Rumble!!
Lightning cut through the sky like white blades, followed by the roar of thunder that shook the very soul.
At this moment, this stretch of sea was facing a rare, massive superstorm.
The howling winds surged forward like an army of thousands.
Rain thundered down, pelting the surface like hailstones covering the world.
Simultaneously, the surging waves rose like giant hands, trying to drag everything in the vicinity down to the lightless depths of the ocean floor.
Amidst this perilous disaster that would fill most with despair, a single figure was struggling against the waves, attempting to swim out of the storm.
"Phew! Something like this won't stop me! Ack—ptui, ptui!"
Goku, having accidentally swallowed a mouthful of seawater, spat it out and gritted his teeth, continuing to swim forward.
He had been swimming ever since he left Qia Island.
After swimming for half a day without seeing any land, his stomach began to growl, so he decided to dive underwater to find something to eat.
Though he couldn't light a fire to cook, it didn't matter; it wasn't like he had never eaten raw fish before.
However, he hadn't expected that even after searching for a long time, he wouldn't see a single fish.
Soon after, the weather turned, and a massive storm struck, sweeping him into the disaster.
He swam with all his might to escape, but the ocean within the storm was like a giant whirlpool, dragging him back relentlessly.
He had considered using Moonwalk to leave through the air, but the technique couldn't be maintained for long. With the storm-tossed sea stretching endlessly, trying to escape that way was nothing but a pipe dream.
"Phew! This is just more training. I'll swim out of here on my own strength!"
By now, Goku had realized that this storm was a trial for him.
He had said he would train himself by swimming; now that he had encountered such a rare challenge, how could he back down?
Even if someone told him there was an easy way out, he wouldn't take it. He would swim out using his own power!
Rumble!!
The thunder roared on, and the storm showed no sign of stopping.
Goku's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. His arms and legs churned the water tirelessly as he pushed forward in one direction.
Some time later.
When the sunlight finally broke through from above, illuminating him and the surrounding ocean, he couldn't help but cheer.
"Yahoo! I'm out!"
Exhausted, he floated on his back, staring up at the blue sky with a grin.
"This sky is much better to look at."
"But where am I? How much further is it to the next island the old guys mentioned?"
After the storm, he had completely lost his bearings. He had no idea if he was still heading toward the next island or if he had drifted far off course.
If it was the latter, it meant he might be drifting at sea for days.
And during those days, he wouldn't have anywhere to rest.
*Gurgle!!*
Just then, his stomach let out a frantic alarm.
Goku rubbed his hollow stomach. He wanted to find the strength to look for food again, but his body felt weak, and he slumped back into the water. "I'm so hungry... but I have no strength left."
Already hungry, his intense struggle against the storm had completely depleted his energy.
"Grandpa Garp was right. I really do need a boat."
He stared blankly at the sky, Garp's grinning face seemingly appearing before him.
Only now did he remember Garp's warning that he needed a vessel for rest and to store supplies.
At the time, he hadn't cared, but now he realized it clearly:
Grandpa Garp was right!
Without a boat, he would end up half-dead like this!
Before long, the sky began to dim.
Starving and exhausted, he couldn't help but close his eyes, falling into a deep sleep upon the boundless ocean.
His body drifted with the currents toward an unknown destination.
...
As the sun set, a small boat drifted across the sea like a fallen leaf on a pond.
On the boat, Nami adjusted the sail to ensure they were heading the right way. She grabbed her bag of food and water, pulled out a canteen, and took several long gulps before exhaling in satisfaction.
Then, she took out some dry rations and began to eat slowly.
"Sigh, I really miscalculated this time. Those pirates on that island ran off, and there go my Berries."
She sighed as she recalled the past few days while eating.
Ever since Goku's interference back on Qia Island caused her plan to fall through, she had moved on to her next target.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving at that island, she discovered the pirates she was tracking had already vanished.
Thinking about how she had run around for days only to end up without a single Berry, her mood soured.
At the same time, she gritted her teeth at the thought of Goku, the one who had cost her a fortune.
In her mind, if not for Goku, that money would be tucked safely away with her right now.
Who would have thought that a sure thing could just fly away like that?
With the thieving skills she had refined over the past two years, she had never lost money once it was within her grasp.
But Goku had provided a very memorable exception.
It was safe to say she would remember Goku for a very long time.
"I have no idea where that kid came from. Just my luck."
She smiled wryly, feeling the lingering ache in her knees.
There was no use holding a grudge now.
After all, the ocean was vast; she likely wouldn't see him again for the rest of her life.
Besides, at his core, he was actually...
Her train of thought came to a sudden halt.
She had caught sight of something floating on the surface in the distance.
It looked like...
A person?!
After a moment of hesitation, she adjusted the sail and steered the boat toward the figure.
She placed her self-defense staff within easy reach but hidden from plain sight.
If the person in the water had bad intentions, she would give them a harsh lesson!
Carried by the sea breeze, the boat slowly approached.
The closer she got, the more familiar the figure appeared.
When she could finally see clearly, her expression changed, and she gasped, covering her mouth.
"No way!"
"How could it be that kid?!"
She saw clearly now: the person floating on the water was the very same Goku who had left such an impression on her.
Realizing this, she didn't hesitate for a second. She grabbed the oars and rowed frantically, closing the distance as fast as possible.
Soon, she was right next to him.
Seeing Goku's eyes shut as if he were dead, her heart skipped a beat.
When she noticed his chest still rising and falling, she let out a sigh of relief and pulled him onto the boat.
She felt his forehead to ensure he didn't have a fever, then took her canteen and carefully poured a little water to moisten his parched lips.
Then, she lightly patted his cheek.
"Hey, wake up. Come on, wake up."
Exhausted and starved, Goku didn't wake. He only muttered unconsciously, "Hungry... so hungry..."
Nami relaxed, shaking her head with a chuckle. "So you just fainted from hunger."
She gently laid his head down and reached into her bag for some rations.
As she found a piece of dry bread, her eyes fell on something else in the bag.
It was a package wrapped tightly in foil—a large drumstick she had saved specifically for her breakfast tomorrow.
She hesitated for a few seconds, looking at the sleeping Goku. She set aside the dry bread and pulled out the drumstick instead.
'Hmph, consider yourself lucky this time!'
Though she huffed inwardly, her hands moved quickly to unwrap the foil.
She turned back, ready to wake him up to eat.
But as she turned, she jumped in surprise.
Goku, who had been dead to the world just moments ago, was now sitting bolt upright. His eyes gleamed with a predatory green light as he stared at the drumstick, drool leaking from the corner of his mouth.
"Food! There's food!!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]