Understanding Breath

Everyone landed on the island.

After searching the area, they found no relevant clues.

They discussed pushing the Millennium Dragon to the mountaintop, where they would have a broader view. After Apis used the Whisper-Whisper Fruit to communicate with the island's birds, they also came to a possible conclusion: the mountaintop was most likely where the Dragon's Nest lay!

When everyone reached the mountaintop and prepared to use Apis's Dragon Bone necklace to open the entrance to the Dragon's Nest, the ground beneath them suddenly collapsed, and they all fell in. To their surprise, there was something like ancient ruins below!

They also found many mysterious patterns on the walls. The images showed that the people who had once lived here had shared a close relationship with the Millennium Dragons. Though no one knew why they had later gone to Warship Island, it could be inferred that Warship Island and Lost Island were somehow connected.

Just as Nami guessed that Lost Island might have sunk beneath the sea, Zero leisurely said, "I remember that when the Millennium Dragon first appeared, it was mentioned that Lost Island might emerge soon. So could the island that sank beneath the sea rise above the surface again at some point?"

Sanji said, "Impossible, right? Lost Island rising up from under the sea on its own... that's too...?"

Zero shook his head.

"Nothing is impossible. Don't forget, we're close to the Grand Line. On the Grand Line, anything can happen!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone fell silent, seemingly considering whether Zero's words could be true.

Zero also knew that this guess sounded rather far-fetched. Even if it was the truth, it would still be hard for those who had never seen it to believe. So he said nothing more and turned back to examining the ruins around them.

At that moment, everyone noticed that Apis seemed rather downcast. She felt as though they had made the trip for nothing, so they all began comforting her, and her mood gradually improved.

"Hm?"

Zero suddenly looked upward, and Zoro followed his gaze.

"Killing intent!"

Hearing that, everyone looked toward the edge of the pit above them. It was Whirlwind Eric, whom Luffy and the others had encountered before—a Devil Fruit user who had eaten the Scythe-Scythe Fruit!

Without hesitation, Zoro said directly to Luffy, "Luffy, take the Millennium Dragon to the ship first. I'll stay here and deal with him!"

Luffy nodded and rammed into the wall, intending to create a path by force. Instead, he bounced back from the wall, while the wall beside him came crashing down.

"Haha, look! There's a path!"

Everyone: "..."

Later, everyone brought the Millennium Dragon down from the mountaintop again, sliding all the way toward the foot of the mountain. Though the journey was incredibly thrilling, they ultimately arrived safely near the Going Merry. Only Sanji and Usopp failed to avoid ending up in the sea, while Zero, having foreseen it, picked Nami up and spared her from getting wet.

"Thanks, Zero."

Nami jumped down from Zero's arms with flushed cheeks. Her shy appearance made Sanji grit his teeth in envy, wishing that he were the one holding Nami.

Zero did not think much of it. At that moment, he was sensing Zoro's situation through Observation Haki. Although the distance prevented him from seeing their current circumstances clearly, he could vaguely tell that Zoro was still fairly safe, which put him at ease.

In truth, facing such a troublesome enemy for the first time, Zoro still found it somewhat difficult. Eric's attacks had no visible trajectory, and several times, he could only evade them through instinct. It was truly dangerous!

"Damn it, what kind of ability is this?"

Zoro grew somewhat impatient. He could not waste time here. If he did not finish this enemy quickly—

He forced himself to calm down, recalling the breathing techniques Zero had demonstrated before him, along with the breathing methods Koushirou had once taught him. It felt as though he had vaguely grasped something.

At last, when Eric once again raised several sharp, invisible blades and sent them flying toward him, he finally understood what the technique of breathing was.

All things had breath...

The earth had the earth's breath...

Trees had the trees' breath...

And he could see the breath carried by this guy's attacks too!

"One Sword Style: Iai, Lion's Song!"

Slash!

Zoro cut apart the invisible blades. Before Eric could react, Zoro closed in at incredible speed and instantly carved a massive wound across his body with Wado Ichimonji!

"How could this... Impossible..."

Eric fell.

His face was filled with disbelief, as though even at the moment he fell, he could not accept that he had been defeated by nothing more than a pirate!

After defeating Eric, Zoro seemed to feel that he had gained a deeper understanding of Armament Haki. He believed that it would not be long before he could grasp its basics!

As he thought this, he suddenly heard Luffy calling his name from afar. The next moment, Luffy's rubber arm landed directly on his shoulder.

"No way, this familiar feeling?"

Before Zoro could finish speaking, Luffy's arm flung him through the air like a spring, sending him flying back to the others, though his landing posture was not particularly graceful.

Zero, watching from the side, covered his face and acted as though he had seen nothing. He had originally wanted to tell Luffy there was no need for this, but Luffy's arm had already stretched out. Then Zoro was already back, and Zero instantly felt that there was nothing more for him to say.

Everyone left those waters.

But before one wave had settled, another rose. Countless Marine warships suddenly appeared ahead of the Going Merry. There were even more than Zero had seen when he destroyed the warship before, making even his scalp tingle.

What exactly was this Eighth Unit? Why did they have so many ships? Could this be the force the Marines used to suppress the Grand Line? This was way too exaggerated, wasn't it?

The Marine fleet on the other side seemed to notice the Going Merry as well. They suddenly linked every warship together with iron chains and began relentlessly bombarding the Going Merry.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As cannonballs shrieked past the Going Merry, Zero drew Startled Dragon and immediately said, "No choice. We can't escape now. We can only fight our way out!"

"Alright, everyone, let's jump onto the warships and cut the chains! That's our only chance to escape!"

With Luffy finally deciding on their strategy, everyone could only overcome their fear and prepare to fight the Marine fleet before them to the death, carving out a route of escape!