After a few days of sailing, the Going Merry finally approached the edge of the Calm Belt.
Jack held the megaphone speaker and called out to everyone Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who were currently busy sparring with Dragon was disturbed with the sound from megaphone speaker. "Alright, everyone! That's enough training for now!"
Luffy blinked. "Eh? Why stop now, Jack?"
Jack crossed his arms with a faint smile. "Because we're almost at the edge of the Calm Belt. It's time to decide are we crossing through the Calm Belt, or going over Reverse Mountain?"
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
"The Calm Belt?" repeated Usopp nervously, sweat forming on his forehead. "What's that?!"
"The Calm Belt is a place with no wind and filled with Sea Kings," Jack explained.
"Then we're going through the Calm Belt!" shouted Luffy, eyes sparkling with excitement.
After a few days of sailing, the Going Merry finally approached the edge of the Calm Belt.
Jack held the megaphone speaker and called out to everyone Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who were currently busy sparring with Dragon was disturbed with the sound from megaphone speaker. "Alright, everyone! That's enough training for now!"
Luffy blinked. "Eh? Why stop now, Jack?"
Jack crossed his arms with a faint smile. "Because we're almost at the edge of the Calm Belt. It's time to decide are we crossing through the Calm Belt, or going over Reverse Mountain?"
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
"The Calm Belt?" repeated Usopp nervously, sweat forming on his forehead. "What's that?!"
"The Calm Belt is a place with no wind and filled with Sea Kings," Jack explained.
"Then we're going through the Calm Belt!" shouted Luffy, eyes sparkling with excitement.
After a few days of sailing, the Going Merry finally approached the edge of the Calm Belt.
Jack held the megaphone speaker and called out to everyone Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who were currently busy sparring with Dragon was disturbed with the sound from megaphone speaker. "Alright, everyone! That's enough training for now!"
Luffy blinked. "Eh? Why stop now, Jack?"
Jack crossed his arms with a faint smile. "Because we're almost at the edge of the Calm Belt. It's time to decide are we crossing through the Calm Belt, or going over Reverse Mountain?"
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
"The Calm Belt?" repeated Usopp nervously, sweat forming on his forehead. "What's that?!"
"The Calm Belt is a place with no wind and filled with Sea Kings," Jack explained.
"Then we're going through the Calm Belt!" shouted Luffy, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Dragon watched his son's enthusiasm and decided not to interrupt, he simply smiled quietly, enjoying the moment.
"Luffy, are you crazy?! That place is full of monsters!" Nami screamed.
"Yeah, Jack, we're not crossing the Calm Belt!" added Usopp in panic.
"I'm the captain. I decide where this ship sails," said Luffy firmly.
Jack chuckled. "Luffy, I don't mind crossing the Calm Belt, but… even the Pirate King himself sailed over Reverse Mountain. If we don't go through it, then we won't be following the true path of pirates."
That answer made Nami and Usopp pause, then nod tearfully in agreement.
"Hmmm… okay. We'll go over Reverse Mountain!" Luffy declared.
Jack nodded. "Aye, Captain."
Nami and Usopp collapsed to the deck in relief while Nojiko smiled at their antics.
"Luffy-senpai, are we really going up Reverse Mountain?" asked Bartolomeo excitedly.
Luffy's grin widened. "Yeah! That's where we're going... Reverse Mountain!"
Zoro smirked. "Heh. Figures. You'd pick the most dangerous route."
"Oi, we're pirates. We follow the pirate's way, not the easy way," replied Jack.
Luffy slammed his fist into his palm, conflicted with his decision. "Adventure's no fun if it's easy!"
Jack chuckled softly, clearly expecting that answer. "Then it's settled. Nami, I'm leaving the helm to you. Set our course for Reverse Mountain."
Nami eye twitched slightly as she placed one hand on her hip. "Fine. But everyone, listen carefully." She spread out a nautical chart on the table, her tone turning serious. "Reverse Mountain isn't like any other passage. Four ocean currents, one from each Blue, flow up the mountain and meet at the summit before plunging straight down into the Grand Line. One wrong move or a second's loss of control, and we'll be smashed against the mountain walls."
Usopp gulped. "S-smashed?!"
Even Sanji frowned. "So it's basically… a waterfall going up and down?"
"Exactly," said Nami. "And the currents are strong enough to shatter a normal ship in seconds. Most pirates don't even make it through."
"Nami-senpai, don't worry! I'll protect you!" declared Bartolomeo proudly.
The crew went quiet.
Luffy just grinned wider, his excitement glowing like fire. "Sounds awesome!"
Zoro cracked his knuckles with a smirk. "Then we just have to make sure we don't die."
Usopp dropped to his knees dramatically. "You're all insane! I didn't sign up for mountain climbing with a ship!"
Jack chuckled, resting a reassuring hand on Usopp's shoulder. "Relax, Usopp. The Merry hull is reinforced with Vibranium alloy. Even if we hit a current head-on, she won't break."
Usopp's eyes sparkled with hope. "R-really?"
Jack nodded confidently. "Really. Just trust the ship… and your navigator."
Dragon, who had been quietly observing from the railing, let out a low chuckle. His eyes softened as he watched his son bounce with excitement at the thought of danger.
Nojiko smiled gently beside him. "You sound proud."
Dragon turned slightly, the faintest smile curving his lips. "He is my son."
Bartolomeo clenched his fists, eyes shining. "Luffy-senpai's gonna conquer Reverse Mountain! I can already see the headline: The Unstoppable Straw Hat Crew Defies the Impossible!"
Jack laughed quietly. "Hahaha, Bartolomeo... many pirates have crossed Reverse Mountain, but not many have made it through successfully."
The wind picked up, and the sea began to hum beneath the hull as the Going Merry sped toward its destination.
....
The ocean current began to twist violently, pulling the Going Merry upward along a stream that looked more like a raging waterfall in reverse. The crew gathered on deck, the air buzzing with anticipation.
Jack stood near the helm, watching the pressure readings hover deep in the red zone. "All systems stable," he said proudly. "We're about to begin our climb."
Nami gripped the wheel tightly, her voice steady. "Alright, everyone! Once we enter the current, there's no turning back!"
Luffy leaned against the railing, staring at the wall of rushing water ahead with an unstoppable grin.
As the ship began its slow ascent into the impossible current, the sound of creaking wood and roaring waves filled the air. Despite the chaos, a strange sense of calm washed over the crew.
Zoro exhaled slowly. "This is it… no turning back now."
Jack glanced at him, then at the others. "Before we enter the Grand Line, there's one thing we should do."
Luffy tilted his head. "Eh? What thing?"
Jack smiled faintly, picking up an empty wooden barrel and setting it in the middle of the deck. "A promise."
The crew looked puzzled.
Jack continued, "In this world, a crew without a shared dream won't last. So before we take this step, let's make it clear… what we're chasing."
Luffy's eyes lit up. He grinned and stepped forward first, slamming his foot onto the barrel with a loud thunk.
"I'll go first! My dream is to become the Pirate King!" he declared with absolute confidence.
Zoro followed, his expression fierce and unwavering. "I'll become the world's strongest swordsman… no matter what it takes."
Nami smiled softly, her eyes shining. "I'll draw a map of the entire world. Every island, every sea… I'll make it real."
Sanji smirked. "And I'll find the All Blue... the ocean where every fish from every sea gathers together."
Jack then placed his foot beside theirs. "I'll master all my abilities."
Nojiko stepped up next, resting her leg on the barrel. "I don't want to see any child suffer from hunger ever again. That's my dream."
Bartolomeo, eyes glistening with emotion, slammed his foot down so hard the barrel nearly cracked. "I'll follow Captain Luffy's adventure to the very end! Even if it costs me my life!"
Everyone turned toward Dragon, who had been quietly observing from the side. The wind tugged at his cloak as all eyes focused on him… waiting.
For a long moment, Dragon simply looked at them — this odd, chaotic, but unbreakable crew his son had gathered. Then, slowly, he stepped forward and placed his boot atop the barrel. His voice was calm, yet carried the weight of a storm.
"My wish… is to liberate the world."
The crew fell silent as the wind howled around them like an oath being sealed.
Luffy grinned wider than ever. "Shishishishi! Then it's decided!"
Author Notes: There is 10 advanced chapter on my patreon.
-patreon.com/zerelix