Beneath the artificial "blue sky" within Laboon's stomach, a scene of bizarre domesticity unfolded.
"Hey! Old Man!!" Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting toward Crocus who was reclining on his island chair. "Is there an exit? We're heading out!"
"Idiot! What kind of daydream is that?!" Usopp snapped, hitting the back of Luffy's head. "This is a whale's stomach! How can there be a door? Are we supposed to wait for him to... poop us out?! Because I am NOT okay with that!"
"The exit is right there," Crocus said, lowering his newspaper with a deadpan expression. He pointed toward the horizon of the "sea" at a massive iron door painted with fluffy cloud patterns.
"..." Usopp's jaw hit the deck, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull. "THERE REALLY IS ONE?! Is this a whale or a submarine?!"
"Hmph." Crocus adjusted his glasses. "This isn't a mouse's stomach. If someone is living here, of course there needs to be a door."
"Awesome! Let's go!" Luffy cheered.
But he didn't order the crew to set sail. Instead, he dashed to a corner of the deck and yanked up the jagged, broken half of the main mast from earlier.
"Gum-Gum—" Luffy took several steps back, his arm stretching to its limit. "—PLANTING!!!"
To the horror of the crew, Luffy lunged forward like a madman, carrying the sharp mast directly out of the exit and scrambling onto the exterior of Laboon's body—right onto the whale's scarred forehead.
Thuck!
Luffy ruthlessly jammed the mast into an unhealed wound on Laboon's head.
"ROOOOOAR!!!"
The sudden pain sent the behemoth into a frenzy. Laboon let out a thunderous cry, his massive body thrashing wildly in the water as he tried to shake off the persistent "gnat" on his head. Inside the stomach, the crew began to "go with the flow."
"Caw! The whale says: 'I'll eat you, you little bug!'" Klay translated from the air.
"What?! Why did Luffy have to make him angry?!" Usopp screamed, hugging the railing.
"Bring it on, Big Guy!" Luffy yelled, clinging to Laboon's skin and dodging the rolls while continuing his provocative attacks.
There, at the entrance of the Red Line, a human boy and an island-sized whale engaged in a seemingly nonsensical brawl.
"What is that idiot doing?!" Zoro and Sanji cursed, struggling to keep their balance on the swaying ship.
Just as the battle reached its peak—Laboon preparing a crushing blow and Luffy winding up a punch—Luffy suddenly held out a palm.
"STOP!!"
Laboon's massive eye blinked in confusion, his movements freezing.
"Huff... huff..." Luffy panted, pointing a serious finger at the whale. "It's a draw! We can't settle this today!"
Before the bewildered whale could react, Luffy produced a bucket of black paint from nowhere. Swish! Swish! Swish! Using a giant brush, he began to paint bold strokes across Laboon's scarred, battered forehead.
Moments later, a wobbly, "cute-but-ugly" Straw Hat Pirates Jolly Roger appeared on Laboon's head.
"Listen up, Whale!" Luffy tossed the brush aside and stood before the mark. "This is our promise!!"
"Until we finish circling the Grand Line and come back to see you, you aren't allowed to hit the Red Line anymore! And you aren't allowed to let this mark be rubbed off!" Luffy grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "When we return, we'll settle our fight once and for all!!"
"Uuuu..." Laboon stared blankly at the human youth and the mark painted over his wounds. It wasn't just graffiti. It was a new promise. A new... reason to live.
"UUUUUUUU————!!!"
Two massive tears welled in Laboon's mountain-like eyes, sliding down his rough skin and causing huge splashes. He raised his head and let out a long cry—one no longer filled with sorrow, but overflowing with joy.
"Caw! The whale says: 'I won't eat you anymore. You're a good bug.'"
"To celebrate Laboon's new friend and our entry into the Grand Line... CHEERS!!"
An impromptu banquet was underway on the stomach island. Thanks to Klay's translations, Luffy and Laboon were already the best of friends. Usopp poured wine into his mouth. "Man, how does Luffy make friends with everyone so easily?"
"Maybe it's because they're both not very bright," Zoro remarked, putting down his glass with a rare joke.
"Oh? Then you might become great friends with that whale too," Sanji added, blowing out a plume of smoke.
"HAH?! What was that, Curly-brow?!" "Marimo!"
Viktor sighed and looked away. "A bunch of idiots."
On the other side, Crocus was explaining the reality of the Grand Line to Nami as he watched her compass spin wildly. "In these waters, a normal compass is useless. The islands here possess unique magnetic fields; only a Log Pose can guide you."
He tossed a special glass-domed compass worn on the wrist to Nami. "Take it. It's an old memento of mine. Without this, you won't move an inch on this sea."
Nami caught it fumbledly, her eyes lighting up as she saw the needle steady itself toward a specific bearing. "So this is... a Log Pose!"
At this moment, the Straw Hat Pirates were officially qualified to sail the Grand Line.
As the banquet ended and the crew packed up to depart Laboon's belly, a cry for help drifted across the water.
"Hey—!! Help—!!"
Two strange characters floated toward them. One was a man wearing a golden crown with the number "9" on his cheeks, holding two metal bats.
Beside him was a girl with flowing blue hair dressed in peacock patterns, riding a dazed-looking giant duck.
"Is there anyone kind out there?! We're drowning!"
Though they looked pathetic splashing in the water, they showed a sharp sense of purpose as they neared the Merry.
"Please save us!" The man known as Mr. 9 wiped water from his face and bowed toward Luffy. "We are travelers from nearby. Our ship sank in an accident! Could you give us a ride to our island—Whiskey Peak?"
"If you take us back, we will treat you very well!" the blue-haired girl added with a pitiful expression.
"Hahaha! That duck is hilarious!" Luffy leaned over the railing, pointing at the frantically drinking duck, Karoo. "He looks just like the old man! Hahaha! Fine! Come on up!"
"That's too reckless, Luffy!" Usopp groaned.
"As long as they pay," Nami added. The moment she heard "treat well" and potential rewards, she donned a merchant's smile and approached the girl to discuss the "fare."
On the other side of the deck, Viktor leaned against the mast, playing with a kunai. His gaze didn't linger on the ridiculous Mr. 9. Instead, it locked directly onto the blue-haired girl—"Miss Wednesday."
Hum—
A faint red light flickered in his eyes. He watched the girl who, despite trying to pose as a bounty hunter, still carried an undeniable air of royalty in her movements. A playful curve touched his lips.
Nefertari Vivi... he thought.
The curtain of the Alabasta Saga is finally being drawn.
Seven Warlords of the Sea... Crocodile.
"All right, men! Full speed ahead!!"
At Luffy's command, the Going Merry, carrying its two "uninvited guests," slowly sailed out of the iron door in Laboon's stomach, bidding farewell to the giant gatekeeper and the old doctor.
The wind whistled. Ahead lay a broader, more treacherous sea.
"Next stop! The island of music and fine wine—Whiskey Peak!!" the two passengers introduced enthusiastically.
However, Viktor saw the sinister look the two exchanged behind the crew's backs. He let out a light chuckle and closed his eyes.
Full of fine wine? No.
That was a hunting ground... filled with bounty hunters.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.