A week passed over the endless stretch of restless blue.
The Marine warship cut through the waves, its sails swollen by the wind, the Justice flag flapping above like a living thing. The gulls soared and dipped in its wake, occasionally stealing glances at the man who stood at the bow.
Vice Admiral Monkey D. Luffy leaned lazily on the railing, the corners of his mouth tugged in a faint smirk. Some faint lightning crackled so faintly around his fingertips that only the most sensitive could sense it.
And after a week, the horizon finally revealed something worth his attention.
"Yo… It's quite the view," Luffy murmured.
Before them stretched a sight that could humble any seasoned sailor.
Wano Country!
A fortress of nature itself: towering stone walls that rose like an ancient crown from the sea, waterfalls cascading endlessly from the rim like silver veils. The falling fresh water clashed violently with the salty sea below, carving roaring whirlpools that churned the ocean into a chaos of white froth and deep blue spirals.
Gion stepped forward, her Justice coat billowing behind her, arms folded beneath her chest. Her usually sharp gaze softened, caught by the raw majesty of Wano.
"Even after so many missions," She murmured, "it still takes your breath away…"
Hina, cigarette hanging loosely from her lips, smirked faintly. "Hina agrees. Dangerous, but beautiful. Like someone I know…"
She flicked her gaze toward Luffy, who caught it immediately.
"Oh?" Luffy chuckled, lips curling. "Are you talking about me, Hina?"
Hina's pink hair fluttered as she tilted her chin up. "Hmph. Maybe. Or maybe I meant myself."
Luffy laughed lightly, and even Gion's lips twitched with amusement.
Behind them, Kuina's eyes sparkled with the reflection of the climbing koi fish. The massive golden and orange bodies leaped from the frothing sea, fins glinting like polished blades.
Zoro watched quietly and muttered. "Tch… fish climbing a waterfall. I still don't get how it works."
Kuina elbowed him playfully. "Then don't think too hard, Zoro. Just enjoy it."
Issho, standing a few paces back, his blind eyes turned upward, let out a low chuckle. "The world always finds ways to humble us, doesn't it?"
The air smelled of salt, moss, and something faintly metallic.
Luffy closed his eyes for a moment.
With the faintest flicker of Observation Haki, his awareness spread forward like an unseen tide.
Even from this distance, he felt the dance of countless auras beyond the stone walls.
And with his Goro Goro no Mi, the electromagnetic fields ahead whispered secrets to him: faint signals of hidden surveillance Den Den Mushi, carefully hidden near the rocks to catch intruders before they could reach Wano.
Smart… but not smart enough.
And they still don't know what's coming for them…
He opened his eyes, and the grin returned, wolfish, dangerous, full of confidence.
"Alright, Issho-san…" Luffy called out, his voice low. "Time to show off that gravity of yours."
Issho's lips twitched into a smile as he stepped forward. "Aye, Vice Admiral."
Slowly, reverently, he placed his hand on the hilt of Shikomizue, his cane sword.
Shiiing…
The soft rasp of steel kissing air echoed across the deck. Every Marine officer nearby turned, unconsciously holding their breath.
Even though most of them had seen it before, the sheer sight of a man casually lifting a warship off the ocean never failed to stir awe.
Issho's blind eyes stayed closed, but the calm smile on his lips spoke of a man who could see in ways no eye ever could.
"Gravity Blade: Tensei…" He murmured.
The deck trembled. The loose ropes began to lift, floating like gentle ghosts, and barrels rattled.
A few crewmembers gasped, grabbing for support.
And then, with a low, deep rumble, the entire warship began to rise.
The massive wooden hull, iron-braced and heavy enough to crush boulders, left the water. It floated, slowly at first, then steadily, as if the sea was gently offering it to the sky.
Wind howled around them as the sails fluttered wildly, and the Justice flag snapped so fiercely it sounded like whiplash.
Below, the koi fish leapt and twisted in startled confusion.
The whirlpools roared hungrily, but the warship simply passed above them, untouchable.
"By the seas… it never gets old," Gion whispered, fingers tightening on the railing.
Hina chuckled, cigarette forgotten between her fingers. "Hina feels small every time she sees it…"
Zoro, gripping the railing with one hand, muttered, "It's like flying… without wings."
Kuina, eyes wide, whispered, "It is flying, Zoro."
A few feet away, Prince Grus held the mast, staring down at the shrinking ocean. "W-we're really above the sea…!"
Luffy turned, golden eyes glinting, and called out, "Oi, don't fall off! I need everyone alive when we land!"
Prince Grus blushed crimson and nearly fell for real, catching himself at the last second.
Issho chuckled softly. "Easy now, Vice Admiral… scaring your crew isn't very leader-like."
Luffy shrugged. "They're Marines. A little fear keeps them sharp."
He paused, then tilted his cap lower, voice dropping to something softer.
"…Besides, if they really get scared… I can always calm them down later."
His grin promised everything and revealed nothing.
Hina rolled her eyes, but her heartbeat betrayed her.
Gion glanced away, her lips betraying a small smirk.
Even Kuina's cheeks colored faintly, though she masked it quickly.
Higher and higher the ship floated, salt-laden winds whipping around them. The waterfall that had once seemed impossibly tall now loomed almost at eye level.
Massive stone walls, aged by centuries of storms, curved upward, framing the waterfall like the mouth of a sleeping dragon.
Below, the whirlpools churned hungrily, swirling around rocky outcroppings that could shatter ships like driftwood.
But they weren't going through the sea.
The koi fish, unaware of anything but instinct, continued to leap upward, flicking water that sparkled in the sun.
"Issho," Luffy called out, voice low but carrying authority, "hold her steady. Thirty degrees starboard, there's a surveillance Den Den Mushi hidden on that outcropping."
Issho nodded without question, his cane shifting ever so slightly.
The entire ship tilted gracefully, passing just outside the hidden watchful gaze.
They don't see us… good.
Gion narrowed her eyes, impressed. "You sensed it, Luffy?"
He gave a lazy shrug, golden eyes half-lidded. "Just a hunch."
But everyone who knew him well felt the unspoken truth:
Luffy never guesses... He knows. But he never tells them how.
The power behind that casual grin was both reassuring and terrifying.
The deck trembled as Issho's power pressed down gently, guiding the warship closer to the waterfall's crown.
And then, in a moment of impossible serenity, they passed the rim.
The clear waters sparkled under the sun. A few clouds drifted across the sky like idle thoughts. Beyond lay the vast, hidden interior of Wano, shrouded in mist and mystery.
Below them, the roaring waterfall fell away into nothingness.
For a moment, no one spoke, speechless at the impossible sight.
Then, Issho exhaled slowly, and the ship began to descend.
Shhh—oom…
With a splash and a soft groan of wood, the warship settled gently onto the hidden sea atop the mountain.
Luffy exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"Good work, Issho-san," He said, voice soft but sincere.
Issho sheathed his blade, the tip sliding into the cane with a soft click. "Not at all, Vice Admiral. Your directions spared us quite the welcoming party."
Luffy chuckled. "Wouldn't be much of a welcoming party after I'm done with them."
Kuina stepped closer, ponytail brushing against her Justice coat. "What now, Luffy?"
He turned, his grin growing sharper. "Now… we're in."
His gaze swept over the crew, lingering just a moment longer on Hina and Gion.
"And now… we find out why Wano is so damn interesting."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨