On the vast, boundless sea, a gale swept through the dark clouds.
Between the clouds and the sea, a giant black fish, like a dark submarine, roamed freely in the water.
At times, it would expose its head above the surface, and at others, it would dive into the sea, speeding along just above the waves.
It charged towards the waves, shattering the spray; it faced the downpour, unafraid of the fierce wind.
It never retreated, nor did it ever stop.
In its eyes, one could see exploration, hope, and excitement.
The dark clouds grew lower, like a heavy city wall, pressing down on this area.
Lightning descended from the sky, leaving bright streaks that illuminated the path ahead.
Amidst the booming thunder, the black fish charged forward.
Closer.
The towering Reverse Mountain appeared before them, like a colossal curtain, enveloping this stretch of sea.
The black fish surged towards the mountain range, drawing nearer and nearer.
A wide channel, following the mountainside, snaked upwards towards the sky.
*BOOM.*
Xia Qiu ascended the channel, swept up by the seawater, rushing upwards along the waterway.
Moo Moo followed closely behind, entering the channel as well.
At the entrance to the channel stood massive stone gates, flanking the sides. A dozen or so appeared at intervals, each with pillars carved with ugly fish bearing sharp teeth.
The pillars of the stone gates were thick, each four to five meters wide.
Not good.
Xia Qiu charged too fiercely and collided with a stone pillar.
Turn.
Xia Qiu slightly adjusted his body and continued to surge forward, following the channel in a straight line.
But just then, a loud crash echoed from behind.
*BANG.*
Moo Moo slammed into a stone pillar, its body tilting and sliding downwards.
That idiot.
Xia Qiu was furious.
Moo Moo slid down, flapping its massive pectoral fins, only managing to slow its descent.
*CRASH.*
Moo Moo plunged into the ocean, letting out a pained cry.
The current in the channel was swift and wide, but unlike a sea vessel, Xia Qiu and Moo Moo couldn't utilize the wind.
They could only rely on the momentum, the force of the current, and their own body movements to push upwards.
If their bodies stalled, the current alone wouldn't be enough to carry their massive forms upward.
Helpless.
Xia Qiu had no choice but to stop his movement, letting his body fall, and he came to Moo Moo's side. The latter looked at him pitifully.
"Follow me."
Xia Qiu intended to swim backward, and Moo Moo closely followed.
Together, they swam against the waves for a distance, then turned into the current, accelerating together, and charged again.
Xia Qiu's speed was fast, widening the distance between him and Moo Moo. Seeing this, Moo Moo quickly picked up speed.
This time, their charge was even faster than the last.
*BOOM.*
Xia Qiu and Moo Moo surged into the channel once more, swimming upwards.
Xia Qiu was about fifteen meters ahead of Moo Moo; this was why he had accelerated to create distance, to avoid blocking Moo Moo's view.
Charge, charge, charge.
Soon, Xia Qiu and Moo Moo passed the stone gates, their momentum still carrying them upwards.
Xia Qiu moved his body, riding the water's flow upwards, rising higher and higher.
Moo Moo did the same, following closely, without any sign of falling.
*BOOM.*
Xia Qiu directly broke through the channel and reached the mountaintop.
The seawater here began to converge into another channel.
At Reverse Mountain, there are five waterways: four leading up and one leading down.
The ones going up come from the four seas, and the one going down enters the Grand Line.
Once you reach the summit, you basically don't need to exert any effort; you just need to follow the ocean currents down the waterway.
However, Xia Qiu braced himself against the rock wall, jamming his body in place.
The current at the summit wasn't too strong, and it was relatively flat, so Xia Qiu could still hold on.
Did Moo Moo make it up?
If it didn't, he'd have to go back down to help it.
Just as Xia Qiu was hesitating, with a bang, Moo Moo reached the summit and slammed into Xia Qiu.
Moo Moo flattened its body, lowering its upper half. After charging up, it perfectly bumped into Xia Qiu.
Its sharp horns precisely pierced Xia Qiu's tail.
Hiss.
Xia Qiu felt a sharp pain in his tail, and together with Moo Moo, they were swept down with the current.
Moo Moo in front, Xia Qiu behind, they slid down the waterway, their speed increasing.
There's Laboon below Reverse Mountain; don't crash into him.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Xia Qiu and Moo Moo's speed increased, and they got closer and closer to the sea's surface.
What is that?
Xia Qiu saw a colossal whale towering in the ocean below, its head above the water.
The Island Whale, Laboon.
He was born in the West Blue and was originally a herd animal. He encountered the Rumbar Pirates and followed them to the Grand Line.
But because the Grand Line was too dangerous, the Rumbar Pirates left Laboon at Twin Cape, promising to return in three years.
However, fifty years later, the Rumbar Pirates still hadn't returned.
And of the Rumbar Pirates, only Brook, who had eaten the Fruit of the Underworld, survived.
Laboon was enormous; one of his eyes was several times larger than the Going Merry, with a diameter of at least thirty meters.
And judging by the proportion of his eye, his body length was over a thousand meters – a true behemoth.
There was even a lake on his belly, with an island in the middle.
And the lake could accommodate a Giant Squid with a body length of about thirty meters, and over sixty meters including its tentacles.
But he was naturally kind; as long as he wasn't attacked, he wouldn't attack others.
Don't touch him.
Xia Qiu thought, and after diving into the water, he violently twisted his body.
Drift.
Xia Qiu's body moved sideways towards Laboon, but he stopped his downward plunge less than halfway there. Then, he twisted his body and swam towards the direction of the fish's tail.
But just as Xia Qiu thought he was safe, there was a bang.
Moo Moo's horns directly pierced Laboon's body.
It's over.
Seeing this, Xia Qiu's mouth fell open.
You damn idiot, you actually injured him.
Puff, puff.
Moo Moo slowly backed away, and two streams of blood immediately spurted from the wound.
Moo Moo looked at the Island Whale, then at Xia Qiu, and swam towards them.
"Bwoooohhhhh."
But at that moment, Laboon opened his mouth, let out a loud cry, and then slowly began to submerge.
Not good.
Seeing this, Xia Qiu quickly swam towards Laboon.
"Hehe."
Moo Moo, seeing Xia Qiu approach, happily ran over and tried to nuzzle him.
Idiot.
Xia Qiu rushed right up to Moo Moo, slid sideways, and fiercely whipped him with his tail before swimming away into the distance.
Moo Moo, having been hit, immediately understood Xia Qiu's intention and quickly followed.
Xia Qiu swam along the curve of the Island Whale's body, heading towards its rear.
Goo goo.
The Island Whale slowly submerged, its mouth opening gradually to take in large gulps of water.
The churning seawater entered its belly, and the surrounding marine life was drawn into its mouth.
Xia Qiu swam close to its body, avoiding the direct path, but the immense suction still pulled at him.
I can hold on.
Xia Qiu thrashed his body, unleashing a surge of power that resisted the suction and propelled him forward a short distance.
As long as I avoid the front, the remaining pull is nothing to fear.
But just as Xia Qiu thought this, Moo Moo began to retreat. It flapped its body frantically, yet it continued to move backward.
Moo Moo was positioned behind Xia Qiu, off to the side of the Island Whale, where the suction was stronger.
Its own strength was comparatively less, making it impossible to escape.
That idiot.
First it hurt Laboon, and now it's getting sucked in.
Xia Qiu couldn't bear to stand by and do nothing, but he had no good solution.
What should I do?
Xia Qiu looked at the retreating Moo Moo, and a sudden idea struck him.
But it's too dangerous.
If I mess up, I'll be in trouble too. Although, even if I get swallowed, there's still a chance to escape.
But...
Is Moo Moo worth risking myself for?
Xia Qiu gritted his teeth and suddenly relaxed his body.
Whoosh.
Xia Qiu instantly slid backward. In just a moment, he reached Moo Moo's position and continued to move further back.
The instant he fell behind Moo Moo, Xia Qiu suddenly lowered his pectoral fin, anal fin, and pelvic fin, catching the current. Simultaneously, he twisted his body and surged forward.
Move forward for me.
Xia Qiu's body erupted with formidable strength, resisting the immense suction.
Bang.
Xia Qiu broke free from the water's grip and shot out, colliding with Moo Moo.
Moo Moo's movement immediately halted. Sensing Xia Qiu's help, it immediately flapped its pectoral fins with all its might, lowered its body, and swam forward.
Further in, a little more forward, just a bit more.
Xia Qiu pushed with all his might, inching forward.
Ah!
Xia Qiu strained against Moo Moo, moving forward bit by bit. However, the progress was minimal, and Xia Qiu's strength was rapidly depleting.
Hold on, just a little longer.
Xia Qiu thrashed his body violently, seeking even an inch of forward movement.
His strength dwindled, and he could no longer advance. He even began to retreat slowly.
But just as Xia Qiu started to fall back.
Bang.
With a loud noise, Laboon's mouth closed, and the suction vanished.
Boom.
Xia Qiu, pushing Moo Moo, who was swimming forward with all its might, they both moved away from Laboon.
Splash, splash.
They swam further and further away. After a considerable distance, Xia Qiu finally stopped, feeling utterly exhausted.
So tired.
Xia Qiu slowed his pace, warily watching Laboon while resting.
Sensing Xia Qiu had stopped, Moo Moo also halted and moved to Xia Qiu's side, resting its head on him.
Wuwuwu.
Moo Moo let out a mournful sound from its mouth, nudging Xia Qiu with its head.
Sigh.
Xia Qiu, who had intended to teach it a lesson, shook his head. His tentacles extended, gently patting Moo Moo's body.
There, there, don't cry.
-----------
Translation by: randomtranslator.com
Read 2500+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: randomtranslator.com