Just then, Luffy directly invited Usopp aboard.
"Ah... you want to invite me aboard?"
Usopp's mouth fell open as he stared at Luffy in disbelief.
He had witnessed Luffy's group's strength firsthand, especially the scene where Moonlight had sent Kuro flying with a single slash. It had been etched into his heart. Such a powerful pirate crew actually wanted someone like him aboard?
"You're interesting. My ship happens to need someone like you."
Luffy smiled, his face full of sincerity.
"But... don't they have any objections?"
Usopp hurriedly looked at Zoro, Nami, and Moonlight.
"Hey, hey, hey, Luffy! Even if you're the captain, you should at least ask us first!"
Nami could not help saying.
"Exactly. It's not like we're air."
Zoro complained.
"I don't care!"
Moonlight shrugged, completely unconcerned.
"Hey, are you willing to join my pirate crew?"
However, Luffy had not heard a word. He shouted loudly at Usopp.
"This guy..."
Nami sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"If you weren't the captain, I'd chop you to pieces!"
Zoro said viciously.
"..."
Moonlight had nothing to say.
"Mm."
Faced with Luffy's sincere invitation, Usopp was overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down his face as he nodded heavily, then he leaped aboard and hugged Luffy.
Luffy burst into laughter. The two of them seemed like a perfect match, instantly turning into a pair of comedians.
"Hehe!"
Kaya smiled sweetly at the sight.
"Heh!"
Nami began to laugh as well.
"Tch!"
Zoro curled his lip. Though he said nothing, the smile at the corner of his mouth was obvious.
"With Usopp around, this ship shouldn't be too lonely."
Moonlight smiled to himself.
He, Nami, and Zoro had always done their own things without interfering with one another. When the ship had been small, it had not been noticeable, but now that it was larger, it felt extremely quiet.
Usopp was like a bond connecting them together.
"Kaya, I'm setting out to sea. I'm going to become a great Warrior of the Sea."
Usopp then bid Kaya farewell.
"Mm, you definitely will."
Kaya nodded solemnly, fully believing Usopp's words.
"Waaah..."
As the ship sailed farther and farther away, Usopp could not help bursting into tears again.
"Alright, since you've decided to set sail, leave everything behind until you succeed!"
Luffy comforted him.
"Thank you, Luffy. You're such a good person!"
Usopp was moved once again and hugged Luffy as they rolled into a ball.
The two started fooling around again, rolling all over the deck and making a huge commotion.
"Having one more person does make things livelier, but when it gets too lively, it just becomes noisy, doesn't it?"
Watching the two, Nami's mouth twisted in irritation.
"Agreed."
Zoro nodded.
"Hey, Zoro, come help me train!"
Moonlight walked to an open area and called out to Zoro.
"Alright."
At that, excitement appeared on Zoro's face. He immediately drew his sword and slashed at him.
"Good grief, isn't there a single normal person on this ship?"
Looking at Moonlight and Zoro exchanging blows, then at Usopp and Luffy rolling around together, Nami could not help getting a terrible headache.
Yet for some reason, she suddenly found herself enjoying this feeling.
After determining their course, they sailed onward!
The weather at sea was always unpredictable, like a child's face. One moment, the skies were clear for miles; the next, there was a raging storm.
"Moonlight, pull down the sails!"
"Zoro, take the helm!"
"Usopp, use your sniper scope to check the surrounding area!"
"Luffy, leave the front to you!"
Seeing this, Nami immediately began issuing orders in an orderly manner, displaying the bearing of an expert navigator.
Though the sea was battered by fierce winds and rain, thunder and lightning, with undercurrents churning beneath and whirlpools constantly appearing, the Going Merry sailed steadily under Nami's command.
After a while, the dark clouds dispersed, the sky and earth brightened once more, and the sea became calm again.
"Whew... that was close!"
Luffy sat at the bow, his face full of admiration.
"Looks like you're somewhat useful after all, woman!"
Zoro nodded, a rare gesture from him.
"On the sea, navigators are the core!"
Moonlight nodded. Nami truly was incredibly important.
"This is the sea I've long yearned for!"
Usopp emerged from the cabin, looking utterly content.
He then looked at Luffy and said,
"Luffy, since we've formed a pirate crew and set sail, we need a flag, right?"
"Of course we need a flag, but what should it be? Besides, I can't draw!"
Luffy frowned and began thinking seriously.
"I can!"
Usopp volunteered himself.
"Really? Great!"
Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
Usopp gave an evil grin, and a portrait with a long nose instantly appeared. Usopp looked immensely pleased with himself!
"Look, Captain Usopp is setting sail from now on!"
"Hey! I'm the captain!"
Luffy flew into a rage, extremely dissatisfied.
"Hey, hey, hey, when did we become your subordinates, Usopp?!"
"Hehe!"
"..."
Zoro and the others stared at Usopp with gloomy expressions.
After a round of punches and kicks, Usopp finally behaved himself and drew the Pirate Flag based on Luffy's hat.
The Straw Hat Pirates were founded!
"Great, it's exactly what I wanted!"
Seeing the Straw Hat on the flag, Luffy was overjoyed.
"Not bad!"
Zoro and Nami nodded. Luffy was the soul of the crew, and using his Straw Hat as their symbol perfectly suited his dream of becoming the Pirate King!
"The Straw Hat Pirates... have finally been formed?"
Moonlight muttered, his heart surging with emotion.
Boom!
Just then, a towering wave suddenly erupted from the sea, accompanied by a Sea Beast nearly ten meters long bursting forth!
"Whoa... it's huge!"
Luffy reacted immediately, his face full of shock.
"What is that?!"
Zoro pressed both hands against his sword hilts.
"Ah! A Sea Beast!"
Usopp screamed and threw himself flat on the ground!
"So big!"
Nami was stunned!
Even in the East Blue, this was the first time she had seen such a colossal creature.
At that moment, the Sea Beast roared and charged toward Moonlight!
"Oh no, Moonlight, watch out!"
Nami hurriedly shouted.
"Hmm?"
Seeing this, Zoro instead released his hands from his swords!
"Moonlight, don't kill it!"
Luffy called out, looking like an inquisitive child.
"..."
Usopp could no longer say anything!
"Get lost!"
Moonlight's eyes widened!
Roar!
The rampaging Sea Beast immediately froze. Its lantern-sized eyes suddenly filled with terror, and beads of sweat the size of beans seeped from its forehead!
With a mournful cry, it actually turned around and fled!
Usopp: "Th-this..."
Zoro: "No way!"
Nami: "What just happened?!"
Luffy: "Don't go..."
The four had completely different reactions!
"Sorry, I slipped up!"
Moonlight shook his head. He had not expected Conqueror's Haki to be so powerful that it would scare the Sea Beast away!
A miscalculation!
"What do you mean, slipped up? You're way too ridiculous! You actually scared a Sea Beast away!"
Usopp could not help complaining.
"What kind of magic did you use? That was incredible!"
Nami's face was full of shock.
"..."
Zoro said nothing, but the fighting spirit in his eyes grew ever stronger!
The more Moonlight displayed his strength, the more Zoro felt the immense gap between them. But he would definitely surpass him!
Before you continue