The moment Laboon let out a deafening roar, the entire chamber trembled. The vibrations sent ripples across the water inside his stomach, and Going Merry rocked slightly as the sound echoed like a storm trapped in a cage. The crew flinched at the sheer power behind the sound, a mixture of agony and frustration.
Luffy stood on the ship's figurehead, arms crossed as he watched the massive whale repeatedly ram his head into the inner walls of Reverse Mountain. Each collision sent shockwaves through the chamber, and despite his thick skin, fresh wounds began reopening across Laboon's already scarred forehead. Blood mixed with the water, dissolving into a faint pink hue.
"What the hell is he doing?!" Usopp shouted, gripping the railing. "Is he trying to kill himself?!"
"Laboon has been doing this for decades," Crocus spoke in a quiet but firm voice. The old man had stepped onto the deck of the Going Merry, his expression unreadable behind his thick mustache. "He refuses to give up waiting."
Luffy's face was serious, an unusual sight. He had already heard enough to understand the pain Laboon carried, a pain he wasn't willing to let continue.
But before he could speak—
BOOM!
A bazooka round blasted through the chamber, exploding against the inner wall just above Laboon's head. The whale roared again, this time in rage.
"What now?!" Sanji growled, turning toward the source of the attack.
Atop a rocky ledge within the chamber, two figures stood proudly, bazookas still smoking from the recent attack. A tall man with short blue hair and a tight orange jumpsuit spun his bazooka around his shoulder with a cocky smirk. Beside him, a young woman with wavy blue hair, a bandana, and a revealing orange outfit twirled her weapon with confidence.
"Alright, Miss Wednesday!" the man declared. "Let's take this old geezer back to our town!"
"That's right, Mr. 9!" the woman chimed in. "It's about time our people finally feasted on whale meat!"
Nami's face twisted in horror. "Whale meat?!"
"They're poachers," Zoro muttered, gripping the hilt of his sword. "And idiots."
Luffy's expression darkened as he vanished, moving so fast that it was almost impossible to track him.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday.
They barely had time to react before—
CRACK!
Luffy's open palm slammed into the back of their necks with brutal force, sending them both crashing into the ground unconscious before they could even scream.
The crew blinked.
"…Well, that was fast," Sanji muttered, lowering his guard.
Crocus chuckled. "Efficient."
Luffy rolled his shoulders, stepping on Mr. 9's bazooka and breaking it effortlessly. "I don't like people messing with my friends," he stated simply before turning back to Crocus.
The old man nodded approvingly before turning toward Laboon. "Let's get out of here. He needs medicine."
With that, Crocus led them to the large gates that opened toward Laboon's blowhole. With a few adjustments from a lever inside the chamber, the gates unlocked, and a strong current began pulling the Going Merry upward.
Laboon made a deep, groaning sound, his body helping push them along with a gentle movement.
In moments, the ship burst out of Laboon's blowhole, sailing back onto the ocean's surface.
The crew took a moment to adjust to the bright sunlight once they were back outside. Laboon's massive form loomed over them, his deep brown eyes staring down at them with confusion and sadness.
He let out a low, rumbling cry, as if asking: Are you leaving too?
Luffy walked to the edge of the Going Merry, standing tall.
"Laboon!" he shouted. The giant whale flinched slightly, then focused entirely on Luffy.
Luffy grinned and pointed to his own chest.
"You're not alone," he said. "There's someone out there… who still wants to see you."
Laboon tilted his massive head, confused.
"His name is Brook. He was part of your crew. He's still alive, and one day—we'll bring him back to you!"
The words hung in the air like a powerful vow.
Crocus's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the name. "…Brook?"
Laboon let out a sharp, surprised cry, his massive body trembling slightly. For the first time in decades, someone had spoken the name of his long-lost friend.
Luffy's grin widened. "So stop hitting your head, okay? You gotta stay alive until we bring Brook here!"
Laboon was still for a long moment.
Then—
He let out a deep, powerful cry, louder than ever before.
The sound shook the ocean, but this time, it wasn't filled with sadness.
It was hope.
Laboon slowly lifted his head, no longer smashing it against the mountain.
Crocus closed his eyes and smiled. "…Looks like you gave him something to believe in again."
Luffy just laughed. "Of course! Laboon's our friend now."
The old man turned to him with an amused look. "That hat… I see why he entrusted it to you."
Luffy blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Crocus simply shook his head. "Never mind. Just keep sailing forward, kid. The Grand Line won't be easy."
Luffy grinned. "That's fine! We love adventure!"
Crocus smirked. "Then get going. There's a wild journey ahead of you."
With that, the Going Merry's sails unfurled, and the crew set course for the Grand Line.
As they drifted away, Laboon's massive form shrank into the horizon, his cries still echoing over the waves.
And in that moment—
The Straw Hats had gained another lifelong friend.