The Ark Maxim flew through the clouds for a full day and night.
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, holding the Eternal Pose, which pointed directly at the entrance to the Grand Line — Reverse Mountain.
"Boss, are we really not going to travel through the Calm Belt?"
Tesoro leaned against the ship's railing, toying with a gold coin in his hand.
"Why bother with all that trouble? Why not just let the Ark Maxim fly over there?"
Roy glanced at him. "What do you know? Only those who traverse Reverse Mountain are proper pirates."
"That's right!"
Yamato hopped over, carrying a spiked club, his eyes shining like light bulbs.
"I've wanted to try climbing Reverse Mountain for a long time."
"I heard the water flows like a waterfall, rushing up and then rushing down!"
Pea's face paled. "Charge... charge down?"
"What are you afraid of!" Yamato put his arm around Pea's shoulder. " Roy's here!"
Roy smiled, activated his Telekinesis, and the Ark Maxim began to descend slowly.
The golden hull of the ship pierced through the clouds, and the view on the sea gradually became clear.
In the distance, a vast Red Line stretches between the sea and the sky, like an endless red wall.
The Reverse Mountain is embedded in this wall, with five huge waterways flowing down from the top of the mountain, causing seawater to flow backward and creating a spectacular sight of flowing upstream.
"Wow—" Yamato, his mouth agape, "This is Reverse Mountain?"
Savi, Charon, and Jesus Burgess all crowded to the side of the ship, craning their necks to look ahead.
Enel floated in mid-air, slung his golden staff over his shoulder. "Yehahaha, this is the first time I've ever seen Reverse Mountain from the sea!"
Kazami sat cross-legged on the deck, his hand on the hilt of his sword, expressionless, but his eyes were glancing in that direction.
Bar scratched his head sheepishly. "Captain, with this current rushing upstream, won't the boat capsize?"
"It's not going to turn over," Roy said calmly. "Stand firm."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Ark Maxim landed steadily on the sea.
The moment the boat hit the water, the spray from the waves splashed all over Savi's head and face.
"Pfft—" Savi wiped his face. "Boss! Couldn't you be a little gentler?"
Roy ignored him, Telekinesis to propel the boat towards the Reverse Mountain.
As you approach the waterway entrance, the current begins to become rapid.
The Ark Maxim was like a golden leaf, pulled by a tremendous suction force, rushing towards the upstream waterway.
"It's here! It's here! It's here!" Yamato jumped for joy.
The bow suddenly lifted, and the entire ship surged upwards along the almost vertical waterway!
Water surged past both sides, splashing onto the deck like a torrential downpour.
Pea clung tightly to the railing, her little face pale, her eyes tightly shut.
Yamato stood at the bow of the ship, arms outstretched, roaring, "Hahahaha! Awesome! So awesome!"
Enel floated above the ship, waved his hands, and clouds surged from his palms, swirling around the ship.
To prevent the ship from colliding with the surrounding rock walls.
Seeing this, Tesoro's body crackled with electricity, propelling the Ark Maxim to a sudden increase in speed—whoosh!
The ship broke through a giant wave, splashing water all over Savi's head and face.
"Hello!"
" Tesoro!"
"You did this on purpose!" Savi roared.
"Hehe! I didn't do it on purpose!" Tesoro chuckled, looking smug.
Savi was so angry he wanted to rush up and punch him, but the boat rocked again, and he stumbled a couple of steps, almost falling over.
Charon grabbed him. "Stop fooling around, stand still."
Luo stood at the ship's side, gripping the railing tightly with both hands, his eyes showing a mixture of tension and excitement.
He grew up in North Blue; he'd never seen anything like it before.
The waterways of Reverse Mountain are like stairs leading to the sky.
The moment Ark Maxim reached the summit, the entire ship took to the air.
At that moment, everyone saw it—five waterways converged at the top of the mountain, forming a giant cross.
The seawater converges here, then splits and flows in seven directions along the Grand Line.
"So beautiful..." Pea opened her eyes and murmured.
The next second, Ark Maxim plunged headlong into the descending waterway, diving rapidly!
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh--" Pea screamed.
"Hahahaha--" Yamato laughed wildly.
"Yehahaha--" Enel laughed even harder.
Roy stood at the bow, his Telekinesis steadily supporting the ship, a smile playing on his lips.
This kind of thrill is much more interesting than flying in the sky.
The Ark Maxim burst out of the waterway and glided smoothly into the sea Twin Cape.
The ship was still rocking slightly when Yamato jumped onto the gunwale, hands on his hips. "That was so much fun! Let's do it again!"
"No!" Pea's legs went weak.
Roy ignored them, his gaze fixed on the sea ahead.
There, the sea is rising.
It wasn't a wave—it was something enormous rising from the water.
"All personnel on high alert."
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.
Yamato immediately gripped his spiked club, while Savi and Jesus Burgess positioned themselves on either side of the ship's gunwale. Enel floated into the air, his golden staff held horizontally in front of him.
Kazami stood up and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Bar picked up an iron ingot, ready to smash it at any moment.
The sea level rose higher and higher, forming a huge water bubble. Then--
boom--!!!
A giant black whale burst out of the water!
The whale was ridiculously large; the Ark Maxim looked like a leaf in its presence.
Its forehead was covered with crisscrossing scars, like a huge net.
Seawater cascades down its body, forming waterfalls.
It raised its head and let out a long, mournful cry.
"Moo----"
The voice was deep and desolate, echoing across the sea and making everyone's chest feel heavy.
"Wow... so big..." Pea tilted her head back, her mouth wide open enough to fit a fist.
Yamato gripped his spiked club tightly. "Is this guy an enemy?"
Roy shook his head. "No."
He had seen this whale before—in the original story.
Laboon, the Island Whale, is a member of the Rumbar Pirates.
In order to wait for its master's return, it crashed into the Red Line for fifty years, leaving it covered in scars.
The mournful cries still echoed across the sea.
Laboon's huge eyes stared blankly in the direction of Reverse Mountain, as if he were waiting for someone.
Luo frowned.
His Observation Haki detected a life force within Laboon.
"Boss!"
"There's someone inside its body."
Tesoro's Observation Haki also sensed the anomaly.
Roy nodded. "I know."
He raised his hand and Telekinesis to probe into Laboon's body.
Sure enough, in the stomach area, there was a modified space—there were lights, tables and chairs, and even a few potted plants.
"Mr. Crocus,"
Roy's voice entered Laboon's body through Telekinesis.
"Come out and greet the guests."
A moment later, Laboon's enormous mouth slowly opened. An old man wearing a floral shirt and round-framed glasses walked out.
His hair was gray, but he stood ramrod straight, holding a newspaper in his hand, his expression as calm as if he were taking a walk in his own backyard.
"What's all the noise about?"
The old man walked to the top of Laboon's head, sat down cross-legged,
"I was just thinking of taking a nap."