"Is this really okay?"
"Is it really okay?!"
Feeling the pirate ship shaking violently, Chopper grabbed Zoro's neck and shouted, "I feel like I'm going to fly off!"
Normally, Meiser's Water Release Technique should be very stable, so why was it shaking so much this time?
"Although it's shaking a lot..." Meiser, who had fixed himself to the pirate ship using Chakra, looked up at the White Dragon and said, "The Water Dragon won't be destroyed, so you can rest assured."
As long as the Water Dragon wasn't destroyed, the coating would be fine.
"That's good then," Chopper said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Zoro: "..."
It wasn't good at all; he was finding it a bit hard to breathe.
"Chopper."
Zoro spoke with difficulty, "Grab my arm, don't grab my neck."
"Oh, oh, okay."
Hearing this, Chopper instinctively let go, and then he immediately flew out.
Chopper: "?"
Zoro: "..."
Watching Chopper fly toward Perona, Zoro was struck speechless.
I told you to grab my arm, not just let go, hey!
Perona, however, giggled and raised her hand to catch the flying Chopper, then pulled him into a hug.
"S-Saved..."
"Hey, Nami!" Merry, who was in Nico Robin's arms, looked up at Nami and shouted, "We won't be sent somewhere far away by this strange sea current, will we?"
Robin had said just now that this thing might send the ship very, very far away.
"If we can't break away from the White Dragon Current, we will indeed be sent to a very distant place," Nami said, having fixed herself in place with her ability. "But Meiser's Water Release Technique can carry us out, so that won't happen."
After speaking, Nami paused, then looked toward Meiser standing at the bow and shouted, "Meiser, haven't you found Luffy and Sanji yet?"
"I am not the original body, so I don't know the situation over there," Meiser replied.
If it had been a Shadow Clone that went this time, the original would have a chance to receive the information sent back.
But unfortunately... he was only a Shadow Clone, so he couldn't get the information from the other side.
"Don't worry," Franky said. "Meiser will definitely find Luffy and Sanji."
Just then, Franky, leaning over the bow, noticed a giant pale-gold light-shadow appearing outside the Water Dragon, looking like a giant.
And the size of that giant... was at least over a hundred meters!
"What is that thing?" Franky wondered in his heart.
"Why does it look like a giant?"
"Could it be that Bald Sea Monster from before chasing us?"
"But that's not right either; that guy wasn't pale-gold..."
"Could it be something caught in this White Dragon Current?" Franky muttered to himself.
It wasn't impossible.
Then, Franky intended to tell his companions about his discovery, but before he could speak, he found that the pale-gold shadow had disappeared.
Franky: "?"
Gone?
In the next instant...
Boom!!
"Meiser!"
"Luffy!"
"Sanji!"
Seeing the three figures rushing in from outside the Water Dragon, looks of joy immediately appeared on everyone's faces.
"S-Saved..." Luffy said, sticking out his tongue. "I thought I was going to die."
Sanji also had a pained look, his lips trembling.
Meiser also let out a long breath, his expression gradually relaxing.
"Great, you're finally back," Nami said.
"The process was a bit twisted, but we're back," Meiser said.
After speaking, Meiser glanced at his Shadow Clone and said, "We can break out now."
"Right!"
Receiving the order, the Shadow Clone nodded and then activated the Water Dragon Bullet Technique to rush toward the outside of the White Dragon. They soon broke away from the terrifying gravitational pull of the current and reached a distance.
After confirming that the pirate ship wouldn't be dragged back in, the Shadow Clone and the Water Dragon vanished.
Seeing that the White Dragon was no longer in sight, Nami immediately sighed in relief.
"Finally, things have stabilized..."
Nico Robin, however, frowned as she looked at Luffy and Sanji. "Why is the Water Release Technique on them gone?"
As soon as she said this, the others noticed as well.
the thin film that was originally on Luffy and the others had disappeared!
"It was washed away..." Sanji said with a grim expression. "After entering that super current, we both felt an incredibly terrifying tearing force."
"Shortly after, the film on our bodies vanished."
This was also why he looked so pale; he had truly almost died back then!
As for Luffy?
Even though Sanji had been holding onto him tightly, because he was a Devil Fruit Ability User, he had swallowed water even faster than Sanji.
"Then the two of you..."
"Don't worry, we're fine," Sanji said. "Shortly after the film on our bodies disappeared, Meiser found us."
Fortunately, that was the case; otherwise, the two of them would definitely have been killed by the current!
"It's lucky you both have monster-like constitutions, otherwise you definitely would have been killed by the current," Nami said.
Hearing Nami's words, looks of relief appeared on both Sanji's and Luffy's faces.
Yes, it was lucky they were strong enough...
"Ah... it feels so good to be alive..." Luffy said, lying on the deck. "Sanji, I want to eat!"
Sanji: "..."
Hearing Luffy's words, Sanji's mouth twitched slightly, and then he said, "You really never forget to eat, do you?"
"I get it. I'll go after a smoke."
With that, Sanji shakily reached into his pocket, intending to have a smoke to calm his nerves.
But as soon as he reached in, he realized something was wrong.
Where are my cigarettes?
Where is my fire?
"Why is everything gone?" Sanji frowned.
"They were probably swept away by the current," Meiser guessed.
After being swept by such a terrifying current for so long, losing only a lighter and cigarettes was already quite good.
At least the person was still alive.
"Swept away..."
Sanji's mouth twitched slightly. Why did it have to be those two things?
After a moment of silence, Sanji stood up and said, "Forget it, I'll go back to the cabin to change my clothes first."
He could also get a new lighter and cigarettes while he was at it.
Thinking this, Sanji grabbed the lying Luffy and walked toward the cabin.
"Hey, why are you grabbing me?"
"To change your clothes, obviously, you idiot," Sanji said irritably.
They were in this state because of the current; how could they not change their clothes?
"Oh..."
Meiser smiled at the scene, then turned to Nami and said, "We must have been swept quite a distance. Is that okay?"
If there was a problem, he would use the Water Release Technique to carry the pirate ship up.
As for the undersea scenery?
Compared to their lives, the scenery was secondary.
Nami instinctively glanced at the Log Pose in her hand, then said, "It should be fine."
Even though they had been swept far, they shouldn't have reached the height of the Ascending Ocean Current yet, so it was fine.
"That's good."
Meiser nodded, then walked over to sit down. "As long as there's no problem."
Just then, an ear-splitting roar echoed from the distance, making Chopper jump in fright.
"W-What now?!" Chopper said in terror.
Did they encounter some terrifying undersea monster?
Please no!!
Nami, however, seemed to think of something as her eyes widened. "This sound..."
Why did it sound so similar to Laboon's cry?
"What's wrong, what's wrong?"
Luffy and Sanji, having changed their clothes, rushed out and asked anxiously, "What happened now?"
"Let me see."
Going to a higher point on the pirate ship, Meiser squinted at the side and said, "That's... a group of massive Island Whales!"
How strange, why hadn't he noticed these big guys just now?
Could it be... they had just rushed up from behind the pirate ship?
It wasn't impossible.
"It really is Island Whales!"
Hearing Meiser's words, Nami knew she hadn't misheard; that roar was indeed from Island Whales.
Brook, his body trembling, said, "Island Whales..."
Could Laboon be here?
At the thought, Brook became excited.
"Although I don't know how you know such massive creatures, don't you think we are currently moving sideways?" Perona pointed to the side.
Since a moment ago, the bow of the pirate ship had changed direction.
"Are we?" Chopper wondered. "I didn't feel anything."
"Normally, this shouldn't happen..."
Nami paused, then as if remembering something, she looked up at Meiser and said, "Are those Island Whales coming toward us?"
"Yes."
Meiser nodded and said, "They are approaching us."
"Then it makes sense..." Nami bit her lip.
"What do you mean?"
"If there are enough Island Whales, it's enough to cause a sea current," Nami explained.
That was why their pirate ship was turning.
"Such a thing can happen?"
Looking at the massive pod of Island Whales appearing in their vision, Merry was stunned.
Causing a current with just physical strength?
Is this the power of Island Whales?
At that moment, the Thousand Sunny was affected by the current, drawn into the pod of Island Whales, and began moving forward with them.
Seeing this, Perona frowned. "Nami, what do we do?"
Being pulled along by so many massive creatures... nothing bad will happen, right?
"Merry, set sail!"
"Right!"
Though she didn't know why they were setting sail, Merry obediently lowered the sails of the Thousand Sunny.
"Hey, hey, hey, Nami!"
Looking at the lowered sails, Usopp cried out, "Why lower the sails? You're not planning to go with the whales, are you?"
While it was a surprise to see Laboon's kin, he didn't want to be buried at sea with them.
"That's right, I'm going with them!" Nami nodded matter-of-factly.
Usopp: "?"
Why?
As if seeing Usopp's confusion, Nami explained, "Island Whales are a special type of creature that needs to go to the surface to breathe, so we just need to follow them, and we can reach the sea of the New World."
"We don't need the Ascending Ocean Current anymore?"
"If I'm not mistaken, they will encounter an Ascending Ocean Current soon," Nami said. "So following them is definitely right."
Rather than searching for an Ascending Ocean Current ourselves, she preferred to go with these guys.
As for whether there would be any danger...
With Meiser here, what kind of danger could there be in the ocean?
"Then it's decided!" Luffy waved his hand. "Merry, head toward them!"
"Right!"
"We're already there..." Perona remarked.
They were already being pulled along in the middle of the Island Whale pod; what was there to talk about "heading toward them"?
"Hey, look, everyone!" Luffy pointed to a giant whale on the side and said, "That scar... it's exactly the same as Laboon's!"
"Could it be Laboon?!"
"Is it really Laboon?!" Brook said excitedly. "I didn't expect him to have grown so big..."
"Hey, Laboon, it's me!"
"Don't say such silly things, you two," Usopp said. "Laboon should be at the beginning of the Grand Line; how could he be here?"
"And... don't forget that Laboon has grown!"
"With that massive size, he couldn't even fit through the tunnels of the Red Line."
So he didn't believe that big guy could be here.
After all... Laboon was truly too big.
"But why is even the scar so similar?" Luffy said. "Is it really not Laboon?"
It looked exactly like Laboon!
"No." Nami shook her head, then pointed to the side. "Don't you see that several whales have such scars?"
"Oh, it's true..."
"Why is that?"
"Could it be that these big guys have a habit of ramming rocks?" Zoro wondered.
What was the purpose of that?
"Maybe it's scars from fighting other Sea Kings," Meiser guessed. "Or maybe they hit land or rocks while swimming in the deep sea."
Only then would these big guys have scars similar to Laboon's.
"Yeah, that's possible."
Hearing Meiser's explanation, Zoro nodded in agreement, clearly concurring with Meiser's words.
Only that could explain why they ended up like this.
"Hey, it's me, Laboon!" Brook cried out. "I'm Brook of the Rumba Pirates!"
"Listen to me!"
"Calm down a bit, Brook." Usopp grabbed Brook, who wanted to rush out, and said, "We already said you have the wrong whale; Laboon isn't here!"
"That big guy is still at the Twin Capes!"
"Not here... not here..."
Being held by Usopp, Brook seemed to realize something as he lowered his head. "Yes, this is Laboon's home..."
After saying this, Brook was silent for a moment, then shouted excitedly again, "Hey, are his relatives here?"
"Are you all looking for a little whale who got separated from the pod fifty years ago?" Brook shouted. "Please rest assured, he is living well in another sea!"
"I heard from Luffy that he has grown very large now, as big as you all!"
"So... so please rest assured!"
As he spoke, Brook began to cry, his expression even more emotional than before.
"They... seem to understand..."
Looking at the Island Whales that had turned their gaze toward them, Nico Robin showed a surprised expression and said, "They are looking at us!"
"Island Whales can understand human speech!" Sanji said with a smile.
It was precisely because of this that Luffy was able to make that promise with Laboon.
"You've been talking about Laboon, Laboon..." Perona, who was nearby, looked at the Island Whales curiously and asked, "Who exactly is Laboon..."
"Ah, Laboon is a whale we encountered at the entrance to the Grand Line," Zoro explained. "He entered there fifty years ago following Brook and his crew."
Then, Zoro explained to Perona why Laboon was there and told her the story between Brook and Laboon.
"So this story is so touching," Perona said with tears in her eyes.
Keeping a promise for fifty years... this was too moving!
At the thought, Perona's tears burst out.
"Wow, Zoro, their story is so moving!"
Zoro helplessly wiped the tears that had splashed onto his face, then smiled and nodded, agreeing with Perona's words.
"Lord Moria must be waiting for me too!" Perona said, clenching her fist. "Wait for me, Lord Moria!"
No matter how much time passed or how far it was, she would find Lord Moria!
Luffy smiled at her words, then seemed to notice something and asked, "Eh?"
"Where's Brook?"
"He's up there."
Meiser looked up at the lookout of the Thousand Sunny and said, "He just ran up there."
"Brook..."
Watching Brook take out his violin at the high point, everyone was stunned for a moment, then their eyes lit up as they understood.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~"
"Binks' Sake..."
Listening to Brook's song, the Straw Hat Pirates all began to laugh.
The surrounding massive whales also gradually drew closer to the Thousand Sunny, their faces showing human-like smiles, clearly enjoying Brook's singing.
Then, an incredibly massive Island Whale swam over and gently lifted the Thousand Sunny onto its head.
"Hey, it lifted us up!" Luffy, leaning over the ship's side, looked at the whale below and said excitedly, "So cool!"
"Let's just let them take us along," Nami laughed. "I estimate it won't be long before we reach the sea of the New World."
"The New World..."
Merry looked up at the high point, her face full of anticipation. "The final sea of the Grand Line..."
"I'm really looking forward to it."
When they conquered the New World... Luffy would be the Pirate King!
At the thought, everyone's faces were filled with smiles.
"Hey, everyone, we're almost there!"
Meiser looked up at the sky and grinned. "I can already see the surface."
In just a short while, they would arrive in the New World!
"So fast?" Usopp said in surprise.
"Of course," Meiser said. "Don't forget who we're traveling with!"
With such massive creatures... isn't it normal to be fast?
A moment later...
Boom!!
With a massive sound, the Thousand Sunny and the Island Whales burst out of the sea and arrived in the so-called New World.
Awooo!!
At this moment, a hundred whales sang together!
The people on the Straw Hat Pirates' ship all burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"We finally reached the New World!"
"Oh!!"
Then, Merry activated the power of the wind to lift the pirate ship into the air and drifted forward.
"Hey, Laboon's relatives!" Usopp shouted to the whales below. "When we see Laboon, we will definitely tell him about you!"
"That's right!" Brook shouted through his tears. "We will definitely pass on the word, Laboon's relatives!"
"Take care, everyone!"
Luffy also shouted, "Thank you for looking after us, everyone!"
Awooo!
Hearing their shouts, the Island Whales narrowed their eyes in a smile and let out a low roar.
Then, these massive creatures returned to the sea and disappeared.
"They're gone..."
Looking at the vanishing pod of Island Whales, Merry said, "Are they going back to their home?"
As she spoke, Merry used her ability to set the pirate ship back onto the sea.
"Maybe," Meiser said.
He just didn't know if these creatures had their own nests like the Sea Kings.
"Hey, everyone, isn't this weather a bit too harsh?" Chopper said, looking up at the sky. "Thunder and lightning..."
"Because this is the New World!" Nami said. "The environment is much more exaggerated than the first half of the Grand Line!"
This was also one of the reasons why this place was called the Graveyard of Pirates.
Many pirates couldn't even reach the next island!
"Hey, everyone, I see the shadow of a ship," Perona shouted.
"Are they pirates?"
Sanji grinned. "They actually sought us out..."
Do they want to make a name for themselves by taking on our Straw Hat Pirates?
What a bold group.
"No, they're not pirates." Usopp's eyes widened. "They're warships!"
"Isn't the number of warships a bit too exaggerated?"
Usopp was stunned as he looked at the fleet of Marine warships surrounding them. This scale was even more exaggerated than the Buster Call they had encountered before!
"They have a perfect grasp of our movements..." Nico Robin said, "As expected of the Marines."
It seemed the Marines had people planted back at Fish-Man Island.
Meiser frowned and said, "Could I have been exposed?"
Otherwise, it would be impossible for the Marines to send so many warships to hunt them down.
"Then let's just cut them all down!"
Zoro drew his three weapons, his eyes turning cold, clearly prepared to strike.
"There's no need for that," Meiser said, shaking his head. "Just let Merry use her ability to take us out of here."
Fighting so many warships on the open sea would be disadvantageous, so it was better to leave first.
"That's right, Merry can take us out!" Usopp said, punching his palm.
How could he have forgotten that!
Meiser was a bit speechless. What exactly had this guy been looking at just now?
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, fast!" Chopper shouted.
Otherwise, their pirate ship would be destroyed by the Marine cannons.
"That won't be necessary!"
"Hmm?"
Everyone froze at the sound of Nami's voice, then turned to her in confusion. "Nami, what are you saying?"
"What do you mean 'not necessary'?"
They were currently surrounded by warships.
"Because I suspect this is a mirage," Nami said.
"A mirage?"
Meiser was stunned for a moment. He activated his Mangekyō Sharingan to examine the situation ahead, only to be met with silence.
Indeed... it was a mirage.
Just then, the dark clouds in the sky began to dissipate, letting the sunlight through. Consequently, the shadows of those warships began to vanish.
"It really was a mirage!" Perona exclaimed in surprise.
Why were there so many mirages here?
Chopper and Usopp sighed in relief. "So it was just a mirage~"
"That's a relief."
As long as they were fake.
"Don't be happy too soon," Nami said. "If I'm not mistaken, this sea area should be..."
Nami stopped mid-sentence because she noticed enormous water droplets appearing in the air!
"Hey, what the hell is that?!"
Looking at water droplets larger than their pirate ship, Franky's eyes bulged out in shock.
"What kind of crazy weather is this, hey!"
Boom!!
In the next moment, a massive amount of water droplets fell around the Thousand Sunny, making the sea surface shake violently, nearly throwing everyone off the ship.
"This is the Mobius Sea," Nami shouted, gripping the ship's hull tightly. "Also known as the Unhappy Sea."
"In other words, various ridiculous types of weather will appear one after another in this place!!"
"Like that one!"
Watching the water droplets turn into giant hailstones, Chopper was paralyzed with fear.
"Quick, they're going to hit us!"
"Leave it to me!" Meiser shouted.
As his voice fell, a pale gold Susanoo armor appeared around Meiser. He raised a spear and slashed upward!
Clang!
Boom!!
With a single strike, the incoming ice spheres were completely shattered!
"What is that? So cool!" Chopper and Usopp said excitedly.
Meiser had this ability too?
The others who hadn't seen this ability before also showed shocked expressions; they hadn't expected Meiser to have such a trick. Franky also realized what he had seen earlier—it was something Meiser had summoned!!
"It's just my ability," Meiser said, looking at everyone. "It's..."
"Hey, now is not the time to explain your ability," Perona pointed upward. "Another one is coming!"
Meiser immediately raised his spear, intending to shatter the incoming hail. But when he saw what it was, he froze.
"An... avalanche?" Meiser said in disbelief. "Why is there an avalanche falling from the sky?"
Isn't this weather a bit too ridiculous?
"I told you, this is the Unhappy Sea," Nami yelled. "Quick, think of something!"
"Leave it to me!"
As her voice fell, Merry flew into the air and spread her hands, shouting, "Wind Wall!"
Hum—
In the next instant, an incredibly massive wall of wind appeared above the Thousand Sunny, forcibly blocking the avalanche. Then, with a wave of her hand, Merry tossed the avalanche into the distant sea.
Boom!!
"Great job, Merry!"
"Hehe~"
Merry smiled happily upon hearing the praise.
Meiser looked at Merry with a slightly pained expression. "Wind Wall..."
He didn't remember telling Merry the story of a certain broom-haired man... Did she come up with this move name herself?
"Hey, it's raining again!" Perona shouted.
"Rain..." Brook looked up at the sky. "If it's just normal rain, then—"
Before he could finish, the pirate ship shook violently. Then... the pirate ship stood upright.
Everyone: "?"
"Hey, why is the pirate ship standing vertically?!"
"The sea has split open!"
"The sea split open?" Chopper was shocked. "Wait, isn't this a bit too ridiculous?"
They said only the weather would change; why was the sea itself changing?
"Hey, we aren't going back to the deep sea, are we..." Brook looked at the ocean below in shock. "Could we be going back to Fish-Man Island?"
"No, we won't," Nico Robin said calmly. "We'll hit the rocks halfway and turn into dust in the ocean."
Looking at the calm Nico Robin, Usopp was distraught.
"I'm begging you, can you please stop saying such terrifying things with such a calm face..."
This is way too scary!
"Ahahaha, what an interesting sea!" Luffy grinned. "Are there any more interesting changes?"
"You idiot, is now the time to care about that?" Nami roared with a shark mouth. "The priority is to find a way to escape!"
If they stayed here, the pirate ship would be in danger. They had to break out!
Thinking of this, Nami shouted, "Merry, quick, charge out!"
"Okay!"
Merry nodded and activated her ability to lift the Thousand Sunny, quickly rushing upward and soon escaping the split sea.
"Phew..."
"We finally escaped," Usopp sighed in relief.
That feeling of being crushed by the sea at any moment... was truly terrible!
"Now is not the time to relax!" Nami shouted. "Merry, quick, ascend and head to the side!"
"Okay!"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho!"
Watching the approaching dark clouds, Brook laughed. "Will we get hit by lightning if we fly this high?"
"How is that possible? We—"
Before Usopp could finish, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky, striking directly onto the Thousand Sunny.
Crack!
Boom!!
"Brook, you jinx!!"
Thud!
"I... I'm sorry..."
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