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Guided by the Log Pose, the Going Merry soared through the air until it finally reached its next destination — the legendary Island of the Ancients.
"This is… Little Garden?!"
From the deck, the girls leaned over the railing, staring down at the massive island below, eyes wide with amazement.
"Whoa, look at all that jungle! You think there are wild beasts in there?!"
"Of course there are! Didn't you hear that roar just now?!"
"Captain… I'm scared!!"
"…"
Logan ignored their chatter and skillfully brought the Merry down, anchoring it in a relatively quiet cove.
And as if to prove Nami right, a deep, guttural growl echoed from somewhere deep inside the jungle the moment the ship stopped.
"Logan, this place feels kinda dangerous…" Vivi instinctively grabbed his arm, her big dark eyes scanning the treeline nervously.
"Yeah, it's a little creepy," Kaya agreed with a quick nod.
In just a few minutes, she'd already counted at least seven or eight different roars.
"Well, we're already here," Logan said, glancing at the timid faces around him. "Might as well go have a look."
"It's been a while since we've been on land anyway," Nami said, stretching lazily — the motion perfectly showing off her curves.
This Nami wasn't the timid one from the original story anymore.
Anyone who dared cross her risked getting struck by lightning.
Tashigi, gripping her Wado Ichimonji, looked equally excited. She'd been itching for a good fight — and a few jungle beasts would make fine practice targets.
But Kaya, Makino, Nojiko, and Kalumen all shook their heads so fast they looked like rattles.
"Captain, you guys go ahead. We'll stay here and watch the ship."
"Yeah, yeah! Have fun, Logan!" Vivi added with a nervous laugh.
"…"
The four of them clearly thought staying with the Merry was the safest choice.
"Alright," Logan said with a small nod. With a flick of his hand, he created several thick, compressed cloud walls that surrounded the ship like a protective barrier.
Keeping the girls safe always came first.
"Nami, Tashigi — you two stick together and be careful," he reminded them.
The beasts here weren't really a threat to either of them, but better safe than sorry.
"Vivi, Valentine — you're with me."
Valentine blinked in surprise. "Wait, really?!"
"Don't be so tense, Valentine." Logan raised his arm invitingly.
She smiled brightly and stepped forward to hook her arm around his.
"I've been feeling a bit stuffy on the ship anyway," Vivi said with a small grin. "And honestly, being with you, Logan, makes me feel a lot safer."
With Vivi and Valentine each holding one of his arms, the three of them made their way into the jungle.
"This place really is just like the stories say," Vivi said, admiring the scenery as they walked.
"I heard that the islands along the Grand Line are so isolated from one another that, over time, each one evolved its own civilization. Some have abundant resources, dense populations, and advanced technology… while others, like this Island of the Ancients, have barely changed in thousands of years."
"My Vivi really is a little scholar," Logan said with a grin, ruffling her hair affectionately.
Her cheeks turned pink. "I-I only heard it from others, really…"
Valentine chuckled softly. "Don't be modest, Vivi — you're the princess of Alabasta, after all."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the jungle…
Wild beasts roamed everywhere.
Tashigi, eager to improve her swordsmanship, had already found her targets — a pack of massive saber-toothed tigers.
Without hesitation, she unsheathed her Wado Ichimonji and charged straight into the fray, cutting through the beasts like a whirlwind.
Nami, on the other hand, was just looking for a bit of excitement.
After days of either sparring or "spending time" with Logan aboard the Merry, life had gotten a little too dull.
Recently, she'd come up with some new techniques combining thunder, cloud, and wind — and now she just needed some unlucky test subjects.
Spotting a group of thunder lizards ahead, she raised her hand, and a small storm began to swirl in her palm.
Meanwhile, Logan's group continued deeper into the jungle, spotting all sorts of prehistoric creatures — T-Rexes, saber-toothed cats, thunder lizards, even giant spiders the size of boats.
It wasn't hard to see why no one lived here.
Aside from the constant threat of massive predators, the place was crawling with venomous insects — spiders, scorpions, bullet ants… one bite and you'd be seeing stars.
Oh, and let's not forget the volcanoes. Several of them dotted the island, erupting whenever they felt like it.
And if that wasn't enough chaos, the two giant warriors, Brogy and Dorry, were still here — and still fighting.
Every time a volcano erupted, they'd clash again.
Eruption. Fight. Eruption. Fight.
Metal clashing, ground shaking — how did they even sleep like that?
As the trio moved through the dense forest, a sudden, thunderous boom echoed in the distance.
Vivi and Valentine both flinched.
"What was that?!" Vivi gasped, looking toward the sound.
"Just a volcano," Logan said calmly, giving her a reassuring look.
Vivi nodded but tightened her grip on his arm. Valentine did the same.
"Come on," Logan said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Let's go meet a couple of familiar faces."
"Familiar faces?" Valentine blinked, confused. "Who could possibly be here?"
Logan's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek."
"....."