strength," Gin added, his hands still firm on the rudder but his tone filled with admiration.
As the ship steadied and the crew's excitement began to settle, Goku turned to the horizon, his expression thoughtful. "We owe them a lot," he said quietly. "Those two are something else."
The crew nodded In agreement, their spirits lifted by the giants' bravery and the knowledge that they had survived the impossible.
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