The deck was finally quiet again.
After the chaos of the previous day, Kael sat against the railing for a few moments, letting the sea breeze wash over him and slowly clear his head. The cool wind brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of salt and the endless ocean beyond.
The horizon stretched ahead—vast, calm, and completely indifferent to everything that had just taken place.
"Sigh…"
He rubbed his temples once before standing up, exhaling softly.
(Alright… back to normal.)
His gaze soon shifted toward the swordswoman practicing near the mast.
"Tashigi."
She immediately stopped mid-motion and turned toward him.
"Y-Yes, Kael-san!"
Her voice was still slightly stiff whenever she addressed him now, but the excitement in her eyes about the new breathing technique was impossible to hide.
Kael walked toward her at an unhurried pace.
"About what I said earlier."
He reached into the system storage.
A moment later—
A sword appeared in his hand.
The blade was elegant and refined. Its sheath carried a deep blue color with intricate hexagonal patterns that subtly caught the light, while the hilt was wrapped neatly with dark blue threads. The guard had a simple yet beautiful hexagonal design, giving the weapon a quiet but distinct identity.
The sword looked calm.
Balanced.
Yet undeniably sharp.
It was beautiful—almost mesmerizing in its simplicity.
Tashigi froze the moment she saw it.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Th-That sword…"
As someone obsessed with famous blades, she could immediately tell the craftsmanship was extraordinary—far beyond anything ordinary.
Her gaze traced every detail of the weapon as if she were studying a priceless artifact, afraid to even blink.
Kael held it out toward her.
"From this moment forward, use this sword."
Tashigi blinked in shock.
"Me…?"
Kael nodded.
"Just like my sword, it isn't a recorded blade."
He spoke casually, as if it were nothing remarkable.
"But its quality shouldn't be any less than that of a Supreme Grade Blade."
Tashigi's breath caught.
"S-Supreme Grade…?"
Her hands trembled slightly as she carefully accepted the weapon, almost as if she were afraid it might disappear if she wasn't gentle enough.
The balance was perfect.
The moment her fingers wrapped around the handle, she could feel how naturally the sword fit her grip—as if it had been made specifically for her.
It felt… right.
Comfortable.
Alive.
Kael continued calmly.
"The reason I'm giving it to you is simple."
"You won't be able to properly perform Water Breathing without this sword."
Tashigi instinctively drew the blade slightly from its sheath.
A soft metallic sound rang out.
The steel shimmered under the sunlight, reflecting a clean, fluid gleam that almost resembled flowing water.
Her heart pounded with excitement.
"This sword…"
She looked up at him, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
"…Are you sure I should have something this valuable?"
Kael shrugged lightly.
"It's meant to be used."
Tashigi hesitated before asking another question, her voice quieter this time.
"…Is it a family heirloom?"
Her eyes moved toward Kael's own sword.
"Just like yours?"
Kael paused.
For a brief moment, he didn't answer.
Then he scratched the side of his cheek awkwardly.
"Well…"
"You could say that."
(I wish I could tell you more about it.)
Tashigi heard the thought.
Her expression immediately stiffened.
A memory surfaced in her mind.
A few days ago, while chatting with Nami and Kaya, she had learned something important.
Kael was an orphan.
There was no family.
No home.
Nothing.
Realization struck her instantly.
Her face turned pale with embarrassment.
I did it again…
Her grip on the sword tightened slightly.
"I-I'm sorry!"
She bowed slightly, clearly flustered.
"I was just curious!"
Kael blinked in surprise at her sudden reaction.
Then he simply smiled and waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about it."
"It's nothing serious."
Still, he was a little confused about why she reacted so strongly.
He didn't think much of it though.
Instead, his expression shifted into something more serious.
"Now listen carefully."
Tashigi straightened immediately, her focus snapping back into place.
Kael began explaining.
"Water Breathing relies heavily on rhythm and control."
"Don't rush the forms."
"Focus on breathing first."
He gestured toward the sea.
"The ocean has a natural flow."
"Your movements should imitate that."
"Don't fight the motion—become part of it."
Tashigi listened attentively, memorizing every word, her grip on the sword steadying as her resolve strengthened.
After a few more practical tips, Kael nodded toward the open deck.
"Go train."
Her eyes lit up with determination.
"Yes!!"
With her new sword in hand, Tashigi quickly moved to the far side of the deck and began practicing again.
Her stance already looked more confident than before.
More grounded.
More natural.
Kael watched for a moment before turning away.
Next—
Nami.
She was sitting near the navigation table, studying her maps carefully, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration.
"Nami."
She looked up.
"Hm?"
Kael leaned casually against the railing beside her.
"The skill I gave you."
"It's called Stormborn."
Nami immediately straightened with interest.
"Stormborn…"
He nodded.
"It heightens your awareness of wind patterns, atmospheric pressure, and storm behavior."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That explains the feeling I had earlier…"
Kael continued.
"But it's still new to you."
"Practice sensing the wind every day."
"Observe how the waves move."
"The more you use it, the sharper it'll become."
Nami nodded slowly, already thinking about how useful this would be for navigation.
Her fingers lightly tapped against the map as ideas formed rapidly in her mind.
"Heh…"
Her grin slowly returned.
"With this…"
She tapped the map confidently.
"The Grand Line might not be so impossible after all."
Kael smirked faintly.
"That's the idea."
His gaze briefly shifted toward the cabin door.
Still closed.
There was absolutely no chance Kaya would open it right now.
He chuckled quietly to himself.
(I'll explain Observation Haki to her later.)
And just like that—
The next few days passed peacefully.
Training.
Navigation practice.
And quiet sailing across the endless sea beneath open skies.
Tashigi spent most of her time practicing the breathing technique with her new sword, each swing becoming smoother than the last.
Nami experimented with Stormborn, gradually learning how to interpret the subtle changes in wind and clouds.
Even Kaya eventually came out of the cabin again…
Though she avoided Kael's eyes for an entire day.
Then—
One morning—
The sky darkened.
Rain began to fall heavily over the ocean, each drop striking the deck in a steady rhythm.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, low and ominous.
Massive waves crashed against the ship as strong winds howled across the sea, shaking the sails violently.
Ahead of them—
A gigantic wall of rock rose toward the heavens.
Reverse Mountain.
The entrance to the Grand Line.
Nami stood at the helm, rain soaking her hair and clothes as she stared at the monstrous current rushing toward the mountain.
Her voice carried over the storm.
"Everyone!"
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
"We've arrived!"
"The gateway to the Grand Line!"
The rain only grew heavier as the Sovereign Gale approached the base of Reverse Mountain.
Waves crashed violently against the hull, each impact sending vibrations through the ship, while the roaring current dragged vessels toward the narrow waterway carved deep into the mountain's base.
The sea itself seemed to be climbing the mountain.
An impossible sight.
Anyone seeing it for the first time would think the world had gone mad.
But Nami stood firmly at the helm.
Her soaked hair clung to her face, her clothes heavy with rain—but her stance remained unwavering.
Her eyes were sharp, scanning the chaos of water currents ahead with intense focus.
"Hold steady!" she shouted over the storm, her voice cutting through the howling winds.
The Sovereign Gale surged forward as the current seized the ship and began dragging it upward along the rushing channel.
Water slammed against the sides of the vessel with brutal force.
The climb was violent.
Relentless.
The current twisted unpredictably, threatening at every moment to smash the ship against the towering rock walls rising on both sides.
"Tashigi! Adjust the rear sail!"
"On it!"
The swordswoman moved quickly, her movements sharp and efficient as she tightened the rope and shifted the sail to stabilize the ship's direction.
Another surge of water crashed into the hull.
The ship tilted dangerously.
Kaya grabbed the railing instinctively, her knuckles turning white.
"This is insane…"
Her voice trembled slightly despite her attempt to stay composed.
She had read about Reverse Mountain before.
Studied it.
Understood it—on paper.
But experiencing it firsthand?
This was something entirely different.
Meanwhile—
Nami's senses had sharpened to an entirely new level.
Stormborn was working.
Fully.
Wind direction.
Wave pressure.
Subtle changes in air currents.
Even the smallest shift—
All of it flowed naturally into her mind as if the storm itself was speaking directly to her.
It wasn't chaos anymore.
It was a pattern.
"The current's shifting!" she shouted instantly.
"Starboard side!"
Tashigi reacted without hesitation, pulling the rigging to redirect the sail.
The Sovereign Gale tilted sharply for a moment—
Then stabilized.
Barely.
Kael leaned casually against the mast, arms relaxed, watching the entire scene unfold as if it were nothing more than an interesting spectacle.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Not bad."
Nami heard him—even through the storm.
Her eye twitched.
"Not bad?!" she snapped back.
"I'm literally steering us up a mountain!"
Kael shrugged lazily.
"Well… you're not crashing yet."
Nami's irritation flared instantly.
"You jerk!"
But despite her words—
Her cheeks were slightly red.
Because she knew he was watching.
And more importantly—
She knew she was doing well.
Behind her, Tashigi couldn't help but smile, even in the middle of the chaos.
"You really are incredible, Nami."
"Handling these currents so smoothly…"
Kaya nodded in agreement while gripping the railing tightly.
"Yes, it's amazing."
"I can barely even understand what's happening."
Nami straightened slightly at the praise, a hint of pride surfacing through her focus.
"Heh…"
"Well, of course."
"I am the navigator after all."
Kael chuckled quietly.
"Careful."
"Your ego might weigh the ship down."
Nami shot him an annoyed look.
But the corner of her mouth lifted slightly despite herself.
The climb continued.
The roaring water carried them higher and higher along the narrow path carved into Reverse Mountain, the walls on either side looming like giants ready to crush them at any moment.
Several times—
The ship nearly collided with the jagged rock walls.
Close enough that the spray of water splashed back onto the deck.
But each time—
Nami adjusted the helm perfectly.
No hesitation.
No panic.
Stormborn guided her instincts flawlessly.
It felt natural.
Effortless.
Like she had always been meant to read storms like this.
Finally—
The current reached its peak.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt weightless.
Then suddenly—
The water dropped.
"Hold on!" Nami shouted, gripping the helm tightly.
The Sovereign Gale surged over the crest of Reverse Mountain—
Then plunged downward as gravity seized the current and dragged everything toward the sea beyond.
The descent was just as dangerous.
Water rushed violently beneath the hull, roaring like a beast unleashed.
The ship shook, rattling as it sped down the slope.
But within minutes—
The storm began to weaken.
The winds lost their fury.
The waves calmed.
And just like that—
The ship burst out of the mountain channel into open sea.
The Grand Line.
Rain still fell lightly, but the violent storm was already fading behind them, as if it had never existed.
Nami slowly loosened her grip on the helm, her shoulders finally relaxing.
"We made it…"
Tashigi looked around in disbelief, her breathing still uneven.
"We actually made it through."
Kaya exhaled deeply in relief, her grip on the railing loosening at last.
"That was terrifying."
Kael glanced over the ship carefully, his gaze sharp despite his relaxed posture.
"Status?"
Tashigi checked the rigging quickly.
"Minor rope damage, nothing serious."
Kaya inspected the deck, her eyes scanning for cracks or instability.
"No structural damage."
Nami patted the helm proudly, a grin forming again.
"And the navigator performed flawlessly."
Kael crossed his arms and nodded.
"Well done."
His voice carried genuine approval.
"Everyone did great."
His gaze lingered briefly on Nami.
"Especially you."
Nami blinked in surprise.
For a split second—
She didn't respond.
Then her cheeks turned red again.
"Hmph."
"Well obviously."
She flipped her hair dramatically, trying to hide the small smile forming on her lips.
Kael chuckled.
"Alright."
He looked ahead across the vast, unfamiliar sea.
"Let's move forward."
But just as the ship began drifting ahead—
Something appeared in the distance.
A shadow.
Huge.
Unbelievably huge.
It loomed on the horizon like an immovable wall.
Tashigi squinted, trying to make sense of it through the lingering mist.
"…What is that?"
Nami leaned forward slightly, narrowing her eyes.
Her expression shifted.
"Wait a second…"
Her finger slowly pointed ahead.
"Why is there another mountain?"
Kaya quickly grabbed the map and opened it, her hands moving faster now.
Her eyes scanned the page repeatedly.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Her brows furrowed deeper with each glance.
"That's impossible."
"It's not on the map."
The massive shape ahead barely moved.
It rose from the water like a gigantic cliff, blocking the horizon itself.
Tashigi instinctively placed her hand on her sword, her body tensing.
"That shouldn't be there."
Nami frowned, unease creeping into her voice.
"Did we come out at the wrong location?"
Meanwhile—
Kaya tilted her head slightly.
Her brows furrowed as she stared at the shape in the distance.
"…Wait."
Something felt off.
Not just strange—
Wrong.
She focused quietly.
Her breathing slowed.
Observation Haki—
Still weak.
Still unstable.
But present.
She reached out—
Carefully.
And then—
She felt it.
Faint.
Massive.
Alive.
Her eyes widened.
"That doesn't feel like a mountain…"
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before finishing.
"…It feels like a living thing."
A brief silence fell over the deck.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Well done, Kaya."
All three women turned toward him instantly.
"That is indeed not a mountain."
He raised his hand and pointed toward the massive shape rising from the sea.
"It's an Island Whale."
A slight pause.
Then he added calmly—
"Laboon."
Silence.
A full second passed.
Then—
"HUH?!"
Nami nearly dropped the map.
Tashigi's jaw fell open.
Kaya stared in disbelief, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard.
Inside their minds, the same thought echoed—
An Island Whale??
And who in the world is Laboon??