Landing on Warship Island

Two days after the Going Merry left Loguetown, the weather finally cleared up again.

Luffy sat at the bow, asking Nami when they would reach the Grand Line. Nami answered that it would take at least a few more days, which finally put him at ease. He continued practicing Armament Haki at the bow.

It had been some time since Zero had taught them how to use Haki, and Luffy was still progressing the fastest among them. Though he had not fully awakened it yet, he had vaguely begun to grasp the feeling, making Zero sigh that Luffy truly was Oda's biological son.

As for the others, they were still at the beginning stage. It was clear that getting started with Armament would take some more time.

Suddenly, Usopp spotted something on the distant surface of the sea. Sanji suggested that if it was a fish, they could catch it and cook it. Luffy was immediately tempted and stretched out his rubber arm, only to pull back a girl dressed in strange clothes!

Whether she had drifted at sea for too long or for some other reason, the girl was asleep when she came aboard. When Zero noticed her, he recalled that she seemed to be connected to the legendary Millennium Dragon and suggested letting her stay on the ship for now. Luffy agreed.

When the girl woke up, Nami introduced everyone to her.

"I'm Nami... That one standing against the wall is Zero... The cook is Sanji... The scary-looking one is Roronoa Zoro... The long-nosed one is Usopp..."

Roronoa Zoro: "What about me looks scary?"

"I'm Luffy, the captain of this pirate ship."

Only after Luffy finished his introduction with a smile did the girl realize that she had ended up on a pirate ship. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself, looking as if she wanted nothing to do with strangers. Everyone was left rather baffled.

The next day, after spending a night getting familiar with them, the girl gradually lowered her guard. Later, she even cooked for Luffy and the others herself, though the taste of the food was hard to describe.

Of course, Luffy ate with great enthusiasm, making everyone wonder what exactly his stomach was made of. The others, however, struggled to finish their food under Sanji's threat. Zero even swore that he would never eat it a second time!

Later, the girl introduced herself. Her name was Apis, and she came from Warship Island. Nami checked the map and saw that Warship Island was not far from the entrance to the Grand Line, so she asked Luffy whether they should take Apis there. Kind-hearted Luffy readily agreed.

So they changed course and headed for Warship Island.

"The Millennium Dragon on Warship Island...?"

Zero murmured softly. His gaze passed over the excited crowd and landed on Apis. If they knew they were about to encounter a legendary creature, would they be even more excited?

After the Going Merry had sailed for a while, they discovered a Marine fleet ahead of them, and there were quite a few ships.

At first, Luffy thought they had come to capture him. Then Apis said that she had escaped from the Marines of the Eighth Unit in front of them, and only then did everyone realize that Apis was not so simple.

Facing the Marine fleet's encirclement, Luffy and the others were brimming with fighting spirit. Zero had even drawn Startled Dragon, ready for a big fight!

But Apis suddenly said the wind was about to rise, and Nami also sensed that the weather was unusual. She immediately told Roronoa Zoro to turn the sails south while Usopp and Sanji took charge of the helm.

"It's fine, Nami. Watch me cut them all down with one slash!"

Naturally, Nami did not doubt Zero's words at all. But to avoid being caught in the crossfire, she chose the safer option and pretended not to hear him.

Zero: Fine, looks like I won't get a chance to show off!

At that moment, a fierce gale suddenly swept in. Since they had already adjusted the sails, the Going Merry quickly caught the wind and sped away from the Marines' pursuit.

However, their joy did not last long. Only after Roronoa Zoro pointed it out did they realize that they had entered the Calm Belt, the habitat of Giant Sea Kings!

In an instant.

Boom!

Sea Kings burst from the water one after another, directly lifting the Going Merry above the sea!

Zero reacted swiftly and pulled Nami into his arms to keep her safe. Apis, however, failed to hold on and accidentally fell from the ship. Just as she was about to drop into the mouth of a toad-like Sea King, Luffy stretched out his rubber arm and grabbed her back.

Apis also learned that Luffy was a Devil Fruit user. Bold and skilled, she seemed to think of something and asked Luffy to send her to a Sea King's nostril, where she pulled out one of its nose hairs!

"Achoo!"

In the end, they used the Sea King's sneeze to safely return to their original waters. After sailing for a while longer, they finally arrived at Warship Island.

The area was shrouded in thick fog, making it nearly impossible to see the farther reaches of the sea. If not for an experienced navigator guiding them, ordinary ships would easily lose their way here.

Under Apis's guidance, they landed on Warship Island. Although their identities as pirates nearly caused some unpleasantness with the islanders at first, an old man named Bogdan stepped forward. After that, everyone went to Bogdan's home for a short rest.

Before setting out, Nami noticed that Zero's expression was a little strange and could not help asking, "Zero, what's wrong?"

"There are Marines."

Usopp, who heard this from nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "What? Did the Marines catch up to us?"

"Yeah. We need to be careful from here on. Let's hide the Going Merry somewhere inconspicuous before we head into the island."

Everyone nodded without objection. After mooring the Going Merry, they headed together toward Bogdan's home.

"Why was Apis captured on a Marine ship?"

Inside the house, Nami questioned Bogdan. At first, Bogdan did not know either. He only mentioned a legend about the Millennium Dragon and Lost Island. It was said that the Millennium Dragon's bones were an elixir of immortality, so it might have had something to do with that, though it was only speculation.

As Bogdan spoke, he began telling stories from even further back. Zero was somewhat interested and simply sat nearby to listen. Although he noticed Apis sneaking out in the middle of it, Zero did not react.

It was not until Luffy wandered out in a daze and failed to return, with Nami later following him out to check on things, that Zero stood up and left the house under the excuse of using the bathroom.

The two found Luffy sleeping in another room, with drag marks on the floor. They woke him up and followed the trail to search for Apis.