AN: Check out my P@treon For +30 extra chapters starting at 5$.
Thank You For your Support!!
www.p@treon.com/noviceauthor777
--------------------------------------
"Boom!"
The clash between Jack's 'Iron Fist' and Dragon's technique sent shockwaves through the street, creating a thunderous explosion.
"What the hell was that?!"
The fleeing Straw Hat Pirates turned their heads, momentarily distracted by the spectacle behind them.
"Don't worry about it! Luffy, get on the ship!" Nami, already aboard, caught a glimpse of the fight—a captain locked in combat with a mysterious figure. However, their own escape was the priority. Whoever that was, they were keeping the navy occupied, and that was all that mattered for now.
Jack refused to back down, despite the powerful collision leaving a thin trail of blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Not bad!" Dragon responded, his palm morphing into a claw-like shape with only three extended fingers. "Dragon Claw!"
He reached out, seizing the golden dragon-shaped energy Jack had unleashed, effortlessly dispersing it with a crushing grip.
Gritting his teeth, Jack forced out another strike. "Iron Fist!"
But he was reaching his limit. His chakra was nearly depleted, and even his regenerative power couldn't keep up with the relentless consumption of his technique.
Then, he saw it—Dragon's arm darkening, taking on an ominous hue.
"Armament Haki!"
"Dragon Hook Claw!" Dragon's voice echoed, his aura intensifying. Jack braced himself. This was going to be a true test of strength.
"Boom!"Dragon's claw clashed against Jack's fourth punch, but his energy lasted barely five seconds before being completely dissipated.
"Pfft—!"
Jack coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body trembling from the impact. Smoker instinctively reached out to catch him, but the heavy rain interfered with his ability—the falling raindrops scattered his smoke, rendering him powerless to stop Jack from being sent hurtling into the sea by Dragon's attack.
"Hey, Luffy! Isn't that your brother?"
Nami's sharp eyes caught sight of the defeated captain plummeting into the stormy waters—right in their direction.
Zoro turned to Luffy, his expression serious. "What do we do? Do we save him?"
Luffy didn't hesitate. "Yes!"
Jack wasn't just Ace's sworn brother—he had helped them multiple times. Letting him drown simply wasn't an option.
"But, Luffy... the wind and rain are too strong!" Usopp's voice trembled. "Even if we jump in, there's no guarantee we'll reach him! We could all die!"
Sanji exhaled sharply, kicking off his shoes and loosening his tie. "I'll go."
He didn't waste time with debates—Luffy was a Devil Fruit user, meaning he would be helpless in the water. Sanji was their best bet.
"Wait, Sanji!"
Nami grabbed his arm before he could dive in. "Usopp's right—the storm is brutal. Tie a rope around your waist first!"
Sanji paused, then gave a small smirk. "Fine, fine. Can't have me dying just yet, huh?"
"Nami-san~ I knew you cared about me the most!"
Sanji immediately melted into a lovestruck fool, twirling around Nami like a spineless mollusk.
Usopp grimaced, unable to watch. "Enough of that! Here, take this."
He quickly grabbed a long rope, tied one end around Sanji's waist, and handed the other to Zoro.
Luffy stepped forward, his expression unusually serious. "Sanji, please!"
Sanji gave a firm nod before diving into the churning sea.
Just as he disappeared beneath the waves, Usopp suddenly shouted, "Hey! What's that?"
All eyes turned in the direction he was pointing.
"That's a lighthouse!" Nami's face lit up. "The beacon guiding ships into the Grand Line!"
Meanwhile, Zoro, still holding the rope, felt a sudden resistance—Sanji had reached the limit of its length, yet he was still moving forward. Moments later, the tension abruptly vanished.
Zoro frowned, immediately understanding. "Tch. That idiot untied himself."
The crew turned to him in concern. "What? Why?"
Zoro calmly reeled in the now-limp rope. "He must've found something—or someone."
Sure enough, a few moments later, Sanji broke through the surface, gasping for air—with an unconscious figure tucked under his arm.
"Sanji, grab on!"
Without hesitation, Luffy stretched his arms, elongating them toward Sanji.
With a few strong pulls and a final heave, the crew managed to haul both Sanji and the unconscious Jack onto the ship.
"He should be fine—just passed out," Nami assessed after a quick check of Jack's condition.
Without wasting time, they carried him into the cabin, laying him down to rest.
Once everything settled, Sanji suddenly appeared, lugging a large wooden barrel. A sly grin spread across his face.
"Alright, time for a ceremony!"
He planted his foot firmly on the barrel. "To finding the legendary All Blue!"
Luffy grinned, stepping up next. "To become the Pirate King!"
Zoro followed, his expression as sharp as his blades. "The world's greatest swordsman."
Nami placed her foot on the barrel with a smile. "I want to draw a complete world map!"
Usopp hesitated but then took a deep breath. "I-I want to become a brave sea warrior!"
"Let's go! To the Grand Line!" they all cheered in unison, sealing their promise.
With the ritual complete, they returned inside, checking on Jack once more before shifting their focus.
Nami examined the maps, her brow furrowing as she traced their route. "So... the entrance to the Grand Line is actually... a mountain?"
"A mountain?!" The rest of the crew gawked in disbelief.
"How the hell are we supposed to sail up a mountain?!"
"According to the nautical chart, there's a canal leading up Reverse Mountain!" Nami said, pointing at the map with a serious expression.
"That's ridiculous!" Usopp protested. "Even if it's a canal, how can a ship possibly climb a mountain?!"
"I'm just telling you what the chart says," Nami replied, tapping the map again for emphasis.
Zoro, uninterested in the details, leaned back with a sigh. "Seems like too much hassle. Can't we just find another way in?"
Luffy immediately pointed at him, eyes full of conviction. "You're wrong!"
"Exactly!" Nami nodded, relieved that Luffy, for once, seemed to take things seriously.
Luffy grinned. "It's because entering from the official entrance feels more exciting!"
Nami's expression darkened. "That's NOT the reason!!!" she yelled, landing a punch on Luffy's head. "You're hopeless!"
As they bickered, Usopp glanced outside and suddenly frowned. "Huh? The wind stopped… It was pouring just a moment ago."
Sanji stepped to the railing and took a deep breath. "Yeah… and the sky's cleared up."
Nami turned around, her eyes widening. "Wait, no way… Have we entered a Calm Belt?!"
"Calm Belt? What's that?" Luffy asked curiously as he stepped out of the cabin.
Sanji stood on the deck, gazing at the distant storm with a puzzled expression. "Strange… It's pouring over there, yet it's completely calm here."
"You guys still have time to chat?!" Nami snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Forget the sightseeing—get those sails down and start rowing! We need to head straight into the storm!"
"What?! Why would we do that? Isn't it better to stay here where it's safe?" Usopp protested.
But one look at Nami's furious expression was enough to get them all moving.
"Seriously, what kind of crew have I ended up with?" Nami muttered, exasperated by their laid-back attitudes.
At that moment, Zoro strolled out of the cabin, stretching leisurely. "Wow, the weather's actually nice for once."
Nami's face darkened. "Don't you realize we're drifting south?! Get rowing now!"
Zoro, for once, seemed to grasp the situation. "Oh? So we're heading toward the Grand Line?"
Nami sighed. "If only it were that easy. The Grand Line is flanked by two narrow seas, and this—this is one of them. A sea with no wind. The Calm Belt!"
"No wind? So what? We can just row across!" Zoro said, puzzled.
Nami barely had time to respond. "That's because the calm belt is a house for—"
Before she could finish, the entire ship lurched violently, as if something massive had just lifted it into the air.
"What the—?!" The crew turned pale as an enormous Sea King emerged before them, its monstrous form towering over their tiny vessel.
Nami clung to the mast, trembling. "I was trying to tell you... The clam belt is the nesting grounds for Sea Kings! And they're gigantic!"
Usopp had already fainted in sheer terror. Meanwhile, Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy stood frozen, each gripping an oar with white-knuckled hands.
"Alright, listen up." Zoro's voice was barely above a whisper. "The moment this thing sinks back into the sea, we row like hell toward the storm!"
"Got it!" This time, no one questioned him. No one hesitated.
Unfortunately, their ship had stopped right next to the Sea King's massive nose. With a thunderous "ACHOO!" the beast sneezed—sending them soaring through the air.
By sheer luck, they were blown straight toward the storm. The moment they hit the water, the crew frantically rowed, racing back into the tempest.
By the time they made it back to the storm zone, everyone was utterly drained, collapsing onto the deck in exhaustion. Usopp remained unconscious—he had fallen off mid-flight, and if not for Luffy's quick reflexes, stretching his arms just in time, he might have become a Sea King's snack.
"We're finally back! This is amazing!" Even Luffy, usually fearless, looked relieved to be back in the chaos of the storm.
Lying on the deck, breathless, Nami weakly asked, "Now do you understand why everyone has to enter through the official route?"
"Yeah, I get it," Zoro replied, though his tone lacked conviction.
Nami narrowed her eyes. "Oh? You get it?"
Realizing something, she immediately rushed back into the cabin, studying the nautical chart with intense focus. Moments later, she returned, confirming her theory: the entrance to Reverse Mountain was indeed a canal. But if they failed to enter it correctly, their ship would be torn apart, and they would all perish.
"Ah-ha! So it's a mysterious mountain!" Luffy exclaimed as if he had a sudden revelation—though judging by his expression, it was clear he hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation.
Nami sighed, deciding it wasn't worth explaining any further. Instead, she straightened up, regaining her composure. "Listen up! From now on, follow my commands exactly. And don't forget—I'm the navigator of this ship!" She declared with confidence, ready to guide them through the treacherous passage ahead.
"Oh~ Oh~ Nami-san is so cool!" A certain love-struck chef was instantly smitten, transforming into a mollusk as he twirled around Nami in admiration.
Meanwhile, Luffy stood at the bow, eyes wide with awe. "Whoa! Look at that mountain! It's huge!" He gazed up at the towering Red Line, its peak hidden beyond the clouds, stretching endlessly in both directions.
"Oh~ Oh~ Oh~" After a strenuous journey, the Going Merry finally carried the Straw Hat Pirates up the treacherous waters of Upside-Down Mountain.
As they ascended the powerful current surging up the mountainside, Luffy couldn't contain his excitement, cheering loudly.
But the thrill took a sharp turn when they reached the summit—just as the current started to slow. Though they weren't in immediate danger, the situation was anything but reassuring.
From his perch high up on the mast, Sanji suddenly shouted, "Nami-san! There's a mountain ahead!" His voice was tense as he spotted an ominous dark shadow looming before them.
"That's impossible!" Nami exclaimed, startled. "Once we pass through Reverse Mountain, it should be open sea ahead!"
Then, Usopp—peering through his glasses, hands trembling—stammered, "It's… a whale!"
"What? A whale? That huge?" Luffy gasped in amazement.
Just then, a deep, resonating roar echoed across the sea.
"Booo-oo-oo-oo~~~"
The ship rattled as the enormous creature's voice sent waves crashing around them. Panic set in.
"Now's not the time for sightseeing! If we don't act fast, we'll crash!"
"The rudder's broken—we can't steer!"
"What do we do?! What do we do?! We're gonna die!"
The entire ship was in chaos. Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro rushed to the broken rudder, desperately trying to force it into position, hoping to steer the ship away from disaster.
But their efforts barely made a difference. Just as panic threatened to take over, Luffy clapped his hands, an idea forming in his head. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the ship's cannon.
Boom~!
The sudden blast startled everyone.
"The cannon?!" The crew gasped in surprise. They hadn't expected Luffy to use the cannon's recoil to slow their approach. However, firing at a creature of such colossal size hardly seemed better than crashing straight into it.
Batta~!
The ship came to a jarring halt, but at a cost—the Going Merry's beloved sheep figurehead had broken off. Seeing this, Luffy's expression darkened with fury.
"We need to get out of here!" Zoro shouted, locking eyes with the massive whale. However, the creature didn't react.
"It's probably too big to even notice us. Our attacks must feel like mosquito bites to it," Nami speculated. "Either way, we should escape before it actually does see us!"
Wasting no time, the crew grabbed their oars and paddled with quiet urgency, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
"Booooooooooo~~~"
Just as they passed beneath the whale's enormous eye, it let out a deafening roar. The sheer force of the sound sent shockwaves through the air, making their eardrums ring.
Deep inside the cabin, Jack stirred ever so slightly, his fingers twitching. The whale's cry had reached him.
--------------------------------------
AN: Check out my P@treon For +30 extra chapters starting at 5$.
Thank You For your Support!!
www.p@treon.com/noviceauthor777