"As expected, you're the ones who caused the commotion."
Clutching Tiger with her claws, Leviathan flapped her wings and glided over.
Sakura on the execution platform took a step forward, using her ability to draw heat from the surroundings to form an ice slide under her feet. She slid down the track onto the square.
Just as she landed, her other two companions also touched down.
"Looks like everyone's assembled."
Sakura put her hands in her pockets and chuckled lightly.
"So, what do we do next?"
Seeing the captain leading the exposure, Tiger, no longer hiding his figure, tore off his cloak.
"Since we've already been discovered by the Marines, it's time to..."
Bong!
A deep, muffled bell sound interrupted Sakura. Everyone looked up.
On the highest tower of Loguetown, a silver bell was being rung.
Synchronized with the Oxy Bell at Marine Headquarters in the center of the world, it rang eight times, signifying the end of the year.
"Well, with things like this, we probably can't celebrate the holiday here anymore. Let's head back to the ship for a party!"
Sakura glanced at the empty market square, now deserted, and shrugged helplessly at the others.
"W-Wait... You... stop right there!"
At the intersection leading from the square to the harbor, the girl in a Marine Seaman Recruit uniform, leaning on her sword, stood up.
Having not immediately fallen unconscious after Sakura's Conqueror's Haki impact, and after recovering somewhat, she could still force her body up to fight.
Tashigi's determination made the other pirate crew members look at her with newfound respect.
Kuina crossed her arms and stepped forward. "Stop this, my foolish sister. You can't beat us as you are now!"
Trembling arms gripping her longsword tightly, Tashigi roared at the group, "I am a Marine of Justice! How can I yield to pirates?!"
"You ungrateful...!"
Kuina's hand rested on the Muramasa, a fierce aura singing around her.
Slap!
The Muramasa, about to be drawn, was pressed back into its sheath by Sakura's hand. The violent aura was overshadowed by an even more vast and majestic spirit.
"Don't be controlled by the sword."
Sakura tapped Kuina's head, withdrew her hand, and walked past Tashigi. "An interesting one. Don't die. We'll be waiting for your challenge in the Grand Line."
With that, Sakura waved a hand to her crew behind her.
Leading them, she walked towards Loguetown's port.
Waves churned. The giant night sparrow plunged into the water, transforming back into a large speedboat. The sails on the mast were lowered, catching the wind blowing from the East Blue, heading towards the beginning of the Grand Line… Reverse Mountain.
"Grand Line, Grand Line..."
On the ship's deck, a cheerful party was underway.
Leviathan, with great foresight, had replenished ample supplies in Loguetown. Now, she and Kuina were linking arms, raising drinks in celebration.
Sakura and Tiger sat on deck chairs, watching the two energetic figures, and also raised their glasses, clinking them together.
The distant wind carried the roar of the waves. Within the roar of the rain curtain, laughter and cheers seemed to be mixed in.
The perpetual heavy rain around Reverse Mountain of the Red Line, two completely opposite whirlpools colliding near the rocky walls, faintly revealing the hidden reefs within.
The Leviathan cut through all obstacles, easily reaching the layered, upward-flowing water gate between the rock walls.
"Wow, Sakura-nee, the seawater is flowing up the mountain!"
Kuina, high on excitement, leaned her whole body over the bulwark, half her torso sticking out.
Leviathan behind her pulled hard on her legs to prevent her from excitedly throwing herself into the turbulent currents.
"Yeah, the Grand Line. Finally back here again!"
Standing up from her deck chair, Sakura gazed at the counter-flowing tide on Reverse Mountain and sighed with emotion.
Tiger downed the wine in his glass in one go and asked, "This should be your second time in the Grand Line, right? What was the Roger Pirates like?"
"The atmosphere was similar to ours. As for the specific people... allow me to keep that a secret for now!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes, revealing a mysterious smile.
Then, she entered the cabin, brought out an empty wooden barrel from the storage, and placed it on the deck.
"Come on, this is an important ritual!"
Sakura took the lead, placing one foot on the barrel.
Leviathan, Kuina, and Tiger, also smiling, gathered around the barrel.
"I'll go first! I want to reach the pinnacle of these seas, to clash with all sorts of strong opponents, to explore and witness scenery that stirs the heart!"
Sakura grinned, raising both arms and tapping the barrel with her foot.
"So sneaky, Sakura-nee! I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, to shock my father speechless!"
Kuina made a fist and raised it in a cheering gesture, lifting her foot to tap the barrel.
"My turn, my turn."
The petite ship spirit, due to her height, couldn't reach the barrel no matter how she stretched her leg.
Finally, Sakura picked her up, allowing her to step on the barrel.
"I want to carry the people I care about, to every island they wish to go to!"
Leviathan's angelic declaration instantly turned Sakura's eyes into hearts, hugging her tightly and rubbing cheeks with her.
"Last one, me?"
Tiger took a deep breath. The barrel, which seemed tall to Leviathan, was like a small pebble on the roadside to him.
"Then, for the day when Fish-men and humans can understand each other to come soon!"
The four completed the ritual before entering the Grand Line, stating their respective dreams, then smashed the barrel.
"Let's go!"
Sakura adjusted the course, aiming the bow towards the canal before entering.
The Leviathan rapidly ascended. The red rocks on both sides continuously receded.
The canal was long, and the slope was also very wide.
However, during the climb, the heavy rain and rapids still rose and fell violently. Visibility and ship control were both quite challenging.
No wonder, in a world where shipbuilding and navigation technology were so widespread, the chance of a ship ultimately safely entering the Grand Line was barely half.
After who knows how long, the crimson rock walls seemed to reach their limit, and even the clouds gradually thinned.
The vast, boundless blue sky unfolded before everyone, evoking a strange feeling of standing atop the world.
"This time, I've reached here by my own strength, Captain Roger!"
Conquering nature, weaving legends, made Sakura's spirit even more surging, with dark lightning flickering faintly.
Her crew members behind her were also stirred, the light in their eyes growing more determined.
Carried by the canal, the Leviathan was then flung out from the summit of Reverse Mountain, charging into the clear, sunny Grand Line.
The sunlight was just right, the clouds had dispersed, and the scenery ahead was unobstructed.
Following the descending waterway, the ship began to accelerate, heading towards the vast, endless blue sea at the terminus.
However, at the end of the canal, a massive whale suddenly lifted its head, forming an insurmountable cliff, blocking the path of the Leviathan, which was about to rush out of the canal's exit into the sea.
"Wah, not good, we're going to crash."
Seeing this, Leviathan on the ship covered her head in panic, running around frantically.
"Idiot, you are the ship. Adjust your body properly and sail through the gap."
Although Sakura had long known this would happen, she mischievously hadn't told them.
Under Leviathan's own control, the ship soon headed towards the crack left by the giant whale.
But the whale below seemed to deliberately trouble the ship, opening its huge mouth and swaying left and right along with the Leviathan.
"Not good, that whale is targeting us!"
Kuina saw the clue, crouched and drew her sword.
"No choice, we need to prepare for impact!"
Fisher Tiger also spread his webbed hands, a water ball gathering in his palm.
Splash!
The giant whale suddenly closed its mouth, spraying a large amount of seawater onto the Leviathan.
The several people preparing for battle all showed expressions of confusion.
"Hahahaha!"
Sakura clutched her stomach, laughing heartily as she stepped past everyone.
Under their horrified, bulging gazes, she greeted the giant whale.
"Yo, long time no see, Laboon!"