Two days passed in the blink of an eye. That afternoon, Filina approached Eli Winters with important news: the recording device's pointer had gathered enough magnetic energy to navigate to the next island. Upon hearing this, Eli decided that they would leave Whiskey Mountain Town the following day to set sail for the next destination—Little Garden, also known as Pangu Island.
That evening, Eli instructed Darui to prepare all the supplies they would need and load them onto the Silver Dragon. Naturally, Eli paid for everything. Money was never an issue for him, and Darui had consistently performed well, so there was no need to overwork him.
The next morning, sunlight bathed the docks. Eli led his companions to the pier, where the massive, luxurious Silver Dragon lay in quiet anticipation.
Once aboard, Darui hurried over with his crew to see them off. He had come to express gratitude—he had not expected that Eli's payment would include a Devil Fruit. Although it was only a common Zoan-type Zebra Fruit, it was still immensely valuable.
"Great Lord Skyward, thank you so much for your generosity," Darui said sincerely.
"Darui, I don't interfere with your hunts for pirates, but if you encounter simple adventurers, I hope you leave them be," Eli warned seriously.
"I will remember your teaching, Lord," Darui said solemnly.
Eli nodded, saying no more. He had given Darui the Devil Fruit solely because Darui was an upright man, not wanting him to die prematurely. After all, hunting the vicious, power-hungry pirates of the Grand Line was never an easy task.
The Grand Line was far more dangerous than the Four Seas—not only were pirates here generally stronger, but the seas were teeming with powerful Sea Kings, and the unpredictable weather often posed life-threatening challenges.
On the second morning after leaving Whiskey Mountain Town, the Silver Dragon sailed into sudden peril. Two massive Sea King octopuses appeared before them, their thick, basin-sized tentacles lashing violently toward the ship.
Quick as lightning, Fiona leapt into action. Several blades flashed through the air, accompanied by the sound of flesh splitting. Tentacles fell harmlessly into the water, severed by her strikes.
Fiona prepared to finish the creatures off.
But Filina, sensing the turbulent currents and shifts in the sea, shouted, "Sister, retreat! A storm is coming!"
Fiona, however, had already engaged the octopuses in fierce combat. Though the Sea Kings were no match for her skill, their immense vitality made them hard to defeat quickly.
Hearing Filina's warning, Fiona attempted to withdraw toward the Silver Dragon. The octopuses, enraged after prolonged attacks, refused to let her go.
In an instant, several water spouts erupted, blocking her retreat. Numerous tentacles, glowing faintly blue, surged toward her. The blue glow hardened the tentacles, making them extraordinarily tough. Fiona found she could not sever them all at once.
Meanwhile, the sky had darkened ominously. An immense energy seemed to coalesce above, threatening destruction at any moment.
Fearing for Fiona's safety, Eli called Simon to assist. As a Devil Fruit user, Fiona could fight on the open sea, but her mobility was limited. Being thrown into the water could prove fatal. Of course, Eli remained ready to intervene if necessary.
Simon leapt into the sea, his speed far superior in water than in air.
Soon, Simon skillfully used Fish-Man Karate, hurling the two Sea King octopuses into the air. Seizing the opportunity, Fiona unleashed six flying blades, each imbued with Armament Haki. The blades sliced through the creatures, scattering them into pieces that fell back into the ocean.
At that moment, violent waves rose and dark clouds thickened above. Howling winds announced the arrival of a sudden, ferocious storm.
Fiona did not hesitate. She flew back to the Silver Dragon, while Simon swam swiftly alongside.
The storm arrived with terrifying intensity. Once aboard, Filina shouted to Dotai, the helmsman: "Left rudder, increase speed! The left side of the storm hasn't fully formed—let's break through there!"
"Understood!" Dotai bellowed, his strong hands steady on the helm.
Filina used her Devil Fruit powers to manipulate the weather, attempting to shorten the storm's duration on their side. Though her Cloud Cloud Fruit could influence minor atmospheric conditions, the storm's raw, near-apocalyptic force made her feel limited.
After half an hour of tense effort, the Silver Dragon finally emerged safely from the storm. Filina collapsed from exhaustion, her entire body drained.
"Well done, Filina!" Eli said, beaming.
Without her, Eli would likely have had to use his spatial powers to teleport the Silver Dragon out of danger—a solution that would ensure safety but could foster dependency among his companions. He valued their growth and did not wish to create such reliance.
Hearing Eli's sincere praise, Filina's tired face, pale from exertion, brightened instantly into a radiant, proud smile. Her infectious cheer caused everyone nearby to laugh, filling the air with lighthearted joy.
"Chiyo, today we celebrate overcoming another challenge," Eli said.
"Chiyo, you'll have to pamper me properly," Filina teased, wrapping her arms around the girl with mock pleading.
"Of course," Chiyo replied with a smile. She delighted in cooking and sharing meals that brought happiness to others.
The group busied themselves preparing food, the atmosphere lively and warm.
Even Big Pan felt better in the storm, having endured it without vomiting. Though slightly uncomfortable, he fared far better than before. Eli suspected it was due to his strengthened constitution.
In the following days, the crew encountered no further severe weather. A few small Sea Kings appeared, but Big Pan dispatched them with ease. The ship's kitchen also gained some new exotic ingredients, enriching their meals.
After several days of sailing, a vast, mysterious island came into view. Towering plants reached for the clouds, forming a lush, prehistoric-like forest.
Filina pointed eagerly ahead. "Look! That's Little Garden! We've finally arrived!"
"What a massive island!" Big Pan exclaimed. It was the largest they had seen since departing, nearly the size of a small country.
Under Dotai's steady control, the Silver Dragon anchored safely nearby. To ensure safety, Simon volunteered to remain aboard and guard the ship.
Eli had suggested it was unnecessary, but Simon preferred guarding the vessel over adventuring. Eli did not argue further.
Stepping onto Little Garden, the crew immediately sensed an ancient, mysterious aura. Towering trees blocked much of the sunlight, and strange noises emerged from the thick grass.
As they ventured further, massive footprints appeared ahead, each the size of a swimming pool. Big Pan peered curiously. "What kind of creature left these?"
A deep, heavy footfall soon echoed from the distance, making the ground tremble slightly.
From the forest emerged a towering dinosaur, over ten meters tall, letting out a deafening roar.
Seeing its muscular legs, Big Pan's mouth watered. "Brother, I'm going to catch this! Tonight we feast on barbecue!"
He charged forward, wielding his Pan-Dragon Staff, which expanded instantly. The staff swung toward the dinosaur's head with tremendous force.
The massive beast trembled at the sudden assault. Before it could react, a black shadow streaked like lightning, and the staff slammed into its skull with the force of a thunderclap.
The dinosaur's roar echoed through the forest. Its enormous body quaked violently before darkness clouded its eyes. With a tremendous crash, it collapsed like a small mountain, sending dust and debris flying.
Its dying roars shook the forest, frightening birds and scattering smaller animals. Simultaneously, rumbling echoes from deep within the woods made the earth itself seem to tremble.
Eli watched from a distance, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Heh, looks like Big Pan's quarry wasn't just any dinosaur."
Yet he paid little attention beyond that. In this mysterious Little Garden, the only real threats were the two hulking giants rumored to reside there. According to Eli's knowledge, even their strength only approached the level of an Admiral. For Eli's crew, they posed no serious threat.
_________________________________________________
Already sailing with Eli on this fog-shrouded journey?
Drop your thoughts and reviews every word keeps this grand voyage alive! And for every 300 Power Stones, a bonus chapter will set sail, bringing Eli's wild adventure closer to its next storm!
The seas are vast, the dreams are boundless, and Eli Winters' legend is only just beginning. Stay aboard One Piece: I'm Just an Adventurer, and let's ride the tides toward freedom, laughter, and the greatest treasure of all!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a