The first half of the Grand Line doesn't have the unusual magnetic fields of the New World. Normally, you need a Log Pose or a Vivre Card to navigate from island to island.
But the currents and climate here—at least in the first half—follow rules. As long as you determine the direction of the Boin Archipelago, a normal compass and chart will safely guide you.
After half a month of sailing, Garp's dog-headed warship finally arrived at the Boin Archipelago.
Mid-October.
Autumn should have been cool and crisp. Yet the moment the warship entered the archipelago's sea zone, the temperature rose noticeably.
By the time the warship reached the easternmost island, the marines had already shed their autumn uniforms in favor of their summer ones.
"The weather here is really bizarre!"
"Who would've thought the first half of the Grand Line had a place like this? How did that guy Zephyr even find it?!"
"This whole chain of islands feels… strange!"
It was Garp's first time here. The dog-headed warship made landfall, and Garp accompanied Kokujō Yoriichi onto the island.
The moment Garp stepped foot on land, he felt something off—almost as if some ferocious beast had locked onto him.
His Observation Haki instantly spread out, blanketing the entire island within seconds. And as it did, surprise flickered across Garp's face.
"So that's what this is!!!"
Garp's Observation Haki reached far. In only a few seconds, he grasped the true nature of the "island" beneath their feet.
The entire island… was a living creature.
Just as the marines on the ship prepared to disembark, Garp barked sharply:
"Don't come down! Stay on the ship!"
At that exact moment, the ground beneath Yoriichi and Garp began to tremble violently. The previously calm sea started to churn.
Seeing this, Garp instantly leapt back to the warship and shouted:
"Kid, watch out! This island—eats people!
I've got business in the East Blue. I'm leaving this to you!
I'll visit again sometime! Wahahahaha!"
His booming voice was quickly drowned by the roar of crashing waves as the dog-headed warship was pushed away from shore.
Meanwhile, the ground beneath Yoriichi rapidly tilted toward the island's center.
"The Boin Archipelago…
So this is where Usopp was sent flying by Kuma!"
The moment the ground began to "close," Yoriichi launched into the air with Moonwalk. From high above, he finally saw the island's true form—and only then did he realize exactly what kind of place he had arrived at.
This island… was the very place where Usopp had trained for two years.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!
The petals of the "Stomach Baron" began to close rapidly. Soon, the entire island slanted at a ninety-degree angle. From above, Yoriichi saw that the center of the island was actually a massive maw, and as the petals folded inward, countless creatures slid helplessly into the gaping mouth.
Only the lucky few got caught on vegetation and survived.
After more than ten minutes, the folded "petals" slowly unfurled again. Within minutes, the island looked completely normal once more. Only the still-churning sea proved that the spectacle had been real.
"This is incredible…"
Yoriichi considered himself well-traveled, but he had never witnessed anything like this. Seeing it with his own eyes was worlds away from watching it in an anime.
When he landed again, goosebumps still crept across his skin. That long-lost thrill—excitement—made his heart pound.
A mysterious island. Strange biology. Everything stirred his curiosity.
"So… this is what real adventure feels like."
"Interesting."
He tightened his grip on his blade, tucked his clothes under his arm, and darted into the dense jungle.
He had barely gone far before he "saw" something strange. Yoriichi's perspective was unlike that of an ordinary person. In the Transparent World, any living thing—anything with "life-force"—could not hide.
What appeared to be dense foliage ahead… wasn't vegetation at all. It was alive.
"Screee!!"
Without hesitation, Yoriichi drew his blade and unleashed a slash. A piercing shriek followed, and the "forest" began to wither. Sweet, fragrant blue-green sap spilled across the ground, the scent stirring one's appetite.
"Smells good…"
"What are these strange things? I've never seen anything like them."
He kept his distance—no telling what that sap might do.
Without lingering, he used Moonwalk to leap past the corpse of the creature disguised as foliage.
"This place is overflowing with strange things. I need to find safe ground first…
Then explore properly."
"If I remember right, this island has plants that literally grow food.
As long as I don't build shelter near those species, I should be fine."
He spread his Observation Haki, scanning several hundred meters. While far less expansive than Garp's range, distinguishing animals from plants was easy.
Following pockets of animal presence—since animals usually indicated accessible food—Yoriichi pushed forward.
But on this island, food and water were the least of his problems.
Not long after entering the jungle, a thick, savory aroma hit him.
It wasn't grass.
Not flowers.
But broth. Rich, aromatic broth.
After another short walk—
A ramen waterfall came into view.
Noodles. Soup.
All of it cascading down in a steaming torrent.
Bamboo shoots and narutomaki even grew on the rocks beside it.
"F-food…
Food just lying out in the open…?!"
Even though he had prepared himself mentally, seeing it for real left him speechless.
This was reality.
And yet—here it was.
Something that defied every natural law.
"Heh… guess I should try it."
His stomach growled loudly in agreement.
After scanning for danger, Yoriichi chopped down a tree and carved himself a makeshift bowl. Using small branches as improvised chopsticks, he gathered noodles, narutomaki, bamboo shoots, and broth.
He slurped the first bite.
"Ohhh~
This is pretty good!"
The rich flavor made his eyes brighten—and as the food settled in his stomach, he felt his energy surging back.
The fatigue from walking, and even the minor exertion from Moonwalk, vanished instantly.
"I see…
The Boin Archipelago…
What an unbelievable place!"
"Usopp barely scratched the surface of what this island can offer."
Eyes shining, Yoriichi devoured the bowl—then another.
Then another.
As he gorged himself, his body began to swell—yet before it progressed too far, he quickly activated Life Return, accelerating digestion and absorption.
When even Life Return couldn't keep up, he launched himself into the sky, unleashing slash after slash, burning vast amounts of Haki.
The cycle repeated endlessly:
Eat → burn energy → grow stronger
And just like that—
Yoriichi's physical strength began skyrocketing.
(End of Chapter)
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