OPTC Chapter 249 This Way of Landing Isn't Quite Right
After morning training, Zhang Da Ye called on the "hornless reindeer" and the "horned Tom" to help Shark Chili finish a round of treatment.
Only after Shark Chili had recovered did their new day of sailing begin.
That morning, it was Zhang Da Ye's turn to keep watch from the lookout, paying attention to the surroundings while practicing his sword swings at the same time.
But this way of training—splitting his focus—was unlikely to yield any breakthroughs. At best, it would only strengthen his arm muscles.
As noon drew near, Zhang Da Ye suddenly noticed a dark shape at the edge of his vision. Quickly setting down the iron bar weighed with plates, he grabbed a telescope.
"Everyone, attention! Island spotted at ten o'clock! Island spotted at ten o'clock!"
Tom reacted the fastest, leaping up to perch on the ship's prow statue, shading his eyes with his paw as he looked.
Artoria gripped the helm, ready to steer at a moment's notice.
"If it's a small island, then it can't be Alabasta. The books say Alabasta is a massive kingdom," Shark Chili noted, seizing on the key detail.
"Finally, land!" the others cheered, rushing to the bow. They were desperate for fresh fruit and vegetables, to replenish supplies, and to feast properly.
"Yohohoho~" Brook was especially joyful. "That means we're a bit closer to Laboon."
Soon, the outline of the island became clear, but no one could recognize what island it was.
"Prepare to dock! And stay alert!" Zhang Da Ye shouted.
Artoria turned the wheel, while Shark Chili, Rui Meng Meng, and Ye Yan adjusted the sails, guiding the Amber slowly toward the island.
"Yohohoho~ Looks nice. Could it be a spring or summer island?"
"What's that?" Rui Meng Meng pointed toward a sudden waterspout in the distance.
"It doesn't look as high as the one you made that day… Is it a whale spouting?" Ye Yan guessed.
One spout fell, then another shot up nearby—higher and fiercer than the first. Clearly, it wasn't from whales.
To be honest, Zhang Da Ye's first thought was an updraft current, like the one Luffy's crew had used to reach Skypiea. But the scale and height of these spouts were far smaller.
Brook, far more experienced at sea, calmly sipped tea. "That's an undersea volcanic eruption. I can smell sulfur, even though I no longer have a nose, yohohoho~."
Perona, however, was terrified. "Volcanos are dangerous! How can you laugh?"
Brook reassured her, "Don't worry. If you look closely, it's just pushing some seawater upward. No magma or ash. We won't be affected."
Shark Chili frowned. "No way. To push seawater that high, the eruption must be strong. How can it just leave a little steam and sulfur?"
"Because this is the Grand Line. Common sense doesn't apply." Brook gave the universal excuse. "As long as it doesn't erupt directly beneath us, we're safe."
Just as Brook finished, Artoria's face darkened. She shouted, "Everyone, hold onto the ship! Don't get thrown off!"
She spun the helm, trying to turn, but it was already too late.
The sea beneath suddenly turned violent. The Amber shook violently, forcing everyone to grab hold of whatever they could.
Tom went as far as tying his paws and tail to the ship's statue arm.
Boom! With a thunderous roar, the Amber was lifted by a massive water spout, flung high into the air, soaring toward the island.
"Cursed skeleton! You jinxed us!" Perona cried, tears flying.
"Why's this happening? If we fall from this height, we'll shatter to pieces! Yohohoho~ Though I don't have—wait! I do have bones! And only bones! Help!" Brook's joke cut off as panic struck.
"Ouch!" Shark Chili groaned. He had been about to dive in to check the volcano when the ship lifted, tossing him across the deck until he managed to cling to the railing.
"Way too intense!" Ye Yan, in his reindeer disguise, hugged the mast. He wondered how to land safely. For himself, he could just summon Jin Erpeng to fly him. But for the whole ship? Use the Chaos Beast as a cushion?
Artoria stayed calm but had no real solution. All she could do was prepare to shield the ship with her magic upon landing to reduce damage.
"Waaah!" Rui Meng Meng shrieked at first, but soon her eyes widened. "It's beautiful!"
Above the island, hundreds of water columns burst upward, instantly vaporizing into mist. The white pillars connected in the sky, forming the shape of a giant crown.
"Your priorities are wrong! The issue is how we're landing!" Zhang Da Ye felt dread. The ship had stopped ascending and now only coasted forward on inertia. If it fell, the Amber would be destroyed.
"Tom, how about turning into a parachute?"
Tom shook his head furiously, clinging to the prow statue. Even if he could, he was far too small to slow a ship.
Zhang Da Ye dug through his inventory and pulled out a giant firework rocket—big enough to launch Tom into the sky.
"Worth a try!" He tied it to the mast and lit it as the Amber began to fall.
Fwoosh! The rocket fired, slowing their descent unnaturally. But it wouldn't last long.
"Ye Yan! Get your Flag Spirits to hold us up! As much strength as possible!"
"On it!" Ye Yan waved, summoning them. "This'll decide if we sail on a ship or a raft next time!"
Eight Flag Spirits emerged, rushing beneath the hull to support it.
But only Jin Erpeng was truly strong enough. The other seven could only hold mist forms, too weak to lift even Ye Yan, let alone the ship.
Jin Erpeng pressed himself under the hull, wings beating desperately, straining. "You freeloading weaklings!"
The others snapped back, "Says the weakling! If we were on land, Lu Dashan could handle this alone!"
Artoria's eyes lit up as hope appeared. "There's a river in the forest ahead! Aim for it!"
Shark Chili staggered up, calculating quickly. "Not enough. At this speed, we'll crash before reaching it! Lower the sails!"
"I'll get them!" Rui Meng Meng and Brook scrambled to the ropes, Ye Yan too, pulling down sails without tying them.
The resistance decreased, and the Amber gained speed.
"Still not enough!" Shark Chili shouted.
Artoria stepped forward. "Barrier of the Wind King!"
Invisible wind wrapped around the Amber, cutting air resistance. The ship surged forward, just clearing the forest toward the river.
At that moment, the firework rocket burned out. The Flag Spirits groaned beneath the hull. "Master, we can't hold it much longer!"
"Just a few more seconds!" Ye Yan yelled. "Keep this speed and land in the river!"
Branches scraped the ship as it descended. Jin Erpeng was smacked by several trees but clenched his teeth, refusing to let go.
Zhang Da Ye's face twisted. "Big problem—we might overshoot the river!"
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