Rumble...
The ship rocked and jolted violently. Lius was nearly thrown overboard several times, but Ace managed to grab hold of him and pull him back to safety.
After riding the upward ocean current, they finally reached the peak in the clouds and plummeted straight toward the entrance below.
The entire ship practically took flight as it hugged the surging currents.
He sucked in a sharp breath. "Is this the Grand Line?"
Fierce winds battered his face as Ace gripped the helm with both hands. He did not dare relax for a single second. Staring at the natural wonder before him, his face was filled with sheer awe.
"This is nothing! The chaotic magnetic fields in the second half are the truly terrifying part!"
Nami tugged at the secured canvas ropes, trying her absolute hardest to look like an experienced sailor who had seen it all.
However, the lingering terror in her eyes easily betrayed her true feelings.
Plunging all the way down from the peaks nestled in the clouds was an adventure very few people in this world would ever get to experience.
"The clouds around us are starting to thin out!"
Ace yelled out the moment he noticed the shift in their surroundings.
"Are we reaching the entrance?"
"That is right. There is a total of seven islands at the entrance of the Grand Line. It does not matter which one you start from, because you will eventually reach the end regardless!"
Nami quickly explained, scouring her mind for the navigational knowledge she had plundered from the Sky Pirates.
Any pirate capable of entering the Grand Line possessed a combination of incredible luck and strength.
One had to remember that the overlord of the East Blue, Krieg, lost half his forces before he even truly set foot in the Grand Line. He eventually crossed paths with Hawkeye, who was taking a vacation in the East Blue, and was chased all the way back to the floating restaurant before it finally ended.
"Hey, hey, hey! Nami, is that thing up ahead normal?"
The helmsman's expression changed drastically as he pointed toward the entrance ahead and screamed.
"What are you talking about... Is that a whale?"
Nami snapped back to reality and followed his gaze. Her soul practically leaped out of her body in sheer terror.
As they broke through the misty waterway, a massive black whale came into view. It was large enough to completely block the channel. Half of its body breached the surface vertically, looking exactly like a towering mountain that had suddenly risen from the sea. It was an absolutely stunning and overwhelming sight.
Even though she had seen the massive beasts on the floating island, she was still deeply shaken by the sheer scale of the creature before her.
Meanwhile, Ace's jaw dropped as his face turned entirely green.
Whoosh...
Wild gales swept past them. Driven by gravity, the ship shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. There was simply no way to stop it.
One hundred meters!
The giant whale's massive body blocked out the sun and completely sealed off their path forward.
They were just moments away from crashing right into it. The ship would be destroyed, and they would all die.
Was this how they were going to die?
This exact thought flashed through both of their minds in that very instant.
"Aha! This medicinal efficacy is truly terrifying. I can feel the blood surging through my entire body. It feels like I have an endless supply of strength!"
Right at this critical moment, the unconscious Lius finally woke up.
He stood up and stretched his limbs. A wave of comfort washed over him as all his negative ailments were completely wiped away. His body felt incredibly light.
He had to admit that taking three Marrow Cleansing Pills at once for his first time was an extreme move.
However, it had a massive effect on altering his constitution.
On his personal attribute panel, his constitution stat had already reached S-rank.
Even if he were placed in the Grand Line, that rank would easily put him among the top tier.
"Huh? Is that a whale?"
His gaze suddenly locked onto the colossal body blocking the channel right in front of the ship. His brows furrowed tightly.
Then, right under the astonished and bewildered gazes of his two crewmates.
He shouted in a thoroughly displeased tone, "Hey, you are blocking my path!"
As soon as the words left his mouth.
Something happened that completely defied everyone's expectations.
The colossal creature looming over the surface actually let out a low whimper, sounding exactly as if it were responding to him.
Rumble...
In the very next second, right as the ship was about to crash.
Laboon forcefully threw his towering body backward. The massive whale cleared the waterway just in time for the ship rushing down the mountain to scrape past him without a scratch. Carried by the diving momentum, the ship slid a long distance across the water before finally coming to a halt.
The atmosphere grew eerily quiet. You could hear a pin drop.
"Is everyone alright?"
Lius stretched his back. Noticing the burning stares directed at him, he asked with a completely baffled expression.
"Like hell we're alright!" the two of them roared in unison.
They could not hide their blazing fury at all.
However, curiosity got the better of the young helmsman. He asked, "How exactly did you make that whale move out of the way just now?"
Hearing this.
Nami stared at the captain with her large eyes. She was just as curious.
"Well, didn't I just remind it? Our path was blocked!"
"..."
And so?
Then the whale just moved away on its own?
Watching Lius act as if this was the most natural thing in the world gave both of them an overwhelming urge to punch him.
...
...
Meanwhile.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku wore a somewhat grim expression after receiving the news from Loguetown, though he readily agreed when Garp brought up the transfer for Smoker.
But he demanded that the Vice Admiral return to headquarters immediately.
"The world government is planning to recruit Fire Fist Ace. If that Lius is truly as monstrous as you claim, then I imagine they will extend their recruitment plan to both of them!"
"For now, the Marines will suspend the pursuit of those two. We will make our final decision once the world government concludes their recruitment!"
The Fleet Admiral spoke with utmost solemnity as he held the Den Den Mushi.
"Aha, the wind is too strong! What did you say? I can't hear you clearly!"
The Den Den Mushi morphed to mimic Garp's face, displaying an expression that practically begged to be punched.
"You old bastard! Let me warn you, it would be best if you don't lay a hand on them before the world government attempts their recruitment. This is a decision made by the Five Elders!" Sengoku exploded in anger, roaring into the receiver.
"Ah, did you guys hear that? The Den Den Mushi must be broken!"
Garp's voice drifted over the line.
But faintly, Sengoku and Tsuru, who was also in the office, could hear the soldiers on his ship confirming that they had indeed heard the orders.
Click.
The call was abruptly cut off in the next second, and the Den Den Mushi fell into a deep slumber.
Sengoku glared so fiercely his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He looked ready to breathe fire.
At that moment, the furious roar of the Fleet Admiral echoed throughout the entire Marine Headquarters building, screaming about how he was going to eat all of that bastard Garp's snacks.