There are actually several routes from the West Blue to the Grand Line.
The most dangerous one is to cross the Calm Belt directly into the New World.
The safest, of course, is to pass through the Red Port beneath Mary Geoise.
For pirates, the only legitimate route is to climb Reverse Mountain.
But in reality, there is a fourth path from the West Blue to the Grand Line.
The Summit of the Western Heaven.
That's right the route Gan Fall once mentioned.
It can lead directly from the West Blue to Sky Island.
Near the location of Reverse Mountain in the West Blue lies a special sea region called the "Vortex Siphon Zone."
Because of submarine volcanic activity and strange magnetic disturbances, this region forms a periodic gravitational turbulence field.
Within the Vortex Siphon Zone stands a massive island known as Giant God Ridge, the main island of Degalt, where giants born in the West Blue reside.
They established a giant kingdom called Degalt.
Saul, Sanjuan Wolf, and Mori were all born here.
In addition, Harald, who once traveled the world in his youth, had also visited this place.
Under normal circumstances, only the warships of the Giant Race can pass through this region using a special navigation method known as "Reverse Vortex Navigation."
But perhaps poison always has an antidote within seven steps, or perhaps clever humans will always find a new way to chase adventure.
The creatures inhabiting the seas near the Vortex Siphon Zone are generally enormous.
Among them is a gigantic whale species called the "Rainbow Whale."
The stomach of the Rainbow Whale secretes a corrosion-resistant mucus capable of forming a protective coating around ships.
As long as sailors blow the "Whale-Attracting Conch," a shell unique to the West Blue, near a Rainbow Whale pod, they can lure the whales close.
Black's current plan was to head to the Giant Kingdom of Degalt in the West Blue and from there enter the Summit of the Western Heaven to reach Sky Island directly.
"Your Highness, isn't this too dangerous?"
After learning about the peculiar nature of this sea area, Stella frowned, clearly unwilling.
Black pulled her into his arms, gently caressing her face as he laughed.
"Don't worry. As long as attracting the Rainbow Whale goes smoothly, crossing this place isn't nearly as dangerous as it looks."
Stella's eyes sparkled as Black teased her.
Seeing that his mind was already made up, she stopped trying to persuade him and instead softly called out,
"Your Highness…"
That soft voice stirred Black's heart.
Seeing that it would still take some time to reach the Siphon Sea, he picked Stella up and carried her into the cabin...
Some time later, the sanctuary finally arrived at the target sea area.
The Siphon Zone resembled a slumbering beast.
Three enormous currents intertwined violently, constantly colliding with one another, tearing the clouds above into scattered cotton-like fragments.
Even Robin, who was usually calm, couldn't remain composed at this sight.
"Do all Celestial Dragons disregard their lives this much?"
Perona, Koala, and Rami standing nearby all turned pale.
Black laughed loudly.
"It's not nearly as dangerous as it looks."
"As long as the ship is coated with the Rainbow Whale's mucus membrane and we follow the currents correctly, passing through will be easy."
"That doesn't look easy at all!"
Robin retorted.
At that moment, the slave stationed at the bow nervously blew the Whale-Attracting Conch.
"Whooo"
A long and melodious sound echoed across the sea.
Soon, an answering call came from far away.
The older CP agent immediately shouted,
"Throw the prepared barrels into the sea! Release the bubbles!"
The younger agent gripping the railing trembled slightly.
"Senior… do we really have to go through here?"
"Shut up!"
The older agent snapped.
"This is the order of a Celestial Dragon!"
Just as he finished speaking, an enormous whale several thousand meters long surfaced and swallowed the bubbles on the sea in a single gulp.
Moments later, it spat out a smaller bubble that enveloped the entire sanctuary.
Instantly, the raging waves seemed to vanish.
The sudden quiet created an eerie atmosphere.
"Depart!"
Black pointed his scepter forward.
The slaves immediately started the ship, steering it toward the raging currents ahead with the determination of those facing death.
"Senior…"
The younger agent's legs trembled.
But the older agent barked again,
"Quiet, rookie!"
"You stabilize the port side using Moonwalk! I'll control the rudder!"
"Yes!"
As the ship moved deeper into the vortex zone, the mucus coating around the sanctuary began to tremble as if it might rupture at any moment.
The currents battered the membrane relentlessly.
Although it looked fragile, it proved incredibly resilient.
Still, the currents pushed the sanctuary off course.
The two CP agents led the slaves in constantly adjusting the ship's direction.
The three hundred slaves aboard were divided into three teams, operating the propellers in shifts.
After countless violent impacts from the currents, a cry suddenly rang out among the slaves.
"The propeller is stuck!"
"Someone help!"
"No! I don't want to die!"
Hearing the chaos of shouting and praying, Black frowned.
Untrained slaves truly were useless.
Sooner or later, he planned to replace every laboring slave aboard the ship with captured pirate captains.
Black turned and gave orders.
"Koala, go check on Group B."
"Mandy, guard the engine room."
His voice was steady like an anchor.
Robin used her Flower-Flower Fruit ability to secure herself, Perona, and Rami to the mast.
Perona clung tightly to the mast, her face pale.
"Bookworm! Is the ship going to break in half?!"
Robin herself was pale as well, yet she still retorted stubbornly,
"If it does, troublesome people like you will fall off first!"
Fortunately, their fears never came true.
After Koala and Mandy moved to their posts, the noisy cabin gradually calmed.
The ship stabilized once again.
Despite her usual timid appearance, Koala was surprisingly dependable during critical moments.
Protected by the Rainbow Whale's mucus membrane, the sanctuary suddenly surged out from the vortex's center as if lifted by a giant hand, crashing back onto the nearby sea surface.
The protective membrane seemed designed specifically for crossing the Siphon Sea.
The moment the ship exited the vortex, it shattered and vanished.
The slaves all sighed in relief.
Looking back at the massive currents still spiraling toward the sky, they felt as though they had escaped death.
Black, however, remained calm.
With his mastery of Observation Haki, most dangers could be foreseen before disaster struck.
Even if something went wrong, it wouldn't matter.
He hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit yet.
With his strength, escaping while carrying several people would still be easy.
Still, Black was quite satisfied with this crossing.
This was what an adventure should feel like.
A tense and thrilling experience, yet still within the bounds of safety like standing on the edge of danger just enough to make the heart race.
Black looked toward the bow.
In the distance, the towering silhouette of "Yggdrasil," known as the World Tree of the West Blue, was clearly visible.
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