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--xLOVEx--
The turtle froze, clearly terrified by the sight. With a frightened bellow, it turned and swam away as fast as it could, retreating into the depths. But the two crews weren't faring much better. The sheer size of the shadows left everyone on edge. The giant figures seemed ready to strike at any moment.
Masira, who had just avoided being devoured by the turtle, quickly ordered his crew to set sail. "Get us out of here! Now!" he yelled, panic evident in his voice. His ship lurched forward, cutting through the water as they made their escape.
Even Luffy, usually fearless, looked uneasy as he stared at the gigantic shadows. "What the hell are those things?" he muttered, fists clenched.
Coby chuckled. "It's just a shadow. Don't be afraid."
The crew glanced at him, confused. Coby smirked as he did a punching gesture. Ace's fire formed on his fist. Since he had only copied Hiken, he couldn't create normal fire, just this particular attack. He moved his other hand in front of the fire, casting a shadow that danced across the deck of the ship.
Usopp, still on edge, asked, "How big must they be if their shadows are gigantic?"
Coby didn't answer. Instead, he adjusted the distance of his free hand from the fire, making the shadow grow and shrink.
Nami caught up, eyes wide as she stared at the giant shadows. "I understand now. Those are people who live on Sky Island. Since they're so high up, their shadows stretch down here and look enormous."
Coby smirked, nodding. "Exactly. It's just a trick of perspective."
Luffy grinned, his fear evaporating in an instant. "So they're not giants? Just normal people way up in the sky?"
"That's right," Coby confirmed, crossing his arms.
Usopp exhaled in relief, though he still seemed shaken. "Man, that was terrifying. For a second, I thought we were about to be squashed like bugs!"
The tension on the ship eased as the crew realized the truth. Luffy's unease melted away, replaced by his usual enthusiasm. "That's awesome!" he shouted, his excitement returning in full force. "We're definitely going to Sky Island!"
Robin, observing the scene with a small smile, remarked, "The mysteries of the world never cease to amaze me."
Coby then asked if Robin got it. She nodded and handed over the Eternal Pose that read "Jaya." He glanced at the log, satisfied, and turned to the crew.
"Here's the plan," Coby began, his tone practical. "We'll head to Jaya first. While we're there, we need to find out how long it takes for the Log Pose to adapt. Before it does, we'll gather all the information we can and get out of there so we can still head to Sky Island."
Luffy immediately jumped on the idea, excitement brimming in his voice. "Alright! Sounds like a plan. Let's get to Jaya!"
Nami studied the Eternal Pose before steering the ship in the right direction. "It shouldn't take us too long to get there," she said, eyeing the horizon.
Coby looked Luffy and Zoro, and added, "Jaya's known for attracting some rough crowds."
Sanji lit another cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Just don't start any unnecessary fights, Marimo. We're there to get info, not brawl."
Zoro shot him a glare but didn't argue. Usopp, still recovering from the earlier scare, sighed in relief. "I'm all for gathering info, but let's avoid any trouble if we can. I'd rather not get into another mess."
Chopper nodded in agreement, sticking close to Usopp. "Yeah, let's focus on getting to Sky Island safely."
On the way to Jaya, the sea was calm, and the crew relaxed a bit after the earlier excitement. But out of nowhere, three birds fell from the sky onto the ship, their bodies hitting the deck with dull thuds.
Chopper hurried over to check them, his expression quickly turning serious. "They were shot! The bullets came from the direction we're heading," he said, pointing ahead.
The crew exchanged confused looks. Nami scanned the horizon. "But the island isn't even visible yet. How is that possible?"
"It means someone's got some serious range," Coby muttered. "We're heading into a dangerous place."
As they got closer to Jaya, the shouts and screams of people echoed across the water. The sound of violence was clear even from a distance. The crew grew tense, believing in Coby's words that this island would be nothing but trouble.
Arriving at the town on Jaya's western shores, the crew disembarked, taking in the rough and lawless atmosphere of the place. Coby was the first to speak. "This island has no Marines, so it's basically a pirate town. Those who go out, be careful." He then turned to Nami. "Nami, come with me."
Nami nodded and quickly grabbed Coby's arm, sticking close to him. Luffy followed them, his usual curiosity leading the way.
Zoro stretched and yawned. "I'll stay back. No point in wandering around if it's just full of pirates."
Coby, Usopp, and Sanji agreed to stay behind as well, watching over the ship and the area. Robin, on the other hand, decided to explore on her own, quietly disappearing into the crowd.
As Coby, Nami, and Luffy walked through the town, they noticed the rough edges of the place—shady characters lurking in alleys, buildings with boarded-up windows, and the overall sense of lawlessness. The atmosphere was tense, but the trio moved forward without hesitation.
On their way to a bar, they encountered a sickly-looking man who had just fallen off his horse. The man struggled to stand, his legs weak and shaky. He glanced up at Coby and Luffy, desperation in his eyes. "Can you help me back onto my horse?" he asked, his voice strained.
Coby grinned, nodding as he and Luffy moved to help the man. They lifted him up, and once he was seated back on his horse, it became clear that the horse was just as sick as its rider. The poor animal coughed up blood, barely able to stand.
The man reached into a basket hanging from the saddle and offered it to Coby and Luffy. "Thank you. Take an apple in return," he said, his hand trembling as he held out the basket.
Luffy reached for one without thinking, but Coby stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Only if you eat one first," Coby said, his grin turning sly. "What do you say?"
The sick man's eyes narrowed, then the man let out a dry laugh, clearly caught in his act. He pulled the basket back and quickly urged his horse forward, not saying another word as he disappeared into the crowd.
Luffy blinked, looking from the man's retreating figure to Coby. "What was that about?"
Coby shrugged, his grin widening as he pointed toward the direction of an explosion that rang out in the distance. People around started murmuring, "Whoa, he took an apple from an old man, and it exploded."
Luffy's face paled. "That bastard was trying to kill us?"
Coby shook his head. "Not all of them were tampered with, but still..."
Luffy nodded, understanding the close call they had just avoided. They continued walking until they arrived at a bar. Coby, Nami, and Luffy walked in, the dim lighting and rough atmosphere adding to the town's seedy vibe.
As they took their seats, Luffy immediately called out to the bartender. "I'll take a cherry pie!"
The bartender nodded and soon placed a cherry pie in front of Luffy. Luffy eagerly took a big bite, only to stop mid-chew, his face twisting in disgust. "This cherry pie is gross! I thought I was gonna die!"
At the same time, a big man sitting at the bar next to him, wearing a white shirt. His expression was the complete opposite of Luffy's—pure delight. "This cherry pie is delicious. It's to die for."
The stark contrast in their reactions caught everyone's attention. The man and Luffy turned to face each other, their gazes locking. A tense silence filled the bar as they sized each other up.
Then, without missing a beat, both reached for their drinks and took a swig. Luffy slammed his mug down on the bar. "This drink is perfect!" he exclaimed.
At the exact same moment, the man beside him frowned, his voice dripping with disdain. "This drink is terrible."
The tension between them grew as they argued back and forth. "You got a problem with your tongue?" Luffy snapped, glaring at the man.
"Maybe it's your brain that's messed up," the man shot back, eyes narrowing.
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