Chapter 76 The Terror of Natural Elements! The Smoke Named "White Hunter"!
Central square of Rogge town.
Although the execution platform that symbolized "beginning and end" has been washed away by the water dragon into ruins.
Buggy and his crew were swept away and their whereabouts are unknown, but the Straw Hat crew's crisis is not over.
"Da, da, da."
Heavy footsteps echoed on the puddle-filled stone path.
Countless fully armed elite naval troops poured out from all directions once again; these were the Rogge garrison that had been lying in ambush.
At the very front of the encirclement, a man with a full head of white hair and two cigars dangling from his mouth stood like a mountain, blocking everyone's path.
Smoker.
"Although the flood and lightning were spectacular..."
Smoker drew his Jitte from his back, white smoke billowing around him, his sharp eyes fixed on Luffy and Viktor.
"But your farce ends here."
"Who are you? Smoke Man!" Luffy pressed his straw hat down, looking annoyed.
"I'm the one who's going to send you to prison."
The words had barely left his mouth.
"White Fist!"
Smoker's arm instantly transformed into a plume of smoke, and his fist slammed towards Luffy like a cannonball.
"Rubber rubber—run wildly!!"
Luffy, not to be outdone, unleashed a barrage of punches.
However, a shocking scene unfolded.
Luffy's fist passed right through Smoker's body, as if it had hit thin air, causing no damage whatsoever.
However, Smoker's smoke fist landed squarely on Luffy's face.
"Bang!"
Luffy was knocked backward and sent flying.
"What happened?! I couldn't hit him?!" Luffy scrambled to his feet, his face filled with shock. "I definitely hit him with my fist!"
"Let me do it! Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash!!"
Zoro charged forward, slashing with his three swords in a cross pattern.
"brush--"
The blade sliced across Smoker's chest, but only cut through a cloud of white smoke, which then reformed in the next second.
"Deviant Kick!!" Sanji's kick followed closely behind, but with the same result, it was completely ineffective.
"it's useless."
Smoker snorted coldly, his body completely transforming into elemental form, turning into a cloud of white smoke that instantly enveloped the entire battlefield:
"I am a smoke person who ate the'Smoke-Smoke Fruit'."
"Physical attacks are absolutely ineffective against those of you who have not mastered that power."
"White Gale!!"
The billowing smoke instantly materialized, becoming as hard as steel.
Like countless white snakes, they coiled around Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, pinning the three to the ground, unable to move.
"Damn it!! Let me go!!" Luffy struggled desperately, but the smoke only tightened around him.
Smoker emerged from the smoke, the tip of his jitte pressed against Luffy's throat.
He raised his head, looked at Victor, the only one still standing on the field, and said in an icy tone:
"It's over, Crimson Victor."
"You have no chance of winning against natural elements."
Rainwater slid down Viktor's cheeks.
Viktor frowned deeply as he watched the three main fighters being subdued in an instant.
This is the Logia type, an existence that is almost unsolvable in the first half of the Grand Line.
It lacks any domineering aura, and can't even be touched.
"Tch, what a troublesome ability."
Viktor did not surrender.
He took a deep breath and instantly formed a hand seal.
"Since physical attacks are ineffective, let's try this!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!"
Once again, the water on the ground was stirred up by chakra.
A smaller but faster water dragon roared out and charged straight at Smoker.
"Hmph, is it that trick again?" Smoker tried to transform into an elemental form to dodge.
But Viktor's lips curled into a cold smile: "It's not over yet!"
The enormous water dragon crashed into the white smoke.
Although ordinary rainwater cannot completely suppress ability users like seawater, rendering them powerless, the large amount of water mixed in instantly made the originally light and ethereal smoke heavy and moist.
"Hmm?" Smoker's movements slowed slightly.
Now!
Viktor seized this fleeting opportunity, his hands forming hand seals once more, his chest bulging high, and his chakra burning wildly.
"Then let's add fuel to the fire!!"
"Fire Release: Great Flame Annihilation!!!"
boom----!!!
A raging inferno erupted from Victor's mouth, carrying terrifying heat, and crashed violently into the thick, moist smoke.
Extremely hot flames and humid water vapor collided violently in the center of the square.
"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!"
With a piercing sound, a massive steam explosion was instantly triggered!
The scalding white steam rose like a mushroom cloud, instantly engulfing Smoker and dispelling the smoke shackles binding Luffy and the others.
"Ouch! It's so hot!!"
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji took the opportunity to break free of control and rolled out in a sorry state.
"Did it work?!" Usopp asked expectantly from afar.
The steam gradually dissipated.
Smoker reappeared.
Although his clothes were charred and his hair was wet, making him look somewhat disheveled, he did not suffer any serious injuries.
He transformed into his own element at the moment of the explosion to avoid the impact, but the high-temperature steam made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
"They actually thought of using water and fire to create a steam explosion to interfere with me..."
Smoker dusted himself off, his eyes growing even more sinister:
"But... that doesn't change the outcome."
Viktor looked at Smoker, who was completely unharmed, and scoffed in annoyance.
"Damn natural systems."
He cursed inwardly.
I don't have any domineering abilities right now. Although fire and water techniques are powerful, their destructive power is still too limited against this kind of elemental monster.
That last move was merely to create chaos and buy time.
"Luffy! Everyone! Retreat!!"
Viktor acted decisively, shouting at the crowd:
"We can't beat him right now! Don't linger! Run!!"
"Trying to run? Too late!!"
Smoker's eyes flashed, and he lunged forward, his jitte whistling as it thrust towards Viktor, while a violent cloud of smoke billowed behind him.
"Bai Man!!"
The sure-fire strike was about to land.
Sudden.
One hand.
A hand wearing a black glove appeared out of thin air and firmly grasped Smoker's ten-handed weapon made of seastone.
"Huh?!" Smoker's pupils contracted sharply.
A sudden gust of wind arose.
A suffocatingly terrifying aura instantly descended upon the square.
All the smoke was forcefully dispersed by this aura.
At the eye of the storm, a tall man wearing a dark green cloak and with red square tattoos on his face appeared out of nowhere.
He simply stood there quietly, as if he were the master of the storm.
"you...!!"
Smoker looked at the man in front of him, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back, almost causing him to drop the cigar he was holding in his mouth.
"The government's most wanted fugitive..."
Just as the surrounding navy was shocked and preparing to regroup and surround them again...
"call--"
The man did not attack; he simply waved his hand lightly.
A strange and violent green gale suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swept across the entire area in an instant!
"Waaaaaah!!"
Hundreds of elite naval personnel, along with their weapons, were blown into the sky like withered leaves by the gale, utterly powerless to resist.
Amidst the chaos.
Viktor's eyes were squinting from the wind, but he still managed to turn his head and look at the man standing in the eye of the storm.
Coincidentally, the man also happened to turn his head to the side.
Beneath the hood, those deep, intelligent, and wild eyes met Viktor's crimson Sharingan for a fleeting moment in mid-air.
That was a meaningful glance.
Viktor felt a chill run down his spine, thinking to himself:
"The eye of the storm...a dragon?"
"So he actually came, Luffy's dad."
Dragon didn't look for long. He turned to Smoker, whose face was filled with shock, and said in a deep, magnetic voice:
What reason could possibly stop a man from setting sail to pursue his dreams?
boom--!!!
The words fell.
Another, even more violent green gale swept in.
But the wind didn't harm the Straw Hat crew; instead, it felt like a pair of gentle, large hands.
It lifted Luffy and the others up and blew them hard towards the port.
"Wow! I'm flying!!" Luffy shouted excitedly.
"What...what's with this wind?!" Nami hugged Clay tightly.
"Never mind that! We're riding the wind!!" Zoro shouted.
Using this incredible, strange wind, the Straw Hat crew broke through the Navy's last line of defense in an instant and disappeared into the rain-shrouded streets.
In the square, only Smoker remained standing in the howling wind, his face ashen as he stared at the green figure.
"Drag...why did you help that straw hat kidChapter 77 Marching On! The Grand Line! Let Our Names Resound Across the Seas!
The wind howled and the rain poured down.
Riding on the sudden, eerie green gust of wind, the Straw Hat crew shot towards the port of Loguetown like arrows released from a bow.
"Quick! The Going Merry is just ahead!!"
Luffy took the lead, excitedly pointing to the familiar ram's head sail in the rain ahead.
However, just as everyone was about to reach the shore.
A sleazy figure was crouching furtively beside the Merry, holding a burning torch and trying to set the sails ablaze.
It was Cabaji, the acrobat and a remnant of the Buggy Pirates.
"Hehehe... Since the captain has been knocked away, let's burn this ship and leave these straw hat brats with nowhere to escape!"
Kabaji raised the torch with a sinister look on his face: "Burn! Burn it to ashes!"
"Stop!! Going Merry!!" Usopp was terrified when he saw this.
Before Luffy and his main force could even make a move.
"Gah gah!! Where did this bastard come from! Daring to mess with my place!!"
A bolt of black lightning suddenly shot out from Nami's shoulder.
Clay the crow, who had been "trained" by Nami all the way and dared not speak out, finally found an outlet for his anger.
With its wings spread, it swooped down like a small bomber.
"Take this! A crow's beak pecking wildly!!"
"Ouch! That hurts! Where did that bird come from?!" Before Kabaji could react, his head was pecked into a honeycomb shape by Klein's sharp beak.
"Ultimate Kill - Gunpowder Star!!"
Usopp, not to be outdone, drew his slingshot, and a firebomb accurately struck the torch in Cabaji's hand, blasting him until his face was covered in soot.
"Damn it... how can this bird and its long nose be so strong..."
The two unlucky guys who originally planned a sneak attack didn't even get to see the main target.
It was dealt with by a bird and a cloak of lies, and rolled into the sea with a scream.
"Well done! Clay! Usopp!" Luffy laughed and jumped onto the ship.
"Raise the sails! Set sail!!"
At Nami's command, everyone worked together to untie the ropes and raise the sails.
"call--!!"
The mysterious green gale seemed to be bidding them farewell, suddenly billowing the sails.
The Going Merry cut a white trail across the sea, like a white arrow, and instantly burst out of the harbor, heading into the vast ocean.
The moment the Merry left the shore.
"Buzz—"
The roar of motorcycles filled the air.
Smoker rode his amphibious motorcycle "Birona" and carried Tashigi to the shore.
However, they could only watch helplessly as the ram's head sailed further and further away in the storm, eventually disappearing from sight.
Rain soaked Smoker's white hair, and the cigar in his mouth had long since gone out.
"Did they escape...?"
Smoker gripped the 10 hands tightly.
He gazed at the surging sea, his eyes burning with a intensity of determination and fury that was more intense than ever before.
"Straw Hat Luffy...and Crimson Victor..."
"Don't think this is the end of it."
Smoker turned around and shouted at the assembled naval forces behind him:
"Prepare the ship! Let's head to the Grand Line!!"
"I swear... no matter where you are tracked down, I will arrest you in the New World!!"
...
On the high seas, a storm raged.
But the terrible weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the people on board the Going Merry.
Because ahead lies the legendary Red Line continent, and the entrance to the Grand Line—Reverse Mountain!
"Yosh! To celebrate our entry into the Grand Line! Let's have a water intake!!"
Sanji carried a huge oak barrel out of the kitchen and placed it in the center of the deck.
The torrential rain lashed the deck, and the waves rocked the ship, but the eyes of the people were brighter than the stars.
"I'll go first!"
Sanji stepped forward first, raised his foot, clad in black leather shoes, and placed it heavily on the barrel.
He straightened his rain-soaked tie, a refined yet resolute smile playing on his lips.
"I need to find—ALL BLUE!!"
Hehehe!
Luffy, holding his straw hat, stepped on it, his smile seemingly capable of dispelling the dark clouds in the sky.
"I will become the Pirate King!!!"
"snort."
Zoro unfastened the Wado Ichimonji from his waist, placed the sword and scabbard on the barrel, his eyes as sharp as swords:
"I will become the world's greatest swordsman!!"
Nami tossed her wet, orange hair, her beautiful eyes gleaming with ambition, and stepped forward with one foot:
"I want to draw a world map!!"
"I...I..."
Although his legs were still trembling, Usopp mustered his courage, stepped on the ground, and shouted out his vow:
"I want to become a brave sea warrior!!"
"quack!!"
Just then, Clay also flew up with a strange cry, gripping the edge of the barrel tightly with both claws, puffing out his chest and shouting:
"And there's me, Grandpa Clay!! I'm going to become—the ruler of the skies!!"
"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Finally, everyone's eyes turned to the figure that had been leaning against the mast.
Victor.
He was wearing a soaked black trench coat, his black hair damp from the rain and plastered messily to his forehead.
Those black eyes appeared deep and mysterious in the lightning.
He walked up slowly, holding a bottle of sake in his hand.
Unlike the others, they didn't step on it.
Viktor smiled and poured the sake in his hand onto the lid of the sake barrel, the clear liquid mixing with the rainwater as it flowed.
This is a memorial, and also a beginning.
"Now that I'm on this pirate ship, I can't fall behind."
Viktor looked up and surveyed his seemingly unreliable group of companions, who possessed the power to shake the world.
His lips curled slightly upward, revealing a smile brimming with "Uchiha-style" arrogance:
"Then I will..."
"Let's go together and turn this world upside down."
Victor's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the thunder and the sound of the waves:
"Let my name resound to the ends of this sea!!!"
boom--!
"good!!!"
With everyone cheering, all five legs (plus a bird claw) exerted force simultaneously!
"Crack!!!"
The lid of the barrel was instantly smashed to pieces!
This is a vow, a bond, and a ticket to a new era.
"Full speed ahead!!"
Braving the raging winds and towering waves, the Going Merry, like a fearless bird, resolutely charged towards the towering Inverted Mountain, towards the Grand Line, a place full of unknowns and wonders!
at the same time.
In Viktor's mind, the long-lost system notification sound rang out crisply.
[bite!]
[Congratulations, host, for making a minor alteration to the plot.]
[Reward: 1500 Ninja Points.]
[bite!]
[Completed a major story milestone: The Adventure and Escape in Loguetown.]
[Reward: 2500 Ninja Points.]Chapter 78 Soaring into the Sky! An Incomprehensible Ocean Current!
After the storm, the sea air carried a salty and fresh scent.
The Going Merry was gently rocking with the waves, heading towards uncharted waters.
Inside the cabin.
Viktor was comfortably lying in the hammock, legs crossed, his consciousness immersed in the system interface in his mind.
Looking at the number in the upper right corner, he couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth turn up in a wide smile.
[Current Ninja Way Value: 5200 points.]
"Finally... I'm a rich man too."
Victor sighed. He had made a fortune from the series of events in Loguetown.
His eyes were fixed on the exchange option that he had been eyeing for a long time.
The original two-tomoe Sharingan was sufficient.
However, when faced with the upcoming Grand Line, especially those increasingly powerful monsters, dynamic vision and insight are becoming somewhat inadequate.
"call..."
Viktor took a deep breath, his heart bleeding, but he pressed his finger firmly down.
"Exchange! The Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"
[bite!]
[Congratulations, host, you have successfully upgraded your Bloodline Limit by consuming 5000 Ninja Points.]
[Gained: Three-Tomoe Sharingan.]
With a crisp notification sound, Viktor felt a warm current flow through his eyes, and the feeling of being filled with power instantly woke him up.
The remaining 200 points of Ninja Way value hung there all alone, looking particularly desolate.
With a sliver of hope and curiosity, Victor continued to swipe down, wanting to see how much the next stage of evolution would cost.
[Mangekyou Sharingan: 20,000 Ninja Way Points.]
[Note: The kaleidoscope ability will change based on the host's soul traits and desires.]
"Twenty...twenty thousand?!"
Victor nearly fell off the hammock.
He clutched his chest, the joy of his recent upgrade instantly extinguished by this bucket of cold water.
"This is robbery! 20,000 points... How many pirate admirals do I have to kill, or how many times do I have to change the plot to get that many points..."
Viktor snapped out of his daze, sighed helplessly, and felt a sharp pang of heartache.
However, despite his complaints, he immediately activated his newly acquired eyes.
"Buzz—"
His jet-black pupils instantly turned red, and three tomoe slowly rotated within them, connecting with each other.
The world became incredibly clear in his eyes; the floating dust in the air, the grain of the wood, and even the subtle changes in the distant waves outside the window were all clearly visible.
"Not bad... this sense of control."
Just then.
"Whoa!! What is that?!"
Suddenly, Luffy's deafening scream rang out from the deck, followed by a flurry of footsteps.
"Hmm? Have we arrived yet?"
Victor put away the system panel, straightened his collar, and pushed open the door to walk towards the deck.
As soon as I stepped out of the cabin, a humid and strong sea breeze hit me.
The fog over the sea is dissipating rapidly.
Directly in front of the Going Merry, a massive, breathtaking red wall, seemingly capable of obscuring the entire sky, stretched between the sea and the horizon.
It soars into the clouds, its top invisible, stretching endlessly to the left and right, as if dividing the entire world in two.
Red Earth Continent.
"Wow...it's huge!!" Luffy, leaning on the bow of the ship and craning his neck, shouted excitedly, "This is the Red Line! It's like a wall!"
"This...this isn't a mountain at all! This is a monster!"
Usopp's legs went weak with fear, and he clung tightly to the mast. "Are we really going to crash into it?!"
"Something's not right! This isn't happening!"
Nami stared nervously at the sea chart in her hand, then at the strange current ahead, her face pale.
"The compass is malfunctioning... and look at that ocean current!"
She pointed ahead to the entrance of the canal leading to the crevice in the mountain, her voice trembling with shock that defied common sense:
"Water...water is flowing uphill?! That's impossible! It defies the laws of physics!"
"Basic physics knowledge?"
Victor stood at the bow of the ship, hands in his pockets, gazing up at the vast continent.
The three tomoe in his eyes slowly rotated, visible through the layers of mist.
He not only saw the magnificent red rock walls, but also felt the wild rules of this world.
"In this world, using common sense can be a disadvantage, Miss Navigator."
A smile played on Viktor's lips, his eyes flashing red:
"So this is the entrance to the Grand Line... What a crazy and magnificent world."
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Boom—!!"
The Going Merry was as if grabbed by an invisible hand and suddenly pulled into the powerful current leading to Upside Down.
The speed increased instantly!
The boat lost control and was swept away in the rapids like a leaf.
"Whoa! That's too fast!!" Usopp screamed.
"Oh no! If we hit the water gate at this speed, the ship will be destroyed!!"
Zoro looked ahead at the canal entrance that was getting closer and closer. There was a narrow stone gate there, and if he made the slightest mistake, the ship would be destroyed and everyone would die.
At a critical moment.
"Don't panic!!!"
A sharp shout stunned the entire audience.
After a brief moment of panic, Nami instantly displayed the qualities of a genius navigator.
She stared intently at the direction of the ocean current and shouted the order:
"Help!! Full starboard!!"
"Use the swirling currents to rush in!!"
"receive!!"
Zoro and Sanji exchanged a glance. Although they usually didn't get along, they rushed towards the ship's wheel with perfect understanding.
"Drink it all!!"
The two exerted force simultaneously, veins bulging on their arms, as they desperately turned the massive rudder.
"Squeak—!!"
The Merry let out a painful groan in the rapids, and just a second before its bow was about to hit the rock wall, it veered sharply to the right.
"Zzzzz—!!"
The hull scraped against the stone wall of the water gate, splashing up sparks and wood chips.
"They're inside!!!"
At the critical moment, the Merry plunged into the canal!
Then, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
"Charge!!!"
Amidst Luffy's cheers, the Going Merry, defying gravity, surged vertically towards the clouds along the steep canal!
The surrounding water flowed backwards like a waterfall, and the boats climbed higher and higher with a roar, as if heading towards heaven.
"ah!"
Nami lost her footing and couldn't help but fall backward.
Viktor, who had been looking up at the scenery, heard the noise and silently stepped forward to support her.
A blush spread across Nami's face, but she did not resist; instead, she nestled into his arms.
There was nothing that could be done about it. An accident...an accident. Nami thought to herself.
Usopp, meanwhile, was clinging tightly to Clay's foot. "Clay, fly! We're going to fall!"
"Quack! You're holding on too tight!" Clay's wings kept flapping.
A few minutes later.
"puff--!!"
The Merry broke through the thick clouds and reached the summit of Upside Down.
Sunlight streamed down.
Four ocean currents from different sea areas (East China Sea, West China Sea, South China Sea, and North China Sea) converge at the mountaintop, stirring up a sky full of splashing water, and then rush down towards the only exit—the Grand Line!
"We're here! At the top of the mountain!" Nami exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed.
"Next… it's downhill!!" Victor grabbed the railing.
"Whoa—!!!"
The bow of the ship suddenly dipped downwards.
The Merry plunged rapidly down the slope of the ocean current!
The intense feeling of weightlessness came instantly, like riding a vertical roller coaster without brakes.
"Hahahaha! This is so much fun!!" Luffy spread his arms wide and laughed into the wind.
"Help!! Mom!! I want to go home!! I have a condition that prevents me from riding roller coasters!!" Usopp cried and snot streamed down his face, completely terrified.
The wind whistled in my ears, and the clouds swept past me.
Just when everyone thought they were about to successfully enter the Grand Line.
Suddenly, a huge shadow appeared in the thick fog below.
It was a black "mountain" that was blocking the only exit.
"Is that... a reef?!" Zoro squinted. "How can there be a black mountain?"
"No...that's not right..."
Viktor's three-tomoe Sharingan suddenly contracted as he saw the patterns on the "mountain" and the enormous eye, as big as a house.
"That's not a mountain..."
"Waaaaaahh...
A deafening, sorrowful, and lonely cry pierced through the thick fog and echoed through the sky.
The black "mountain" slowly moved.
That was... an outrageously large whale!Chapter 78 Island Whale Laboon! A Fifty-Year Vow!
"A whale...a whale?!"
"Stop! We're going to crash!!!"
Usopp clung to the railing, tears and snot streaming down his face, letting out a bloodcurdling scream.
The Merry plunged rapidly down the rapids of Upside Down.
At the only exit, the black "mountain"—an island whale of outrageous size—was opening its abyss-like jaws and letting out a deafening roar.
"Waaaaah!!!"
The current is too strong; it just won't stop!
"Damn it! That would shatter it!!"
Luffy lay on the bow of the ship, watching the whale's gaping maw getting closer and closer. In desperation, he suddenly jumped toward the main cannon on the deck.
"There's no other way! We have to use that!"
Luffy lit the fuse, and at the critical moment, the cannon was aimed at the whale's teeth.
"Fire!! To stop the ship!!"
"boom--!!"
A solid cannonball was launched with tremendous recoil.
With the help of this powerful reaction force, the speed of the Merry, which was originally like a runaway horse, suddenly dropped.
The ship shook violently, avoiding a direct, shattering impact, but...
"Snap!"
A crisp snapping sound rang out.
Luffy's expression froze instantly.
The most prized "first class" seat on the Going Merry—the adorable ram's head prow—broke off and flew away, unable to withstand the sudden braking and impact.
"Aaaaaah!! My VIP seat!!" Luffy screamed, clutching his head.
However, an even greater crisis was brewing.
The cannonball struck the whale squarely, hitting one of its largest teeth.
Although it's like a tickle to such a behemoth, it's undoubtedly a provocation.
"Whoosh!!!"
The whale Laboon is furious.
It snapped its massive jaws shut, swallowing the island whole, along with the surrounding seawater and the Going Merry!
"Aaaaaah! I'm going to die!" Nami couldn't help but turn around and hug Viktor's neck.
Seeing Victor's still-smiling face, she couldn't help but yell, "What are you laughing at?!"
"Damn it! Is it going to end before it even started?!" Zoro gripped his sword, his face full of resentment.
...
dark.
Endless darkness.
Just when everyone thought they were doomed.
"Huh? That's... the sky?"
Nami rubbed her eyes, staring in disbelief at the scene before her.
The Merry was currently floating on a calm sea.
Above us was a blue sky with white clouds, and even seagulls soaring overhead.
Not far away, a small island with retro architecture stands quietly in the middle of the sea.
"We...we're saved? Where is this?" Usopp was completely bewildered. "Weren't we eaten?"
"No...that's a painting."
Viktor stood on the deck, activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, and pointed to the "sky":
"Those clouds, those birds, are all painted on the stomach wall. This… is the stomach of that whale."
"Stomach?!" Everyone was shocked.
The Merry slowly approached the "island in the stomach".
On the island, under a parasol, sat a robust old man wearing a peculiar flower petal headdress.
He was holding a newspaper, his eyes sharply fixed on the Straw Hat crew who had barged in.
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely heavy.
The old man didn't say a word, he just stared at them intently.
"Ultimate move... Prolonged stare!" the old man murmured to himself.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Zoro placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Hey, old man! What do you want? If you don't speak... I'll kill you."
The old man put down his newspaper, his face still expressionless, and uttered a few words in a flat tone:
"That would kill people."
Zoro was taken aback, his eyes growing even fiercer: "Are you talking about me? You're too arrogant!"
The old man calmly pointed to himself:
"No, it's me."
"..."
"Then you'd better explain yourself clearly!!!"
Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp instantly transformed into fanged, angry figures, collectively criticizing the old man.
It was in this atmosphere filled with dry humor that...
"Boom—!!!"
Suddenly, the entire space began to shake violently.
The once calm ocean of stomach acid instantly turned into a raging torrent, and the Going Merry was tossed up and down like a toy.
The island was also shaking violently, as if a magnitude 12 earthquake had occurred.
"What's going on?! Is it an earthquake?!" Nami screamed, clinging tightly to the mast.
"Waaaaah!!!"
The sound of a whale's painful and mournful roar could be heard from the outside.
The old man with the petal-shaped hair—Krokas—immediately became serious.
He ignored the crowd, turned around, picked up a huge syringe, and was about to jump into the sea.
"It's starting again... Laboon."
"It's ramming its head against the red earth! It needs a sedative!"
Upon hearing this, Viktor's eyes flickered.
He used his chakra to adhere to the violently shaking deck, his body as steady as a mountain.
"A collision with the red earth? That kind of suicidal act..."
Viktor raised his head, his crimson three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating, his gaze seemingly piercing through the stomach wall, seeing the restless soul of this behemoth.
Beneath that violent action lay an intense, overwhelming sorrow.
"It's not just a simple case of going crazy..."
Victor muttered to himself, "This big guy... is crying."
Seeing Crocus preparing to dive, Victor suddenly spoke:
"etc."
He walked to the side of the ship and stared directly at the muscular walls around him that were trembling violently from the impact.
"Although I don't know if it will work completely, this big guy is too agitated."
Viktor formed hand seals, and the chakra within his body surged towards his eyes.
Buzz—
An invisible spiritual wave emanated from Viktor, accompanied by the eerie red light of his Sharingan, and instantly spread outwards.
This is not an aggressive illusion, but a spiritual suggestion that conveys feelings of "peace" and "tranquility".
It was like a pair of gentle hands, softly stroking the whale's restless and painful nerves.
Laboon, who was frantically crashing into the Red Line, suddenly stopped for a moment.
In its murky, enormous eyes, it seemed to see a tranquil sea.
"Um?!"
Crocus, who was about to jump into the water, stopped and looked at the boy in black on the boat with a look of surprise:
"What did that red-eyed brat... do?"
"Labus actually...hesitated?"
Although this soothing effect can only last a short time for a massive island whale, it is still astonishing enough.
Just then.
"Fluttering—"
A black raven took flight from Nami's shoulder and soared into the sky.
Clay spread his wings and, using his ability to communicate with all animals after eating the Echo Fruit, shouted loudly at the trembling stomach walls:
"Gurgle, gurgle!! Big guy!! Stop crashing!!"
"It must hurt a lot! Everyone's watching you! Be quiet!!"
The clear bird call seemed to reach Rab's ears.
Crocus's mouth dropped open so wide it almost fell off his glasses:
"A...talking crow?!"
"Who exactly are these kids?"
Under the combined effect of Victor's illusionary soothing and Clay's verbal communication.
With the addition of a tranquilizer from Crocus, the giant whale finally calmed down.
The storm in my stomach has subsided.
...
After much trouble, the group arrived at the isolated island inside the stomach.
Crocus sat in his chair, looking at the group of strange young people, sighed, and slowly began to tell the story of the whale—Labu.
"That was a whale that had waited for fifty years..."
Regarding the crew once known as the "Rumbar Pirates," and the promise that "we'll come back for you after we circle the Grand Line once."
Fifty years have passed.
There has been no word from my companions.
But this stubborn whale remained convinced that its companions would return.
It kept ramming its head against the red earth, trying to break through the wall and find its companions on the other side.
Even if you end up with a bloody head and covered in wounds.
"It is still waiting... even if the hope is slim."
After hearing this story, silence fell over the Merry.
"Waaaaah... So pitiful..."
Nami covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Usopp cried his eyes out, tears streaming down his face: "Fifty years... Is this a man's promise? Laboon... You're a real man! No! A true hero whale!"
Even Sanji and Zoro fell silent, their eyes filled with admiration.
Only Luffy.
He lowered his head and reached down to pull his straw hat down, covering his eyes.
No one could see his expression.
Only Victor noticed that Luffy's lips were slightly upturned, an expression that suggested he had made a decision.
"What a stupid whale..."
Luffy said softly.
Then, he suddenly raised his head, grabbed the huge mast that had just broken off, and charged towards Labu's stomach wall.
"Since it's so painful... let me help you find some new fun! Hehehe!"Chapter 80 A Man's Promise! A Strange Duo Makes Their Appearance
Inside Raab's stomach, beneath that artificially created "blue sky".
"Hey! Uncle!!"
Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly at Crocus, who was sitting on a deck chair on the island:
"Is there an exit here? We need to get out!"
"Idiot! What are you talking about in your sleep!"
Usopp, standing to the side, looked annoyed and tapped Luffy on the back of the head, yelling:
"This is a whale's stomach! How can there be a door in its stomach?! Are we supposed to wait for it to...drag us out?! Absolutely not!"
"The export route is right there."
Crocus put down the newspaper in his hand and calmly extended his finger.
He pointed to a huge iron gate with cloud patterns at the end of this "sea".
"..."
Usopp's jaw dislocated, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Wow, there really is one!! Is it a whale or a submarine?!"
"Hmph." Crocus pushed up his glasses and turned his gaze back to the newspaper in his hand.
"This isn't a rat's stomach. Since people live here, there has to be a door."
"Yosh! That's great!"
Luffy cheered.
But he did not immediately order everyone to sail away.
Instead, he suddenly ran to a corner of the deck and yanked up the broken half of the mast that had been knocked off earlier.
"Rubber, rubber—"
Luffy took a few steps back and suddenly stretched out his arm.
"...Planting rice seedlings!!"
Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, Luffy, like a madman, grabbed the sharp, broken mast and charged directly towards the exit of his stomach.
After emerging, Luffy quickly climbed onto the outside of Laboon's body—right on Laboon's scarred head!
"Pfft!"
Without any mercy, Luffy plunged the mast into Laboon's still-healing head wound.
"roar!!!"
The excruciating pain instantly enraged the enormous creature.
Rab let out a furious roar, and his huge body began to roll wildly, trying to shake off the ignorant little bug.
The people inside the body began to "go with the flow".
"Gaga," the whale said, "I'm going to eat you, you little bug!" Clay flew in the air as the translator.
"Huh? What did Luffy do to anger that whale?" Usopp shouted, clinging to the railing.
"Come on, big guy!"
Luffy clung tightly to Laboon's skin, dodging its rolls while continuing to provoke and attack.
A man and a whale engaged in a seemingly pointless but fierce fight at the mouth of this red earth continent.
"What is that idiot Luffy doing?!" Zoro and Sanji shouted, struggling to stay upright on the swaying ship.
Just as the battle was in full swing, Laboon was preparing to launch a fatal blow, and Luffy was also preparing to throw a punch.
"stop!!"
Luffy suddenly stretched out his palm and shouted.
Rab's huge eyes widened in shock, and he stopped moving.
"Huff... huff..."
Luffy, panting heavily, pointed at Laboon with a serious expression and said:
"A draw! We can't determine a winner today!"
After saying that, under Rab's questioning gaze, he pulled a bucket of black paint from his pocket, the source of which was unknown.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Luffy took a large brush and began to apply it in large, sweeping motions to Laboon's forehead, which was covered in bruises and scars from the impacts.
A moment later.
A crooked, ugly-cute Straw Hat Pirates symbol appeared on Laboon's head.
Listen up, whale!
Luffy threw away the brush, stood in front of the symbol, and loudly announced to Laboon:
"This is our promise!!"
"You are not allowed to crash into the Red Line again until we return from circumnavigating the Grand Line! And you are not allowed to knock down this marker!"
Luffy grinned and gave a thumbs up:
"We'll settle this once and for all then!!"
"Waaah..."
Labb stared blankly at the human boy, at the mark drawn on his wound.
That wasn't ordinary graffiti.
That was a new agreement, a new... reason to live.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Two huge tears welled up from Labuna's mountain-like eyes, sliding down his rough skin and creating towering waves.
It looked up to the sky and roared, its voice no longer filled with sorrow, but with joy.
"Quack quack! The whale said: I won't eat you anymore, you're a good worm."
...
"To celebrate Laboon making new friends! And to celebrate our entry into the Grand Line! Cheers!!"
On the island in the stomach, an impromptu banquet is underway.
Luffy, thanks to Clay's translation, has become very close with Laboon.
Usopp gulped down the bottle of wine in his hand. "Ah, how come Luffy can chat so happily with anyone?"
"Perhaps it's because the two aren't very bright," Zoro said, putting down his wine glass and making a rare joke.
"Oh? Then you might be able to become friends with that whale too." Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke and said slowly.
"Huh?! What did you say? You curly-browed thing!"
"Green algae head!"
Victor sighed and couldn't help turning his head to the side. "A bunch of idiots."
Meanwhile, Crocus, watching the compass spinning wildly in his hand, was earnestly explaining the basics of the Grand Line to Nami.
"Ordinary compasses are unusable in this sea area."
Crocus explained:
"There is a special magnetic field between the islands of the Grand Line, and only the Log Pose can guide the way."
As he spoke, he tossed a special compass with a glass dome on his wrist to Nami.
"Take it, it's something I used to keep. Without it, you can't make a single step on this vast ocean."
Nami hurriedly caught the recording pointer, and looking at the one inside that was steadily pointing in a certain direction, a hint of excitement flashed in her eyes:
"This is... the record pointer!"
At this moment, the Straw Hat Pirates finally possessed the official qualifications to sail the Grand Line.
...
Just as the banquet ended, and everyone packed their things, preparing to leave Labu's stomach and officially embark on their journey.
"Hey—!! Help me—!!"
Two strange creatures suddenly drifted ashore on the sea.
A man wearing a golden crown, with the number "9" written on his cheek, and holding two metal baseball bats.
There was also a girl with long, flowing blue hair and wearing a peacock-patterned outfit, riding a big-mouthed duck with a blank expression (Run Duck).
"Is there anyone kind enough to help us? We're drowning!"
Although the two men looked disheveled and were struggling in the water, they immediately showed a strong sense of purpose as soon as they approached the Going Merry.
"Please save us!"
The man known as Mr. 9 wiped the water from his face and clasped his hands together in prayer towards Luffy:
"We are travelers from the area, and our boat sank in an accident! Could you give us a ride to our island—Whiskey Peak!"
"As long as you take us back, we will definitely treat you well!" The blue-haired girl also showed a pitiful expression.
"Hahaha! That duck is so funny!"
Luffy leaned on the railing, pointing at Karoo, the fast-running duck that was frantically drinking water, and laughed so hard he almost fell over:
"He really looks like that uncle (Crocas)! Hahaha! Okay! Come on up!"
"That's too hasty, Luffy!" Usopp complained.
"As long as you pay, that's fine."
Upon hearing about the "hospitality" and potential reward, Nami immediately put on a smiling expression and went up to the blue-haired girl to discuss the "ride fare".
"Whiskey Peak? No problem, but we'll need to charge a small service fee~"
The other side of the deck.
Viktor leaned against the mast, fiddling with a kunai in his hand.
When the two strange duo boarded the ship, his gaze did not linger long on the comical Mr. 9.
Instead, it focused directly on the blue-haired girl – "Miss Wednesday".
Buzz—
A faint red light flickered in his eyes.
Victor looked at the man who was trying hard to disguise himself as a bounty hunter.
The young woman, whose every move still exuded a touch of aristocratic elegance, smiled with a playful curve to her lips.
"Neferutari Vivi…"
He silently repeated the name in his heart.
"Is the prelude to the Alabasta arc finally about to begin?"
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea... Crocodile."
...
"Men! Full speed ahead!!"
With Luffy's command, the Going Merry, carrying two "uninvited guests," slowly sailed out of Laboon's stomach gate, bidding farewell to the giant gatekeeper and the old man guarding the tower.
The sea breeze howled.
Ahead lay a much wider and more treacherous sea.
"Next stop! An island of fine wine and music—Whisky Peak!!"
The two hitchhikers enthusiastically introduced the ride.
However, Viktor merely chuckled and closed his eyes as he watched the sinister glances exchanged between the two men behind their backs.
All fine wine?
No.
That's a hunting ground full of bounty hunters...