Chapter 128: Ralph, You Have to Aim Carefully!
Sanji darted and weaved across the Going Merry's modest deck, each movement accompanied by faint sonic booms. His figure flickered between several positions in an instant, so fast it left afterimages.
"Is that...?" Usopp rubbed his eyes. "Ralph's Soru Step?"
"Not exactly," Ralph observed. "It's a version Sanji adapted based on the characteristics of his kicking techniques."
The punishment had borne fruit, and playtime was officially over.
Nami was pleased. Sanji had grown stronger and would be even more useful from now on. Unfortunately, his biggest flaw remained unchanged.
Usopp was also excited. His accuracy was steadily improving, his firing speed was faster, and even his arm strength had increased from repeatedly drawing his slingshot at high frequency for so long.
"I'm a sniper. As long as I hit the target, power... well, there are always ways to solve that."
Zoro had grasped flying slash techniques, and even Sanji looked a bit more tolerable in his eyes now.
Everyone had gained a lot.
Only one person wasn't too happy.
"Hey—! I want to play too!" Lufia pouted, her cheeks puffed up like steamed buns.
Over these three days, she had tried several times to join the "Hit Sanji" game. But the moment her fists were dipped in paint, Sanji would immediately stand up straight, wearing an intoxicated expression that seemed to say, "Please, whip me to your heart's content," completely killing her motivation.
More importantly, Ralph, who usually sparred and trained with her, had been completely preoccupied with the punishment game and pistol practice these past few days, leaving no time for her at all.
This suddenly made Lufia feel like a piece was missing from her life.
"Damn it!" She sat on the Going Merry's figurehead, kicking at the air aimlessly. "Ralph locked some delicious food in a special box and won't give it to me!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She suddenly jumped up, rushed over to Ralph who was maintaining his pistol, planted her hands on her hips, and declared:
"Ralph! I'm hungry! As your captain, I order you to open that box! I want to eat what's inside!"
The deck fell silent instantly.
Everyone looked over.
Ralph raised his head, looked at Lufia's angry, puffed-up face, remained silent for two seconds, then gently shook his head.
"Really, you can't."
"Then at least tell me what's inside!" Lufia pressed on relentlessly.
At this, everyone gathered around.
Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Zoro—five pairs of eyes fixed squarely on Ralph, their faces filled with curiosity.
Ralph looked at them, then at Lufia's eyes, wide with anger, and suddenly revealed a mysterious smile.
"I'll tell you when we reach the Grand Line."
He put away his pistol, stood up, and gazed toward the distant horizon.
"No time to dwell on such trivial matters now—"
He raised a hand and pointed.
"Reverse Mountain is right before us."
Everyone followed his pointing finger.
At first, it was just a faint red line on the horizon.
But as the Going Merry drew closer, that red line gradually rose, widened, and finally transformed into a towering, breathtaking red cliff that pierced the heavens and split the earth!
The Red Line.
The colossal wall encircling the entire world, separating the four seas.
And this section before them was the gateway from the East Blue into the Grand Line—Reverse Mountain.
"Woooow—!" Lufia instantly forgot all about the box, practically leaping out of her skin. "That's one tall wall!"
"That's the Red Line," Nami said, pulling out a sea chart and telescope, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. "The canal entrance should be nearby... Found it! Ten o'clock direction!"
Ralph had already rushed to the helm:
"All hands, battle stations!"
"Aye!"
Sanji and Zoro simultaneously dashed toward the sails, pulling the ropes from left and right.
Usopp climbed up to the crow's nest and raised his telescope.
Nami stood beside Ralph, quickly calling out directions and distances.
Lufia sat in her special seat—the goat figurehead of the Going Merry—serving as the ship's cheer squad:
"Wow! I see it! There's a crack up ahead!"
Nami: "That's the canal entrance! Ralph, hard to port!"
Lufia: "Wow! We're going to crash!"
Nami: "We won't crash! Aim straight! Ralph, hold the course!"
Lufia: "Just a little more... Ralph, you have to aim it right! Wow—we're in!"
Ralph, who was steering with all his might, heard Lufia's suggestive exclamations and his hand trembled, nearly causing the Going Merry to crash into the cliff wall.
The Going Merry sailed into the canal.
On either side were red cliff walls, and beneath them surged a powerful reverse current.
Seawater from all four seas poured up to the mountaintop through the canal—the only passage into the Grand Line.
The ship's speed increased rapidly, the current pushing the Going Merry upward, upward, on a slope so steep it was almost vertical.
Everyone clung tightly to fixed objects, only Lufia still cheering and shouting excitedly.
Just then—
"Watch out!"
Usopp suddenly yelled from the crow's nest.
A figure leaped down from the right cliff wall, lunging straight for the Going Merry!
The man wore tattered white clothing, his face covered in scars. As he swung his hands, the air distorted, transforming into invisible blades slashing toward them!
Ralph froze for a moment.
This person... Eric?
That Kama Kama no Mi user who was sent flying by Lufia on Warship Island?
He actually survived and made it all the way to the Red Line?
Even this part of the plot is here?
It's way too faithful, isn't it?
But times have changed.
"Leave it to me!"
Lufia's eyes lit up—finally something to do!
She stretched her rubber arm back and threw a punch at the figure in the air:
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
"Bam!"
Eric didn't even have time to scream before he was sent flying backward like he'd been hit by a battering ram, ten times faster than when he jumped down.
He crashed into the cliff wall with a "boom," then was swept away by the current, his fate unknown.
From appearance to disappearance—less than three seconds.
The deck fell silent for a moment.
"Uh..."
Usopp lowered his telescope,
"Was he... trying to say something?"
"Doesn't matter."
Zoro held his swords,
"Small fry."
Ralph shook his head and focused on steering.
Eric's appearance was just a minor interlude, quickly forgotten.
Pushed by the current, the Going Merry continued its upward charge. Everyone gritted their teeth, even Lufia fell silent.
Finally—
"We're at the top!"
Nami screamed.
The view suddenly opened up.
The Going Merry had reached the summit of Reverse Mountain.
Four canals converged here from the east, west, south, and north. Seawater collided and swirled, forming a massive whirlpool, then rushed downward through the single central exit, straight into the Grand Line.
Almost no steering was needed—the current pushed the Going Merry into the central canal, beginning its downward plunge!
The speed was even faster than during the ascent. Wind howled past their ears, and the weightlessness made their hearts clench.
But everyone kept their eyes wide open, looking ahead—
The Grand Line was right below!
"We're going in—!"
Lufia raised both hands high.
"Wait!"
Usopp on the lookout suddenly shouted, his voice choked with tears, "Stop! On the Grand Line... there's a mountain blocking the way!"
"What?!"
No, not a mountain.
It was a whale.
A whale bigger than a mountain.
"..."
Ralph murmured.