Breath Mastery

Everyone disembarked onto 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 birds on the island, they also deduced one possibility: the mountaintop was most likely where the dragon's lair was located!

When everyone reached the summit and prepared to use Apis's dragon-bone necklace to open the entrance to the dragon's lair, the ground beneath them suddenly collapsed, and they all fell in. To their surprise, there was something like ancient ruins beneath them!

They also discovered many mysterious patterns on the walls. The images showed that the people who had once lived here had a close relationship with the Millennium Dragons. Though it was unknown why they had later gone to Warship Island, it could be inferred that Warship Island and Lost Island were somehow connected.

Just as Nami speculated that Lost Island might have sunk beneath the sea, Zero said lazily, "I remember that when the Millennium Dragon first appeared, it mentioned that Lost Island might emerge soon. So, is it possible that the island that sank beneath the sea could rise back to the surface at some point?"

Sanji said, "That can't be possible, right? Lost Island rising out of the sea on its own—that's just too..."

Zero shook his head.

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

The moment he finished speaking, everyone fell silent, seemingly considering whether Zero's words could be true.

Zero also knew that this speculation was somewhat far-fetched. Even if it was the truth, it would still be hard for anyone who had never seen it to believe, so he said nothing more and instead continued examining the ruins around them.

At this moment, everyone noticed that Apis seemed rather downcast. She felt as though they had made the trip for nothing, so they all comforted her until her mood improved somewhat.

"Hmm?"

Zero suddenly raised his head to look upward, and Zoro followed his gaze.

"Bloodlust!"

Hearing this, 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 back to the ship first. I'll stay here and deal with him!"

Luffy nodded and rammed into the wall, intending to make a path by force. He bounced back after hitting the wall, but the wall beside him collapsed with a crash.

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

Everyone: ...

Later, everyone once again slid down from the mountaintop with the Millennium Dragon. Though the journey was extremely thrilling, they ultimately arrived safely near the Going Merry. Sanji and Usopp, however, still failed to avoid ending up in the sea, while Nami was caught in Zero's arms after he foresaw what would happen, sparing her from getting wet.

"Thank you, 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 using Observation Haki to sense Zoro's condition. Though the distance prevented him from clearly perceiving their situation, he could vaguely tell that Zoro was still safe, which put him at ease.

In fact, facing such a troublesome enemy for the first time, Zoro found it somewhat difficult. Eric's attacks left no visible trajectory, and several times he could only dodge by instinct. It was truly dangerous!

"Damn it, how can there be such an ability?"

Zoro grew anxious. He could not waste time here. If he did not defeat this enemy quickly—

He forced himself to calm down. As he recalled the breathing techniques Zero had demonstrated before him, as well as the methods Koushirou had once taught him, he seemed to vaguely grasp something.

Finally, when Eric once again unleashed several sharp, transparent blades toward him, he finally understood the technique of breathing.

All things have their own breath...

The earth has the breath of the earth...

Trees have the breath of trees...

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

One Sword Style: Iai, Lion's Song!

Slash!

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

"How... Impossible..."

Eric fell.

His face was filled with disbelief. Even in the moment before he fell, he could not believe that he had been defeated by a mere pirate!

After defeating Eric, Zoro also seemed to feel that he had gained a deeper understanding of Armament Haki. He believed that it would not take 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 sent him flying like a spring toward the others, though his landing posture was rather undignified.

Zero, who was watching from the side, covered his face and pretended not to see anything. 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 there was no need to say anything more.

Everyone left this stretch of sea.

Who could have known that one crisis would follow another? Countless Marine warships suddenly appeared ahead of the Going Merry. There were even more than Zero had seen when he destroyed the previous warship, making even his scalp tingle.

Just what was this Eighth Unit? Why did they have so many ships? Could this be the capital the Marines relied on to suppress the Grand Line? This was far too outrageous!

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

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Faced with the cannonballs whistling past the Going Merry, Zero drew Startled Dragon and immediately said, "No choice. We can't escape now. We'll have to fight our way through!"

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

After Luffy finalized the strategy, everyone could only overcome their fear and prepare to fight the Marine fleet before them to the death, carving out a path to escape!